Lowrance GPS Units

[VelvtRide]

Does anyone have any experience with this brand? I'm looking at purchasing the iWay 500c and wanted some feedback.

Any information would be appreciated.



Thanks.

VR

[TREE]

Velvt, one (very) short review HERE

[sdmotor]

I was looking at them a couple days ago and came across a GPS made by TomTom that is supposed to be motorcycle specific. Last time I was looking the tomtom wasn't out yet. The mp3 capability of the iway is pretty cool and Lowrance has been around in other markets for a while.

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by TREE

Velvt, one (very) short review HERE

I've been reading the reviews, which is why I'm leaning toward getting one - however, it's nice to have opinions from your friends.

[CMWoody]

Thinking about a lowrance myself

here's a review, and another source of information, yet another interesting read.
More


Been doing alot of reading on this one myself and I'm about convinced.

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by cmwoodys

Thinking about a lowrance myself

here's a review, and another source of information, yet another interesting read.
More


Been doing alot of reading on this one myself and I'm about convinced.

I hear ya - it's a great looking unit. Here's an article, too. Thanks for the input. Please let me know if/when you get one.

[Possu]

I'm a GPS n00b but after reading the above reviews, I noticed that the Lowrance has a 20gb Hard Drive? If so, should we avoid it for m/cycle use as the vibes may damage the HD? I was told on this site a short while ago to avoid the Garmin 2620 & stick with the 2610 for the same reason?

[johnlt]

IT does not have any "off line" route planning capability using your PC. This was a show stopper for me. I like the Garmin PC Mapsource software that allows me to route plan several routes and download them into the unit.

[Steverino]

Originally Posted by johnlt

IT does not have any "off line" route planning capability using your PC. This was a show stopper for me. I like the Garmin PC Mapsource software that allows me to route plan several routes and download them into the unit.

Yep, you can sit in your cabin and unwind after a long day and plan the next route. Upload it to the GPS and viola.

Or you can sit on the back of your GS, plan a route and upload it at any time. Route planning on the computer did all but Garmin in for me too.

[BjornBsrkr]

I have a very old Lowrance hand-held unit (sorry, it is not with me, so I don't know the model number) and been very happy with it. It has been serving me well and accurately for 6 or 7 years. After about two years of ownership it did stop working but Lowrance replaced it free of charge. It doesn't have a lot of features but it is water resistant enough for the GS, and has proven vibration/shock proof enough for my RS, hundreds of km of backpacking and three seasons of rallying (car).

After all that time and for only $400 it was money well spent.

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by Possu

I'm a GPS n00b but after reading the above reviews, I noticed that the Lowrance has a 20gb Hard Drive? If so, should we avoid it for m/cycle use as the vibes may damage the HD? I was told on this site a short while ago to avoid the Garmin 2620 & stick with the 2610 for the same reason?

From what I understand, it's allocated space, not an actual hard drive. It's a "fixed" device, for storage, like a memory card. No moving parts that are sensitive to vibrations and stuff. This is just what I've read, so I could be misinformed.

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by johnlt

IT does not have any "off line" route planning capability using your PC. This was a show stopper for me. I like the Garmin PC Mapsource software that allows me to route plan several routes and download them into the unit.

If the unit is easy to use, I don't mind planning routes without a PC.

[CMWoody]

Here's the manual and addendum if you want to read it.

Checking their website, they are coming out this 'fall' with an iway 700 and 800. The 800 has a whopping massive 10.4" screen.

iway 800



With this competition, I may have to wait and see how Garmin responds. The word is that the new 27XX series is slated for the fall and will have bigger displays, more features, more memory etc...

I would like the iway better if it had a mapsource-like utility and a tracklog. Similarly, I would like my 2610 better if it had a bigger tracklog memory and an easier route planning utility built in. It would be nice to abandon the computer like the lowrance promises. Making changes or complicated routes with the Garmin w/o puter is cumbersom and sometimes impossible.

[VelvtRide]

Originally Posted by cmwoodys

Here's the manual and addendum if you want to read it.

Checking their website, they are coming out this 'fall' with an iway 700 and 800. The 800 has a whopping massive 10.4" screen.

iway 800



With this competition, I may have to wait and see how Garmin responds. The word is that the new 27XX series is slated for the fall and will have bigger displays, more features, more memory etc...

I would like the iway better if it had a mapsource-like utility and a tracklog. Similarly, I would like my 2610 better if it had a bigger tracklog memory and an easier route planning utility built in. It would be nice to abandon the computer like the lowrance promises. Making changes or complicated routes with the Garmin w/o puter is cumbersom and sometimes impossible.

I just made my purchase today and used it for the first time on the 116 mile journey home.

It works great! I'm very glad I purchased it and it was extremely easy to figure out - WITHOUT the manual. I haven't even looked at it yet, but have 95% of the unit learned.

I went to Lowrance to actually look at the thing to make sure it was something that would work on my cicle. While I was there one of the software developers came out to chat with me about it. He made 3 comments I loved hearing:

1. They are in the works right now to update the software to insert waypoints into an exhisting route so you would be able to go to Point A to B to C to D, etc.

2. They are also working on software that will allow you to plan your route on your PC and upload and download maps.

3. This will all be included in their next software upgrade.

Everyone that I dealt with at this company (all on a Dealer or higher level) treated me with respect and really listened to what I had to say and answered my many questions with solid answers.

The iWay 500c is a fantastic GPS that's easy to learn, easy to see(even in broad daylight) and simple to set up in your car/moto. It comes with RAM mounts(2) in the box and all the software for 48 states & Canada are pre-loaded. You can view maps of Europe/Asia and Mexico, but have no routing capabilities and only main highways are shown.

The internal antenna worked better than I expected - I used it in my truck and sat it down for a few minutes between the seats and it never lost sat signal. Re-routing and screen changes are almost instantaneous.

So far, I'm very impressed with it.


VR

[CMWoody]

Great Velv, let us know how it compares to LR's paper map system once you have a little more time in the saddle with it. I'm jealous.

Also, I'm curious about the whole tracklog issue. Nowhere is it mentioned in the manual but I can't imagine them debuting such a magnificent GPS w/o it. Little to no mention in Garmins manual either, thats why I'm wondering if it has it.

Have fun with it ...keep those eyes on the fog line.