Garmin 126SV 2D Sonar - Any Good? How about SI/DI?? GT56 Transducer.

[MainelySmallmouth]

I know this is like asking who is better, Ford, GM or RAM, but I believe there has to be a leader in 2D sonar imagery. Like Garmin has FFS on lockdown, and Humminbird has SI on lockdown, is one of the big three better/best at 2D sonar? The BBC community has been very helpful in the past with topics such as this.


The reason I ask, is I have a new boat, and over the winter I couldn't pass up on a couple of deals that were presented to me on BBC electronic sales forum. So I have a brand new Lowrance HDS Pro, a brand new Garmin 126SV with the GT56 transducer and a have a Humminbird Helix already installed at the bow of the boat. I am trying to figure out which unit I install at the console and keep, and which units I decide to sell.

What specifically, FFS aside, does Garmin do better than Lowrance or Humminbird when it comes to 2D, SI, DI and mapping.??? If it were your boat, is it Garmin or another brand for the best graph performance at the console? What say you!


Thanks in advance for your feedback/insight. Much appreciated. Tight Lines!

[jrh_67]

I don't know about the Lowrance but the Garmin has far better 2d than the Humminbird. Like you said, the Humminbird has better sidescan but their 2d isn't very good. With the GT56 transducer the Garmin sidescan is pretty good and totally useable.

[MonteSS]

I believe of the big three, Garmin is known to have the best 2d. I didn't know anyone used 2d anymore LOL

[Highcentered]

I believe of the big three, Garmin is known to have the best 2d. I didn't know anyone used 2d anymore LOL

I use 2d when dropshotting below the boat. It's how I learned to do that before FFS was really a thing/before I was willing to spend the money on it. I miss having that offshore pattern mostly to myself.

[RangerTim619]

My gt56 paints a great SI image. If that helps

[MainelySmallmouth]

I use 2d when dropshotting below the boat. It's how I learned to do that before FFS was really a thing/before I was willing to spend the money on it. I miss having that offshore pattern mostly to myself.

Me too! I used 2D off the bow drop shotting chasing smallies. And when cruising deeper water, 2D is extremely useful scanning what is under the boat. Appreciate the replies to several of my posts on the topic. Thank you.

[MainelySmallmouth]

I don't know about the Lowrance but the Garmin has far better 2d than the Humminbird. Like you said, the Humminbird has better sidescan but their 2d isn't very good. With the GT56 transducer the Garmin sidescan is pretty good and totally useable.

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. I think the consensus is that Lowrance and Garmin provide better 2D than Humminbird, and that Garmin produces better SI than Lowrance (although not as good as Hummindbird).

[rswan]

Based on my research, Garmin is neck and neck with Humminbird when it comes to Side Imaging (SI), though I’d give a slight edge to Humminbird. That said, with the GT56 transducer, Garmin offers better usable range for SI. I’m currently using the Echomap series with the GT56, having switched from Lowrance, and I’ve been very impressed with both the Side Imaging and 2D sonar performance. I also have a Lowrance transducer mounted on my boat for 2D, which works well. Best of luck with your choice—I hope it suits your fishing needs perfectly!

[MainelySmallmouth]

Based on my research, Garmin is neck and neck with Humminbird when it comes to Side Imaging (SI), though I’d give a slight edge to Humminbird. That said, with the GT56 transducer, Garmin offers better usable range for SI. I’m currently using the Echomap series with the GT56, having switched from Lowrance, and I’ve been very impressed with both the Side Imaging and 2D sonar performance. I also have a Lowrance transducer mounted on my boat for 2D, which works well. Best of luck with your choice—I hope it suits your fishing needs perfectly!

