Picking out a new Hand Held GPS! HELP!

[SaltyShaw]

Well I recently had a Garmin Oregon GPS, rarely used it when i got it but started carrying it with me and using it more and more i noticed evrytime i went to use it the batts were dead or something wasnt working right, so needless to say it lost a battle and is no longer with us. With that being said im looking at getting one of these 3 GPS's but i am open to suggestions so please help if you have had any experience with any of these or have a good reccomendation!
Trying to keep the pricing under 300 bones and it will only be used for fishing purposes not gonna be hiking or hunting with it.
THANKS!!

Garmin GPSMAP78 $299

Lowrance Endura Out&Back $170

Lowrance Endura Safari $250

[JDd]

Lowrance H2O
$190

[SaltyShaw]

Checking it out now thanks! Is that what you use?

[PaulMyers]

Get the GPSMAP 78. Works just like my 78SC

EVO

[JDd]

Yeah, I have two. Never had a problem in four years.

[southern151]

Got an H2O and never had much trouble with it. Good unit, I just need to get off my tight star and buy some good maps for it!

[SaltyShaw]

GPSMAP 78 is just like yours minus the wireless capabilities right Paul?

JDd thanks man im gonna check into them

[LPfishnTIM]

I bought the outback, great gps, BUT! the maps cost as much as the gps does! Navionics is about the only maps that you can use that work with it and have the right amount of detail to navigate inshore.

they don't make the H2O anymore but the map create maps I had For it were awesome, they just aren't compatible with the new Lowrance gps

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by LPfishnTIM

I bought the outback, great gps, BUT! the maps cost as much as the gps does! Navionics is about the only maps that you can use that work with it and have the right amount of detail to navigate inshore.

The map prices are stupid,don't make no damn sense! They stick you good because most gps units base maps are useless.

[LPfishnTIM]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

The map prices are stupid,don't make no damn sense! They stick you good because most gps units base maps are useless.

yeah! I couldn't agree with you anymore! with the older gps you could buy the year before's maps for $49 and new maps for $99. NOW MAPS ARE $199! ITS OUTRAGEOUS!

[SaltyShaw]

Well that sucks i was leaning toards that Lowrance. . . . . . Paul whats the deal with the maps on the Garmin?

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by SaltyShaw

Well that sucks i was leaning toards that Lowrance. . . . . . Paul whats the deal with the maps on the Garmin?

Hate to break it to ya bro,it is not brand specific....all of the base maps show very little definition. If you are using it for big lake to mark reefs and whatnot you will be good. For the marsh the base maps are useless. I personally prefer the garmin gps,the mapsource program is nice....cost around 100 bucks.

[SaltyShaw]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

Hate to break it to ya bro,it is not brand specific....all of the base maps show very little definition. If you are using it for big lake to mark reefs and whatnot you will be good. For the marsh the base maps are useless. I personally prefer the garmin gps,the mapsource program is nice....cost around 100 bucks.

That will be the only thing it will be used for so that will be perfect thanks Mantauk!

[inchspinner]

Can you copy the NAVIONCS cards....

[meaux fishing]

garmin has the best base maps of any gps out there at least that is the case with the fixed mount ones

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by inchspinner

Can you copy the NAVIONCS cards....

no they are copy protected

[PaulMyers]

Originally Posted by meaux fishing

garmin has the best base maps of any gps out there at least that is the case with the fixed mount ones

x2

Shaw, I'll look them both up and give you the differences.

EVO

[Ray]

I have the older 76C which is now the 78C.
YOu get one free map disk with the hand held.
I got Brownsville, Tx. to Morgan City, La.
But the base map looks pretty good to me to.
When I fished out of Grand Isle, the Garmin
base map is a whole lot better than the
Hummingbird base map.

Good thing with the Garmin, you get a map
software with it also. You can work off of
your laptop and plot courses and input all
the waypoints you want. Then download
to the GPS. It is a lot easier to input way
point numbers and names on a laptop than
it is to do it on a handheld with no keyboard.

[speck-chaser]

Paul, you should have the map card in my old model right? Will that fit into the newer model?

[weedeater]

Garmin GPSMAP 62ST, I have the previous model and its great even has most coves like on Toledo Bend named on screen and very good detail