Handheld Mapping GPS ?

Hi all,

I am looking to purchase yet another hand held mapping gps this year. I have the garmin legend hcx and absolutly do not like it. It was bought earlier this year and I have had nothing but problems. I updated it and it still doesn't work. The compass freezes, the maps suck. It all was purchased earlier this year.
Any way I have been looking at several units the lowrance h2o which I some experience with, the lowrance Expedition c and the garmin 60 series, the 76 series, and the new 400 series.
The problem I have is the garmin maps really do stink but, I like there units overall. The lowrance I have very limited experience with but, I like the navionics maps.

Please help!!
any and all insight is appreciated.

Bob, I have 2 Garman GPSMAP 76s...I like them very much..I have to download any maps I use...If I were buying a new one it would be the GPSMAP 76csx or the Colorado 400i...I think both of these units use the cards. However, I don't know if Garmin units are compatible with Navionics.

Don I know that the garmin units do not use the navionics maps. I read one review of the 400i and it didn't sound like the guy enjoyed his new purchase the reason for his disappointment was the maps that came with the unit were very poor. Overall reviews of the 400 series is pretty good.

I'm just the opposite of Don. I have an Lowrance Ifinder that works great since I updated the operating software and downloaded the free maps from Lowrance.com. I have never used the Navonics maps but I hear they are nice. Maybe one of the best things about Lowrance is their customer service/tech support.

Just something else to consider.....

Bob, I use a Lowrance H2oc and love it. I use Mapcreate 7 and it shows very detail maps of my area. My only disappointment is that it is somewhat hard to see in very bright sunlight, but by tilting it away from the glare it is readable. You might want to check out Delorme. They have a unit that does street navigating, marine and topo if I'm not mistaken. You can also get sat photos that display your position. If I had not already invested in the H2oc I would be more than willing to give it a try. Check it out a www.delorme.com. Its called the Earthmate GPS PN-20. I have used delorme mapping and GPS receiver on my laptop since forever and love it. I just upgraded again to the 2009 version. As a final note, if someone would be willing to buy my Lowrance I'd gladly buy me one.
"gene"

Gene, thanks for the tip on the delormes. I have one question though, after reading about the pn 20 I can't determine if they have inland water lake maps or if it just for the coastal and great lakes waters. Do you have any insight? I may try to call them on Monday.

I have the I finder H2OC with a Navionics card and I am very happy with the unit and
the map card. I also have a FHS card for a different region and I don't like it near as
well as the Navionics maps.
The only thing I dislike about my H2O is that it will not read speed below 1 mph. This
is a real drawback if you want to longline jigs

I have had an h2o with Navionics East chip for about 3 years now, works great, very accurate.A problem with the color units is inability to read speeds below 1.1 mph, an email to Lowrance confirmed this issue, however the b&w units will read to .4-.5 mph. My self and 3 other guys I fish with all have this unit in b&w and all will read very low speeds. Use them for crank trolling, long lining,etc. possum1

Well I made the leap. I purchased a Lowrance Expedition C. I haven't purchased the Navionics map chip yet but, so far I like the unit. I know its not one discussed here but, I like the electronic compass feature on the expedition.
I had it out over the weekend and this unit will not read below 1.4mph once it hits that mark it goes to zero this kind of bites. I checked the lowrance site and there are no updates for it. I will email them about this later or if anyone from lowrance reads this let me know what I can do.

Paw paw, while I was researching I saw a review about the new PN 40 that is do out in the fall. You might want to hold out for a bit and see how that one performs.

Thanks for everyone's input it was very much appreciated.

BobG, If this a color unit that is as slow as they will read, don`t know why. My b&w unit will read down to .4-.5, my buddy bought a color unit, same problem as yours, wouldn`t read below1.3-1.4 mph, he immediately returned the unit for a b&w, it will read down to .3-.4 mph. I am no software whiz but there is a difference in them. Good fishin`. possum1