I am considering buying the Garmin GPSMAP 178. It accepts datacharts from "BlueChart or the U.S. Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots CD & preprogrammed data cards are packed with inland lake maps, profiles, marinas, fishing areas and useful outdoor resources."
Does anyone have any of these products and can you provide any feedback on who has best Winni info for GPS?
This model in monocrome, should I spend another $200 for color?? (I dont want to ;-))

I'm not sure about the chip but if you can swing the color it will be worth your while and $$ once you get a color you won't want any thing else.You can see every thing on the screen with out haveing to get close or look at it on an angle.Just my 2 cents.

Erin

Ditto on being easy on the eyes, no matter what kind of sky you have.

Johh S.

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Replying to:

I'm not sure about the chip but if you can swing the color it will be worth your while and $$ once you get a color you won't want any thing else.You can see every thing on the screen with out haveing to get close or look at it on an angle.Just my 2 cents.

Erin

Whatever unit you buy you should make absolutely sure that it can accept the "'Navionics' HotMaps Premium charts" It is the best chart there is for winni and the whole inland Northeast. Color is nice but b/w is fine too.

I don't think Garmin accepts these Navionics charts Lowrance and Raymarine do i think eagle too. I like Garmin stuff always have but get what can accept the good charts.

How does the Navionics compare to the c-map that accepts the Bizer chart?

i,m not sure how it compares to anything, but i can tell you that adrien's gps system w/navionics is the most unbelievable mapping-gps-fishfinder system that i've seen. it shows you everything! I'm saving my pennies to get one like he has.

If it is a standard bizer chart like we have on paper from Bizer, then the navionics makes it look like a pile of poo. Never used an electronic bizer chart, this is just a guess.

Navionics makes a paper chart of winni that makes the bizer paper chart look silly.

I guess that answers that question.

Thanks!!

I HAVE THE EAGLESEACHARTER500C WITH G.P.S.(MADE BY LORWRANCE).I BOUGHT THIS FIRST,THEN ADDED THE NAVIONICS CHIP LATER.WOW!!!!!!THAT NAVIONICS CHIP IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!I WON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.THATS MY 2 CENTS.HOPE THAT HELPS.POLEBREAKER

Yeah... and now the Platinum model has 3-D capabilities that will work on my unit. Hmmm??? To buy or not to buy. LOL. Just bought the Navionics Premium last year and it already feels outdated!

Platinum working on your unit?
What did you buy?
Maybe things changed since i got my last info?
Platinum is only compatible with Some GeoNav units, a couple northstar units, and the raymarine E series
Cheapest e-series is $3200 for the SCREEN ONLY E80. Plus you have to buy GPS Software and antenna and dsm unit and transducer for total of $4000+ The others are about the same.

3D isn't worth $4000, at least not in my book, and you are still running a $99 plastic transducer.

All I know is that according to a Cabelas link I was sent, the Platinum chip would run on my unit??? I have the Intellimap 500c... You're probably right, though. I must be misreading something. Here's the link.
http://www.cabelas.com:80/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_019014&id=0045320018982a

I was just looking at the "Gold Series" and see they are for a very select few units. Is that what you were thinking of?

Looks like Cabelas has the wrong info listed on their site... I just went to Navionics website and it says the Platinum series is not compatable with Eagle. Hope nobody buys it from Cabelas expecting it to work!
I'm gonna email them now so hopefully they get it straightened out.

The reason that I did not buy the Garman is the fact that my favorite lakes were not on BlueCharts. They have a good inexpensive unit that is easy to work, but If your lakes are not on their what is the point? Look at one that take Navionics charts.

Well, I'm bummed out. The Garmin was available for just over $200. The Humminbird and Lowrance are around $500 plus for similar unit. Just goes to show you the value of compatible software.

Thanks for all of your replies, Jon W

Joe Cabela's has this unit on sale just for your info.Hope this helps.

Erin

Lowrance Golobalmap 3600C

Hi Erin, You had me excited for a minute. This is exactly what I am looking for but I wanted a sounder built in to the unit.
Thanks, I appreciate it.. Jon W

Sorry Joe I thought you were just looking for the gps Here is another site that I buy from he will match any price and ship free if over $400.Ask for Jim Sorry about the screw up.

Erin

By Owner Electronics.

I had a garmin plotter for a few years and garmin kept promising me that they were comeing out with a chart for winni. I waited for a few years before switching to lowrance 330c. I very happy with the Navionics charts.