In this day and age, you would be hard pressed to find a fishing boat without some sort of fish finding device. GPS devices have become the latest in technology and water safety when it comes to fishing. They are used as a means of navigation and a way to mark your spot so that you can find it again in the future.

A GPS is a Global Positioning System that is made primarily for navigational purposes. They work off a network of satellites that are placed into orbit by the United States Government. The best part about a GPS system is that because they operate off satellite, they can be used in any weather conditions at any hour of the day.

The satellites will circle the earth twice during the day and transmit signal information to Earth. The signals can then be used to calculate the user’s exact location by implementing triangulation and pinpointing exact spots. Triangulation means that the GPS receiver must be locked into three spots before a calculation of longitude and latitude can be displayed. After the satellites have mapped the location, the GPS can narrow in on other satellites for useful information such as speed, track, trip distance, destination distance and sunrise or sunset times.

The accuracy of the GPS system is very acute because of the multi-channel designs that are available. A GPS will lock onto a satellite and maintain that lock through one of their channels. A GPS fish finder is accurate up to fifteen meters while the newer models increase in accuracy up to three meters.

There are many benefits to investing in a GPS and people are using GPS more regularly and relying on them more than the more traditional ways of navigation such as maps and charts. If you have plot points that you have saved on a GPS, you may be able to save time and frustration on the open seas by going directly to the location that had the fish the last time you went out. Another advantage to the GPS is that it can detect hot fishing spots that may not be detected by older maps or charts. In addition, if you find a perfect fishing spot, you can share it with a friend when you go fishing on another boat.

GPS systems are also a great safety tool when you are out on the water. Many times, especially if there are many people socializing on a boat, it can be easy to lose concentration. People will easily be turned around or lost and a GPS is an easy tool to use to find your way back home. You can also use a GPS system if there is unexpected bad weather such as fog or heavy rain. GPS systems are also equipped with mapping software that makes it easier to find a dock. The GPS is so accurate that it is able to communicate exact positions to the Coast Guard or rescue crew if an emergency arises.

You can purchase a handheld GPS online or at your local marine or boating store. Ask a salesperson to help explain the different features and costs for the varying models. If you decide to purchase your boat from a dealer, you will need a built-in GPS. Your local boat supplier will be able to give you a reference to someone who can properly install your electronics.

You should never rely on just one navigation tool when you are fishing. A GPS seems to cover all of the bases, but it is still a computerized tool. You should always be proactive about your safety and always have marine maps and charts onboard at all times. You should also have a handheld radio handy in case of emergencies.

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Fish Finder and GPS Question?

Right now I have a fishfinder/depth finder on my boat (garmin fishfinder 240). and i’m interested in getting a gps for my boat to follow the weedlines and stuff. I’ve been looking at some lowrances and they seem like what i want i think. most of the pics show the gps of like the ocean. so i’m wondering if the will show all the lakes like in MN… also should i get a GPS unit solo or should i get one that has the split screen gps/depthfinder/fishfinder?

please help me on what gps i should get and why!!!!

Answer
If it was my rig, I would leave the Garmin 240 there and use it only as a depth finder.
Then get a strictly GPS unit and mount it off to the side of the console or where ever it would be convenient.
Lowrance makes a unit that has an internal GPS antenna BUT can not be mounted flush or the antenna does not work properly.
Eagle is owned by Lowrance, only difference between the units is the screen size or pixel count.
You can buy Maps for regions, check to see which company and region you would need. Make sure to get a map card what will WORK WITH THE UNIT YOU BUY.

http://www.lakemap.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=30

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/ontheWater/

http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Mapping/

Garmin, Lowrance, Eagle all make good units. If you are wanting a GPS only unit my suggestion is to get one from one of those companies.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat602018&navAction=jump&navCount=1&cmCat=MainCatcat21276&parentType=category&parentId=cat21276

Ram Mounts http://www.ram-mount.com/ makes about any kind of mount you might need or want.
Cabelas carries these as well.
Good Luck and do some research before you buy.

Hopefully the article has shown you the information you need to purchase a gps-fish finder.

There are so many fantastic features of a handheld GPS system that making a decision on one is full of details. Weighing options, balancing pros and cons, and deciding what you need and what you can go without are all required to really ensure that you walk out of the store with the handheld GPS system of your dreams.

First of all, a handheld GPS system can be fairly cheap, depending on the features that you want. There are many models, in fact, that are priced below one hundred dollars. A handheld GPS system should fit comfortably in your hand. The bigger the device, the harder to handle it can become (not to mention heavier) so you dont want one that is uncomfortable or overly huge. If you are new to the world of GPS systems, try not to jump in head first with a mega system that will take you six months to read the manual for. There are plenty of incredible GPS devices that are not only chock full of features but are also very user friendly. Be sure not to bite off more than you can chew, because the most advanced units have so many features that you would need a novel to reference it all. If you have never gone fishing in your life, you probably would not need to pay for the features of a GPS fish finder combo, which has so many options it is incredible.

