GPS

[eye warrior]

This might have been on a previous post,but iam picking up a new gps this weekend,and was wondering about the h2o-c. 1. is it easy to operate and better than other brands out their, 2.currently, have an e-trex and dont care much for it. any thoughts?

[Stradic]

You could do a search for that topic on here and see what comes up. I think I remember reading about GPS's on here. One thing I remember for sure is the H20c goes through the batteries like a hot knife through butter. Good luck.

[moneyback2]

I have the H2OC and really love it. You will want to buy the LakeMaster chip and it really works well on Mille Lacs. Yes it uses batteries a fair amount, nothing to be concerned with. I fish most weekends and do not use over 6 AA batteries in a year. It is really easy to use also.

[FL SNIPER]

I can't say I'm real knowledgable about all the different GPS systems out there...but I do have the one you mentioned and have the chip for Mille Lacs. I think its great and a really usefull tool. It's not too complicated to use...otherwise I wouldn't/couldn't use it . Overall I say thumbs up .

[EBass]

I don't have one, but my buddy does. I'm jealous. It's a wonderful product with LakeMaster chip. You won't be disapointed. Besides Mille Lacs is has other popular lakes in 1 foot contours. Like Minnetonka and Winne to name a couple

[elusivecrappiecatcher]

I have the H2Oc I really like it. The only thing I don't like is you pretty much have to use the backlight at all times and that is why the batteries get sucked up so fast. If you can read it without the backlight on it will be much easier on batteries. Like an above post said I usually use between 6 and 8 batteries a year and I use mine quite a bit, BUT when I use it in the car or on the 4 wheeler on the lakes I usually use the AC Adapter plug so I am not using the batteries.

The LakeMaster is an also MUST! Mille Lacs is awesome with it. 1 foot contours on the whole lake, and also others is great.

I would highly recommend it.

BTW if you are looking for a deal check out the lakemaster website. It just looked at it today to see if there was any 2008 chips coming out and seen that they have the H2Oc with the LakeMaster chip for I believe $328 bucks. Or check Ebay for both as well.

[Traxxx]

H2Oc -super easy to use, worth its weight in gold on Mille Lacs.

[alex1]

eye warrior, I also have the h2oc and don't know how I fished w/o before. They are a wonderful tool to go along with your locator in the boat and in your vehicle besides if you have the lakemaster chip because it will also show you almost every road you'll travel unless it's a brand new road. I use rechargeable batteries in it to cut down having to buy batteries and try to dispose of them. I would have to agree and give it 2 thumbs up

[eye warrior]

Boy that was to easy, thanks guys for all the info. hopefully by next week i'll be able to try it out.One other question,we were out last friday, the 21st, and I never seen it so foggy,but we could not get a signal, is this common, or was it the e-trex? very hard to find your way back in heavy fog.

[eyebjim]

I have never had a problem with getting reception with my H2o in heavy fog/rain/snow/wind. It is always harder to get signal if you are inside a vehicle than outside. The closer to the windsheild the better.

[alex1]

I have found with mine if you are in heavy fog it make take a little longer for it to "find you" but otherwise I have always had signal. the only other thing I found with heavy fog is that the faster you travel it mihgt loose you for a second but on the ice in fog you are traveling slower anyways.

[broman]

My cousin and I were out this last saturday in the bay in Isle and his color H20 couldn't get a signal in the blizzard, while my greyscale H20 could. We were both in the truck at the time. Not sure what to make of it. Haven't spoke with him since to find out if it's working now.

[minnesotatuff]

i have the H2Oc w/lakemaster chip. the color is nice for ice fishing and night fishing. in the day time its a little more difficult to see than the black & white H2O. had i known before i got the color model, i would of got the black & white instead to save money and get an easier reading unit.

i use the adapter w/a 7AH 12 volt battery for mobility, or just plug it into the cigarette lighter in the vehicle for driving. lithium batteries are nice to keep in it because they allow it to float (we all know how important that is for icefishing...).

regards,

minnesotatuff

[aanderud]

The H20 is a good GPS technically, but it's built like a POS. The battery compartment (also where the chip goes) is not even REMOTELY waterproof, even though there's a label on the front of the unit and on the packaging that says in no uncertain terms that the GPS is waterproof.

When the battery compartment leaks, you will notice a) condensation on the inside of the unit and corrosion the next time you open the battery compartment to change batteries (probably the first time you notice the condensation). Your chip will likely stop working, but you might be able to get it working if you take an eraser from a pencil and rub it a lot on the SD memory electrical contacts. This worked for me.

Also, don't expect any help from Lowrance if it's been 12 months and 8 days when this water leak happens....they only warrant the unit for 12 months apparently. You can sit on hold all you want, and your emails will go unanswered.

They sure don't make things like they used to.

[jnorm1984]

Ive had exp. with the H20 units, and i dont think they compare to the quality and accuacy of any of the garmin color units with the lakemaster chip. I use the garmin 76 csx, its a lil more expensive, but well worth it...just my 2 cents