Hoary

I mentioned in this topic: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=11&t=99504&st= "The main difference from iFinder, I know about, is missing Navigation Screen (the one with "compass rose")."

Be aware, for some reason Lowrance removed iWay 100M from the web site. I guess, it was an experiment and it's discontinued.

I sent my request on Thursday evening (after 5.00 pm) and got answer next morning (Friday). You sent yours on Friday after lunch - I guess Monday morning you're going to get something. Old empiric rule (Murphy's law?) - you couldn't get any results on Friday after lunch.

In addition, a firmware upgrade could be required. They enabled microphone only in version 1.3.0: http://www.lowrance.com/software/Upgrades/...130/Default.asp

AFAIK, lee_rimar purchased his iFinder H2O from them recently. In case, tigergps.com has a price match policy: http://www.tigergps.com/about-us.html (scroll down to "Low Price Guarantee")

Works fine in free version.

BTW, it's againts the law in Russia for civilian to determine position with accuracy better than 30 meters. It's sounds strange, but it's still true.

Better call. They are well known not to answer on emails.

No, it's not that big. In fact, it's smaller than Magellan Meridian. For me it's size is comfortable. iFinder H2O doesn't have compass. The screen you are asking about is actually Navigation Screen. It looks like a compass, but it's not. It's a typical screen which you can find on almost any handheld GPSr. It can show you orientation ONLY if you are moving. In addition to that screen some GPSrs are also have real electronic compass, which works as regular magnetic compass and can show you orientation even if you are standing still. You can find more information in manuals (available on Garmin, Magellan and Lowrance web sites). I also recommend you to download iFinder H2O emulator: http://www.lowrance.com/software/PCSoftwar...DERH2O_demo.exe and some maps for it: http://www.lowrance.com/software/PCSoftware/demomaps.asp and play with it on your PC. It behave exact as real iFinder and has special Simulator mode which allows you to imitate the real navigation.

Yes, from the beginning they were shipping v.6.3 as non-Topo and Topo, but in March non-Topo discontinued. If you purchased your set after March of 2005, you can call Lowrance and get your Topo (see my post earlier in this thread).

Yes it's good. Here are some links to read: Review in "Todays Cacher" (down at the moment, but I hope will be up soon): http://www.todayscacher.com/2005/aug/reviews.asp Topic "Lowrance Users, Show your stuff" by briansnat http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=97546 And there is a Yahoo iFinder Group with lot of helpful info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifinder_gps/

I guess operating system you are using is not Windows XP. You can find a lot of links to different tools for unzipping here http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...105276&hl=unzip I would recommend 7zip (free): http://www.7-zip.org/

You can use GPSBabel (freeware, http://www.gpsbabel.org/ ) in order to convert *.loc files directly to Lowrance *.USR format. Read this thread how to do this: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...topic=98802&hl= And there is at least two ways to combine multiple *.loc files into one: 1. GPSBabel can do this from command line (but not through GUI). Command is "gpsbabel -i geo -f 1.loc -f 2.loc -f 3.loc -o geo -F big.loc". You can find this in documentation. 2. Using free utility 'EasyGPS Companion': http://www.factsfacts.com/geocachingsoft/EZCompanion.htm

First, what MapCreate gives you, is the detailed map on the screen of your iFinder (for iFinder it's only Topo maps now). Each vendor makes it's own maps and they are not compatible with other vendor's units. If you think you don't need it - don't buy it. Custom in this case means custom area. And, of course, you can see you tracks on the map (on PC and on GPSr). I prefer to look on my tracks using Google Earth (after converting Lowrance *.USR file format into *.gpx) or you can use OziExplorer or GPS TrackMaker (both can accept Lowrance *.USR file format directly). If you have your previous track on the screen of your GPSr, you can follow it and yes, you can see where is the next turn. You also can create a trail to follow beforehand (on PC using MapCreate or other programs or on GPSr) as a sequence of the waypoints and use it in your GPSr. In either case your GPSr can alarm that you are close to the turn point. You can find some information on different IPX standards in this document on page G-5: http://www.usautomation.com/PDFs/OM_Genera...tyStandards.pdf

I think all you need to do is download and install latest GPSBabel from http://www.gpsbabel.org/ and convert your .USR file to .gpx using GPSBabel. If all information already in OziExplorer than check GPSBabel documentation and choose appropriate export format in Ozi.

Thank you for pointing out. My information is old. I guess I need to download new file.

Correct me if I'm wrong, GPSBabel can convert only waypoints, but not a tracks. Utility I mentioned has full support for .USR file format (one way - .USR to .gpx).

GoogleEarth works fine with .loc or .gpx files. Go to File -> Open and in the box "Files of type" change to "Gps (*.gpx, *.loc)". If you cannot get *.gpx file out of OziExplorer, you can go to Yahoo iFinder group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifinder_gps/) and ask about .USR to .gpx conversion utility or you can ask author ("reidster") here: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...opic=105221&hl=

They are definitely not more detailed than MapCreate. I was assuming (may be I'm wrong) that FreedomMaps actually have less information than you can get from MapCreate (at least for Topo). I don't think it worth to get both. I'm using MapCreate.

And they don't even think that it's possible to change a file extension to something like .sss and avoid that problem. Send me PM with your e-mail address and I'll send you that file if you want.

As Lowrance iFinder user, I would recommend to look here: iFinder Pro for $147.39 + sh.: http://newsite.pagecomputers.com/store/pro...uct%5Fid=633540 iFinder H2O for $178.95 + sh.: http://newsite.pagecomputers.com/store/pro...uct%5Fid=633541 iFinder Pro Plus (with MapCreate Topo, card reader and 32MB memory card) for $220.79 + sh.: http://newsite.pagecomputers.com/store/pro...uct%5Fid=633543 iFinder H2O Plus (with MapCreate Topo, card reader and 32MB memory card) for $242.80 +sh.: http://newsite.pagecomputers.com/store/pro...uct%5Fid=633544 You can find more information about Lowrance iFinders on Lowrance website: http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/ and Yahoo iFinder group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifinder_gps/

No altitude, no time stamp.

I would suggest you to join this group and read it (it's less than 2000 posts ): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifinder_gps/ A lot of helpful information.

In general, Topo has an elevation information - you can see a contour lines on a map. Lowrance started shipping Topo only with MapCreate version 6.3. If you have version before - it's non-Topo. Non-Topo MapCreate was on 2 CDs, Topo comes on 6 CDs.

That's a pretty good find - IF the iFinder H2O really comes with MapCreate 6.3 TOPO. The topo product is bundled with the iFinder Hunt Plus, but I'm not sure about the H2O. Either way, thanks for the point! Non-Topo MapCreate discontinued around March of 2005 (according to Lowrance Cust. Serv.). Now all Plus versions are shipping with Topo version. However, when I odered my H2O Plus in April of this year I received it with non-Topo MapCreate (I guess it was sitting on a shelf for long time). I called Lowrance, they asked unit's serial number and shiped me Topo version at no charge. They didn't even want non-Topo back.