Garmin 162

[wjw]

Does anyone have any experience with a Garmin 162 GPS? I'm looking to buy a unit and am focused on either the 162 or the 176 at the moment. I fish exclusively inland lakes in the Dakotas. I've also looked at the Lowrance 2400 but I already have some software for the Garmin. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Brian_MN]

I've had a 162 with the internal antenna for 2 years and am very happy with it. Don't let anyone try to tell you that you need the external antenna, you don't need it, and the internal one makes rigging it in your boat much easier.

[david anderson]

I agree. I have had a discussion this weekend regarding the external antenna on Lowrance vs may 162. Mine works flawlessly and have never lost a signal once I have been locked on. The only issue is I will lose the differential signal, but this is base on my location rather than an antenna issue. The 162 is an excellent GPS. I have the Garmin Topo software and it's very accurate when used as your basemap.

[Vern]

I've had a Garmin 162 with External antenna in my boat for almost two years now. Brian_MN is correct. The external antenna is a hassle. There have been many times that it would have been nice to take the unit along when fishing in another boat, but it would be too much work to pull antenna wires through all those little nooks and crannies again. I've even gone so far as to build a second passive antenna which works about 3/4 as good (based on signal bar strenght) as the Garmin supplied unit but is really ugly....can you say tupperware housing?. I'm to cheap to buy a second garmin antenna. I don't know how much better the external antenna is but I can't imagine that it is that significant.

I like the features and especially the policy that Garmin has of providing free software updates on their web site. With WAAS, I quite often get a reported accuracy of 7 ft.

I'been working on a little mapping project and sorta wish I'd gotten the 168 unit with the built in sounder and antenna. That unit can put out the position AND depth so a person with a software program (possible even a spreadsheet) could make their own lake maps.

[wjw]

Thanks for your input. The info on the antenna may be the deciding factor.

[Mike Michalak]

Your other deciding factor may be the amount of waters available for the Dakotas available for the unit. While I'm not in the habit of saying "don't buy this," I don't want you to be disappointed with this, or any other electronics.

Check out http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/fhs.html and see what's available for the 162. I run one in the company boat and, in fact, stuck it on the dashboard of the truck for a seven state trip recently. A great unit!

Drop me a note if there are any other questions...

[Brian_MN]

Mike,

I just picked up the Hot Spots maps for my Garmin, covering MN and Ontario, and I have to say that they look awesome! To actually have an electronic chart of Lake of the Woods with all the buoys and track lines will give me a lot more time to fish and less time spent trying to read a paper map at 50 MPH!

Thanks,