Gps

[Cane Pole]

Mike, I've been running a 76CSx for over a year now on the original pair of AA batteries I installed in it. I run it off boat battery power using a Garmin cable and only revert to internal batteries when I pull it out of the boat for some reason or other (which is a rare occasion). I power it up when I get in the boat and shut it down at the end of the day, every fishing trip I make. The cable and the mounting bracket are the best way to go with that unit! It shuts itself off in 30 seconds (unless you intervene) when it loses power from the boat battery.

I suggest removing those alkaline batteries. They may still be working, but they are corrosive. MOAO.

[Wannabe...]

Mike, ezgo, I don't know squat about the specs on this unit, but I spotted this one and thought it'd be a heck if a deal on one of the new touch screen units from garmn. Check the specs before you jump though.

2009 garmin dakota color touch screen great price: Electronics: BBC Boards

Wannabe...

[Wannabe...]

Hmmm, I was kind of interested in just what the Dakota is, so I hit the Garmin site. Can't remember now if that link is to a Dakota 10 or 20.

Interesting features:

10 - no card accepted, would need the 20 to get a map card - although with a data cable, I'll bet you could download a detailed map direct to the internal memory on the 10. Would need to check that though. Just read you can add maps on the 10 through a USB port.

Both have 20 hr battery life, but Nimh or Lithiums are recommended......I think a pair of lithiums would set you back $9 at Wal-Mart, so you'll definitely want the AC adapter if it's going to be primary.

Can get turn by turn directions with optional detailed maps - might be a selling point to your wife.


Internal compass - No on the 10, yes on the 20. That means even if you're standing still, you can get a bearing and distance on your waypoint. A really handy feature if you're trying to sit on top of a specific pile or object. Noticed this one is 3 axis tilt compensated on the 20...my 76CSX doesn't have that added benefit although it has a compass.


Unit to unit wireless transfer - no on the 10, yes on the 20. Interesting. If you have a partner and share info, that could come in handy. Or if you have a nemesis with the same unit, you could swipe his good spots and download fake ones to his. Hehehehehe.

Both are water proof to IPX7, but neither float.

Interesting though is that the Dakota is not listed under their Marine section and is actually under the "On the trail" section. Think that may be because it's not designed to float, but I'd call and ask what the difference is or research the features of the similar marine unit.

Comparrison link:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare....eProduct=30926

[Wannabe...]

OK, I couldn't take it, so I had to look at the Oregon (the marine touch screen version) and compare it to the Dakotas.

The Oregon:

has a better screen at 240x400 vs 160vs240 on the Dakotas. And 1.53" x 2.55" 3" diaganol vs 1.43" x 2.15" 2.6" diaganol

does not float either

Is NMEA 0183 compatable where as the Dakota is not - only important if you wanted to hook into an existing network.

has slightly less battery life at 16 hrs - probably due to the better screen.

waypoints routes and tracks are the same.

still has the turn by turn option

Does not have the altimeter like the Dakota 20 - just in case you're one of those granola eating, hiking, nature loving freaks and want to be able to tell your buddies back at the office how high you climbed over the weekend.

Overall, I'd say the Dakota 20 would make you an excellent choice even though it's not marketed towards marine. The 10 would too, although you can't just slap a map card in it and would need a PC and a USB cable to add maps.

Wannabe...

[MikeA57]

I guess the truth of the matter is that I wanted to get out at about $200, but it looks like that won't happen unless I buy used. I just thought the price on those things would have come down by now. I mean, TV, PC, and laptop prices have really fallen recently. Oh well, I'm sure they'll drop 2 weeks after I get one. That's what happened when I finally bought some 2 way radios. I waited and waited and finally said "Screw it, I need 'em", and within a month they dropped to 1/2 of what I paid...

Once I get in my head that it's a $400 investment I'm OK with it. (My wife'll probably freak but hey she don't know what I'm planning for her this year - hehehehe.)

I had already decided I wanted one with the compass on it, so that meant a higher $ anyway. Garmin so far is the top choice so I won't spend time looking at Magellan. That's what started all this, a friend got a Magellan 1/2 price at WalMart and I was looking at it but I didn't know anything about them so I thought I'd ask here.

What I'm gathering is that useful features are:
- large # of waypoint capacity
- Memory Card capability
- USB port
- alternative power source

Other things like color screen, larger screen size, and touchscreen are all nice but not necessary, right?

Mike

[Wannabe...]

You're on the right track Mike.

Having had black and white and switched to color....it's worth the premium to me. Much easier to use and interpret.

As far as touchscreen goes - that would make input a lot quicker, assuming you get a pop up keyboard, but I manage and rename my waypoints with a PC, so that's not worth a premium to me.

I bought a used CSX on craigs list of all places from a guy in Connecticut of all places. I only gave $150 for mine if memory serves. If you go that route, you'll be able to stay under your $400 budget and end up with the map/software/ac adapter and all the goodies.

I went the Garmin route since I already had a 178 on my boat and had the mapping and software.

Here's the catch/rub though. If you go down this route with Garmin, they's gotcha and if you were to add Lowrance to your boat, you'll have to start over with the software/map and cables.

It's a racquet I tell ya.

Wannabe...

[Cane Pole]

U da man Wannabe. I agree with ya. Especially about the gotchya part. Don't forget that the touch screen shows fish slime after touching.

[MikeA57]

The 178 you mentioned, that's a Garmin Fishfinder? I was wondering about that; it seems like staying with the same brand between FF and GPS makes the most sense. I didn't see a Garmin 178 on their website though. Is it discontinued?

[MikeA57]

And, what's the difference between a sounder and a fish finder? Good GRIEF!!! Why do they have to make this stuff so stinking confusing???? Is a sounder not a fish finder and is not a fish finder a sounder????

[Cane Pole]

And, what's the difference between a sounder and a fish finder? Good GRIEF!!! Why do they have to make this stuff so stinking confusing???? Is a sounder not a fish finder and is not a fish finder a sounder????

There is no such thing as a fish finder.