I have heard different opinions on whether I should get an internal GPS or external GPS on my new Lowrance units I am about ready to pull the trigger on.  

I am about ready to order the LMS 520C....any experiance with these - good or bad, would be appreciated as well.

I am purchasing 2 units - one for the TM and the other for the console.  

I have allways bought the external and bolted the antenna on the boat. The reason Thieves they can get the unit but the antenaa is half the price.

With the built in model it's 1 grab.

Garnet

Thanks Garnet, that is something I hadn't thought of.   The gentleman I was talking with said the external is more accurate.  Another said he didn't notice any difference????  Electronics are maddening!!!  

I am thinking about going for the external on the console and internal on the TM.  If there is any conclusive evidence of one being more accurate or not??  

Most of the issues with operation, staying locked, accuracy, etc., come from guys who have units with internals.  At least that is the way I hear things.  Mine is external, and I'm quite satisfied.  I never considered the theft issue.  Good point.

I just installed a 520c on my boat.  I got the external intenna aswell.  You could just get two external antenna ones and link them together so you only have to use one antenna for two graphs.  Just be carefull about using an internal intenna for the bow if you have to tilt it to see it while in the front that is where people are losing their signal.

great info guys.  Dhuff - - - - I was heavily considering the 520C, everyone is out of them I have contacted!  I like the idea of networking both of them together and using one external GPS antenna - - this way I could also use one 'plug and play' lake map for both units correct??

I just came back from our Gander Mtn and they are out also - he said Lowrance was having issues getting some parts in the U.S.?  anyway - I am now thinking about getting a lesser (new wise anyways) Eagle and just get 2 cards.  But the issue about tilting the TM so you can see it (which I would do) and blocking out the GPS is another great point I hadn't thought of!  

Thanks again guys, keep the information highway open!    

my info is that 1 unit will have the map from a chip and the other will just share gps pionts.

The cable that hooks the network is wicked expencive.

When I but all the cost together I bought a lms3300c and a 330c and installed both antenas.

Garnet

I have the internal antenna which never did work very well. I called Lowrance and they told me to send it back in as they had not experienced many problems. They said it was a bad head and sent me a new one FREEEEEEE! Hopefully the internal antenna will work beter this time but WOW what customer support.

8-)

DROPPED THE BOMB THIS MORNING.  In case anyone else is searching as well.  

After weeks (possibly months) of researching all these things I ended up buying Eagles.  I was originally going to buy the new Lowrance 520C (2 of them) and then I found out everyone is out of them!  I called and called anyone I knew who fished and bounced it off them.  I also called both Cabelas and BP and talked to their 'product specialist'.  

In the end:

I purchased the Eagle FishElite 480 for the console - it's a monochrome unit w/external GPS antenna.  It can take the Navionics plug and play underlay map.  I figured on my console, I could see the mono screen just fine plus I saved about $300.00 over buying the Lowrance 520C (the biggest advantage I found to the 520C would have been using Lowrance new - 'networking' system).  

I purchaed the Eagle FishElite 640C for the TM.  similar to the 520C by Lowrance minus a few features that I wouldn't have used anyway.  

Mounting hardware, two antenna mounting plates (they go under the unit when mounting and you can put the antenna on it and not on your boat), 1 ram mounting system, one skimmer transducer TM mounting contraption. total about $1,000.00.  Ripping up and down the lake not worring about smacking a hidden island ...... priceless.  

Needless to say - I am excited.  My boat is scheduled to go in on Monday.  I only hope they can git r done soon so I can go fish!