Handheld GPSs

The distillation of opinion last time this matter was discussed here, was that the Garmin 12 at £100ish, was definately the one to go for.
Now that my Magellan 3000 has decided to pop it's clogs, I'll go for the Garmin unless technology has already changed things in the last few weeks.
How about a poll on who uses what Keith?

Good choice Brian..... I have one as a back-up and the batteries seem to last forever. I have dropped it on pontoons and in the water countless times and still works perfectly, as you said, simple like you!;)

:hi:

Hello,

Yes the debate on hand held gps came to the conclusion that the Garmin12 was great value for money. They now cost about rrp £124.00 (about 1/4 tank of fuel for Brian and Cyanide) so you may get them a little cheaper on the web.

I am VERY pleased with mine, it certainly suits my requirements.

I understand that they are often used as back-ups for larger on board gps's.

Keith (poll by make?) Hart

I've got a GPS MAPIII handheld - very usefull - the map is great when navigating on land - Its got base roads for the whole of Europe.

I have added Waypoints for various bouys down the Bristol channel and plotted a route going between them - works well on the Pride of Bristol and would be suitable as a backup - but its a bit small to read bouncing along on a RIB.

For our new Ribcraft, therefore, I am looking to get a GPS Chartplotter - just a small one, but one I can download charts too.

Any comments on C-Map vrs Garmins BlueChart welcome - I can't work out how big a "region" is when you buy the CD - is that the whole of the UK charts - or one section like the English Channel?

As an aside - last time I flew back from Spain I had my GPSIII propped up in the window showing our speed, hight and location on the Map when the stewardess came and asked what it was - and then told me that it might interfer with the planes navigation!! - she went to ask the pilot if it was OK to use - and came back to ask what our Lat and Long was!!!!!
I assumed the pilot wondered why someone was reading Lat and Long on a flight so she took it up to show him the "Map" feature - 20 mins later it came back and all she said was "He wants one!!"

I did point out that on BA you can select the GPS channel on your monitor - on JMC its Bring your own!


Ayway.... Tips on Chartplotters please

I have used a Garmin 12xl for approx. 3 yrs, and more recently been trying several Magellan 315's at work. About the same price.

My personal experience is:

Garmin 12xl:
Quicker acquisition of sats than the Magellan.
Facility for an external aerial which the Magellan doesn't.
Uses batteries like they are going out of fashion - (I can get through 4x AA in under 12 hours - but that may be because its an older version).
I prefer the key pad on the Garmin which is 'above' the screen rather than below it.
It has never let me down, and seems robust.

Magellan 315:
Much lighter than the Garmin (probably because it only has 2xAA batteries).
Dispite only 2xAA, it lasts as long as the Garmin.
Magellan has a better resolution screen.
Although the Magellan takes longer to acquire sats, the built in aerial seems to keep the signal better.
In my opinion the Magellan menu system is more intuitive, although in truth they are both pretty easy.
I particularly like the screen in the Magellan with the large text display (must be an age thing on my part!) - ideal for RIBS

All in all I'm not sure there is a great deal to choose between them. If I was buying again I would probably opt for the Magellan simply because of its simplicity, but it still has to prove its robustness over a long period.

I've been looking at Chartplotters again too. As far as I can tell on the Garmins (leastways the 182/232) they take cartridges as opposed to downloading from disc. The G-chart cartridges are based on Navionics data. If you go onto www.garmin.com and follow the links to "bluecharts" you can get an online catalogue that shows coverage for the UK etc. I could get away with one chip for all the East Coast cruising I do including going across to Belgium if I were so minded!

The other plotter I've looked at is the Navman 5500 which is a cheap colour plotter & takes CMAP chips.

Cheers,
Alan

Jools
I have recently brought a Garmin 176 portable chartplotter which takes the Blue chart cards. This is a small plotter but good enough for my small Rib. The colour version I steered clear of as even Garmin themselves did not recommend using it on an open boat due to the 'wash out' of the screen
I have three pre-programmed Bluechart which I am very impressed with. It certainly covers all the areas I use my Rib at.
I believe you can buy a CD with all the Altlantic coverage on and you then buy a blank memory card and connection cable to download from your PC. You then buy unlock codes to enable you to use the areas of your choice. To me this looked more expensive but gives you better opportunity to keep the charts updated.

