wasabi_VA Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 I’ve had a number of fishfinders with GPS over the years in different boats. I recently purchased the Garmin Striker Plus 4 as a basic fishfinder/GPS to go in my kayak. It says it has built in GPS but I don’t see a screen to display any location or mapping data except for that contour drawing feature. And now that I look at it more closely I don’t see that it says anything about having maps for any waterways, whether it is larger waterways or lakes and rivers in my area. End it doesn’t appear to except any type of mapping chips. So it says it has GPS but I don't see any traditional helpful GPS features. What’s the GPS do in this thing?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted June 17, 2019 Global Moderator Share Posted June 17, 2019 The Striker units don’t have contour maps, but you can create your own maps using QuickDraw. It does have GPS you can mark waypoints on the blank screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasabi_VA Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 What a step backwards in technology Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Scott F Posted June 17, 2019 Super User Share Posted June 17, 2019 18 minutes ago, wasabi_VA said: What a step backwards in technology Huh? The original Striker 4 was only a depth finder. With the Plus model, they added GPS but no maps. It’s only a $140. Guys pay more than that for just some map chips. How is that a step backward? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted June 17, 2019 Super User Share Posted June 17, 2019 46 minutes ago, wasabi_VA said: What a step backwards in technology Got a tablet or phone? $25 gets you contour maps with GPS tracking, waypoints and the ability to save your trips plus access to all the lake maps they have in the US. Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skiracer.nautical_astore_lite&hl=en_US IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/i-boating-marine-charts-gps/id994992062 I have this on my Galaxy Tab and it's great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 Not really a step backwards. It's an entry level fishfinder with a really good picture and the ability to mark way points, etc. SE Kansas grass grower 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Junke Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 Just got the Garmin Stryker 4CV this year. Awesome unit. Researched it last year. If my memory serves cheapest unit I could find with Navionics or whatever maps pre-loaded was around 300$. Cheapest with side imaging, and maps 500$. A lot of the places I fish are not on Navionics. I bought the Garmin because it makes it's own maps. It's one of the best features. No GPS? Didn't Garmin practically invent that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Junke Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 Forgot to mention a cheaper option. I have not tried this but according to Navionics you can download the mobile app turn on your phones location feature and you can track your location on your phone with Navionics and use your Garmin for sonar only. The app is pretty pricey 15$, but it looks like a one time fee( not monthly). Worth noting, looking on the play store there is a note on the page to download the app, the note reads- "this app will be discontinued". Not sure what that is all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted June 17, 2019 Global Moderator Share Posted June 17, 2019 12 hours ago, wasabi_VA said: What a step backwards in technology Hardly a step backwards. That little unit has a lot of good technology in it for a really cheap price. A lot of the lakes around me don’t have maps so units like this are a great option. It’s cheap and I can create maps for the little lakes I fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnappi Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Mine is also a 4+ I didn't need a collection of maps as I fish little fresh waterways, it's GR8 as a VERY inexpensive (mine was $98) bright screen DF/FF, water temp, and over the water speed. I've never had to mark spots so that feature is useless to me. For around a hundred bucks it's a really useful tool. Wasabi, if you need nav maps, before it's too late to send it back you may want to do so and upgrade to something more suitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaimeastin Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 On 6/16/2019 at 6:04 PM, wasabi_VA said: What a step backwards in technology Some of us do not need maps. Some bodies of waters we fish do not have maps with contours anyhow. The striker plus has a great trick for this. You can create your own maps with 1 foot contours for everywhere you go. GPS and quickdraw to a map and mark specific place on a large farm pond or small lake in the woods that is not on some "fancy" map card is great feature! The striker units are great for their intended purpose. If you want mapping, go to the Echomap or GPSmap units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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