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Posts: 1438
| Having a hard time deciding which locator/GPS to put on my new boat.
I've got a tiller and am putting a new one on the back by the big motor (moving Garmin 240 to the front for now).
I'm looking at the following two Lowrance's.
The first is the LMS332c which is 5" diagonal screen (480x480 pixels). It's 2400 watts and 256 color.
The second in the LCX17m which is 7" diagonal screen (480x640 pixels). It's 8000 watts and a monochrome display.
What I'm having trouble deciding is whether the smaller color screen would be better than the bigger black and white screen or vice-versa. At first I was leaning towards 332c, just first impression (subconciously maybe because colors the new thing?). Then got to talking to a good friend who said he'd stick with the monochrome and get the bigger screen because it was easier to read. OK, good point, so I started to lean towards the 17. Then I talked to someone else who I really trust and he said that the only thing the bigger screen does is show you more history. Both will show the current information on the far right. The bigger screen with just keep it on screen longer before is rolls off. After thinking about it, I figured that I used to ice fish with a small screen Eagle Ultra and stare at that for hours with no problems. That Ultra sat farther away than the one I'll be mounting on the boat so I'm guessing that the 5" screen wouldn't be so bad after all.
Still wondering how the split screen with the GPS and sonar running at the same time compares on both. Both units are capable of reading bottom far deeper than I'll be fishing so I'm guessing that and the power issue on both are irrelevant. I know I can go to Gander and look at both of them but that's prime situation with perfect lighting and no background glare, not really real world.
Anyone have any real world experience with these units that might shed some light on the subject?
Right now I think I am leaning towards the 332c again but just wanted to hear some other opinions.
Scott
Edited by theedz155 4/16/2005 4:18 PM
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Posts: 373
Location: Huber Heights, Ohio | I bought the 332c and color is the way to go. If you can afford color and buy monochrome you will regret it. |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | 332c can be seen clearly from almost any angle, the monochrome units have to be viewed from straight in front of the screen to be seen clearly. The choice has been easy for me. My new boat when purchased will be equipped with color units for sure. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Hello Mr. Theedz,
I'm buying the 332c as well. It is backordered at Sportsman's Warehouse, but should be here soon. My Bottom line unit has served me well for a million years but they don't seem to be advertising anywhere anymore which usually is a bad sign. A good friend of mine Bruce Shumway bought the 332c unit and was very positive about it.
You can sign on to www.Lowrance.com and download a program to try it out.
I wish the screen was bigger as well, but I plan on mounting it to the top of the console instead of at the front of my Esox Magnum where the big screen Bottom Line unit was. Even my old man eyes should be able to focus on the screen from there!
Maybe we could buy two at once plus the north region lake maps and get some discounting!
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 4/16/2005 5:28 PM
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Posts: 40
| Take a look at AnchorExpress.com. I purchased the 332c and the Navionics Premium North for $810 including shipping and tax. That was the best deal I could find. I got here in just over a week. Just finished installing it today. It is very easy to see from the side and the color is nice. The resolution is incredible. I'm looking forward to getting on the lake to test it out. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Actually I think that you should go the economy route first. Buy a 100' spool of curtain string and put colored markers on the string every foot. Add a weight to the end (not connected to the spool!) and now you have a WalMart Depth Finder.....batteries not included. |
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | I spoke with some of the different manufacturers this past fall. They said that within a couple of years, the non-color units would be nearly obsolete. Granted, this may have been a sales tool for color, but it sounds legit seeing how fast and how far the color units have come along and how they have dropped in price. The guy did not need to sell me on color as I already had one. I also have a color GPS which is the ONLY way to go in my book.
Go color, it is like watching television.
Chuck |
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Posts: 20271
Location: oswego, il | Defintiely get a lowrance. Worked a freinds boat all weekend, he had two other brand name sonar and gps units. The sonar would refresh itself and any baitfish at all would make it lose the bottom. Both that and the gps were impossible to setup and adjust compared to a lowrance. We could not even figure out hw the gps worked. |
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| Color is the way to go, simply get the largest color unit your budget will allow. Once you have had color you will NEVER go back.
BT |
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Posts: 63
| Color all the way!, I've got an Lowrance LCX-16ci, color, just had it in to Lowrance for the new screen upgrade which is easlier to read in sunlight. And as one of the other posters said. Get the biggest screeen unit you can afford!  |
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