Printable View
I have been thinking about upgrading, but would like to know if you small combo guys had it to do over,would you get a seperate gps and finder with large screens or just or keep the small combo? Don't really like dealing with split screens and such,also have bad eyes and room is not a problem for both units. Any advantages to either setup?
I have a 520C, and I like the combo. Mine is mounted on the gunwale just in front of the throttle, so it's close for me to see while I'm driving. Makes it easier to take just one unit off when parking the boat. The only thing I'd change would be a set of buttons that would load a preconfigured setup like all GPS, all sonar or split without having to go into a menu to do it.
I have a combo on the console and a seperate Eagle GPS and a 717 HB on the front....I dont like one more than the other. On the 383c Combo I have, I can change screens at the touch of a button and its easily done.
Sorry, should have made it more clear on my post,I'm talking strictly up front while fishing ,trolling actually.Yes, Cat Fan you have some great points easier operating controls would be nice,like a light switch you can turn on with 1 button like the old lcrs,it's a pain scrolling though the menu at nightjust trying to turn the light on, fumbling a flashlight. Just looking at buying 2 500 hundred dollars units with bigger screens that I can see good like TnTs set up virsuses buying a 1000 unit with a small screen that splits and I can't see that well. Of course the combo seems to have it's place on the console due to room constraints.
I like 2 separate units, a screen dedicated to each function is alot easier on my old eyes. I've got a Humminbird 933 finder with a 9" screen, sweet. Then I have a Garmin 498 plotter finder, which I use strictly for the GPS. The nice thing about the Garmin is it's a combo unit and I have the x ducer installed for it. If for any reason the Humminbird craps out, I still have a finder.
I think your right Shellback seems most logical to go with 2 seperate units since my budget can't handle a 1197.