One of the greatest things about a handheld GPS system is that it is a very versatile companion. You can take it with you just about anywhere, and use it in the car, on a hike, on a tour of the Great Pyramid, or going on safari in Africa. The handheld device you are considering should be very practical and ready at your fingertips. Speaking of African safaris and Pyramid tours, be sure to pay attention to the resiliency of the handheld GPS systems that you are considering. Many of them are water and weather resistant, but some are not. Some are waterproof, but not others. Also, there is a handful that will float when dropped in water, but not all will. Take into consideration where you might use your new system the most, and go from there with options. Most handhelds are very durable, covered with a rubber outside to absorb shock if dropped.

Make sure to treat yourself to a handheld GPS system that you find attractive. Color, shape, size, and style are all very important. Many people enjoy a smooth, sleek design, allowing for easy storage in a purse or pocket, and other people prefer a bulkier design that is easy to hold on to. The handheld devices come in many different shapes, styles, and colors, so choose wisely. There are tons of accessories that can be purchased separately to customize your GPS system, so you can always check those out, too. Finally, a benefit of a handheld GPS system that cannot go under appreciated these days is the fact that handheld units are completely self contained. You are not required to use any converters, cords, or wires to operate a handheld GPS system, which adds to the lure of them. Take the time to explore the additional options that would entail using cords and wires and plugs, and decide if the benefit that a feature with wires would provide would be worth the hassle of dealing with the wires. If not, dont bother with extra accessories that will only complicate things for you.

To know more about Handheld GPS system please visit our website.

help me find a good gps fish finder?

what is a good gps fish finder for the $

Answer
Try Raymarine:

http://www.raymarine.com/Article.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=43&PAGE=1676&CONTENT=10682#CBM10682

good stuff, easy to use.

Hopefully the article has shown you the information you need to purchase a gps-fish finder.

Fishing used to be a way of patience, now it has curved into a well-known sport and past time all over the world. From deep sea fishing river and lake differences, people enjoy fishing as an ambitious sport, relaxation activity or family bonding activities, often while on vacation and during holiday. Automobile GPS units have grown quit popular thanks to the technical progress of automobiles. In the past, it used to be that auto GPS units were saved for certain government connected, military and security classifications. In our cutting-edge world, it is now common for auto GPS units to be incorporated on most new automobiles.

Technology has not ended with automobiles, though; fishing has become very high tech, as well. One such example of high-applied science in fishing equipment is the GPS fish finder. This tool assists fishermen locate the species they hunt, all thanks to sonar communicators. The word sonar is really an acronym for Sound Navigation Ranging. Developed during World War Two to unearth enemy submarine fleets, a sonar has a communicator, receiver, transducer and display, all of which interpret to a tool that is readable and aids the intent of finding different moving objects. In the instance of fishing, the object would be the fish.

Fish finders are made up of three main pieces. These include the mounting bracket, the display screen and the transducer. Unless otherwise described each device comes with everything you require to install and use the fish finder.

Most fish finders come with a transducer which has temperature control so you can acquire the temperature of the surface water and some fish finder transducers come with built in speed, or you can purchase a different speed sensor if you need it. The GPS mixture units will allow you GPS acceleration but it will not be as precise as the speeds sensors if you would like it for trolling acceleration.

A GPS fish finder locates swimming species by sending an electrical drive from the transmitter, made into a sound wave by the transducer, which then moves through water by routing to a single fish or maybe a school of a specific species. Of course locating a school of fish is the more advantageous of the two if you are an avid sports fisherman. As the sound wave persists to move, it hits a fish or school or other swimming species, springs back and is displayed on the GPS fish finder display screen.

These high tech devices are frequently seen on shows such as Discovery Channel. Again, you do not have to be an avid fisherman to have access to these electronics anymore, now such devices are obtainable to the average fisherman.

While a marine GPS fish finder is a handy fishing tool, it still does not mean that a fish will take the bait. It can find the fish, though, and so the marine GPS fish finder is a big hit among serious contenders within the fishing world. Just like using your GPS to drive to a grocery store you have never been to, with a marine GPS fish finder unit, a boat can get direction to a body of waters particular coordinates so that the plentiful fishing is more likely.

Visit the Marine Electronics Center to find a great selection of Marine Electronics at fantastic discount prices. Wide variety of Fishfinders, Marine VHF, Epirb, Marine GPS and Chartplotters from leading brand names such as Garmin, Humminbird, Eagle, Icom, Lowrance and Furuno
http://www.marineelectronicscenter.com

Garmin GPS on the Water?

I just bought a boat.
I see the Garmin fish finders with sd card slots, and you can get the pre loaded marine charts on sd for them.

Question is, Can i put the marine chart sd card into a normal Garmin GPS i bought at BestBuy or wherever? (Assuming it takes the same sd card)

Answer
Go to Garmin’s website and see if your model is listed among the compatible units. Click on the map dataset you want, and there will be a link that will pull up a page listing the compatible units for that particular map set.

Hopefully the article has shown you the information you need to purchase a gps-fish finder.