Thread: Good entry level gps unit

Well, I wanted exactly the same for my kayak, and bought a Lowrance Hook2-5 Splitshot HDI with the Navionics+ card included. The Navionics+ doesn't work right on the Hook2, and the SonarChart Live feature does not work at all. So now I am using C-Map Genesis social maps, and I recommend them for Lowrance, since its part of the Navico company now. The Hook2 2D and DI works pretty well, I must say, but the problems I had with the mapping (that CS could not resolve even after I sent the unit in, and then said it might be fixed in a future update) and the poor CS has kinda turned me off the brand.

Originally Posted by spartannation

Probably going to upgrade before spring, which unit, HB, Lowrance or Garmin, in a 5" or 7" with pre loaded maps is the most bang for the buck. I don't need SI, just want to be able to follow a contour or be able to stay in the channel on D'arbonne. Won't be linking to the TM either. Bare bones, basic unit with decent lake maps is all I want.

Need to do some research. Far one from what I have read is not on a lot of charts. If your wanting to rely on built in maps you may be disappointed with what you get or don't get. I would make this same post on the La board and let those guys that fish there help you along. Like Spartianation said, nothing more disappointing than spending that kind of money and not get what you expect. Best case is getting a aftermarket card that covers where you want to fish. But like I said I don't know for sure if any of them cover darbonne.

I mainly fish Michigan but go to Louisiana a few times a year and could be fishing Georgia as well. I was hoping I could get into a unit that covers a wide variety of areas without breaking the bank. I have plenty of time for research, just wanted input from those that know more than me.

If you can go to the store and look at em , just bring the GPS map up and cursor over to your lake and see what it has.

I see in the "leaked"Mills Fleet Farm Black Friday flyer there going to have the Lowrance HDS Carbon 7" with the total scan transducer that's (2d,di,si) all in one,for 649.00.When I look at their store add it shows a picture and says "coming soon"if it's true....that's a pretty good price,the carbon series was lowrance's top of the line rig, until the HDS Live series came out in early Oct. I have one Carbon and one Gen 2 the Carbon has C-maps built in as base maps the Gen2 has Lake Insight built in the C-maps are more accurate and show more contours then the Lake Insight...on the lakes I fish way up here in the North land anyway.