Lowrance Products

[Want to be Informed]

I respect the information that I get on this site, so please don't tell me to go the the Lowrance web site. I am looking to buy some new electronics with a nerw boat, and the electronics will not arrive until the new boat does. My question is multiple.

1. How easy is it to learn to use the X15, I have been using an X85 for a number of years and feel comfortable with it.

2. What are the differences/advantages or disadvantages of the Global Map 3000 and the Global Map 2400 other than the obvious screen size.

3. How difficult are these two units to learn to use compared to my current Lowrance 310.

4. Is it possible without manually re-keying them to get my waypoints and icons out of my 310 and into one of these two new units? If you say this is possible, have you done it, and what did it take? Do I have to buy a special one time use cable for my 310? Do you want to sell or rent your cable?

THanks in advance for all of your comments.

[PJM]

Want to be Informed

The X-15 is as easy to use as the X-85 and maybe easier. The key pad is nice and it has pop up messages to help you. As far as the 3000 & 2400, the 2400 does have a smaller screen but some time extra dash space is needed to mount the 3000. If you can operate a 310 the 2400 and the 3000 will be no problem. You will have to manually put them in to the 2400 and the 3000. If it were me I would buy a Globle Map 1600 on a close out becuse it is basically the same as 2400 without the mcc card. They don't make a data manager for the 310 just for the LMS 160 and the 1600. The data manager allows you to store your GPS information on your computer and transfer data back and forth.

[Jim Carroll]

I can only add, in case your unaware, if you go to Lowrance's website (gulp :+) you can download their excellent, free X-15 emulator in just a few minutes and play with all the features of the graph. Then its very easy to decide for yourself about the relative ease of operation of these graphs.

[PJM]

Jim

That is the best solution to his question. I might even look at it for fun. Enjoy reading your posts.............

[REW]

There have been some recent, rather favorable postings on the Furino line of depth finders. Perhaps, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check them out as well, if you are shopping for a new unit.

There have also been recent excellent postings on the Vexilar Edge depth finder.

It is nice to have lots of great products to choose from.

Take care
REW

[woodchuck]

I have a lowrance 1600 and I'm really pleased with it. However, it does have some mapping holes, esp. if you fish waters in Canada or on the border. The navionics maps are starting to fill that gap but at $25 a map, it can get expensive. You can get their new regional maps (MN, IA & WI) which includes all of Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake for $129 or 139 but it is only available on a MMC card (wish they would make it available on a CD) thus you can't use it on the 1600 but could on the 2400 or 3000. Since more and more detailed maps are becoming available this way, it's something to think about. Outside of this 3rd party mapping issue and wishing it was WAAS capable, the 1600's an excellent unit and easy to use.

[TJ]

I have a 1600 and it is a fine GPS. I also use the Navionics and FHS HotMaps with it. I would look at the 2400 because I believe it has a 50% better resolution than the 1600 (240 pixels vs. 160 pixels). Based on my experience with the aforementioned maps, a higher resolution would make the maps somewhat easier to read when there are lots of contour lines and other markers on the screen.

It's kind of like the difference between the screens on the X-85 (240 pixels) and the X-65 (160 pixels). When it comes to pixels, mo' is mo' better.