So how much were your 3 "Charts" and how har do they cover.

I would possibly be looking for to start with

Bristol Channel - because thats where I live! - and there's plenty of bouys to look for

I-O-W area - because thats, I guess a popular spot for ribbing

+ Where else are we planning trips to!

The cost of the charts soon add to the cost of the GPS

Jools,
Plotter was £355 + VAT and £175 +VAT per card.
CLICK BELOW to see content of cards.
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/bluechart/region.jsp?RegionPK=60[/URL]

I purchased MEU001R, MEU002R, MEU004R.
All came from
MARINE ELECTRONIC INSTALLATIONS LTD (http://www.meiltd.co.uk)

I look forward to seeing your plotter next weekend - I have looked at that one myself but I reckon the screen might be a bit small for blind gits like me!

Cheers,
Alan

Jools,

I have also bought the Garmin 176 C (color). It's a nice feature to have color's on all the markings out there. But as JWC says it's not an easy task to read the color display outside on the rib. I'm using the backlight all the time, and but the contrast up a bit. This seems to bee working. When I spoke to Garmin, they didn't tell me that this was going to be a problem, they told me that they had tried this many times before and only had problems when the sun was direct on the display (Bull sh..).
I would have return it, if it was not because I orderd mine from the US (I was less than half price), And yes I do have a road map of the US on this, but it dosn't matter, since I'm using the bluechart on it. (I might go to the US some times, and then I could use it for Road navigation) :rolleyes:

I think you should have a look at the Garmin 182. I thing Grame has this one. It's the same setup but a bigger screen. And we all want bigger screens (Chart plotter, Computer monitor, Televison.....)

Rene

Graeme does indeed have the 182.

(I am using his screen name wie he is away- ISDN connection!)

The 182 we chose was the standard one - not colour - actually on the advice of Garmin at the Boat Show, who advised us that the colour display can be unreliable on an open boat.

The 182 has proved excellent, and in our opinion the Blue Chart is even better than the C Map. The unit itself is easy to use, easy to see and works very well.

The 176 would have been or choice had we wanted apotable unit - but the display was too small for a pitching and tossing RIB.

Sian
(PB2 Passed and ICC Received)

Alan,
No problem having a play with the Garmin 176. Is there any more details regarding next weeks cruise?

JCW

Bit confused - though this is off of the subject - arent you coming to Anglesey next weekend? You seem to suggest meeting up with Alan, who I know isnt coming to Anglesey.

G

Graeme,
My apologies, I informed Jono that my plans had changed. Decided to join the BIBBOA East coast cruise as I have recently become a member. Also the departure slipway is near to my location so less travelling on a Bank Holiday appeals.
Look forward to meeting up again soon.

Do you also carry "real" charts as well as the 182?

I was thinking of a 182 for my beast and Garmin tell me that I can use the same cabling that I have installed for my GPS128; just change the mounting bracket.

Anyone want to but a 2yo Garmin GPS 128 with new antenna and power lead (after I've swapped the routes & waypoints)?

We hve a full set of Imray charts for all areas where we cruise.

We plan our journeys on the charts at home, note the waypoints then transfer the waypoints to the GPS for the route.

We also carry Scanned and Copied A4 Size charts with Waypoints on reverse in case of GPS failure.

In this way we keep up our chartwork, and get the best of both worlds.

Brian,

As I now have a chartplotter and a Backup GPS48. I am willing to sell you my Garmin GPS12 for £60 if you want it.
Let me know

is a great unit. I 've used it for the past 5 years with none trouble what so ever. Recently I saw at http://garmin.com the new GPS Map V, with new features and updating capability via CD. I don't think that you may add a C map cartrige on this apparatus, so you won't get THE detail but the update feature is a must these days.