SUPER timely and helpful. After reading all the feedback over the three posts I made, I have decided to go with the Garmin Echomap 126 SV with the GT56 transducer. I have been bouncing back and forth between the Garim at the helm, or the HDS Pro at the helm. I decided Garmin for a couple of reasons. I think Garmin is VERY aggressively invested in this portion of their business, so I think they will continue to push the envelope and potentially bypass all other when it comes to mapping and I think they have corned the market with FFS. So having Garmin at the bow for FFS, just made sense to have Garmin at the helm, versus adding yet another technology to learn (Lowrance). I am keeping at Solix unit at the bow to run my Mega 360, as well as SI, DI and 2D sonar off the ultrex trolling motor. I think this setup with keep things simple and I will have all the technology I need. Based on all reviews and the TONS of comments posts about HB's 2D sonar being subpar, I think the Garmin will serve me well at the helm. Appreciate the feedback. Tight Lines!

[MonteSS]

If uou have already (or can add) a NEMA 2000 network and heading sensor, the back seater can look at the helm unit and see where the FFS is pointed.

[MainelySmallmouth]

If uou have already (or can add) a NEMA 2000 network and heading sensor, the back seater can look at the helm unit and see where the FFS is pointed.

That is good to know! Thank you for sharing.

[BobKlindworth]

One thing to consider, I think, is how the different companies do mapping. I don't have experience with Lowrance, so others will have to chime in that do have experience. I know that the Humminbird basic map is pretty meager. You need the LakeMaster chips to get quality mapping. The problem is that the LakeMaster chips are only for one state/territory. So if you cross state borders to fish, you'll likely need multiple chips which are $150-$200 each. On the other hand, Garmin units use various versions of Navionics mapping, and the mapping is typically by nation and application (e.g. US Inland Waters vs. US Coastal Mapping). The Navionics mapping is included with the unit so there's no need to purchase extra map chips once you've made your choice of what mapping is installed on your unit when you purchase it.

For instance, I have Garmin Navionics+ US & Coastal Canada on the EchoMap Ultra that I purchased last year. I fish lakes and rivers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa and I have accurate 1-ft contours on them and get mapping updates on my phone that I can then transfer to my Garmin in the boat. The updates stop after my yearly subscription ends, but I keep the last version even after my subscription ends.

My friend with a Humminbird needed to purchase two $150 map chips to fish Minnesota and Wisconsin. When we went to Iowa with his boat, we had very lackluster mapping since he hadn't purchased the LakeMaster chip for Iowa.

I like the way Garmin handles mapping. It is more comprehensive, more responsive, and less expensive.

[MainelySmallmouth]

One thing to consider, I think, is how the different companies do mapping. I don't have experience with Lowrance, so others will have to chime in that do have experience. I know that the Humminbird basic map is pretty meager. You need the LakeMaster chips to get quality mapping. The problem is that the LakeMaster chips are only for one state/territory. So if you cross state borders to fish, you'll likely need multiple chips which are $150-$200 each. On the other hand, Garmin units use various versions of Navionics mapping, and the mapping is typically by nation and application (e.g. US Inland Waters vs. US Coastal Mapping). The Navionics mapping is included with the unit so there's no need to purchase extra map chips once you've made your choice of what mapping is installed on your unit when you purchase it.

For instance, I have Garmin Navionics+ US & Coastal Canada on the EchoMap Ultra that I purchased last year. I fish lakes and rivers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa and I have accurate 1-ft contours on them and get mapping updates on my phone that I can then transfer to my Garmin in the boat. The updates stop after my yearly subscription ends, but I keep the last version even after my subscription ends.

My friend with a Humminbird needed to purchase two $150 map chips to fish Minnesota and Wisconsin. When we went to Iowa with his boat, we had very lackluster mapping since he hadn't purchased the LakeMaster chip for Iowa.

I like the way Garmin handles mapping. It is more comprehensive, more responsive, and less expensive.

As a long time Humminbird users, I would be using the same Navionics chips, so I think the Garmin mapping would be "on par" with HB, since they are the originator of the mapping I have been using through HB. I would find it hard to believe that Garmin would be worse than HB given that I have been using Navionics for years to provide lake mapping details. So I agree with you 100% and think this would be an "at par" tradeoff converting from HM to Garmin. Especially since I will have a HB graph on the front of the boat for Mega 360.