Garmin GPSMAP 162 Chartplotter

The GPSMAP 162 features 500 waypoints (10 nearest, 10 proximity), 20 reversible routes with up to 30 points each, and an automatic track log. It is also compatible with Garmin's line of downloadable MapSource CD-ROMs and will store 2.5 MB of downloaded map detail.

Always know just where you're going with preloaded maps on rivers, lakes, worldwide cities, navaids, tide data. With a detailed base map, users also have the ability to look up address and telephone number information for nearby services and points of interest as well as find map detail for cities, highways, and interstates.

This quality Garmin product comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Product Description
The GPSMAP 162 offers boat owners an affordable option in fixed-mount navigation.The GPSMAP 162 is a combination GPS receiver and chartplotter that's rich in features including a powerful 12 parallel channel GPS receiver and tide prediction tables. Even more remarkable, the GPSMAP 162 can download up to 2.5 MB of extra map data from Garmin's MapSource line of CD-ROMs, including Fishing Hot Spots.Physically, the unit resembles Garmin's popular Fishfinder 240. The GPSMAP 162 measures about five by six inches in size and boasts a four-level gray FSTN LCD display with 240 x 240 pixels. Even in the dark the units are easy to read, thanks to a backlit display.The GPSMAP 162: a boatload of features in a sleek unit that won't eat up precious space onboard.

The 162 comes in two versions, one with an internal antenna for boats without tops (or just a bimini) which saves you from mounting the antenna, and one with a more traditional mushroom antenna for hard tops or t-tops.

The CD-ROM map includes all of the US and allows you pick and choose your area of coverage. It lacks the depth feature and hyper accuracy of Garmin's new, top of the line, blue chip models. But that's a price feature.


Best in its price range.   December 6, 2001
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I bought this unit after narrowing my choices down to it and the ... Standard Horizon. I went with the Garmin because of it's increased upgradability. Garmin continually updates the firmware packages for its GPS units. For instance, this unit came out before WAAS was available, but a simple, and free, download from the Garmin website added WAAS capability in a matter of minutes using the supplied AC/PC adapter. And, most importantly, Blue Chart map detail is now available in MapSource CD ROM form. This is the best map data available today (as detailed as any paper chart), and with the MapSource system, you can transfer as much or as little data as you need to your GPS. The BlueChart CD ROM adds immeasurably to this product. Negatives: the addition of the BlueChart detail slows the redraw times of the screen considerably. Also, the one area where the Standard Horizon outshines it is in screen clarity, but this unit is good enough in that respect to still come out on top, in my opinion. A solid 4 out of 5 stars.