Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

[CntrySngr]

I ordered a GPS unit that I can use in my car as well as the lake. I also ordered detailed "Fishing Hot Spots" maps for my area as well. I ordered the Garmin GPSMAP 60C - $295 after a $50 rebate.<br /><br />So...now for the FF. I know everyone says color is the way to go, but I am trying to keep this around $200 or less. Any ideas for something with a good screen resolution at that price?

 

[all thumbs]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

I've been happy with eagle. The fish mark 480 might be something you want to look at, around your price range. I went color this year and love it. I know budget can be a problem but if you can swing it, I think there would be no regrets .

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Thanks thumbs...I was considering a Humminbird Matrix in order to hook my GPS to it, but I haven't heard as much good about Humminbird as I have about Eagle and Lowrance...I'll give them a little more attention.<br /><br />Any other suggestions?

 

[cbcrawford]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

I am using the Humminbird 565 on my dash, right at $200 - the 640 vertical pixels are great, and it was neck and neck for me with that or the Eagle 480, I've always used Eagle before, you'd be happy with either of them. I have a Cuda 168 on my trolling motor, and will likely replace it soon with the 480.<br /><br />I wouldn't get fixated on viewing your GPS through your fishfinder. My handheld (ifinder) slips into a mount on my dash ($25 at basspro), so I have GPS to the right and sonar to the left. IMHO you should be first concerned with resolution and power, then color, then last GPS compatability.<br /><br />Just an opinion, there'll be many out there . . .

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

You will be pleased with the Eagle units. They perform well for the money. Nice compact units. You can get the 320c for less than $230. The fishmark 480 is a powerful unit for about $199, but I think it kind of tough to see in the sun. <br /><br />The humminbird matrix 17 is a decent unit as well. <br /><br />Lowrance x47 and x57 are nice.<br /><br />The Garmin 250 is an excellent unit that you can get for just about $200. Very easy to see screen in all conditions.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

I have a Lowrance X91 which is the same as what was the Eagle 320- the Eagle 480 is even higher resolution. <br /><br /> That being said, I like my X91 and it performs for me very well- visibility has not been an issue. However, I am hearing more and more about how much nicer the color units are. Target ID, separation, etc are excellent beyond B/W on even high dollar units. Keep in mind the X91s were over $450 when they were new. Now they're $200. :-(<br /><br /> I would spend the extra $100 and go color. There are a coiuple units out there now for $300 that will work for most fishermen out there. <br /><br />UFM82

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

How about the Eagle Fisheasy 320C...anyone out there using that one? It's color, and a lot closer to my price range.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Steven, I've been vicariously purchasing a gps/ff through you. Somehow I was hoping you were going to come back with some big-daddy combo unit...<br />Sounds like you made a smart choice with car/boat gps unit. My wife wants me to get one of those.<br />Good luck with your ff purchase!

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Thanks RubberFrog! I have a buddy here in town that is a big, and I mean BIG, techno-geek. When I mentioned that I had purchased the Garmin GPSMAP 60C he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. So, being the geek that he is, he went out and did a bunch of research and looked through his tech magazines, etc. and called me last night to tell me that I made an AWESOME choice! In fact, he was seriously considering getting one for himself!! He is in the process of looking for a Pontoon and would use it on the lake as well as driving. I can't wait to get mine!! The detailed lake maps with fishing hot spots are going to be great!<br /><br />As for the FF...I hope to make a purchase no later than Monday to get it by next weekend so I can install it. Since everyone is recommending color, I am considering the one I mentioned above. I am trying desperately to stay below the $600 range for the two...and I spent $300 on the GPS, so I am going for the $200 range to see if I can save money. If that doesn't happen, oh well. I may still end up with a B&W unit, but I am taking SHO-Boat's comments into consideration. The idea of going with resolution first is a great idea...I know I want a 200kHz Transducer as I will be in small lakes no more than 400 feet or so (actually, the closest lake to me is only 50-60 ft deep with an average of 22 ft, so I'm not concerned about depth too much). As much as I would like color, I may go with the Eagle 320 (B&W) as it has a 5" screen with 320x320 resolution for $170. The color 320C is only 3.5" but still 320x320 resolution. Eagle also has a 480x480 B&W and I have found that one for $200...so thats another possibility.<br /><br />I've been asking on here because I wanted some experienced fisherman to give me their take on some of these. They have done a great job with that, I just need to make my decision. Of course, any extra comments are appreciated!! <br /><br />I'm new to FF in general so I am going to take all the help I can get.<br /><br />BTW - RubberFrog, if the misses is wanting something that will work for the car and boat, I really think the GPSMAP 60C will work. I ordered mine from compuplus.com...they had the best price. And, with the Garmin $50 rebate, you can't go wrong. You will have to order detailed maps for your lakes. Garmin splits it into EAST, CENTRAL, and WEST. I ordered the EAST which coveres from Maine to Florida and Indiana, KY, TN to the East coast. For detailed maps of cities you will have to order that as well.<br /><br />The only downside I saw to the GPSMAP 60C is that the memory is only 56mg. If you are going to have a detailed city, like DC, it will take up a lot of space. I plan on only downloading detailed city maps for those that I am going to travel to, especially if I am not familiar with them.<br /><br />BTW...I also ordered a Windshield suction cup holder for the GPS unit. I plan on transferring that from truck to boat when needed.<br /><br />Good luck with your decisions! Mine have been tough to make!

