GPS or GPS mapping unit

[Frank]

One question: Is a mapping unit useful enough to get one instead of a regular GPS?

Thanks!

[BigBass]

Yes, unless you take the time to manually enter all the waypoints of drop-offs, rock piles, submerged stumps, direct drop points.

I feel it saves me time on the water. Less time looking, more time realing.

BigBass~

[d_rigger]

I have a Garmin 128 GPS on my boat.All I need to do is hit the MARK button and the unit stores that in memory as a waypt, also automatically assigns a number to WPT. in sequence.Later I can go back and change WPT no. to a title. EX.change WPT 23 to>" sandbar off point Echo". Unit also has a track back featture if you want to use it. Draws a map of where u started,where you have been and where you are presently. Is this what you are talking about?

[REW]

Prices have dropped so much for mapping GPS units, that you really shouldn't even consider a new GPS - that doesn't contain mapping capability.

With mapping capability - and especially if you have one of the chips, or downloads - made for the body of water that you are on -- without doing anything to your gps - except turning it on - you have a complete lake map - all of the shoreline- bays inlets etc. all without having to enter anything.

If you are in the dark of night - in a driving wind storm - you can instantly know - by looking at the entire lake - where -- exactly you are on that lake.

With a regular - non mapping gps - you will know the latitude and longitude of your exact location. However, without referencing something else - you don't know at a glance - where that number or graphic location is exactly - with respect to the rest of the lake.

Yes, if you have a bunch of waypoints loaded, if you load in your starting location - you can always see your starting point - from where you are currently located. However, if you are 1/2 way across the lake and get caught in a big blow - you might not want to go directly back to your starting point, but find some other shelter - on the other side of the lake. With the map outline - on the back ground map - it is easy to locate those other sheltered areas - that wouldn't be so straight forward, with a mapping gps.

--
I use my mapping gps in my car all the time as well - when we go on trips. It is fun to map out your route - look ahead - to determine distances to the next stops etc. With a hand held - or small - self contained antenna mounted unit - you can easily use them inside the car. Also, if you want to use them on hunting or hiking trips - again the mapping capability - shows your relative position - relative to the rest of the world. You know at a glance - exactly where you are in the world - relative to the incumbent world map that is resident on most of the mapping gps units.

Take care
REW

[zugbug]

Without a doubt get a mapping unit. I have the garmin 162 on board the boat and use the Garmin 76 in my duck boats and Truck. I have bought and sold Gps units since 1994 and as previously posted, the money now makes the Mapping units an easy choice.

[Frank]

Can you download from an iMac computer?

[hgf]

Thanks REW. You answered some of my questions. I am not a computer guru, getting confused about all the options. I am willing to drop 500 or 600 bucks though. What I would like is a bigger screen, see the outline of a lake I am on, could zoom in or out for more or less detail, have a blinking dot where the boat is, and find my way back in the dark if necessary. Contour lines great, but not absolutely necessary. Be nice to be able to use it in Canada. Willing to spend some extra for CD or specialized map info if I go somewhere. Willing to try downloading from my computer, IF it is really, really simple to do! Now, with options, (antenna??connection wires??maps??? other??) what are the options out there?? Do I have to spend 1000 bucks to get what I want?? What are some models I should look at?
I have looked at some in stores, read the posts, but it gets confusing for a neophyte. Can someone simplify this for a beginner??
Thanks.

[buzbait]

HGF,
It gets confusing when you look at all the opions that are out there. Here's a bit of info that may help. Take a look at the GARMIN 162 mapping unit. This retails for something like $450 in bass pro, Cabelas, Gander etc. It comes with the fishing hot spots cd which gives awesome detail. I bought one last year (actually the 168 combo) and love it. The Garmin website has a coupon for $50 off the unit if you buy it. Not a bad deal.

Buz

[jj]

What about the Garmin 176? You can get a mount for boat and car, and runs on batteries so it's portable. Is there some reason a 162 is better than the 176? Not much price difference.

[DR]

What are the pros and cons of the LMS 240 campared to the Lowrance X-15. Planning on buying a good GPS unit but I'm getting very confused.
the LMS 240 looks like a better deal with the mapping capabilities.
Thanks, DR

[Bob]

Can the Garmin 162 be used in a car? Also,
Does it have enough memory to load Mapsource CD's for roads and highways? Can you plug it into a 12 volt outlet?

Thanks

[buzbait]

Bob and JJ,
I'll tell you what I know on the Garmin stuff. the 176 is a portable and uses a memory card that you program from your computer. I haven't used one so I can't tell you how it works. On using the 162 in the car, I think you can get a 12v adapter and the unit can download street maps- which cd, I don't know. My guess from looking at the site is Metroguide.

Buz

[RTD]

I use my 162 in my truck all the time. It has 2.5MB of RAM that is used to load more detailed maps. It has a base map of the world built in. Mapsource software allows you to increase the detail level of the maps. You load Mapsource software on your computer, then click on the area where you want more detail (by County). You can then load this on the 162 up to the 2.5MB limit. You can also load Fishing Hot Spots software that gives you detailed lake info on selected lakes. You have to buy the appropriate cords you need like a 12V adapter cable, PC cable, or Garmin to Garmin cable. The 162 uses a propriatory 7 pin connector so I am not aware of anywhere you can get the connector to make your cables like you can with the 4 pin connector used on units like the 12Map.

[Jim Ordway]

If you haven't already, go the lowrance site and it allows you to compare the units side by side, very handy feature.
Happy shopping,