SUBJECT: # 34307: Best Handheld GPS

Submitted by Nutt (63.73.194.98) from OHIO on 4/6/2001 7:29:00 AM

I will be looking to purchase a handheld GPS this weekend(under $400.00) and wanted opinions on best type, make and model. I am currently looking at the magellan and Loran map series models but have no experience in this area. Any infomation or insight would be hopeful. I will use mostly in Ohio(Lake Earie) but will be taking it with me on several trips to SC.

1. 4/6/2001 7:40:00 AM Submitted by Rick/Fl (209.149.51.211) from FLORIDA says Depends....
   on how much detail you need. None of the built-in maps have a lot of detail regarding navigation, although you might look at the new Magellan 410, which is around $280 and is supposed to have navaids in it's built in map. For high detail, you need something that will take external charts, and in a handheld, that narrows it down to the Magellan 6000 or the Garmin 175. Both are more than $400, but are large with good screens, take digital maps that show channel markers and depth; I've really not used the Magellan, but I would doubt there's much difference between them. I currently use an older Lowrance mapping unit that takes C map cartridges; the screen is smaller than the large ones above, but has pretty good readability. These units would include the Eagle Accumap Sport, or the Lowrance Globalmap 12...neither are currently being made, but I have seen some great closeout prices if you look around.

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2. 4/6/2001 9:46:00 AM Submitted by Thom (198.99.246.1) from WEST VIRGINIA says Just a Note
   Nutt,

   I have owned several hand held GPS units by a couple of manufacturers. I will never buy another one by Magellan. Lower 'n low in my opnion. I'm getting set to buy another one soon. Have you seen the new Garmin model GPS-76 or its sister the GPSMap-76? Go take a look at their site under new products and see what you think.

   Thom

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3. 4/6/2001 11:01:00 AM Submitted by dowop from NEW JERSEY says Thom...
   Thom,

   I have a question for you. What is the excitement over the Map 76 unit? I guess I should ask - what are your expectations for the CD data? Have you seen the Waterways and Lights data? Do you care about depth countours and numbers?

   I have always looked forward to your insightful electronics information however I am having difficulty rationalizing your Map 76 position.

   Thanks

   -dowop

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4. 4/6/2001 2:00:00 PM Submitted by Thom (208.1.148.39) from WEST VIRGINIA says Dowop
   Oh, a couple of things. First off its a hand held and I'm looking for one to replace my aging GPS-12. As to its featrues, I don't care a bit about coutour lines on a small screen and actually don't much care about them on the large screen on the chartplotter either. I look at paper charts all the time and places that interest me are noted in my green book and as way points. When I'm actually out fishing the lines represent little more than unwelcomed clutter as far as I'm concerned. I let the depthfinder tell me what's under me. Of course that has a lot to do with the fact that I troll almost exclusivel and it also has a lot to do with the fact that I fish the same 50 mile stretch of water and have for years. So, that's the first thing - I don't care about coutour lines but if I wanted to see them I'd turn them back on on the chartplotter (and old Garmin 210 with G-Chart). Oh, don't know if I mentioned it or not but I have them turned off on the chartplotter most of the time. Actually because of the size of the screen of a hand held (which is larger on the GPS-76 than most others) it helps considerably to keep the information presented to a reasonable minimum. OK, what's next that looks so good about it to me? Well, its a Garmin. That has come to mean a lot to me. The company makes high quality equipment that is very easy to use. Its no suprise that they very rapidly became the largest seller of recreational GPS units. Their stuff is well made, well serviced, and extremely easy to use. Then there was the question of absolute positon accuracy. The new unit accepts WAAS corrections and that was a definite plus. Then there came the absolute kicker - it floats. Do you have any idea at all how clumbsy I am? then the last thing - I use my hand held GPS, what ever one I happen to have at the time, for a lot more than boating. I could get lost inside of a paper sack - really, its that bad. I use one with driving a lot just to let me know when I have to make turns and such. I use one one the road just to keep me company and tell me how much further I have to go. I use one in the woods when I go on my very long sunday morning walks (sometimes even the dogs get lost on those). If I can get a machine that allows me to alternatively upload topo maps or city street maps and also has the capability to allow me to upload even the most rudimentry coastal informaton I will be one happy camper. So when I look at the new GPSMap-76 it looks extremely good to me. Its smaller than the 175 (an outstanding machine that is to large for a hand held and to small for a fixed mount) and that helps. It retains the general operating system that I have really come to appreciate, it has all the bells and whistles I could ever want, and did I mention it floats?

   Thom

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5. 4/6/2001 8:16:00 PM Submitted by Dill (199.44.53.3) from FLORIDA says handheld GPS
   Thom: I have a Garmin map 130 on my boat with a G-Chart and I have a GPS111 Plus with the waterway and lights CD. I am retired on a fixed income and with all that you have just about convinced me to buy a GPS Map 76. Thanks for all your insight in these matters and taking the time to share them with some of us who need all the help we can get.

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6. 4/6/2001 9:32:00 PM Submitted by dowop from NEW JERSEY says Thanks Thom
   Thom: Thanks for your response - I see that you use your GPS a little differently than I do and I can certainly understand how the 76 would be a fit for you. I really think that the CD data will be the way of the future and as a Garmin (multi) owner I hope that they are able to incorporate the Navionics or C-Map (or equivalent) data into the CD's soon.

   -dowop

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7. 4/7/2001 1:07:00 PM Submitted by Ric (12.81.76.136) from CALIFORNIA says mapping
   Thom i chked out the 76 also it is quite impressive. I was already sold on garmin as ive only heard good things about them. What im not sure is, will the mapping be the way for me to go. Im only going to use it for fishing and want to keep it simple as possible. I was looking at the etrac mariner (which has the wass also). any help will be appreciated as ive never used a gps before.

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