Looking for gps, a little over basic

[newbiedmv]

I had the lowest Garmin hikers gps. It's screen broke.

I'd like to buy a new one but all i see are massive 4,000 ones with dual maps  weather radar, sonar,  tied into the trolling motor, etc.

I'm just looking for one the size of a smart phone and most importantly EASY TO FREAKING USE.

I tried some apps on my cell phone that were supposed to work without cell service..all I'll say is they were advertising vehicles. 

I can go up to $500 if it's really worth it and can be used in places other than the boat.

Thanks

[casts_by_fly]

If it’s just for using in a boat, pick up a used, older model fish finder like a helix g2 or g3 gps model with no transducer. You should be able to get one for $250 or less.

[slonezp]

Do you want a gps for the boat or a gps in general? Honestly, a handheld GPS when it comes to fishing, is only good for ice fishing and, you are able to find waypoints from softwater, on hardwater.

[newbiedmv]

Mostly for the boat but also for my truck. I bought a Tom tom years ago when the accuracy was 1/4 mile and it's a pure piece of junk. It must have been there first prototype( it couldn't get me out of Virgina...seriously, i finally found a rt number i recognized and drove 9 hrs into MD). It was also worthless in WV as was my phone.

 

I mainly need a bigger screen so i can zoom out to a larger map and still see where I'm at. That approx 1.5"x 2" screen was worthless. Although the tracking feature literally saved my butt on Guntersville (the single easy to use feature of it). I just can't seem to find a mid market one anywhere.

[matchu]

hey I have a brand new one I’d say meets your criteria it’s brand new if you would like shoot me a message i’m in NC

[casts_by_fly]

For the boat, I stand by what I suggested above.  A G2 or G3 helix with GPS and a 5 or 7 inch screen should run about $250.  For GPS tracking in the boat, you'll have the ability to zoom in and out like you want.  It automatically records your tracks so you can follow back if you get lost.  If you're trying to find a cuthrough in a lake with islands you can pick the right one.  In a boat its the right way to go.

 

In the truck, google maps is your friend assuming you have a smartphone.  The database is the most updated of any out there and will constantly update on your phone.  I don't know why standalone GPS devices like a tom tom are still sold given how many people have smart phones with far superior mapping.  The trick if you're going into a place with limited data service is to download an offline map before you go.  Google makes it pretty easy to do.  You can select an area of the map to download and it just stores it in the background in the app.  I do the same for my home area as well as it speeds up map loading (all the phone needs to load over the air then is latest traffic info).  If your vehicle has car play all the better.  If not, a vent clip for your phone (I prefer the ones with a magnet on the clip and steel plate for your phone) and its right in your line of sight.

[Bankc]

Smartphone.  In Google Maps, you can download an area when you have service, and then still use the map and GPS features when you don't have service.  Just type in the name of the place and then bring up the details of it.  In the corner of the screen, look for the ellipses (...) and click that.  It'll bring up a menu.  Select "download offline map".  It'll save the map of that area to your phone's memory, so you won't need internet access to use it.  

 

 

[newbiedmv]

On 9/19/2022 at 4:05 PM, Bankc said:

Smartphone.  In Google Maps, you can download an area when you have service, and then still use the map and GPS features when you don't have service.  Just type in the name of the place and then bring up the details of it.  In the corner of the screen, look for the ellipses (...) and click that.  It'll bring up a menu.  Select "download offline map".  It'll save the map of that area to your phone's memory, so you won't need internet access to use it.  

 

 

Yep...problem is by the time i figure out I'm out of range...I'm WAY out of range. Also i don't drive around with maps on. I only use it when I'm pretty much lost.

Who would think central VA with rolling hills and mostly cattle would be a major dead spot. WV i can understand,  but most of that state is still super slow data it's physics and is what it is.

Goggle left me high and dry in VA,WV,GA,NC,TN,FL, MD,and PA. So i have trust issues with it.

I now have a road atlas in the truck.?

[casts_by_fly]

11 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

Yep...problem is by the time i figure out I'm out of range...I'm WAY out of range. Also i don't drive around with maps on. I only use it when I'm pretty much lost.

Who would think central VA with rolling hills and mostly cattle would be a major dead spot. WV i can understand,  but most of that state is still super slow data it's physics and is what it is.

Goggle left me high and dry in VA,WV,GA,NC,TN,FL, MD,and PA. So i have trust issues with it.

I now have a road atlas in the truck.?

 

The I-81/77 corridor is bad for service from the NC line all the way to blacksburg.

 

For anything more than a local trip under an hour, I recommend just putting on google maps.  Not necessarily for directions but traffic and speed cameras.  That might not apply to you if there is no traffic and you always drive 5 mph under, but both are good help when you're going somewhere out of your home range and especially on the highway.  More than a few times google has alerted of an accident or stoppage on a highway and the only way to avoid the 2-hour delay is to get off 40 miles before it and detour.

[newbiedmv]

Thanks. I found a sign for 522 north. I followed it north to Rt 70 in MD then an hour home. Both the tom tom and google had me go west then 10 min later east to 95 all on 2 lane back roads. I crossed the skyline drive four times. In a 6 speed manual mazda....i sold the mazda soon after.

[gim]

On 9/18/2022 at 10:09 PM, slonezp said:

Honestly, a handheld GPS when it comes to fishing, is only good for ice fishing

I've got a discontinued Lowrance H20C hand held and its specifically designed for fishing.  Operates on the same base as my marine units currently in the boat.  I have an old Lakemaster chip in it too.  I don't use it much now, but I bring it with me when I'm fishing in other boats to mark spots and then I can go back there and find those spots myself in my own boat.  I probably have over 1,000 waypoints marked in it because I transferred them from older Lowrance units every time I upgraded.  That information is priceless to me because it accounts for 20 years of fishing.

 

Might be able to still find one on ebay for sale.  When I bought mine about 15 years ago, it was 250 bucks for the unit, a chip, a power cord, and a case.  Although I don't really use it for land navigation, I could.  It shows roads and other destinations just like a normal GPS would.  I've used it during deer season to mark my stand and then find it in the dark.

[newbiedmv]

That's the size I've been looking for. Thanks 

I'll check out that manufacturer. 

[casts_by_fly]

11 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

Thanks. I found a sign for 522 north. I followed it north to Rt 70 in MD then an hour home. Both the tom tom and google had me go west then 10 min later east to 95 all on 2 lane back roads. I crossed the skyline drive four times. In a 6 speed manual mazda....i sold the mazda soon after.

 

That's a pretty remote area (522/I70) but last we were there I don't recall any issues with cell coverage.  That's right where 70 crosses into MD.  

[newbiedmv]

I saw the sign on a dirt road just north of lake anna. 0 cell coverage for hours, lots of aungus cattle. The cell coverage up here is fine except for the far western county, Garrett. 

The skyline dr thing was google trying to take me from the smith mountain lake state park to MD. I was 5 miles east of 81 the whole time. Finally it found 81 and i got back. This was 2014.

The screen thing was i needed to go south in a finger lake. I almost ran out of gas before a DNR  guy showed up and took me to the main channel( my scrren was half busted then, now fully busted).

I prefer real maps and a compass if i can get them. So i really like a bigger screen but can still carry it around.