What is the difference between the GT30 and GT40 transducers and can the GT30 be used on the trolling motor?
What is the difference between the GT30 and GT40 transducers and can the GT30 be used on the trolling motor?
Wow. I just found myself in this same dilemma. I have the exact same question and thought about making this same thread.
What I believe now is that the gt40 is bigger and has 2d traditional sonar whereas the 30 only has side and downview but chirp. I am researching the image differences right now.
I have a gt20 gt 30 gt40 p72 pano31, and a 200/50 to choose from. I'm trying to figure out where and how to use them.
I was told by garmin support that the gt30 is not recommended for the tm.
GT20 5.9 in long, 77/200, down but not side, 4 pin (needs 8 ping adapter for 8 pin units)
GT30 7.8 in long, No 2D, side and down chirp, 12 pin
GT40 8.4 in long, 77/200, side and down chirp, 12 pin
It is a bit awkward putting these on the trolling motor but sometimes it can be done. Personally I always have side and down on the trolling motor although I don't think any of the major brands recommend it.
How to use these? First the 30 and 40 is either/or but not both on one unit. Unit only has 1 12 pin connector.
Put it on the transom. Choose between 20,P72, and 200/50 for the 8 pin connector.
-------or-------
Put them all on ebay and go all chirp. GT52 on transom, GT8 on trolling motor. Why? When both the transducers are chirp you can do split screen on 2D, showing the 2D from both the trolling motor and transom at the same time.
It's just a thought, but I think you'll find that the recent trend for people to turn to Airmar to get a better transducer is over. For example, look at Troy's comparison shots of the acclaimed Airmar TM150 and the Garmin 15. Let us know what you decide and why. That's how we help each other.
I had the GT40 on the trolling motor and somehow it quit showing the depth, I have a Gt30 and was gona replace the 40 with it. I had a 79 mounted in the airmar shut thru hull mount and could never get it to work right while on plane so I put my H'Bird back to the drivers console and moved the Garmin to the front and on the trolling motor. I am not really satisfied with all these transducers I have to have with the Garmin while with the H'Bird I had only one to do it all.
gt50 fits on my on my trolling motor just fine. im fixing to swap it out for a gt52 though
all of what transducers you have to have with garmin? for a high speed application at the console garmin requires 1 if you mount to the transom or 2 of you want to mount to a jack plate, just like humminbird
Right now I'm running the gt40 out back and it's going to my 73sv in the console. I'd like to have the gt30 under my trolling motor and go straight to the gcv10 and network that and a p72 to a 70s at the bow and one at the console. The gt20 will go unused and the 200/50 ducer I'm not sure about right now.
My gt40 was purchased in November with my 73sv. Is it chirp capable? The 73sv is not.
I would love to see a picture of how some of you are mounting these gt30 and 40s under the trolling motors before I do mine.
Do you get any interference when the tm is running?
here is my gt50. its longer than the gt30 and gt40
Most of the time when any brand xd has trouble finding the bottom it's due to the angle of the transducer in relation to the bottom. Make sure you have the latest update on your unit. Garmin has recently improved the speed of the unit finding the bottom. All the brands used to use an internal procedure of first pinging as if they were in extremely deep water and then work back to find the depth you are in. If you're in 30 ft of water this can take a while. Then they added a Max depth setting where you could set the max to the deepest water you will be in. This would speed up the bottom acquisition as the unit would not start a 1000 ft and work down. It starts at the setting and works down. I don't know the details of how Garmin made additional refinements to that but I do know it makes a difference.Originally Posted by harleyrs
I see what you are saying. An all-in-one transducer is handy. All-In-One used to mean 2D,Side and Down on one transducer like your Humminbird. Things have changed now. Complicating the situation is that the 2D can be chirp and the side and down not; 2D not chirp while side and down are, and finally all the elements in the xd doing chirp. Sounds like your Hbird is the first choice - none of the elements doing chirp. It is all-in-one only if you take chirp out of consideration. Garmin has led product development on this and offers 3 transducers that are all chirp. GT50, GT51, GT52. In the interim period though the other variations were available. These other variations are out there partly because of price. Quite a few wanted some chirp but did want to spend what it costs to go whole hog. Then there is where you probably fit that these all chirp xd's weren't available when you purchased.
It's a tough pill to swallow but it's true for every brand that is putting money into R & D to make a better performing product. The 7610 I bought last year was $2700 without the xd. It really is a super unit. But who knows? Garmin may come out with a new unit next week that does more, better, faster that uses all different transducers that won't work on what I have.
With what you have, you may have the best mounting arrangement. It just depends on what performance level you want where. See if you need to update your Garmin software. I've used Humminbird extensively and personally never liked their 2D. Personally, I believe Lowrance is better and Garmin still better. Chirp is not necessary but I do think it is better than non-chirp. You already know how costs figures into all this. We all have a cutoff point where we are not going to spend any more (right now).
I may have given a little explanation but don't know if I really offered any constructive suggestion. Looks like you got a handle on it. What Garmin unit are you running?
Thanks. I'd forgotten about those. I just ordered one.here is my gt50. its longer than the gt30 and gt40
I'm running the 93SV I bought last July, all the company's have to stay in business but it is hard for the weekend angler to upgrade every year cost wise.
Bass newb where did you get the transducer protector?
http://www.transducershieldandsaver....oduct/tg-ds-9/
the shield for the gt52 is past due but hopefully shipping soon
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