GPS'ssssssss

[Robert Spradley]

I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but I was wondering about GPS's. For the money, which seems to work best. Also I read alot of post where speed was track with GPS. However when I read about GPS's in BPS's catalog, their is no mention of boat speed. What's up with this Ken! Do All or at least most GPS's track speed? Robert

 

[Mark Hofman]

Most good GPS's will track speed in both kilomters and miles per hour. The will track speeds as slow as a person walking, and as fast as a civilian airplane.



MO

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

All track speed.I use to have one about 5 years ago and want a other one. Now that i am fishing again.I see alot of them u can down load maps to them now.Are the maps any good far fishing.I mean as in the smaller lakes that most of use fish not as in the cost or the great lakes.What am asking is it worth paying the $300 - $400 far it if u do not get a good map that u can use.Or is the $100 gps goning to be just as good if the maps suck.

 

[Jim Clevenger]

Scott, I use a Garmin along with MapSource Roads and Recreation software. I can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes, etc. to the PC from the GPS or the other way. Although the GPS comes with the whole US loaded, the Roads and Recreation software allows you to download an area about the size of the state of Arkansas and it has ramps, rec areas, etc. on it as well as a detailed map of all lakes and rivers. I love it especially since I can't even find my way around the house. It's great for finding my way back to my trailer and getting an idea of where to launch to reach a particular area quickly.



Jim

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

But are the maps any GOOD.Dose it show enough detail to help any or would a reg gps do as good with it pointer.Dose it show great detail or just show u the rough outline of the lake.If no good detail what good is it.

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

But are the maps any GOOD.Dose it show enough detail to help any or would a reg gps do as good with it pointer.Dose it show great detail or just show u the rough outline of the lake.If no good detail what good is it.I am going to buy one soon ant help would be great







PS





NOMINAL SORRY ABOUT TAKING OVER YOUR POST but all gps show your speed and are right on.That is why u are hearing guy say it was checked with gps.If just want to check your speed any gps will do that but they are alot more to use one far then just that

 

[TrepMan]

Nominal - Everyone above is right, they all track speed.



Scott - I've got one of the less expensive ones (about 4 years old and cost $100 new back then), it does not have any mapping SW of any kind. I use it on the GA lakes here and in Canada. Mounted a cell phone holder to my console to hold it on the boat, works great.



Like any gadget it all depends on your needs. I carry waterproof map's of the lakes I fish and since I have yet to take my boat to a lake I don't have a map it's a lot cheaper than an expensive GPS and buying maps. Having said that - sure it would be nice to have the GPS/Map in one unit and be able to see where i'm going without trying to hold the map in the wind, but for me it's a mater of $ prioritization, don't have it!LOL



The times I think it would have been helpful for me would have been when i've gotten lost on Lake Lanier and had to try to find the marker #/color on my paper map. A GPS/Map would have just shown me right where I was. I set way points for each ramp I use and then each spot I catch fish and/or mid points in between to help me navigate to hard to find spots.

 

[Jim Clevenger]

Scott,



Best way I can show you is to show you. Look in my library. I have uploaded a piece of my track while fishing in a feeder creek on Lake Degray. You will see the scale at the bottom which is 200 feet. I can scale it down another jump to 120 feet but the detail will just be larger not better. It looks about the same on the GPS except for being in black&white. The other picture shows a 3 mile scale that shows the whole lake. Hope this helps you (I still carry paper maps of those lakes where I need the channel and structure markers).



Jim

 

[Jim Clevenger]

Scott,



Uploaded a couple more pictures from your area of the country in Lake Murray. If you are familiar with that part of the lake then maybe these will give you a better idea of whether you would like a mapping GPS or not.



Jim

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

That is what i was wanting to know looks prety good.I do alot of night fishing here in S.C.I fish lake wylie alot and could not get lost if i wanted to but on any other lake it would not be hard to get lost at night.It is funny u picked Murry as the lake u showed.I was on it about 3 weaks ago and was afaid i was going to get lost.They are so many islands in it they all look alike I am asuming that the gps will show your postion in real time on the map ....right.





THANKS ALOT

 

[Jim Clevenger]

Scott,



If you scale it down, you can actually see yourself move on the map. Glad I could help.



Jim

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

U ARE THE MAN

 

[Bob G.]

Nominal,



I have an older Garmin (Model 45XL - 7 years old) without the mapping feature. I think the top speed is 99mph. I check the boat speed on slow fishing days. I also use mine like Trepman. I mark boat ramps and fishing spots and carry a waterproof map of northern Lake Champlain. I also have the Maptech topographical map program for Vermont (only $50 for the whole state) and it shows the underwater features of Lake Champlain. I put the mouse curser on the humps and points and it shows the latitude and longitude. I enter these values in the GPS and am able to put my boat directly over them, even in the middle of "nowhere". Now, if I can only get Rob to show me how to catch those big smallies....



Bob G.

 

[Robert Spradley]

Thanks everyone for the input on gps's. The lowrance 100 plus unit was no where to be found here in Jax, Fl.. So I ordered online from wal-mart who had the best price of $258.96. Now comes the dreaded wait time for the unit to arrive. Then after that, the night of sleeping on the couch for not telling my lovely bride I ordered it. Again, thanks. Robert