Which GPS?

[Jeff]

Hi All,
Now that GPS has become more accurate I am considering buying a unit. I would be interested in a hand held unit to go along side my X85 in my boat. This way I could use it for other things as well. Are the handhelds as good as the mounted units? I know some units have map chips you can ad for your area etc. Are the handhelds this flexible as well? Can you talk to a handheld with a computer to download waypoints etc? What are the differences, if any between handhleds and mounted units. Any input would be greatly appreciated..
Thanks,
Jeff

[bob oh]

Normally the major difference between the handhelds and the permanent mount units is the size of the screen....permanent is bigger. Features vary from model to model but you can get handhelds with a lot of waypoints, plotting, maps etc. you just need to decide what features are important to you and compare the models available. I find it useful to go to marine stores and look at the models I am interested in and then get opinions here from people who use those
models.

Bob

[WalleyeWiz]

Jeff,
I have used the Lowrance Golbal Nav 12 for 3 years on Erie and it has served me well .I fish out of a 16ft Starcraft and did not have enough space for a console mount.The handhelds are just as accurate as the consoles mount because they work off the same satelights .Lowrance does make a Global Map 100 that is a handeld unit that you can add CD rom info to it .
Good Fishing
WalleyeWiz

[Hans]

As the other two fellows have said, the accuracy of the two designs are pretty much equal, and feature are comparable (depending on your budget).

I prefer the larger mounted units for a couple of reasons:

A *LOT* easier to read while underway, especially at night finding your way back to the dock in the dark.

Since they are wired into the boat, no dead batteries at the wrong times.

Because they have larger antennas, they are less likely to drop their fix momentarily (which is pretty common with the handheld units).

Unlikely to forget to have it aboard, left laying on truck seat.

Won't fall out of your pocket into the lake as you lean over to net that 33" walleye.

On the other hand, the portable units can be used while hunting, hiking, or other non-boat applications too.

Maybe you need one of each!

Hans

--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[Mike]

Jeff...
You may want to wait a little bit. Fishing Hot Spots is going to announce a new deal with Navionics, Inc., shortly that will have freshwater contour and structure data in Lowrance, Garmin, Raytheon and Si-Tex equipment. This is a huge step forward in GPS, to be able to see the lake structure and plot waypoints over them. Keep an eye on the FHS website (fishingmaps.com) or your dealer for info.

[Dave G]

I recently was looking at GPS units and found 100's of GPS links. I took about 30 links I thought were useful and put them on our fishing club's website. You may find it a good place to start for downloading free GPS manuals, reading reviews/comparisions of various units and getting waypoints over the internet.

The link is www.millcomm.com/~djj/GPSlinks.html I do not endorse any specific unit or attempt to sell/promote anything. The page was developed to help the Walleye Searchers of MN fishing club members better understand GPS and what to consider when buying one.

Dave Gulczinski