10-09-2008, 07:42 AM
Hi Beenfishing, and welcome, saw your question and fully agree, wish I had held off on my G'min GPS72 handheld, literally just a few bucks more some priceless features and color, which is really nice for "at a glance" viewing on the move and the like. Heck it's just cool.
One I want now is one of their GPSMAP units, cant find anything close second on my modest budget. and been my experience and especially with newer signal technology, IMO really don't need any ext antennas, but they're available as accessories. Many newer Fish finders have a GPS built right in, that's what I want for my fishing hole waypoints, but my handheld has become a priceless tool, goes with me everywhere just like the cell phone.
Make sure whatever you are looking at is WAAS enabled, accuracy is not only scary, it's consistent and will get some fixes you might not otherwise. and go With G'min , simply the best and by far the best value for cost vs. features. And make sure your getting a Barometric altimeter unit, useless feature on the ocean, but for us inland folks, it's priceless, elevation accuracies without within 30 to 50 feet, with, just a few. And unit will factor reading in it's corrections, especially important if your only hitting a few satellites.
Thus, depending on your budget, recommend keeping your Fish Finder and GPS separate, I use mine to run my fences, hiking , in vehicle etc. etc, and patches into laptop for topo program, really neat stuff. Tons of accessories, neat toys. Get a good one, and never rely on it is my personal philosophy, no substitute old school if it dies or ??
I live in Wa state so many of my journeys are through the woods, here to tell you, again lol, get a G'min, have thoroughly tested, (ok cussed) the competition, inadequate to no performance in the woods and tighter canyons etc.. my best, BFS
Excellent explanation of WAAS:
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/waas.html[/url]
.
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One I want now is one of their GPSMAP units, cant find anything close second on my modest budget. and been my experience and especially with newer signal technology, IMO really don't need any ext antennas, but they're available as accessories. Many newer Fish finders have a GPS built right in, that's what I want for my fishing hole waypoints, but my handheld has become a priceless tool, goes with me everywhere just like the cell phone.
Make sure whatever you are looking at is WAAS enabled, accuracy is not only scary, it's consistent and will get some fixes you might not otherwise. and go With G'min , simply the best and by far the best value for cost vs. features. And make sure your getting a Barometric altimeter unit, useless feature on the ocean, but for us inland folks, it's priceless, elevation accuracies without within 30 to 50 feet, with, just a few. And unit will factor reading in it's corrections, especially important if your only hitting a few satellites.
Thus, depending on your budget, recommend keeping your Fish Finder and GPS separate, I use mine to run my fences, hiking , in vehicle etc. etc, and patches into laptop for topo program, really neat stuff. Tons of accessories, neat toys. Get a good one, and never rely on it is my personal philosophy, no substitute old school if it dies or ??
I live in Wa state so many of my journeys are through the woods, here to tell you, again lol, get a G'min, have thoroughly tested, (ok cussed) the competition, inadequate to no performance in the woods and tighter canyons etc.. my best, BFS
Excellent explanation of WAAS:
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/waas.html[/url]
.
[signature]