GPS Help

[mconway951]

hey Guys I just got a GPS from a buddy I have never used one but thought since he was giving it away I might as well give it a whirl. It is a lowrance ifinder hunt. Just wondering how i would go about getting public land outlined on it so I could tell exactly where I am and where the public land stops. I am going to wy this fall on a antelope hunt with surplus tags and not lots of public land mostly small little tracks inter connected with small little areas of land so just want to be sure I am not tresspassing.

Thanks for any help in acvance.
Mike

 

[icb12]

Your first option: get the freedom maps usa card for your region.
http://www.lei-extras.com/store/FreedomMaps/default_usaex.asp

Even then, it might not do everything you want. On mine it distinguishes the federal land apart from the rest, but you're on your own for waypointing the differences between public and private. For instance I DON"T see all the native land, on my card.

Another option, but more $$ might be buying lowrance's mapcreate software. I've never used it, so I can't say, but If I were you I'd call them and ask if you could create a map for your ifinder that would show the separation you're looking for.

Option 3: Get this http://www.expertgps.com/default.asp. It will let you export arcgis shapefiles to your ifinder. So build your map in arcgis by running queries and then upload the shapefile to your gps. You can even do ACad files as I understand it. I've been wanting to try it.

Honestly. Just buy a map (paper map). Use it in conjunction with your gps.

 

[mconway951]

Your first option: get the freedom maps usa card for your region.
http://www.lei-extras.com/store/FreedomMaps/default_usaex.asp

Even then, it might not do everything you want. On mine it distinguishes the federal land apart from the rest, but you're on your own for waypointing the differences between public and private. For instance I DON"T see all the native land, on my card.

Another option, but more $$ might be buying lowrance's mapcreate software. I've never used it, so I can't say, but If I were you I'd call them and ask if you could create a map for your ifinder that would show the separation you're looking for.

Option 3: Get this http://www.expertgps.com/default.asp. It will let you export arcgis shapefiles to your ifinder. So build your map in arcgis by running queries and then upload the shapefile to your gps. You can even do ACad files as I understand it. I've been wanting to try it.

Honestly. Just buy a map (paper map). Use it in conjunction with your gps.

thanks for the input I am leaning toward the map cause i never used a gps before and seems way easier than loading all of this stuff on it.

 

[hardscrabble]

Give this product a try. A freind of mine has the ND version of it and he said it is really accurate. I am not familiar with your model of gps but if it has and sd card slot this will work. The price is reasonable too.
http://www.koutdoorproducts.com/index.html

 

[Khunter]

free landownership status map for wyoming on gpsfiledepot.com. Nothing fancy but shows blm/pvt/state/park service etc. in different colors.

If your buddy if giving away a lowrance, that may be a good clue you should just buy a Garmin and get it over with....

 

[icb12]

If your buddy if giving away a lowrance, that may be a good clue you should just buy a Garmin and get it over with....

?

Pretty big leap there.

 

[Khunter]

?

Pretty big leap there.

Not so much. I know perhaps 30 guys with GPS units, zero happened to choose lowrance, except one who said he did not like it. All but one or two have garmins. All I'm saying is, if you are just getting into it, consider using the most commonly used unit. Best I can tell that would be garming. Maybe lowrance units are wildy popular and I just have not seen it.

Also there are a ton of free custom maps already available, Topo, land status, etc. that work on Garmin units, but not other units. That to me says, garmin dominates the market and is more likely to have great value-added extra available, for free. Again just one guys observation and the reason I stuck with garmin when upgrading to a mapping unit last year.

to each his own...

 

[awapiti]

+1 on gpsfiledepot.com

 

[icb12]

Not so much. I know perhaps 30 guys with GPS units, zero happened to choose lowrance, except one who said he did not like it. All but one or two have garmins. All I'm saying is, if you are just getting into it, consider using the most commonly used unit. Best I can tell that would be garming. Maybe lowrance units are wildy popular and I just have not seen it.

Also there are a ton of free custom maps already available, Topo, land status, etc. that work on Garmin units, but not other units. That to me says, garmin dominates the market and is more likely to have great value-added extra available, for free. Again just one guys observation and the reason I stuck with garmin when upgrading to a mapping unit last year.

to each his own...

I use GPS day in and day out. Anything from Trimble Recons or R8s to Etrex to Rhinos to Lowrance to Delorme. For ease of use, value, ruggedness, battery life, I'd choose the Lowrance. The only recreational GPS that beats it out is the Rhino 530HCX.

You're right that Garmins are more popular. Lowrance is definitely the underdog. But there is no reason to give one up just to get a Garmin.

Thats like WDH selling his free Arctic Cat quad just so he could buy a Polaris.