You get what you pay for. :D
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I was impressed by the reviews of the Delorme PN 40 and they offer excellent maps...but are not compatible with for Navionics and Fishing Hot Spots... which are the favorites with most fresh water fishermen. (Correct me if I'm wrong... and I'll run out and buy one).
I did a search on handheld gps and came up with this thread. I hear lots of good stuff about the Garmin GPSMap76CX but also here and elsewhere I keep hearing how expensive the maps are. I used to have a Lowrance H2Oc and was very pleased with it. Sold it when I bought a boat mounted gps and regretted doing so later. With what's going on now at Lowrance I'm not prepared to get another product from them at this time. One of the features I used most in my H2OC was free lake maps I downloaded from the Lowrance site. They worked great for my purposes and some actually showed much better detail than a set I spent $100 on for my boat mounted gps. My question---Are these compatible with the Garmin GPSMap 76CX or is their something like that from Garmin where I don't have to break the bank?
2d question - Is $265 a decent price for a new 76CX?
Thanks,
Floyd
Lowrance IfinderH20. Don't worry about CS at lowrance.
I liked my H2Oc but those apparently are being phased out for the Endura series and the Endura Safari would run me about $40 more than the 76CX. My first handheld several years ago was an old Etrex that I used elk hunting in Colorado then passed to a grandson for scouts. It's still going strong today. I like my Lowrance depth finders but think I still would prefer a Garmin GPS. Anyone have the Endura series and use them on the water?
I have the Garmin 76CSx and really like it. I have it hooked now to a Humminbird 778. I used the USA topo maps and would like to have the lake map series but they are $100+. Also for boating this Garmin 72/76 units floats.
I used the Garmin 3's and 5's at work before I got this unit.
For free topo maps for the Garmin GPSFileDepot - Garmin Compatible Custom Maps
I downloaded Canada topo maps from the site and they work. Now I see they have more and more of the US. I know they are not lake maps but it sure helps if you are out on a new lake with a lot of islands and trying to find the cove that the small creek is in that you used to get to the lake.
Make sure what you get has WAAS
I have both the Garmin 76 and the Humminbird 778. Never thought about connecting them. How do you have them connected and does it give you full GPS functionality on the Hbird?
I have a 72, 76 and 76Cx so you can see I like Garmin and I think I like the B/W better than the color, may just be my old bi-focal eyes. One thing if you have a 72, which I'm not sure they make anymore, you must do the up-date for it to work with WAAS but it will still work with WAAS turned off.
i have a garmin i use it for hunting. it's accurate,easy to use and affordable. imo.
As far as I can tell, you get the same functionality as you get with buying the GPS antenna from Hbird. At one time Hbird made a cable (HS HHGARO82) that connected the two units. I was told this is no longer made. Now you need the Hbird cable AS-HHGPS that has bare wires on one end. Then you also need a RS232 cable for the Garmin that connects to the round 4 pin plug in back. Solder the correct wires and you are in business.
I used an old garmin data cable and cut off the 9 pin connector. If I was buying one, I would get the Garmin cable that is RS 232 and power to the unit. (I got one but still looking for it)
I maked some waypoints on the Hbird and was able to come back another day and fine the points again. I do not know of a way to add maps to the 778 so the GPS screen is a grid. Look up the cable and download the manual under service to get screenshots
It is nice to be able to see something on the chart, move your cursor over it and then mark it as a waypoint. I understand the waypoint will be correct to the position of the object, not your current position. This is a new FF for me so I am still learning but I think it is far better then the 323 I had