Garmin or Lowrance

Hi

I have a friend who is visiting US this fall. I’m hoping that he can bring me back a GPS sounder. The choices right now is Garmin 178, Garmin 178c or Lowrance LMS-332. I have o lot of questions which I hope you can answer for me.
I have made up a list with the information, I have gathered. Please correct the info if I have gotten anything wrong.
My first choice right now is a Garmin as I would also like to use the unit for navigation in the car. Garmin makes a cd (metroguide Europe) that covers most of the contries in Europe. Lowrance have spilt Europe into smaller areas.
I would also prefer the internal antenna of Garmin as I will be using the unit in many different boats. It would be a bit inconvenient with all the wires of the Lowrance, especially when the antenna also needs direct power from the battery.
The problems with Garmin are the smaller screen and that the Garmin units use special data cards and therefore also a special datacard programmer.

My questions are:

Garmin:
Is it possible to transfer data directly from the PC to Garmin units via the supplied data cable?
If so, how big is the internal memory?
Can I use other cards and programmer that Garmin?

Lowrance:
Am I right in assuming that the LMS-332 takes any MMC/SD card and that I can use any MMC/SD programmer/reader?
Can I transfer data from the datacard onto an internal memory, so I can use the datacard in the unit for recording?
If so, how big is the internal memory?
Is it possible to have mapdata on the datacard and record at the same time?

Information:
Garmin 178 + 178C:
Antenna: Internal
Datacard: Garmin
Datacard programmer: Garmin
Map cd/datacard: Europe Metroguide
Screen: 4½’’
Internal memory: ?

Lowrance LMS-332C
Antenna: External – needs power
Datacard: Aný MMC/SD
Datacard programmer: Any MMC/SD programmer
Map cd/datacard: Several different
Screen: 5’’
Internal memory: ?

You will be very happy with the 178C, but may I suggest you look at the 276C. That unit has it all!! Especially if you plan on using the unit in your vehicle also.

Yes, it is possible to use the unit as the programmer. I hook my GPS up to my computer and use the unit to save data to the cards. You do not need a programmer. You can buy either pre-programmed cards from Garmin or a blank memory card and put your own info on the card. Buying the blank memory card and tranferring data from CD allows for the most flexability because you can transfer only the info/maps/etc that you want or will be using.

Let me know if you have any more questions about Garmin units, I will do my best to answer them.

Garmin:
Is it possible to transfer data directly from the PC to Garmin units via the supplied data cable? Yes, but it’s not as fast as the data card programmer.
If so, how big is the internal memory? You need to add a Garmin Data Card to load the data.
Can I use other cards and programmer that Garmin? No.

Lowrance:
Am I right in assuming that the LMS-332 takes any MMC/SD card and that I can use any MMC/SD programmer/reader? Not exactly. Lowrance makes no guarantee that any other brands will work. Oddly, sometimes off brands will work and sometimes they won’t. Folks have had good luck with Sandisk cards.
Can I transfer data from the datacard onto an internal memory, so I can use the datacard in the unit for recording? No.
If so, how big is the internal memory? There is space available to mark waypoints, icons, and save trails.
Is it possible to have mapdata on the datacard and record at the same time? I suppose you could if you had extra space on the card but you run the risk of writing over prestent data. It’s better to have the two slot system for this purpose.

Both of these are excellent combo units. I personally run the 332C and it is outstanding. However, for folks in Europe, Garmin currently offers more software options and may be the better choice for you. Both units have excellent resolution and screen clarity. Both are easy to read and are very user-friendly. Good luck!

Thanks Scott and Wade

It not an easy choice but it looks like Garmin is the way to go for me.
At the moment it is not possible to have electronic maps of the inland lakes with contours here in Denmark. That’s the reason, I’m going to use a maps like Metroguide. I’m certainly looking forward to have such maps – it must make navigating and hotspot-finding a lot easier.

Michael

This is the same problems I am having.(Which one to get?)I can get both units and one card for around $700.00. On the other hand should I go With The Vexilar edge which is $700.00 and work on the gps later? Please help me pick the unit that would be best. I have seen the 332c and I like it. I have heard the 178 gps in nice and ease to use, but how is the graph on that unit If It will work as well as the 332c I would be sold. I need to see the two units side by side before I pick. Now that Edge2 sure seems to be a nice unit but no Gps. Thanks for your time and help

Adam.

Adam, I read your profile and see that you fish Mille Lacs and Lake Michigan. Although either the 178C or the 332C would work well, the 332C has the ability to run 1-foot contours of Mille lacs on either Lakemaster or Navionics. The Navionics Premium also includes Lake Michigan. As for the Vexilar Edge, it’s an outstanding sonar, but like you said, no GPS. It depends on how you want to spend your money. I personally chose the 332C to be able to use the Navionics Premium maps and the sonar is absolutely awesome. I’ve seen the display on the 178C but have not actually used it on the water. The feedback we’ve gotten has been very good, but I can’t offer a first-hand account like I can with the 332C. Hope this helps.

Wade thanks for your help Maybe Scott will chime in on his view on the display on the 178c. Thanks again. Adam.

You are welcome. I think Scott still runs the 172C which is GPS only but the display would be the same as the 178C. Scott could tell you more about the Garmin mapping as well.

Scott will be gone the rest of the week fishing the Tourney on Devils Lake! Just a heads up!