Lowrance LMS 520 C gps/chartplotter

[doehunter]

Hey guys,
I have a chance to buy a slightly used Lowrance LMS 520C.
Is anyone familiar with this unit? If so can you tell me what you think about it?
I can get it for $300.00.
I looked on line and didn't see very much except that it's been discontinued.
I'm not sure if that means anything. I know computers are made , sold, and discontinued yearly.
The guy says it has an internal antennae. I wonder if that will work if the unit is mounted in the cabin? Maybe I can attach an external antennae? Which ever one I end up with will probably be mounted so that it will be inside, unless I'm operating it. It will swing out to be seen in the cockpit.
Jim

 

[Robspan]

I don't know about this specific unit, but I suggest that before you buy, check to be sure that: 1) it already has the memory card containing the charts for the area you want, and that the charts are relatively up to date, and/or 2) that you can get updated charts if you need them.
Lowrance has recently begun to use Navionics for their charts, and if you're interested in being able to upgrade in the future, you may want to confirm that this unit can read the Navionics cards.

 

[doehunter]

now I'm not so sure it it was such a good deal. I talked to the owner this morning, and he thinks the gps functionality is built in. I downloaded the manual and it says it needs an external gps antenna, which is also expensive if you buy it alone.
I guess I'll keep looking.
I have a tiny, hand held gps. It's an Etrex Legend. It works but the screen is so little, I can't hardly see it. And it's a battery hog. (2, AA's, no external power)
Jim

 

[Robspan]

I have a friend who bought a Lowrance chartplotter about 4 years ago, and it has to have the SD card for this area.

At the risk of hijacking this thread, Academy Sports has the Garmin 60Cx on sale for $199. It's a discontinued color handheld with a bigger screen than the Etrex. But the screen's not nearly as big as a chartplotter. It does take the current Garmin microSD cards. They make one that covers the entire coastal US. It's supposed to have depths and navaids. That is on sale here with free shipping for $109.

http://www.d-gps.com/servlet/the-62...S039R/Detail?gclid=COOS_8_ao6gCFQmt7Qod8VmFHA

 

[doehunter]

thanks Robspan,
I talked to my buddy again, and it turns out the Lowance was on his dads boat and he has the gps antenna. So I can get the whole set up for the 300.
I'm not thrilled about having to deal with an antenna wire. Are all the modern gps/chartplotters like that? Maybe I should wait for better funding. I like the bigger screen, and having actual depth, and speed on the screen with the map is cool.
The Garmin 60cx is slightly bigger but not enough to spend another 200.00 on.
I'd rather invest a little more, and get a bigger screen. I looked on Ebay and didn't really see any deals there either. You know what they say about boats being a hole in the water to sink money into?
Jim

 

[MrBill_FLL]

is it a WAAS gps? (more accurate?)

IMHO, $300 sounds high, unless its a complete system with proper charts. (for a discontinued unit)

You can find garmin 76C (discontinued) with the blue chart americas (150 retail) for that much... yes smaller screen but you can also get the 12v plug-in off ebay for around $25.

where I am, not that much changes in the charts, so I've been able to use the 2005 version of charts...

in other (LA) areas you'll need the new chart ($$$) pretty much each release...

IMHO, at $200 Its worth a shot... 250 maybe, pass at 300.
-ymmv.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

The other thing to look at Sumners sea clear software and a older laptop... but its not waterproof...

 

[doehunter]

My buddy also has a Lowrance HDS-5 that he bought new. I'm not sure why he never installed it. He wants 500.00 for it. One review I read on it wasn't too promising. I thought I might go take a look.
The Eagle Cuda 350 that Sumner has (had?) is pretty cheap. Not fancy but then I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. Not sure if the colored screens on the more expensive units are that much better?

 

[Sumner]

Don't get the cuda as your only gps. You have to load waypoints by hand and that takes a long time. The maps that come with it aren't great and I don't think you can add others.

We bought it so that it would talk to the VHF and give our position to the DSC function. It is handy if you go over a route and set down a track in that you can then reverse over the track. We mainly got it for the GPS signal to the VHF and the depth function.

You can find good use Garmin Map 76's for under a $100 and as Bill said maybe with the maps you need for a little more. There again you need to have an easy way to get waypoints into them.

