Which GPS/FishFinder

Ok guys,been reading alot about all the problems with some of these units and I know this question has been asked alot on here but what would be a good gps/fishfinder for me?I can spend between 400-600 dollars on the unit...I think!!!I mostly want the unit to troll for crappie in the channels so that I can halfway stay in the channel.Also would be good to navigate the channels up and down the lakes.Would also like color.My boat is a 16' grumman stick steer so 1 location for driving and fishing.I will probably mount the transducer on my auto pilot tm.Thanks in advance!!!!

Jabbo, The Garmin handheld GPS you have works great for staying in the channel. Thats what me and my buddy use, but I know it is gonna end up in the lake one day. I just put a Humminbird 383c on my boat and I am going to try it out for the first time this weekend at Talquin. It is color and a GPS/Fishfinder combo. I will just mainly use it for the GPS and depth of water and it is not that expensive. Reports I have gotten on it so far all have been good. I'll tell you what I think about it after this weekend.

I was looking at maybe the Hummingbird 787c2i Combo w/ Internal Antenna.Does anyone have any good/bad reviews for this one or one similar???

We have a 787c2i. I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. The GPS sucks and can only "find itself" if you're going at least 3 mph. Check out the Garmin GPSMap 276c. I don't think it's in the BP or Cabela's catalog. We got ours from discountgps.com for about $450.00. It's a color screen, holds 3,000 waypoints, it's a handheld, but comes with a marine mount and snaps off and on the mount easily. We have the exact same waypoints in both units - when the Garmin says you're there, you really are there. When the Humminbird says you're there - you're still 20 + feet away.

Get a Garmin for the GPS and a Vexilar flasher for the front trolling motor and maybe a humminbird 565 or something for the transome. Just my opinion. Thats how I will rig my next boat.

I have the lowrance 520c like it a lot ready to go right out of the box love the gps around 700.00.

Jabbo, I just purchased a Hummingbird from these guys and they were $400 cheaper than the competition. Great service and gave me a deal on a package. Not too sure on the HB's yet, but I have a Lowrance LMS480m unit on the front of my boat and have been very happy with it for 3 years. The link to their page is Marine Electronics & Fishing Equipment, Buy Humminbird, Raymarine & Garmin Fishfinders, Handheld GPS, Chartplotters, Radios, Radars & Autopilots Online. Check out the Lowrance 520. It is a color unit with gps and sonar. Same as the 480, but with COLOR:eek: for $379.

Another question, which is better, Internal or External GPS receiver? Don't really like the idea of having to mount something else on the front of my boat but I guess if it works better I will do it.Thanks.

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Originally Posted by JABBO

Another question, which is better, Internal or External GPS receiver? Don't really like the idea of having to mount something else on the front of my boat but I guess if it works better I will do it.Thanks.

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I have a HB 797 si unit with an internal antenna. It had to go back to HB with only about 12 hours on it. They replace the antenna and it is better, but not what I would expect out of a unit of this price. I will say this... HB took care of everything, shipping and all. Quick turn around too. I have a lot of confidence in their Customer Support. They did me right.

Any product you buy you're gonna have some lemons. The measure of a company is if they make it right or not. I am convienced that HB is working to correct the bug that these GPS units have. Atleast they say they are. I have no reason to doubt them. We'll see if I'm right in a month or so.

These people that tell you there isn't a problem with them must have never used anything that really works well so they have nothing to compair it to.

The 383 that someone mentioned is an extremely accurate little unit. Two of my buddys have them & they are right on.

As far as the antenna goes... I like to have my reciever/antenna as close to my transducer as possible for accuracy. If your unit is gonna be close to the transducer the internal would probably be ok.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I have a HB 797 si unit with an internal antenna. It had to go back to HB with only about 12 hours on it. They replace the antenna and it is better, but not what I would expect out of a unit of this price. I will say this... HB took care of everything, shipping and all. Quick turn around too. I have a lot of confidence in their Customer Support. They did me right.

Any product you buy you're gonna have some lemons. The measure of a company is if they make it right or not. I am convienced that HB is working to correct the bug that these GPS units have. Atleast they say they are. I have no reason to doubt them. We'll see if I'm right in a month or so.

These people that tell you there isn't a problem with them must have never used anything that really works well so they have nothing to compair it to.

The 383 that someone mentioned is an extremely accurate little unit. Two of my buddys have them & they are right on.

As far as the antenna goes... I like to have my reciever/antenna as close to my transducer as possible for accuracy. If your unit is gonna be close to the transducer the internal would probably be ok.

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Thanks Wiskers for the input. My tranducer will probably go on the back of the boat where the other one is, so I could mount the receiver back there to keep it out of the way.I might check out some of the Lowrance or Garmin units. Doesn't really matter which brand to me as long as it works good. I have a stick steer so I want just one unit and would like a combo.