Garmin introduces the Ultra High-Definition Scanning Sonar System

[LWINCHESTER2]

Well I thought I would get out early and get in one more day of fishing before going to the Classic. Get back and everybody but me has seen the latest Garmin imaging product. Still going down tomorrow.

EchoMap Plus 93 is like $900, plus the $600 for this add-on, or you could get a Humminbird Helix 9 Mega SI w/ transducer for $1100.

If you want to stick with Garmin and add it on, sure, might be worth it. If you're in the market for a new unit with Mega imaging I don't see the value. Unless Garmin starts bundling it with a 9" unit for around $1100.

You have a point. It's not an apples to apples comparison. echomap Plus 93sv also Panoptix compatible. And you're right, if you were shopping for a new unit and main purpose was MEGA the Bird is cheaper. If I was shopping for a new unit #1 would be Panoptix, #2 - 2d #3 SI-455, #4 DI, #5 MEGA.

[TroyBoy30]

it’ll be built in soon enough

[Riccochet]

Well I thought I would get out early and get in one more day of fishing before going to the Classic. Get back and everybody but me has seen the latest Garmin imaging product. Still going down tomorrow.



You have a point. It's not an apples to apples comparison. echomap Plus 93sv also Panoptix compatible. And you're right, if you were shopping for a new unit and main purpose was MEGA the Bird is cheaper. If I was shopping for a new unit #1 would be Panoptix, #2 - 2d #3 SI-455, #4 DI, #5 MEGA.

For me, at least for a console unit, it's
#1 Mapping
#2 SI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#3 2D
#4 DI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#5 Panoptix

I tourney fish. Mapping is most important for finding similar bank contours to follow patterns. I need really good SI for finding structure, getting good soft returns on fish is a bonus. And so far HB's Mega does it the best. If Garmin's Ultra is anything like Mega then I'll buy it to supplement my console unit. If it's all hype and turns out to be shit like the current SI/DI from Garmin then I'll be dropping Garmin and going HB.

[LWINCHESTER2]

Reminds me of a story my Dad used to tell. This guy was talking about his wife and said he was sure glad everybody was different because if everybody was like him they would all want his wife. His friend replied - And I'm glad everybody is different because if everybody was like me, nobody would have her.

[LWINCHESTER2]

TroyBoy30 or Todd. Do you have the dimensions of this new UHD transducer. Especially how long?

[ifishinxs]

For me, at least for a console unit, it's
#1 Mapping
#2 SI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#3 2D
#4 DI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#5 Panoptix

I tourney fish. Mapping is most important for finding similar bank contours to follow patterns. I need really good SI for finding structure, getting good soft returns on fish is a bonus. And so far HB's Mega does it the best. If Garmin's Ultra is anything like Mega then I'll buy it to supplement my console unit. If it's all hype and turns out to be shit like the current SI/DI from Garmin then I'll be dropping Garmin and going HB.

If what I have heard is correct the Garmin Ultra has no Equal. In the coming months I’m sure this will become very apparent.

[TopWaterGuy]

it’ll be built in soon enough

Before the end of the month?

[TroyBoy30]

Doubt it lol

[fischbear]

#5 Panoptix

turns out to be shit like the current SI/DI from Garmin then I'll be dropping Garmin and going HB.

Thanks for the critical comment! Why do you consider Panoptix so relatively unimportant? It seems everybody is totally hyped about it.
And also: there are quite a lot of people calling current Garmin SI shit. Plus, very few really telling screenshots exist, much unlike to HB. Not even Garmin has decent shots on their website. What exactly is the problem with current SideVü? From specs alone it should be better than regular HB or Navico SI. I'd really appreciate if you could elaborate a bit more on the downsides as they are usually swept under the rug if one has shelled out so much cash for the toy.

[ring fry]

Kansas plates on the trailer?

SE Kansas grass grower

[cactusflyr]

Have to see real video before I ditch the mega. Would have been nice to know last month, I called and asked them point blank if anything was in the pipeline.

