Is this a good buy

[Little Five]

Thinking of buying a Garmin 152H GPS
There seems to be 2 models, 1 with internal antenna and 1 with external. Which is best and have you got one of these-are they any good?
Thanks

 

[VicS]

If you want a basic GPS, as opposed to a chartplotter, and a fitted unit as opposed to a hand held then I am not sure that there is anything else to compare it with.

The internal antenna would be appropriate for use in an open boat but the remote antenna if it is to be fitted below at the chart table.

(Check the availability of the remote antenna)

 

[Little Five]

If you want a basic GPS, as opposed to a chartplotter, and a fitted unit as opposed to a hand held then I am not sure that there is anything else to compare it with.

The internal antenna would be appropriate for use in an open boat but the remote antenna if it is to be fitted below at the chart table.

(Check the availability of the remote antenna)

Thanks VicS.
I have been puzzled by the lack of fixed "entry level" GPS units available. I have hand held, although old , it still works, but now want a fixed unit. Other than this one, it would seem the market is flooded by chartplotters which are too expensive. Have to save up I guess.

 

[Billjratt]

FWIW, I fitted a garmin 152 to a friends boat, and was surprised how un-GPSish it was. I think the software is from a chartplotter, but there isn't a chart, so you get marks displayed but no topography.
The displayed screens weren't intuitive either, I would definately suggest you have a play with one before buying. (depends what you're used to I suppose)
As to the antennae, internal will probably be OK under most circumstances as the modern chips seem to be able to 'hear' very well as long as there is no electrical interference nearby.

 

[Hoolie]

FWIW, I fitted a garmin 152 to a friends boat, and was surprised how un-GPSish it was. I think the software is from a chartplotter, but there isn't a chart, so you get marks displayed but no topography.
The displayed screens weren't intuitive either, I would definately suggest you have a play with one before buying. (depends what you're used to I suppose)
As to the antennae, internal will probably be OK under most circumstances as the modern chips seem to be able to 'hear' very well as long as there is no electrical interference nearby.

We have a 152 in the cockpit (under the spray hood) with external antenna and it works very well. The interface is a bit quirky and takes a bit of getting used to but the functions are all there and has good steering displays. I download routes to it directly from our on-board computer so there's very little data entry on the 152 itself. Of course having routes and waypoints stored in two places is useful back-up.

 

[Wunja]

I have a 152 with internal aerial. It does what I need. I upload routes from a PC (Seaclear and OpenCPN).
One thing to bear in mind is that the connection cable comes out of the back, so it won't readily mount to a bulkhead.

 

[Little Five]

Thanks to you all for the info and comments. Suspect I may be aiming too low so now thinking of entry level chartplotter. Thanks again guys.

 

[SlimRick]

As a GPS it's fine. I have mine (internal antenna) fitted inside the boat and it's never had a problem picking up the satellites:

 

[ostell]

I have a 152 with the internal aerial mounted within the cabin so that it can swing out so that it can be seen from the cockpit. Works well, no problem receiving. Display nice and large and easily readable. Much less installation work with the internal.

External Aerial model allows easy mounting on a bulkhead, internal aerial doesn't.

 

[Joker]

The older version, the 128, was easier to use - but that's progress for you.

No one buys fixed units these days - it's all chartplotters.