Garmin 556 chart plotter

[j-tyson]

Hey guy's, i am looking for a new GPS for my boat. I am tossing up between the Garmin 556 and lowrance HDS5. Does anyone have a garmin and what are your thoughts.

Thanks JT

[outwide1]

Hard choice jt,im probably the worse person to ask as im going to say Garmin as i have one.
Im about to install a new Garmin 7012 and will be doing a report on the unit and its perfomance.
As for yourself mate weigh up the features prior to buying aand take into consideration
the added bonus of the g2 card you can get for the garmin unit at a later date and what it has to
increase the units capabilities.
Cheers Mick.

[j-tyson]

Thanks mick, I am quite keen on the garmin it looks like a fantastic unit. Pardon my ignorance whats a g2 card.
Cheers Jules

[kitty_cat]

hey j-tyson- the 556 comes std with built in charts so g2 vision is the best upgrade for that model. The best feature of that upgrade is the auto guidence feature it will actually guide you around charted channels islands ect ,based on the previsions that you have pre programmed in for your vessel- height & draft, instaed of just a strait line goto.

[j-tyson]

Thanks Kitty_c, mate will have to look at getting one, I am pretty sold on the GPS.

[oldboot]

Of course there is one very considerable matter.
do you want garmin mapping or lowrance mapping..and the pricess that apply to both.

Then look at the price of the chart sync software for both

The whole charting and software deal is a hell of a lot cheaper anf fairer for Garmin.

cheers