GPS / Fishfinder Combo Unit Reviews

[allingeneral]

I am looking to buy a new GPS/Fishfinder combo unit for my boat. I don't want to break the bank...I would like to stay in the $500.00 range. I want a decent sized color display. There are several manufacturers that seem to have nice systems. I have looked at Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin and Eagle, and I just can't decide which is going to be the best for my money.

Whichever system I decide to go with, I will need to also get the map chip for the East Coast (Potomac River / Chesapeake Bay).

Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts about a GPS unit that they have seen in action?

Thanks!

[Rich Lindgren]

I have heard good things about the Lowrance LMS 522's

[allingeneral]

Lowrance LMS 522 is a nice looking unit with a lot of bells and whistles. I wonder how it would compare to a Humminbird 757C. Well..here are a couple of the major differences between the two...jeez..this took a little longer than I thought it would..and it's not very pretty either!

The winner of each comparison is denoted by a " *** ". See below....
<table align="center" border="1" valign="top"><tr><td> </td><td align="center"><b>Humminbird 757C</b></td><td align="center"><b>Lowrance LMS 522Ci</b></td></tr>
<tr><td></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td></tr>
<tr><td><b>PRICE</b></td><td>*** ~$525.00 </td><td>~ $649.00</td></tr><tr><td><b>Power Output:</b></b></td><td>***4,000 Watts peak-to-peak</td><td>2,400 Watts Peak-to-peak</td>
</tr>
<tr><td><b>Display</b></td><td>320V x 240H high resolution 5" TFT </td><td>*** 480V x 480H resolution 5" (12.7cm) diagonal 16-bit color TFT display</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Transducer</b></td><td>*** DualBeamPLUS Selectable 20° or 60° beams with Temp sensor</td><td>200kHz skimmer transducer - up to 60° with Temp sensor</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Depth Capability</b></td><td>*** 1500 feet</td><td>900 feet</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Mounting</b></td><td>*** Quick Disconnect Gimbal mount or in-dash </td><td>Gimbal mount or in-dash</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>GPS Add-ons</b></td><td>Optional Navionics Gold, HotMaps or HotMaps Premium cartography (MMC/SD)</td><td>Lowrance FreedomMaps™, Fishing Hot Spots® PRO, LakeMaster® Pro Maps, NauticPath™, and Navionics® electronic charts (MMC/SD)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>GPS Mounting</b></td><td>External receiver antenna</td><td>*** Internal Receiver </td></tr>
<tr><td><b>GPS Receiver</b></td><td>*** 16 channel WAAS GPS Receiver</td><td>12-parallel channel GPS+WAAS receiver</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Waypoints and Routes</b></td><td>*** 3000 Waypoints, 50 Routes, 50 Tracks with 20000 Points Each</td><td>1000 waypoints/1000 event markers/100 routes - 100 savable plot trails/10,000 points per trail</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><b>Full listing of features</b></td></tr>
<tr>
<td></td><td valign="top">- Full GPS chartplotting and high performance fishing system
- Brilliant color 320V x 240H high resolution 5" TFT display
- Built-in 30 meter per pixel resolution UniMapâ„¢ of USA inland lakes, rivers and coastal areas
- Precision 16 channel WAAS GPS Receiver included
- DualBeamPLUS sonar delivers wide coverage and better bottom definition
- Selectable 20° or 60° beams, or simultaneous operation
- Memory card expansion slot for Digital Screen Snap Shot, Sonar Recording or optional cartography
- Maximum 4000 Watts peak-to-peak (500 Watts RMS) Power Output
- Reliable performance from shallow to 1500 feet
- Water temperature and GPS speed included
- Networkable & upgradeable Fishing System
- Tilt & swivel quick disconnect mount system or optional in-dash mount
- Optional Navionics Gold, HotMaps or HotMaps Premium cartography
- Optional 90° QuadraBeam PLUS transducers

<table border="1" valign="top">
<tr><td>Display Size:</td><td>5" Diagonal</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Display Matrix:</td><td>320V x 240H</p></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Display Type:</td><td>256 Color TFT,<br>Sunlight Viewable</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Power Output<br>
(RMS):</td><td>500 Watts</p></td>
</tr><tr><td>Power Output<br>(Peak to Peak):</td>
<td>4000 Watts</td></tr><tr><td>Operating Frequency:</td>
<td>83kHz &amp; 200kHz</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Sonar Coverage:</td><td>20° @ -10db (200kHz)<br>60° @ -10db (83kHz)</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Depth Capability:</td><td>1500 ft</td>
</tr><tr><td>Target Separation:</td><td>2 1/2 Inches</td>
</tr><tr><td>Temperature:</td><td>Included in Transducer</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Speed:</td><td>GPS Speed Included</td>
</tr><tr><td>Power Input:</td><td>10-20 VDC</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Standard Transducer:</td><td>DualBeam PLUS - XNT 9 20 T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Unit Mounting:</td> <td>
Gimbal or In-Dash</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Unit Size

(Gimbal Mount):</td>
<td>
<p>6.9â€