Reply to Alan who asked me what Chartplotter I am looking at (on another thread - but better placed in this one!!)

Hi Alan

Probably looking at the Garmin GPSMAP 188 Sounder see here (http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap188s/)

Reasons
Nice big display
Black and White shows up better than colour on an open RIB
Money saved on having seperate GPSMAP and Fishfinder can be used to get bigger display
Takes new "BlueChart" maps - the new standard
I like Garmin!

I'm sure people will have comments on combining the fish finder and GPSMAP:V - anybody else got this setup?

Cheers
Jools

I was thinking of the GPSMAP 182 as I already have a Fishfinder. I too like Garmin kit and everyone has good things to say about it, and importantly Garmin UK's Customer Service. I also believe it is available with an integral antennae which I think is a bonus. But then again is the display big enough or should I spend another couple of hundred sponds on the 232 with a 7" Display.

Blue Charts look good. Basically Navionics charts so better v.f.m. in terms of coverage per chip. (I could get away with the one the covers Amsterdam to Fecamp for all the East Coast boating I'm likely to do!

Other plotters that I have thought about are the new Lowrance 2400 & the Raymarine 425. Both Navionics.

C-Map choice in my budget really comes down to the Navman 5100/5500.

Further buggeration factor is that I already have a C-MAp chip for the East Coast but am leaning towards a Navionics plotter. Still can always flog it I 'spose.

Going to have a look at JCW's Garmin 176 this weekend although I think thats too small for my eyesight!

Lots too think about!

Alan

Alan,
The Garmin 182 does come with an integral antennae option. This also works out a few pounds cheaper than the external version!!
The Garmin 232 I believe has no option other than an external antennae.

Its not so much wanting to save money with an internal antennae its that its one less connection to corrode, work loose and generally go wrong! (It also saves the buggeration of running another cable under the deck from console to A Frame.)

See you Saturday.

Alan

Alan

I have the Garmin 182, and went for the external aerial option on the advice of Garmn.

Their Technical Support dept said that they do have some acquisition problems with the internal antenna - I believe the same problem exists on the 126 Vs the 128.

I dont think this is a major problem, but can be if the unit is shaded, or anything blocks it - whereas the external aerial is usually out of the way of such things.

Graeme

Thanks Graeme. I would assume that if the unit was on the top of a console and not enclosed in a cabin for example it should be able to get a signal OK. My handheld does! Do you find the screen of the 182 (120mm diagonal iirc) large enough to read at speed/in bumpy conditions. This is my biggest concern!

We've had problems with antennae connections on our Eagle/Lowrance GPS in the past so the idea of one less plug to muck around with does appeal!

Alan

Alan

I find the screen large enough to read - but thats not to say that the large screen wouldn't have been even better. However, the overall size of the 182 was about right for my console.

When I showed Garmin a picture of my console they advised (with the internal antennae) that I mounted the unit ON TOP of the console in its gimble mouting. As I wanted the unit on the front of the console they said I could have some problems wth reception. Hence I went for the external option.

I always grease the connections, and replace the small plastic bags over them when the unit is removed.

Graeme

I bought a Garmin 48 HH GPS in Key west 2 years ago for £154 at the time in the UK it was £195...try and do a mail order from the states if you can so much cheaper....

Anybody got any comments on combining the GPSMAP and fishfinder into one unit?

The display can show either
The Chart
Fishfinder screen
or a split screen of both.

My thinking is - when you are "mid-voyage" you will be using the Chart screens (you should be in deap water)
When you are in shallow water - ie near the coast, navigating up a river - ito a harbour etc - you will know where you are and will not requite the "Chart" page and only need the depth page.

If you do need both - then you can use the split screen.

Obviously for people who already have one or the other then 2 seperate systems make sence - but if you are about to buy both why not combine them

Jools

Jools
I had a Garmin 235 with those facilities.
My thinking was exactly like yours and yes, it works like you say.
Certainly dont see the point of separate units UNLESS you are a professional fisherman and/or possibly divemaster.

:cool: cool!! :D