* By ContentMart Editor
* Published 01/20/2005
* Sports Outdoor
* Rating: Unrated
ContentMart Editor
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Find and Catch Those Pesky Fish with a Garmin 240 Fish Finde
Garmin 240 Fish Finder Depthfinder with Transducer - a review
The lakes that I normally fish are deep and quite rocky, and I have been delighted with the performance of the Garmin 240 Fish Finder, which gives a clear picture of what lies below. The image of the bottom shows great detail, and if it is showing fish presence then you can guarantee they will be there. It does a good job of indicating non-fishlines as well. It is at its best when performing in deep water, but perhaps isn't as impressive in shallow water.
The Depth Control feature works well in continuing to monitor changes in water depth automatically while the Whiteline feature determins bottom hardness well. The screen is easy to read, even in the dark when the backlight comes into its own. You can see the controls easily.
The Garmin 240 Fish Finder is packed full of features for less money than my old Lowrance, while the features are easily compatible."
Features
The 240-by-240 pixel high-definition display gives you a clear picture of fish, thermoclines, structure and bottom surface. By using various shades of gray, the Fishfinder 240 paints a beautiful picture, leaving little to interpretation.
Operational features include a unique control bar that identifies the most commonly used fishing settings. So without hunting through complicated menus, you can quickly configure and save the settings you want. As lake conditions change, you can fine- tune your Fishfinder 240 on the fly.
Garmin's engineering edge includes See-ThruTM technology, a Garmin exclusive. This allows the Garmin 240 Fish Finder to hear both weak and strong signals simultaneously so you to identify fish returns under the toughest conditions: suspended in thermoclines or even hiding near structure.
Another exclusive feature is Depth Controlled Gain (DCGTM), which automatically adjusts fishfinder sensitivity according to depth, not echo intensity like other fishfinders. The result is a much more detailed and accurate picture of bottom structure.
And we've often heard stories about folks who have found a great fishing spot one day, only to be unable to find it again the next day. With the Garmin 240 Fish Finder that's never a problem again.
วันพุธที่ 23 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2551
Find and Catch Those Pesky Fish with a Garmin 240 Fish Finde
Finding and Catching Fish has never been easier with the Gar
The Garmin Fishfinder 250 is Garmin's latest addition to their family of marine chartplotters, handheld GPS, fish finders and GPS sounders and its already gaining a great reputation amongst the angling community.
We met up with Johnathan W Ross, a surgeon and keen fisherman to find out his views on the new Garmin 250.
FFR How long have you had the Garmin 250?
JWR I purchased the 250 fish finder as a replacement for my obselete Garmin 160 fish finder. I have had the 250 for six months and I'm more than pleased with it.
FFR How do you find the display compared to the Garmin 160?
JWR The display on the Garmin 250 is much more detailed than the 160. It has twice the definition of the older model which means that what you see on the screen is in great detail. Something called Depth Control Gain gives really detailed images.
FFR Do you fish different types of water?
JWR I fish in both fresh water and salt water, and the Garmin 250 works well in both situations.
FFR Did you notice better performance in shallower waters?
JWR I have the version with dual-frequency sonar which is made for deeper waters, to a depth of 1500'. There is a version of the Garmin 250 with single-frequency which will be better for shallow waters, and its cheaper too!
FFR Have you customized your 250 fish finder?
JWR I have connected a Garmin GPS receiver (which I bought separately) to the unit. I can now mark waypoints directly from the Fishfinder's keypad.
FFR So is the 250 a fish finder that is easy to use?
JWR Very easy. It works out of the box, so no complicated set-up. It's very slim so it doesn't get in the way when its mounted - I've got mine on the bow. Its mounted on a swivel so that it can be viewed from any angle. The buttons are easy to use, too, even with gloves on.
Navigating on the Mountain, in Water, or in Woods there is a
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features of a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver and put them into a six ounce package that is only four inches high and two inches wide. The result is a unit that will literally fit in the palm of your hand.
Besides its small size, mariners and outdoorsmen will likely notice the sleek design of the eTrex.
All buttons are located on either side of the unit, allowing for simple, one-handed operation that won't obstruct your view of the display. In fact, the eTrex features only five operator buttons for the ultimate in user-friendly design.
Inside the eTrex, you will find the proven performance of a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver that will run for 18 hours on just two AA batteries.
No need to worry about dense tree canopy with this unit, the eTrex will continue to maintain a tight satellite lock even while operating in forest-like conditions. The eTrex will store up to 500 user waypoints with graphic icons and boasts Garmin's exclusive TracBack� feature that will reverse your track log and help you navigate your way back home. In addition, the eTrex uses animated graphics that will help you identify your marked waypoints quickly and easily.
The Garmin eTrex family consists of six members - the eTrex, eTrex Camo, eTrex Summit, eTrex Legend, eTrex Venture and eTrex Vista.
The family retain the same basic features one of the best-selling handheld GPS systems on the market, and has adapted them to add some unique features to make each of them the perfect tool for their intended users.
How to Choose a GPS
You've heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, you're tired of getting lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose?
If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But don't rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use.
Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non--mapping. A basic, non--mapping unit can often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following:
* Location
* Compass heading
* Elevation above sea level
* Accurate time
* Satellite location and signal strength
* The ability to calculate distance traveled
* The ability to record your path as a set of waypoints
* The ability to navigate routes
* The ability to retrace your steps
Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre--loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US.
Paper maps are strongly recommended whether you're using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and probably won't go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a "big picture" view of your situation -- something lacking on the small screen of a GPS.
I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if you're using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS "sleeve." That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmin's PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm--based and one that is Pocket PC--based.
Prices for automotive GPS start at around $250 US. These provide turn--by--turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car's electrical system and because of this, they can only be used in a vehicle.
Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and often have fewer options. I've also heard some stories of people having a hard time getting map updates.
A PDA/GPS is a good alternative for automotive use. Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use.
If you're hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since you'll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, won't you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in--car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn--by--turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, click here.