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Originally posted by fishingdan:<br /> The Garmin 250 is an excellent unit that you can get for just about $200. Very easy to see screen in all conditions.

This looks like a great option for me, and Garmin has a $25 rebate on it right now! Would be around $186 for me after rebate...Thanks for the suggestion!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Screen resolution comes into play less and less the shallower you go and it actaully has very little bearing whatsoever on the machines performance. In 40' of water the 320 pixel machine has a resolution of 1/8" and with the 480 machine you end up with a resolution of 3/32". So unless your looking for targets that are less than an 1/8" insize you gain nothing by going with the higher resolution.<br />For what it's worth I'd buy a B&W machine and spend the extra maney on an upgraded transducer. That Garmin 250 is a good machine as is the Furuno LS4100

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Originally posted by dingbat:<br />For what it's worth I'd buy a B&W machine and spend the extra maney on an upgraded transducer. That Garmin 250 is a good machine as is the Furuno LS4100

If I were to go with the Garmin 250 or even an Eagle 320 (B&W) what would be a good Transducer? Also, should I get a "shoot through hull" transducer, or a standard transom mount? The one reason I wanted TM is for water temp...but I've seen a lot of guys talk about STH mounts that work well...I just worry about not mounting it correctly if I do the STH.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

You'll do well with the standard transducer on these models. Personally, I don't think the Garmin 250 is in the same class as the Eagle 320. The Garmin is much more powerful and, I think, it has one of the best monochrome displays available. <br /><br />Go with the transom mount, single frequency, transducer for your freshwater needs.

 

[Greenwing]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

I have a matrix 17 with the transducer on the trolling motor for the last 2 years have been very pleased, also I have the cable to connect a garmin 76 which then on your matrix you can set routes and waypoints, display speed coordinates and even battery voltage all on one screen. I really like the speed reading I have an outboard with the pitot on the lower unit that constantly gets stop up anymore I watch the matrix and never look at my speedo.

 

[cbcrawford]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Greenwing - your setup sounds interesting . . . Your matrix transducer is on your trolling motor, so one would assume the screen is located in the front where you fish . . . but you use it with your outboard for speed and the like? Do you relocate the unit when the outboard is on, or possibly have two transducers and two mounts for the unit? Or do you simply use the GPS functions when underway without the transducer in the water?<br /><br />I was considering a setup with one moveable unit about two years ago, hoping I could spend 2X the money on a single unit instead of two seperate units, but couldn't figure it out fiscaly reasonably . . . I'd be interested in hearing exactly what you've got going there.

 

[Greenwing]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

When I am running I change the view to large text and I can see it while it is still on the front. I use the gps function for the speed I have this set up on a 20ft bass boat.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

I've narrowed it down to the Garmin 250 or 250C The color is only $155 more after rebates...but I wouldn't be within that $200 range I wanted to stay in.<br /><br />Color or no color, that is the question. I am seriously leaning towards no-color for cost purposes...any strong cases why I should go color? In lakes no more than 100ft, is it worth the extra for color on this unit?

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Color is cooler. Where does the coolness factor figure in to your decision?

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Color makes it easier to identify the things that you are looking at. It is simply easier to see blue thing next to a red thing on a color unit compared to two objects that are different shades of grey on a monochrome unit. <br /><br />It is a nice to have, but not a necessity. The monochrome Garmin 250 has a really nice screen and will do everything you are asking it to do and more. Unlike some monochrome units, it is also very easy to see in direct sun. <br /><br />The depth of water doesn't really affect the color decision. That is more of a factor when choosing between single and dual frequency units, the amount power you need, and the type of transducer.<br /><br />I have a Raymarine ds400x color unit (a great unit for the money and roughly comparable to the Garmin 250c, but a little cheaper) and I fish in freshwater and saltwater in depths from 5' to 100'. 95+% of the time I am using the boat, it is for fishing. A color unit allows me to more efficiently look at the screen and identify what is under the boat. A quick peak and I can see the bottom type, see if any fish are right on the bottom and a few other things. The other benefit is that I can quickly look at it from a distance and get a quick read on what it is showing. Personally, I find the monochrome units with the older screen types harder to quickly read. The Garmin 250 is a fine example of a monochrome unit with a much better screen. It is fairly easy to read and it has a nice white backlight that I found useful even during the day. <br /><br />Bottom line, the choice for color is up to you and how you think you will use the unit. From what you have written so far, I would say the monochrome Garmin 250 will more than meet your needs.<br /><br />Dan

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Ordered my GPS...now for a FF

Originally posted by RubberFrog:<br /> Color is cooler. Where does the coolness factor figure in to your decision?

Huh...didn't think about the "coolness factor"...guess I should have! It really hadn't crossed my mind at all! <br /><br />Any luck on your purchase yet? Honestly if I would have done a combo unit it would have been the Lowrance 332C - I don't have any radar to worry about around here. But I feel that the two separate units are going to be better for my needs. Let me know what you (or your wife )decide to do!