A computer at home or on the boat running SeaClear will do that. We have a dedicated computer and monitor...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html

...on the boat running the seaclear that we love dearly. I have a cable going from the computer to the Map 76 that connects the two and the same cable has a cig. plug that we plug in so we never put batteries in the Map 76. It only takes a second to download waypoints from the computer running seacleat to the map 76.

The cheapest way and what I would do if we didn't have what we have is to buy a cheap laptop and get a 12 volt to whatever voltage the laptop needs inverter. These waste way less wattage than a 110 inverter running the laptop.

We also have two Dell laptops on board and use a Lind 12 volt inverter on them if we run them. Not super cheap, but that is the way to go.

Run the laptop below with the seaclear on it. The seaclear and NOAA charts are both free. Run a cable from below to the handheld in the cockpit. Download waypoints to it at the beginning of the trip or as the trip progresses if you make changes.

This way you don't need expensive charts on the handheld, but it will guide you point to point. When you really need to see what is going on look at the laptop. I have the screen on our computer such that...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Comp-ChartPlot-2.html

...it will swivel around to view from either the cockpit or inside the cabin.

I could see you doing all of this for under $400 and you would have a larger screen and....

... better viewing than units costing over $2000. Pass on the one you posted about.

You can also run other functions with the computer/seacleat option like AIS, which I would be running in your area. The additional cost of that would be in the $200-$300 range, but the Seaclear will show AIS targets. It is a great program. The other one is the free Open CPN. I have it also and lots of people like it better, but I prefer the SeaClear myself.

Download them and the NOAA charts and play with them at home before making a decision.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[doehunter]

Wow,
This is a lot to digest! When I get time I'll check out the Seaclear thing.
Maybe I could do something similar with the Etrex Legend that I already have?
On another note:
Last night I went over to look at the units my friend has. The Lowrance HDS-5 is pretty neat, although expensive. We worked out a trade, I can get the unit for 200.00 and an old Mossberg 835 that I never use! Now I just need to decide if I really want to let it go!

 

[Robspan]

If you have an Ipad or an Android phone with a large screen, you can get Navionics charts from iTunes and the Android Market.
I have the US Central charts on my cell phone, which has a large screen. The charts cost $14.30 and work great with the builtin gps. Of course, as with a laptop, you don't want to get it wet. So there are a lot of options.

 

[thomasgoodmaniii]

i have an hds5 if you look on amazon you can find em without the sounder just chartplotter for around $550 loaded with nautic insight maps that have all the good stuff marked and you can use your seaclear to upload waypoints. also dsc capable which is where it is all going. i fired mine up inside the house and could scroll all over i was surprised at the amount of inland detail lakes and such they also sell a unit with dedicated charts for inland bodies of water. if you are going garmin the comparable unit is the 541 with 5'' screen or 441 with 4'' screen. just make sure you check the charts because they add ALOT of additional exspense.

 

[doehunter]

i have an hds5 if you look on amazon you can find em without the sounder just chartplotter for around $550 loaded with nautic insight maps that have all the good stuff marked and you can use your seaclear to upload waypoints. also dsc capable which is where it is all going. i fired mine up inside the house and could scroll all over i was surprised at the amount of inland detail lakes and such they also sell a unit with dedicated charts for inland bodies of water. if you are going garmin the comparable unit is the 541 with 5'' screen or 441 with 4'' screen. just make sure you check the charts because they add ALOT of additional exspense.

Well I got the HDS-5
It has the Lake Insight. I'm not sure how usable that's going to be yet. I won't be going very far offshore I'm sure. I'll mostly be in the bays and the ICW.
the cost wasn't too bad, 200.00 and a shotgun that I didn't really like and never use!
It is a combo unit, so now I need to find a good place on the boat for the transducer.
Jim

 

[doehunter]

i have an hds5 if you look on amazon you can find em without the sounder just chartplotter for around $550 loaded with nautic insight maps that have all the good stuff marked and you can use your seaclear to upload waypoints. also dsc capable which is where it is all going. i fired mine up inside the house and could scroll all over i was surprised at the amount of inland detail lakes and such they also sell a unit with dedicated charts for inland bodies of water. if you are going garmin the comparable unit is the 541 with 5'' screen or 441 with 4'' screen. just make sure you check the charts because they add ALOT of additional exspense.

Hey T,
Do you have a Navionics chip for your unit?
I went to their site to check it out but I can't see anything. To get into the store it wants you to have your chip connected to a card reader.
What do you do if you don't already have a chip?
I can't even see prices for the chips.
Jim