pvanv
Admiral
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 6,575
Re: Need info on best GPS for Lake
OK guys, time for me to chime in... As an electronics engineer, and a marine instrument installer, I can tell you this: All the civilian GPS units work the same, and collect exactly the same information. Position and Time. Period, end of sentence. Yes, there are WAAS and Differential systems to get closer accuracy, but we're talking feet of accuracy, not dozens of yards.
Based on that information (position and time), with decent cartography, you can get chart plotting. It's usually the charts that are lacking. I had a Magellan Color handheld that showed my truck driving through Lake Erie every time I drove to work, for example.
Since you already have paper charts of the area, my vote is for the cheapest unit that has a daylight-readable screen. BUT if you want chart plotting, make sure that your lake is covered by either the "base map" of the gps (at least), or by the chip that works with it. Then you will get buoys and stuff, updated to the last time the chip was updated.
FWIW, one of my units is an ancient Magellan Nav1200 that doesn't even have charts at all. Still as accurate as any, though, if all you want is a "you are here" lat/lon number for use with traditional paper charts. Likewise, my wife's Garmin nuvi 250w doesn't have any marine information in the database at all -- it's intended strictly for terrestrial use. However, the lat/lon position is still correct on the boat. Just no charts.
SO, the choice comes down to personal preference for the "language" of the machine, as well as the "look and feel" of the interface. Lowrance, Garmin, Magellan, Standard, etc, all have similar (but different) key strokes. This starts to be important if you are plotting routes and waypoints. So, yes, handhelds are fine, though you will probably want a 12v cord to extend the run time, and a unit that is reasonably splash-proof. But try a few out to see if you like how they "look and feel" before you buy.
OK guys, time for me to chime in... As an electronics engineer, and a marine instrument installer, I can tell you this: All the civilian GPS units work the same, and collect exactly the same information. Position and Time. Period, end of sentence. Yes, there are WAAS and Differential systems to get closer accuracy, but we're talking feet of accuracy, not dozens of yards.
Based on that information (position and time), with decent cartography, you can get chart plotting. It's usually the charts that are lacking. I had a Magellan Color handheld that showed my truck driving through Lake Erie every time I drove to work, for example.
Since you already have paper charts of the area, my vote is for the cheapest unit that has a daylight-readable screen. BUT if you want chart plotting, make sure that your lake is covered by either the "base map" of the gps (at least), or by the chip that works with it. Then you will get buoys and stuff, updated to the last time the chip was updated.
FWIW, one of my units is an ancient Magellan Nav1200 that doesn't even have charts at all. Still as accurate as any, though, if all you want is a "you are here" lat/lon number for use with traditional paper charts. Likewise, my wife's Garmin nuvi 250w doesn't have any marine information in the database at all -- it's intended strictly for terrestrial use. However, the lat/lon position is still correct on the boat. Just no charts.
SO, the choice comes down to personal preference for the "language" of the machine, as well as the "look and feel" of the interface. Lowrance, Garmin, Magellan, Standard, etc, all have similar (but different) key strokes. This starts to be important if you are plotting routes and waypoints. So, yes, handhelds are fine, though you will probably want a 12v cord to extend the run time, and a unit that is reasonably splash-proof. But try a few out to see if you like how they "look and feel" before you buy.