LOWRANCE 2000C

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PRICE £546.38

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Like the same company's 600C, the Lowrance 2000C comes with an excellent manual, robust mounts, external remote antenna and it looks great too. Surprisingly, it's quite a bit less expensive than its main rival, the Garmin 296.

The screen is brilliant, just great, although it's not quite as sharp as the 600C. Having the buttons and controls right under the screen is sensible. It does mean it can only be operated in the portrait format, unlike, say, the Bendix King SkyMap. But the 2000C is slim and that makes it so easy to have in the cockpit.

It feels robust with pleasant materials used throughout. It does require a power supply though - the 4 AA batteries are there just for emergency use.

PLANNING THE FLIGHT
This was the second Lowrance unit we tried so we were used to the operating system by now. It uses the rocker switch for data entry and we had the waypoints set up and flightplan created within a few minutes.

IN THE AIR
The screen image is excellent and stood up even in the direct bright sunshine. That coupled with the sheer size of the display meant it could be read across the cockpit - important if your passenger is doing the nav.
We were able to follow our flightplan easily, divert and pick up the track again, and read off position data easily. It also came up with airspace and obstacle warnings.

Second most impressive thing about the 2000C is the sheer number of useful options on the screen display. The display can show the full map, map plus a mini-EFIS complete with speed and altitude tapes, and a compass rose with heading bug, or a full HSI with a sliver of map.

One final great feature: the 2000C has a 'Flight Director' mode - where angled bars on the display show you where to steer to follow the flightplan or navaid you've tuned into.

CONCLUSION
Impressive piece of kit at a highly competitive price.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX
» 2000C unit
» Power cord
» Suction cup mount
» Yoke mount
» Digital card reader
» Remote antenna
» 4 AA batteries
» Manual

SPEC
» Size 160x125x64mm
» Screen size 127mm
» Pixels 320x240
» Weight 657g
» Battery 4 AA emergency only
» External power? Yes

SCREENS
» Moving Map
» Terrain awareness
» HSI
» Flight Director

AT A GLANCE
SCREEN ****
Brilliant screen works well even in bright direct sunshine. Not as high res as some, but OK.

DESIGN *****
Excellent. Buttons below screen as they should be. Robust feel, rubberised edges.

MAP ***
Again, a bit 'blocky' but otherwise good.

PROGRAMMING ****
No problem once used to the rocker switch for data entry.

EASE OF USE ****
Amazing slim for such a large screen. Excellent choice of mounts.

FEATURES *****
Amazing number of screen display options including a mini-EFIS and a novel altitude over terrain view.

VALUE FOR MONEY *****
Big screen, good map, great functions - the Lowrance 2000C is a first-class choice.

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