Lowrance 112-86

The Lowrance iFinder Expedition C is an awesome unit, I am glad I bought it last year. However, it does have some minor issues that have downgraded it from five stars to four. Minor Issues are as follows:

1) Get a Bundle that includes the software, the card reader, and at least one card, or buy the Software and card reader and cards. It comes with maps pre-installed, but they lack detail that makes it useful for everyday use.

2) Battery life – about three hours or four hours tops with lithium cells, make sure if you do use it, bring extra batteries or use the car cigarette lighter adaptor or hahave access to it.

3) On the large side, but the largish screen makes it convenient.

4) It would be nice if the firmware allowed one to put google maps or other internet based maps on the unit. It also would be nuce if you could have standard earphone hack or usb connections with ones computer. Headphone adaptors and computer connections are an additional purchase.

5) Volume of alarms could be louder.

6) Ease of use is okay, but could be better (example would be deleting individual waypoints could be much easier)…

Sound like some major issues, not really, the unit makes up for it in many ways. Benefits of ownership are as follows:

1) Rugged – it is somewhat waterproof, ie, if you drop it in a puddle or shallow stream you will not kill it. Scuba diving, forget it…

2) Display is bright and large for a handheld unit. You can see it in bright sunlight with the light off, It has daylight and nighttime viewing modes.

3) Rich Color – is very bright and vivid.

4) Is very good for hiking and hunting, marine use, possibly even avaition, however if you want turn by turn directions, alternate routes, etc, it is not a dedicated automotive style unit. The Lowrance iFinder Expedition c is a great unit that excels for hiking and hunting, however I would say it may not be a great job for an in car use. It is lightyears ahead of a map, compass and watch, and makes getting to a destination easier but is not a great in car unit.

5) Has many advanced features, there is a lot to learn, but the features are worth the effort. ie, stopwatch, clock, barometer (also somewhat predicts the weather), trip calculator, scouting mode, etc.

6) If you are looking for a do all GPS, Buy It! It is the swiss army knife of GPS units.

7) With the Maps it is extremely useful in almost any situation requiring a map or directions.

Perfect for the Gadget Freak.

I have used this unit on average once or twice a weak for the past year, even without the detailed maps it is quite handy. The pre loaded maps have major expressways, and mark lakes and towns fairly well, you can set a latitude and longitude point and get to it, but get the MapCreate software, you will get much more out of it. Lowrance Electronics is an awesome company. They make great products, even used by the U.S. Navy. However, if you ask questions via the internet they do take a couple of days to respond. That is also the case of LEI, their partner company that makes the Maps and Accessories.

Decent product for the price. – The Dragon – CO USA
Nice color display and functionality. Had a hard time with acquiring signal while in central/southern Alaska if not outdoors with fairly decent clear path to sky. Was better in the Skagway and Ketchikan area. Probably could expect this from most devices… In the lower 48, was very good indoors and in the car. Device is pretty decent to use. I hate an annoying popup on powerup that warns not to use for navigation ?! Maybe someone tried to sue them ? Maybe there is a way to turn off, but have not found it yet.

Unfortunately you have to buy the software to build the maps. You have to pick areas, such as US or Canada, etc. SO picked up the US one. Unfortunately, they do not even overlap any into Canada. Would be nice if there was some overlap for those short excursions across the border (when we were in Skagway, AK we went up to Carcross, Yukon, CA).

Software is not that great. Had to install an upgrade just to get it to work w/o crashing/hanging up (on Win XP). Even then, it cannot do large maps at one time. thus you have to make several smaller ones which just takes more time. Will occasionallly lock up anyway. Also, appears to require a special card reader to limit # of MMC/SD cards used. Pretty lame attempt to limit people copying maps for others.

The website is not great either for updates, etc. My device has a newer version than available upgrade on the website !

Overall, maybe worth it considering the price and features compared to others, even with the added cost of software.

Very good for 3 years – then expensive paperweight – Warren D. Severin – Phoenix, AZ United States
Bottom line: Steer clear if you expect a piece of equipment that lasts more than three years.

