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handheld GPS


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Hey everybody. I'm looking to buy a handheld GPS unit pretty soon. I'm a college student and I've been saving my money up for quite a while, so I don't really want to be wasting it. I just really want to be able to mark my spots when I get into some fish. It would also be nice to have a unit that can be as accurate as possible in mapping out lakes seeing as I do a lot of shorefishing (lucky a@% boat owners)lol. I'm guessing lake master chips do a good job. I've been looking at the lowrance iFinder H2Oc. It looks like a decent unit, but I would love some fellow fisherman's opinions seeing as I don't know much about GPS units. Thank you in advance for any responses.

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i have the h2oc and its a great unit.i have 2 lakemasters chips.1 is 2007 minnesota lakes and the other is 2008 lotw chip.the h20c is very easy to use with just 1 click of the thumb.you wont be disapointed.its the best tool i ever bought for fishing.

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Thank you very much for the quick response. I think I'm going to go get it today, so I'm kind of hoping for a bunch of responses real quick. lol.

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My recommendation is for the H20c. The only improvement I'd like to see in the unit is recharging capability without removing the batteries.

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I have had very good luck with the XOG and Lakemaster chip. I have never had cold weather issues in below 0 temps, but I keep it plugged into my sled all the time.

All though I have heard the rechargeable battery life is around 2-3 hours on a full charge, but if you shut it off when not using, it will last longer (no more buying AA batteries smile ). It has a MP3 player built in, image viewer and voice command (turn by turn). Nice big color screen and the touch screen feature works with gloves on also wink

I even mounted the mechanical suction cup windshield mount to my sled (cleaned surface, licked the cup and applied it in 70 deg. temps) and it has not fallen off in 40 miles of ML and other lakes riding in below 0 temps. I returned my RAM mount last week grin

You can learn a little more about them here PFS XOG write up and prices! .

For the cheaper price than the H20c, it has worked out great!

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Remember to use lithium batteries as per instructions if you want it to float in case of accidents...regular batteries don't float....so if ya want one by Friday there's one at the bottom of pleasant lake....

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If your really worried about money......the old H2O (no color) works fine for me. Don't need to waste the extra 80 to 100 bucks on color if your that strapped. Save the 80 bucks to put towards the chip. JMO

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I actually just stepped back in from pickin up my h20c. I'm about to throw the batteries in and start playing around.

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A man can act like a child when he gets one of these (playin around for hours). I'm a college student as well, mainly bought it for ice fishing, but fish Mille Lacs in the summer as I don't have my own boat. Best investment I ever made for fishing (besides the poles, auger, shack, tackle, ect.....)

PS: let me know if you wanna hit the hard water sometime...

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good choice on gps .they work great for lakes and come spring you may check out the sport of geocaching with it very good pastime . also any one know if there is a 2009 lakemap chip coming out soon ??????

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Now that you have it, stop into Gander Mt sometime, they offer a class one night. I had a buddy go to it and said it was very informative. I've never been there, but could be of some use. I'm not sure if other business offer any thing.

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Grandpa Ray, I asked a guy at scheels about the 2009 chip and he said that by this time he has usually heard something about the new chip, but he hadn't heard anything yet.

And Hunting_24_7, thanks for the tip, I think I'm gonna need that class. I'm sure this thing can do a lot more than I can make it do right now.

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I tip that I found with my unit is that if you turn the update rate on the trails from 1 second to say 5 or 10 seconds it saves a ton on the battery. If you are covering you Estimated Position Error in under 5 seconds, then crank it to 1 second. If I am fishing in a general area I will run it at 1 second update rate till I get there and put it to 20 seconds once I am there. If I catch a fish I still mark that spot and it gives me my location and updates my trail at that exact moment. Just something that I have found that works well. I also agree that you need to go with rechargeables!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I went into Gander last night to pick up a new sleeping bag for backpacking this year and forgot it was the 27th. That class was just getting over. I had been planning to go to that class for the last 2 weeks. That was pretty frustrating cuz now I've gotta wait till next month.

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Make sure to initialize the unit. I didn't do it for the longest time on mine and it sure made a difference as far as locking onto satellites faster. Shoulda read the instruction book sooner!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
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    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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    • CigarGuy
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