Lowrance GPS Receivers: What to Know Before Buying One

One of the newest toys on the market is almost a necessity for many. That is the GPS receiver and navigation system. Whether you are in a car, a boat, or on foot, there is a system for you that will accurately display your position on a map, show the direction you are facing and get you to your destination quickly, easily, and with voice support. Once thought of as a luxury, and a great face-saver for guys (no more stopping to ask directions) these units have now become more affordable and practical than ever. One of the top brands of GPS Receivers in Lowrance. They offer a receiver for every situation. Here we will review five of their receivers so you have an idea of what may be suitable for you.

iFinder Expedition C
The Lowrance iFinder series is among the most popular and feature-rich handheld GPS receivers on the market. They are a hiker's and outdoorsman's dream. Quality and price vary widely among the models, but for the money, the Expedition C takes the cake. It features a 16 channel receiver with fast satellite locking. The display is full color, 320 x 240 resolution, and 2.83 inches. It holds 100 routes and 1000 waypoints with a battery life of 16 hours. The actual unit size is W2.h, H5.6, D1.2 inches and weighs just over half a pound. It features a unique "Scout Mode", built in electronic compass, barometric altimeter, weather preditions, Plays MP3 files, voice recording, and watertight seal. The unit sells for between $250 and $279.

iWay 250C
The iWay series of receivers are among the best automotive navigation systems made. Although the 250C is on the low-end of the price spectrum, it reviews much higher than the more expensive models. It features a 3.5 inch color screen with 320 x 240 resolution. The total size is W4.2, H3.0, D1.0 inches. It can be mounted either through the included windshield suction mount or the vehicle mount. It's built-in antenna is strong and reliable and 2D/3D maps come pre-loaded along with POIs (Points of Interest). Some of the navigation features allow the user to avoid highways, avoid left-hand turns, address search, avoid tolls, and an average speed gauge. This unit sells for around $350.

LMS-522C iGPS
If you are a boater and fisherman, the LMS-522C will give you everything you need as it is not only a GPS chartplotter, but also a sonar fishfinder. The display is a large 5 inches with 480 x 480 color resolution. The sonar activity overlays directly over the GPS mapping screen. The output of the sonar is 2400 W and can reach depths up to 900 ft. and includes a temperature display and alarm. The navigation comes preloaded with maps of the US including Hawaii. It can store 1000 waypoints and 1000 event markers. The waterproof casing is W6.9, H 5.4, D 3.4 inches and the unit sells for around $600.

iWay 600C
We return back to the iWay line for one reason, and that is the 600C is compatible for both automobile and marine. Added features above and beyond the 250C are the 5 inch, 640 x 480 resolution, color screen. A built in FM modulator that allows the audio to be played on your stereo and the Marine mode for use as a chartplotter in your boat. This unit sells for around $450.

Airmap 600C
The last classification is not for your everyday user, as it is for aviators and flight. This top-featured handheld has a 2.83 inch, 320 x 240 resolution display and come preload with Terrain Awareness Americas database, Lowrance Obstructions database, Jeppesen Americas database, and a 21 US airport taxiway map. The 16 channel receiver always stays locked on and features position information (lat/lon), altitude, and velocity. This unit sells for $500.

As you can see there is a GPS receiver for just about any situation and in today's fast-paced world, why not free your thoughts and let the system do some of the work for you. For more information see the Lowrance website at www.lowrance.com .