Handheld GPS

[MuskyAddict]

Does anyone have recommendations for a Handheld GPS?

[Worm Drowner]

I have a Magellan Meridian Gold and have been resonably happy with it. I do believe that the Garmin models have better lake mapping software avalible, though. Take a look at http://gpsinformation.net/ for some very good reviews and information.

[cranky craig]

garmin 76s is the ticket. excellent mapping better screen than the magellan and has 24 megs of memory. also easier to use that the gold.

[Musky Mike]

I'll second Garmin for GPS units. I have an older, now obsolete, model, the Garmin 48. Last year the internal lithium memory battery failed. I called the customer service number and was told to return it pre-paid postage with appropriate insurance for value and they would replace the battery under warranty (lithium battery has a 10 year service life), which they did and sent it back to me with the company paying the postage and insurance for the return. Total time from my call until I had the unit back was approximately one week.

Garmin makes good units and even more importantly, they stand behind their products.

If you get a Garmin, you won't be sorry.

MLK

[rockpt]

Musky Mike, Did you lose your waypoints, routes, etc when the lithium battery failed? I also have a Garmin, about five years old, and am wondering if I need to replace the lithium battery. I agree that Garmin makes a good, user friendly GPS.

[edd]

I have a garmin 12 cx (color) that they do not make anymore.
I left mine over winter with no batterys in it and the lithium battery went dead on me and I lost everything. I called Garmin and the told me the the lithium battery stayed charged off the 4 AA's or by running it off he cig lighter once in a while
I plugged the gps unto the cig lighter in my truck and left it on for a few days and I haven't any problems since.
Make sure you record all you waypoints into a journal!!!! and keep fresh batterys in it!!!!
Garmin makes a very good unit that is easy to use and accurate. I set out a very small ice fishing bobber (with line and a weight) in the middle of a 1,200 acre lake, marked it and they used the "go to" function 2 days later and when the gps told me I was at the bobber I looked over the side of the boat and I was within 10' of it.
.............edd

[rockpt]

edd, thanks for the info. It is amazing how bang on the coordinates are since the govt descrambled the military satellites a few years ago. When I first got my Garmin the Go To would get me to within 50-100' give or take 25' and then they descrambled everything and I could go back to the exact spot everytime. How did we ever fish open water reefs before GPS?

[rockpt]

Garmin is also a good stock to own. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/7131943.htm

[Musky Mike]

rockpt;

Yes I did loose recorded waypoints, when the lithium battery goes, all memmory is lost. As edd related, the lithium receives charge from the 4 AAs and I too had removed them for winter storage purposes. As with edd, it was my own fault, but Garmin replaced the litium battery for me free of charge except for postage and insurance to get the unit to them. Now I leave the 4 AAs installed, replacing them once during the winter storage period and have had no problems since. Just a victim of old practices, I had always removed the batteries from any battery powered device when storing it for long periods. You don't want to do that with GPS units.

Cheers and tight lines,

MLK

[MuskieKid]

Nobody mentioned this: Garmin also makes videos that show you how to operate their products. Certainly removes any confusion.


Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[jyoung]

I've got the Garmin 76emap and the thing is easy to use has 500 storable waypoints and go home trail, I purshased the ram mount and the cigarette lighter adaptor and the whole thing was around $420, But that was almost a year and a half ago, I'm sure they came down in price.
Check out this site, I'm sure it will help you www.gpscity.com
Good hunting,Jeff

[jyoung]

I've got the Garmin 76emap and the thing is easy to use has 500 storable waypoints and go home trail, I purshased the ram mount and the cigarette lighter adaptor and the whole thing was around $420, But that was almost a year and a half ago, I'm sure they came down in price.
Check out this site, I'm sure it will help you www.gpscity.com
Good hunting,Jeff

[cranky craig]

your battery should last about 10 years, i believe thats the warranty.

craig

[cranky craig]

your battery should last about 10 years, i believe thats the warranty.

craig