I’d have given this a four-star rating up until a month ago. That’s when it passed its third anniversary of use. And stopped finding its location. It’ll operate absolutely normally in every regard; displaying maps, finding satellites and positioning them in the sky; compass works; barometer works; in short it will do everything except its primary function.

Lowrance customer service has been notably unresponsive except to finally tell me that they want 0 just to look at it.

Some internet surfing reveals that this is an epidemic with this model and similar Lowrance models. They simply go belly-up in this fashion after three years. My personal suspicion, unsubstantiated in any way, is that they are programmed to cease their primary function after three years since turn-on.

Anyway, now I have to get another GPS for hunting, and it won’t be a Lowrance.

Nice GPS – Travis – Kentucky, USA
This is my second Lowrance unit, this one specifically bought for Geocaching. I’ve had no issues with it. One thing I would recommend is some kind of screen protector, as it is a glossy plastic and any scratches show up, it’s cheap insurance for keeping it looking new.

Battery life is good, used it on a all day Kayaking trip keeping a tracklog, backlight off when I wasn’t looking at it. Still has over 50% left after 6 hours of constant use.

GPS signal acquisition is good, holds a lock well. The magnetic compass makes honing in on a location nice at close range where GPS derived heading gets jumpy at low speeds. Color screen is amazing with backlight on. Direct sunlight reading is good without it, but expect to use the backlight a lot if there isn’t sunlight to illuminate the screen. It hasn’t been a problem, but if your accustomed to B&W screens you’ll need the backlight more than you used to.

Overall very happy with it.

Lowrance iFinder Expedition C GPS

• Offers an electronic compass, barometric altimeter with weather predictions, built-in microphone, and MP3 player capabilities through the MMC/SD digital media memory card slot
• Scout Mode option lets you mark area perimeters and create borders; built-in continental United States and Hawaii background map with interstate exit services helps guide you
• Offers an easy-to-read bright, 2.83-inch diagonal color TFT display with 320 x 240 resolution and a white LED backlit screen for excellent direct sunlight and low-light or night viewing
• Dimensions: 5.6 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D); weighs 8.7 ounces
• 16-channel handheld mapping GPS helps you find your way to your destination in dazzling color

Find your way in lavish color with this feature-packed 16-channel handheld mapping GPS! The new iFINDER Expedition C with color display offers everything you could want, including unique “Scout Mode”, electronic compass, barometric altimeter, built-in microphone, MP3 player capabilities, and more!
Find your way to your destination in lavish color with the iFinder Expedition C 16-channel handheld mapping GPS. This compact and portable GPS system offers everything you could want or need when either planning or taking a trip, including the unique “Scout Mode” option to mark area perimeters and create borders, an electronic compass, barometric altimeter with weather predictions, built-in microphone, MP3 player capabilities through the MMC/SD digital media memory card slot, and more. There’s even a built-in microphone for recording voice notes to waypoints. Watertight with a sure-grip rubber welt seal, the Expedition C comes with a classic black and silver case.

Reliable, accurate, and user-friendly, the Expedition C features a bright, 2.83-inch diagonal color TFT display with 320V x 240H pixel resolution and a white LED backlit screen for excellent direct sunlight and low-light or night viewing. But it’s the built-in continental United States and Hawaii background map (with interstate exit services) that makes this model the ideal travel companion. And because the Expedition C is compatible with optional plug and play Lowrance FreedomMaps, Fishing Hot Spots Elite, LakeMaster ProMaps, NauticPath, and Navionics electronic charts, it can easily accommodate any additional navigation tools you need.

Full of helpful and time-saving features, like dual processors for high speed screen updates and dual Easy and Advanced operation modes, the Expedition C makes trip planning a breeze. In addition, this system gives you access to 1,000 waypoints, 1,000 event markers, and 100 routes, as well as up to 100 savable and retraceable plot trails, with up to 10,000 points in any trail. You can also take advantage of the 40 map zoom ranges (from 0.02 to 4,000 miles) and 63 graphic icons for noting special spots or points.

For added convenience, the Expedition C includes an antenna port for connecting an optional external GPS and WAAS antenna, as well as a 12 volt plug power adapter for in-vehicle or ATV use. It also operates up to 14 hours or longer on two “AA” batteries (not included) and comes with a full, one-year warranty.

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