Im wanting to get a Handheld GPS for using on the lake. I would mainly use if for marking waypoints or marking a trail and then following it in the dark.

My question is, is there a handheld unit that I can put a Navionics map in to get a detailed map of the lake?

Thanks in advance.

Lowrance H20 or H2Oc

Delorme, i just bought one on amazon for 260....comes with free topo and all the map updates only cost 29 a year

Thanks! A few weeks ago I talked to somebody at Academy. I told him what I was wanting it for and what he suggested. I couldnt remember what exactly he said it was other than a letter and then 20. Now I remember it was the Lowrance H20 that he suggested me.

Thanks!

i would read reviews...i was going to buy one, but heard bad things about them

I have an H2OC and have never had a problem with it. I also have the Navionics card with the lake topo maps installed as well.

Bobby, do you mind me asking how much that cost you?

Had an H20 for years and it is the best peice of equipment I have owned. It cost 169 .Salesman more on the one he sold you.LOL
Johnny

You can trust the H2Oc up to about 50 yards at about that point it starts giving you the arrival message. They are good units I have one and used it until I got a new combo chartplotter/sounder but found the H2Oc was not as precise as I was expecting. I guess that's why the disclaimer appears about not trusting it as your sole navigation source.

thats why you should have got an xog ,way bigger screen and it will get you within 10ft. or so.




mark

The color H20 units were not as accurate as the b/w versions.

You can set the arrival alarm to where you want it. Throwback it is a parimeter you need to set.
Johnny

Yes sir I did set it. Maybe it didn't accept it but, no matter now I have an H2Oc for sale reasonably. PM me if interested.

Don't another one. Use it when i go in somebodys else boat.Great peice of gear used it for years exclustvly for finding humps and brush plies.Very accurate.
Johnny

I heard that the H20 AND H20c have been discontinued. I have an H20C that I like. It has some sortcomings. The screen is kinda hard to read. If you have a 12 volt/cigarette plug adapter you can use the unit with the screen backlight on. That helps but even then the screen is hard to see in sunlight! The internal antennae sometimes doesn't allow a position fix. That was quite troubling. Lowrance made an external antenna that might have helped. I never got one. Like many of lowrances products, if it is out of warranty, it's almost cheaper to buy new than having them service it. The replacement models for the H20C are likely better. But when Lowrance won't fix them after the warranty goes,if then, I'll pass. That said, I really like my H2OC inspite of its deficiencies. Never tried th SOG. I heard it was better. It too has been discontinued.

I believe a market exists for a portable, sunlight viewable, workable hand held gps that will read Navionics mapping chips. Heck, there may be something out already. I just don't want to spend any more money on products that won't be serviced after a reasonable time. I would not buy an automobile that I couldn't get service on after five years. Why should I buy from an Electronics firm that won't provide service after the sale?