Hand held gps?

[DDSBYDAY]

   I want one that accepts lakemaster chips,  HD if possible.  Any tips would be appreciated.  I liked the one Fawk had at eelpout.  Anyone that has one or has researched this please feel free to give your recommendations.  Thanks in advance..

[dakids]

this is the one I like and use.
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?r=view&i=400836

[DDSBYDAY]

   You are not the only one.  They are sold out.  With Hummingbird buying out Lakemaster will there be a problem with upgrades for Lowrance? 

[dakids]

hopefully my gps lasts another 10 years.  I have hundreds of waypoints saved.

[DDSBYDAY]

     I have spent hours researching this and I have more questions than answers..  The phone apps work but I don't have one or want to pay for a data plan that has a never ending cost to it.  The hand held units need a chip of some sort that will run about 100 $.  Not all chips are compatible with all units.  Garmin makes a Midwest chip but I am really interested in Minnesota.  You can get an ice fishing  unit that comes with the chip for about the same price.  Batteries are an issue. Cell phones need to be charged.  A hand held can run off rechargeable or batteries. My garmin 12 has an internal memory lithium ion battery and when that goes it's done.  I can't find the info on this with the new ones.      So after all the research I have gotten close to going with a garmin 450 with the Midwest chip from reeds. 
The cell phone thing will not work for me.   The other option is upgrade my fl-8 flasher and get the free lakemaster chip with a new humming bird flasher.  It would not help me in the summer but unfortunately I have to upgrade the boats electronics too.  I am sick of looking into this stuff.  You can spend 3000 easily on electronics that has a one year warranty.   In my profession somebody spends 1000 dollars on  they expect it to last for ever.

[kenhuntin]

They really seem cool until you get one and it does not work for some reason or another. I had the top of the line before and it was so soon outdated that I was disheartened. One drop and cablooey on the next one I had. Ice fishing and I mean in the cold on foot searching and stepping off a crusted snow pack onto a slick bare slippery section of ice just as a big unheralded wind gust arises the unit goes flying in order to save your behind is all it takes to render them useless. Honestly I rely on the fl8 for depth and a cheap gps to keep the general area. By the way the fl8 also went through the air on Leech when that 50 mph wind hit me on the bare ice. It never missed a beat although I had to repair the body fracture and secure the knob back on with two part epoxy.

[lentz]

Dds why don't you get the Garmin and bring out your boat batterie and attach a cigaret lighter to it so you got power all the time that's how I charge my phone/spare vexilar battierie

[DDSBYDAY]

   I do that with my garmin12 that doesn't have the mapping.  I was getting such a headache on this I finally pulled the trigger on the Garmin 430 Montana from Reed's with the midwest chip.  The unit was a couple of bucks less at Cabella's with a 7-8 week wait and no chip.  If I bought the chip it came out about the same.  Glad that's over.  Should be here in time for