Handheld GPS

For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still way
less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software required,
which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
general quality.

richforman
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

Lee C. Carpenter wrote:
> Rich,
>
> I've all but decided on the GPSMap 76CSx. Your experience makes me like it
> even more. Mainly, it floats. You've now probably spent as much as you would
> have to buy the GPSMap. You could have gone back and located it after it
> flew into the Sound.(maybe) That's a tough loss.
>
> You make great points, and if I could find a cheaper one that also floats
> I'd certainly consider it. Is it possible to attach key floats to one to
> keep it up?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lee

Good idea, in fact my friend says he has an idea in mind to attach some
kind of lanyard to his next one to avoid just such an occurrence.
Well, onward and upward!

richforman

>
> wrote in message
>
> > For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
> > legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
> > for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
> > Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
> > minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
> > think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
> > knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
> > sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
> > about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still way
> > less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
> > expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
> > Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
> > maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
> > Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software required,
> > which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
> > computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
> > unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
> > plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
> > whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
> > looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
> > this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
> > excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
> > general quality.
> >
> > richforman
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

Rich,

I've all but decided on the GPSMap 76CSx. Your experience makes me like it
even more. Mainly, it floats. You've now probably spent as much as you would
have to buy the GPSMap. You could have gone back and located it after it
flew into the Sound.(maybe) That's a tough loss.

You make great points, and if I could find a cheaper one that also floats
I'd certainly consider it. Is it possible to attach key floats to one to
keep it up?

Thanks,

Lee

wrote in message

> For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
> legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
> for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
> Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
> minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
> think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
> knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
> sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
> about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still way
> less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
> expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
> Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
> maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
> Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software required,
> which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
> computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
> unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
> plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
> whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
> looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
> this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
> excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
> general quality.
>
> richforman
>
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

> Good idea, in fact my friend says he has an idea in mind to attach some
> kind of lanyard to his next one to avoid just such an occurrence.
> Well, onward and upward!


I don't know about a lanyard.

GPS comes out of holder....Jetski continues at 25+ mph.....lanyard reaches
its limit and GPS snaps back like an 8-ounce bullet.....ouch....correction:
OUCH!


Lee

wrote in message

>
> Lee C. Carpenter wrote:
>> Rich,
>>
>> I've all but decided on the GPSMap 76CSx. Your experience makes me like
>> it
>> even more. Mainly, it floats. You've now probably spent as much as you
>> would
>> have to buy the GPSMap. You could have gone back and located it after it
>> flew into the Sound.(maybe) That's a tough loss.
>>
>> You make great points, and if I could find a cheaper one that also floats
>> I'd certainly consider it. Is it possible to attach key floats to one to
>> keep it up?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Lee
>
> Good idea, in fact my friend says he has an idea in mind to attach some
> kind of lanyard to his next one to avoid just such an occurrence.
> Well, onward and upward!
>
> richforman
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>
>> > For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
>> > legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
>> > for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
>> > Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
>> > minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
>> > think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
>> > knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
>> > sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
>> > about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still way
>> > less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
>> > expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
>> > Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
>> > maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
>> > Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software required,
>> > which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
>> > computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
>> > unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
>> > plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
>> > whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
>> > looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
>> > this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
>> > excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
>> > general quality.
>> >
>> > richforman
>> >
>
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

Stop screwing around with the $10 plastic mounts on your $1000 gps units.
Get a good tourtech mount. It's worth the money.

http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/gps_mounts.html

--
mark

wrote in message

> For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
> legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
> for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
> Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
> minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
> think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
> knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
> sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
> about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still way
> less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
> expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
> Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
> maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
> Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software required,
> which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
> computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
> unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
> plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
> whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
> looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
> this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
> excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
> general quality.
>
> richforman
>
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

lol, but good point !

--


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"Lee C. Carpenter" wrote in message

>> Good idea, in fact my friend says he has an idea in mind to attach some
>> kind of lanyard to his next one to avoid just such an occurrence.
>> Well, onward and upward!
>
>
> I don't know about a lanyard.
>
> GPS comes out of holder....Jetski continues at 25+ mph.....lanyard reaches
> its limit and GPS snaps back like an 8-ounce
> bullet.....ouch....correction: OUCH!
>
>
> Lee
>
> wrote in message
>
>>
>> Lee C. Carpenter wrote:
>>> Rich,
>>>
>>> I've all but decided on the GPSMap 76CSx. Your experience makes me like
>>> it
>>> even more. Mainly, it floats. You've now probably spent as much as you
>>> would
>>> have to buy the GPSMap. You could have gone back and located it after it
>>> flew into the Sound.(maybe) That's a tough loss.
>>>
>>> You make great points, and if I could find a cheaper one that also
>>> floats
>>> I'd certainly consider it. Is it possible to attach key floats to one to
>>> keep it up?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Lee
>>
>> Good idea, in fact my friend says he has an idea in mind to attach some
>> kind of lanyard to his next one to avoid just such an occurrence.
>> Well, onward and upward!
>>
>> richforman
>>
>>>
>>> wrote in message
>>>
>>> > For years I've been recommending (and using myself) the Garmin etrex
>>> > legend as an excellent compromise between affordability and usefulness
>>> > for navigation, minus some of the fancier features of higher-end
>>> > Garmins (mainly, color screens and BlueChart compatibility), but also
>>> > minus the heartache when you lose, drop or break one....and I still
>>> > think so. But since this happened to me last weekend (a big wave
>>> > knocked mine clean out of its RAM mount and into the Long Island
>>> > sound), I have used this opportunity to switch to one I've learned
>>> > about more recently that's a little more money than a Legend, still
>>> > way
>>> > less than a GPSMap76C, and has beautiful color screens and an
>>> > expandability path I like a lot more - it's the Lowrance iFinder H20
>>> > Color, street price around $200, and you can get detailed chartlike
>>> > maps in it through these plug-and-play memory chips (NauticPath USA /
>>> > Navionics Gold/and others), no computer interface or software
>>> > required,
>>> > which I like a lot, much cheaper and simpler. (They also have a
>>> > computer software program and hardware interface option but I felt it
>>> > unnecessary, unlike with the Garmins.) Anyway, I just ordered one,
>>> > plus one of the electronic chart chips (about $65 and includes the
>>> > whole USA), and a replacement cradle for my RAM handlebar mount and am
>>> > looking forward to usng the new setup on my visit to the Jersey shore
>>> > this weekend. From the reading I've done, the Lowrance also has an
>>> > excellent reputation for reliability, quick satellite lock-in and
>>> > general quality.
>>> >
>>> > richforman
>>> >
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

Garmin Etrex Vista all the way....the thing never breaks.
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

Lee C. Carpenter wrote:
> Looking for opinions on handheld GPS units for use on PWC. I've narrowed it
> down, but would like to hear from some real-world users.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Lee
> '01 XLT 1200
>
>
I have a Garmin 76C on my PWC. The thing that I like is that if it were
to come off, it floats. I Placed some bright orange tape around the unit
to make it easier to find on the water, but it has yet to come off the
mount.

TS Carr
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS 

"tscarr" wrote in message

> Lee C. Carpenter wrote:
>> Looking for opinions on handheld GPS units for use on PWC. I've narrowed
>> it down, but would like to hear from some real-world users.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> Lee
>> '01 XLT 1200
> I have a Garmin 76C on my PWC. The thing that I like is that if it were to
> come off, it floats. I Placed some bright orange tape around the unit to
> make it easier to find on the water, but it has yet to come off the mount.
>
> TS Carr


What mount and what PWC do you have?
 >> Stay informed about: Handheld GPS