SImrad or Garmin
 

Wanting to add some glass to my cig. I went and checked out a few gps devices at west marine. I have found that I really like the simrad nss12 evo2, and the nss7 evo2 which is just a smaller display. Then for the garmin models, I was looking at and liked were the 7612,7610, and the 7608. The man at west marine told me that simrad is the leading brand, not too sure about that. However, I also like the fact that simrad is cheaper and their models have a turn knob as well as the touch screen, incase your hands are wet, have sunscreen on them, etc... Just curious to see what anybodies thoughts are on the two different brands, or if anyone has any of the models above that I have stated. Thanks

I know that Garmins have been bullet proof and the customer service has been great. I went with the 7608 for mine and like it, but I also looked at the evo2's and went with the garmin over others recommendation. I think either you choose you will regret not buying the other,

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True! Good customer service is definitely a plus. Thanks for the feedback.

Garmin will allow direct compatibility with Fusion "I" radios which allow touch screen access to iPod as well as speaker zones, balance, equalizer, volume and music selections from the Garmin. Simrad will show Mercury Vessel View screen directly on the unit. I preferred the Garmin. [ATTACH=CONFIG]551823[/ATTACH]

I see thank you, is that a simrad pictured on the right? Nice clean looking dash though!

No Garmin 7610. NMEA 2000 connections to Fusion, Fusion remote, VV-7. Pretty cool. All devices communicate with each other.

I ended up going with Simrad (NSS9 evo2), the Garmin didn't fit my application. The Simrad does work with a Fusion radio. I have 100% control, and it is actually easier to control the stereo from the MFD than from the deck or the remotes. I also did a 4G radar, Sirius weather, wifi, ducer, and engine room camera's. It's still pretty new but everything seems to be working great.

I did the go7 this time last year. Love it. Would like a larger screen but its all my application would allow. Not a single complaint and when it was a brand new model I think I paid 699 for it. I would buy again

Also the Go 7 has a bluetooth connectivity so that I can have an app on an Ipad or my Iphone and see and control the display through Bluetooth

Wow that sounds awesome. You have pics of your setup? To be honest I'm not sure what a fusion radio is. Pretty new to all this

Thats actually really sweet, I was thinking about mounting one of the new big iPads on the passenger side, so that app would be awesome! Does it work with any simrad or just the go7? I was looking at the nss12 or nss10....

Can't read them in sunlight, over heat and turn off in sunlight. I wouldn't recommend it.

Fusion is a brand, higher end, radio. Like kenwood, Sony etc.

Which are you referring to the iPad or the simrad nss10

The ipad will wash out and overheat... With the Simrad wifi I can put the Simrad app on my phone and it only works as a screen viewer. The app on my iPad will control the entire system. It's kind of neat

By the time you buy the ipad, a nice mount, waterproof case, install a charging port etc etc, you'd be in it as much as a purpose built GPS that will actually stand up to those conditions. I thought the same thing when I was shopping for a GPS.

My review for those who might read this thread later. I looked at the SIMRAD GO7 and the Garmin 741xs. I went with the Garmin purely because it seemed to operate much faster and the controls were much more intuitive. Example, when zooming or scrolling the chart, there was a significant delay and load time with the SIMRAD, lowrance, etc. The Garmin responded instantly with no load time and didn't have to refresh the chart everytime it moved. I use it only for navigation, but the features between all the GPSs are pretty much the same.

The reason i went with the go7 is because it could also display my gauges and it was brighter than the garmin.

Here is an article done on my little project from Speed on the water

http://speedonthewater.com/boat-rest...itoring-system

That is actually really cool. I didnt know it could do that.

I also plan on only using mine for gps. But thank you for the input, guess I need to go play with them at west marine lol.

Love it! Beautiful boat, beautiful setup. Love that display!