Magellan GPS question
 

On Mar 31, 10:36 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
Wilbur ,,, the Andy Rooney of boating ..

I looked at the Lowrance H2O.. I can get one fairly cheap..

What about the software? I couldn't seem to figure out the software.

Is this like Garmin ,, buy the unit and then buy the chart software ..
Garmin calls it Blue Chart of something.

Does the Lowrance come with the charting installed?

Tell me about the chart software..


- Show quoted text -

Are you thomas who emailed me asking about the Lowrance too? If not
I'll summarize my answer that I emailed back - Lowrance has their own
software called MapCreate, the unit takes snap-in MMC memory cards
that can then communicate with the software thru an MMC card-reader
that in turn has USB. You can see details of this on their website.

But what I like about my iFinder is that I was able to accomplish my
charting needs without hooking up to a computer at all, it's simpler
and cheaper in my case. I get very detailed, useful charts on a
NauticPath USA memory card that just snaps into the unit and that's
it, it's loaded, I liked not having to deal with the much more
expensive Garmin cd-roms and then with software and computer
hookups. For me it's just quicker, simpler and definitely less
expensive. Less room for eventual failure like losing the cd, the
software or your computer stopping working, the connector port on the
gps not working, etc. So I was all set up with a bright color screen
and detailed, infrmative, useful maps (for my purposes anyway) for
under $300 and no muss no fuss. Now I have been told by fellow
usenetters, more serious mariners than myself I'm sure, that the
Garmin is a more serious professional tool and the BlueChart Cd's have
more real and accurate charts. But again with the higher cost of the
higher-end Garmin color handhelds like say a GPSMap76C and the
Bluechart cd's and licenses, it's a question of "bang for the buck."
The charts have given me alll the info I need on the water, detailed
accurate shorelines, points of interest like restaurants, marinas,
fuel, etc., and full details on navaids at the press of a button; also
different companies make different MMC's all of which can snap in and
out.

Also I found the zoom and pan buttons MUCH easier to use on the
iFinder than on my Garmin etrex legend, although I don't like the
menus on the Lowrance, they're a bit cumbersome and I haven't found a
way to set up shortcuts to the screens I use a lot.
Otherwise I like it a lot.

richforman

Magellan GPS question
 

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:qUEPh.722$IY4.646@trndny03...
Wilbur ,,, the Andy Rooney of boating ..

I looked at the Lowrance H2O.. I can get one fairly cheap..

What about the software? I couldn't seem to figure out the software.

Is this like Garmin ,, buy the unit and then buy the chart software ..
Garmin calls it Blue Chart of something.

Does the Lowrance come with the charting installed?

Tell me about the chart software..


The unit comes with a built in world map but it has very little detail.
For serious navigation you should get the detailed maps which are stored
on little secure digital chips.

You can buy a blank or full secure digital chips that slip into the
secure digital chip slot in the battery compartment. The Nautic-Path
secure digital chip (NP-USA 108-129) has detailed charts of the entire
U.S. coastline, Great Lakes, Bahamas, Hawaii and Alaska. Here's the
link: http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Map...th/default.asp
You can see the detailed coverage area in blue. It's quite extensive.
The charts have tide tables and graphs, marinas and other points of
interest, nav aids, contour lines - the works. The unit also can use the
Navionics secure digital chart chips which some people like better. You
can also get a secure digital card burner that connects to your computer
via USB and you can make your own custom secure digital cards. You can
also by highway map secure digital cards. See Map Create link on the
left on the above web page.

That should give you some idea of what's going on.

Wilbur Hubbard

Magellan GPS question
 

Willlllllllllllllbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..

I am sold on the Lowrance. The unit I like :: H20 color blue.

The price is $220 or there abouts. Then, the Nav software is $64.

So,, for $280 or about .. not bad.

The Garmin software doesn't cover hardly anything and you have to deal with
unlock codes etc. I hate that ****.


====
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
...

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:qUEPh.722$IY4.646@trndny03...
Wilbur ,,, the Andy Rooney of boating ..

I looked at the Lowrance H2O.. I can get one fairly cheap..

What about the software? I couldn't seem to figure out the software.

Is this like Garmin ,, buy the unit and then buy the chart software ..
Garmin calls it Blue Chart of something.

Does the Lowrance come with the charting installed?

Tell me about the chart software..


The unit comes with a built in world map but it has very little detail.
For serious navigation you should get the detailed maps which are stored
on little secure digital chips.

You can buy a blank or full secure digital chips that slip into the secure
digital chip slot in the battery compartment. The Nautic-Path secure
digital chip (NP-USA 108-129) has detailed charts of the entire U.S.
coastline, Great Lakes, Bahamas, Hawaii and Alaska. Here's the link:
http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Map...th/default.asp You can
see the detailed coverage area in blue. It's quite extensive. The charts
have tide tables and graphs, marinas and other points of interest, nav
aids, contour lines - the works. The unit also can use the Navionics
secure digital chart chips which some people like better. You can also get
a secure digital card burner that connects to your computer via USB and
you can make your own custom secure digital cards. You can also by highway
map secure digital cards. See Map Create link on the left on the above
web page.

That should give you some idea of what's going on.

Wilbur Hubbard