[fishin couillon]

Have to see real video before I ditch the mega. Would have been nice to know last month, I called and asked them point blank if anything was in the pipeline.

You really think they will tell you??? Only way you find out before hand is from rumors or someone in the know tells you......otherwise you will not know until the day of....just the way it is.

[fischbear]

Why would you ditch he Mega? So far there is no conclusive demonstration of what it can do, not even speaking of a comparison. HB has been in the Sidescan business forever and the Mega units certainly deliver all that the hardware constraints allow for. They use transducers of similar length, chirp, the same power and the same frequency (1.2 MHz). Short of post-processing, there is no way how any manufacturer could come up with anything fundamentally better using virtually the same setup, because physics!

[fishin couillon]

If what I have heard is correct the Garmin Ultra has no Equal. In the coming months I’m sure this will become very apparent.

Can you elaborate on that some more???

[LWINCHESTER2]

Well, I don't have anything new to report from the Classic. Met a guy named Greg at the Garmin booth. Seemed to really know his stuff, but not a hint about anything not announced. He did go into some detail about the extra engineering that went into elements in the new UHD xd. It looks to be about 6 1/2 inches in length. I didn't measure but it's not nearly as long as the 50 or 51.

[fischbear]

Which is strange. Calculating from the specs of the GT50, the elements themselves should be exactly the same length. Maybe in the 50 the 2D takes up some length.

[deepanchor]

I'm in this camp when at the helm.

For me, at least for a console unit, it's
#1 Mapping
#2 SI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#3 2D
#4 DI (with or without mega, I need good soft returns on fish)
#5 Panoptix

I tourney fish. Mapping is most important for finding similar bank contours to follow patterns. I need really good SI for finding structure, getting good soft returns on fish is a bonus. And so far HB's Mega does it the best. If Garmin's Ultra is anything like Mega then I'll buy it to supplement my console unit. If it's all hype and turns out to be shit like the current SI/DI from Garmin then I'll be dropping Garmin and going HB.

[TroyBoy30]

I always had good soft returns with the gt52. That’s what it was designed for

Mapping was excellent on lanier that’s why my only two options are garmin or lakemaster. Both excellent maps

[Riccochet]

Thanks for the critical comment! Why do you consider Panoptix so relatively unimportant? It seems everybody is totally hyped about it.
And also: there are quite a lot of people calling current Garmin SI shit. Plus, very few really telling screenshots exist, much unlike to HB. Not even Garmin has decent shots on their website. What exactly is the problem with current SideVü? From specs alone it should be better than regular HB or Navico SI. I'd really appreciate if you could elaborate a bit more on the downsides as they are usually swept under the rug if one has shelled out so much cash for the toy.

It's relatively unimportant to me as a tourney fisherman because I don't want to spend the time video game fishing. I just need to know the fish are there. I'll swing back and catch them.

My opinion, my old, cheap ass, Humminbird 698ci HD SI has better soft returns on side and down imaging than my Garmin 7608xsv w/ GT52 transducer. I can see structure fine on the Garmin, just not fish. Not like the much older, smaller Humminbird. Again. Both are currently on my boat. So I have an apples to apples comparison. Having spent a year trying to dial in this Garmin I just don't see it being that good.

[Riccochet]

I always had good soft returns with the gt52. That’s what it was designed for

Mapping was excellent on lanier that’s why my only two options are garmin or lakemaster. Both excellent maps

I get terrible soft returns with my 7608 and GT52. Over a year dicking with it and still it sucks.

I will say mapping is great, for the lakes they actually cover. Garmin's coverage in NC is terrible, at best. An entire chain of lakes, one of which the Classic was on, has zero contour lines. Navionics covers all 4 lakes in the chain with full contours. But Garmin does have full contours on a local lake, that is small as hell and a powerless lake. That's awesome, let me tell you. I have contours on a lake I can't put my boat in.