Need help understanding Garmin products

[muley1o]

I will be buying new electronics for my Nitro Z7 soon. I have been studying each of the four main brands of electronics; Garmin, Hummingbird, Lowrance and Raymarine. I fish in murky, shallow waters of south Arkansas so I have been told I do not need to go all-in on big electronics since electronics are not used much here. I would like to fish some of the bigger lakes in the southeast when I get a chance so I want something I can put maps on with GPS. I know I want down scan and I might as well get side scan while I am at it. I also would like to link/network the bow and console units. I am on the Garmin board because I am leaning that way with the Echomap 73SV at the console and maybe the Striker 7SV up front. A couple of questions; 1) Can these two units be linked/networked together (and what exactly does that mean) to allow marking way points, etc? Is the Striker 7SV capable of loading one of the map offerings on it? Lastly, should CHIRP be a deal breaker? Is it that much better than traditional sonar? I know this is a lengthy post, but I am need of some advice. I have never had to worry about this kind of purchase before. Thank you all in advance for your replies.

Dave

[LWINCHESTER2]

Chirp should be a deal breaker.
Garmin does more and better chirp than the rest. Huge selection of transducers - fully chirp
Shallow or deep - good electronics are worthwhile
Down sonar is good. Side sonar is good. Panoptix is better.
With linking units you have to get model specific.
Striker and Echomap share waypoints - Not sonar
To share sonar you move to other models.
Striker units have GPS, waypoints but NOT maps. No card slot.

Best bargain out there is the echoMAP CHIRP 93sv.
Click on the Search Forum and type echoMAP CHIRP.

[muley1o]

If I was to get the 93sv what would be a good unit to go with it that would share sonar, if that is possible? Like I mentioned, I am new to this so some of these may seem like goofy questions. I also have to keep my wife happy with how much I spend.

[LWINCHESTER2]

The echoMAP CHIRP 93sv's claim to fame is that it is chirp on all channels: 2d,side,down and that it will run Panoptix. It does not share sonar. Currently it is heavily discounted.

The next level up is the 7400 and 7600 units that have all the features. Big bucks.

The next level down is the Striker units. Fully chirp, No sonar sharing, no Panoptix, does waypoint sharing, no maps

Others will be able to suggest other options but you will have to nail down either what specific features are essential and/or the price point that has to be met.

[muley1o]

I found the 93sv at GPSStore for $749 with both mounts and all the normal accessories. It comes with the GT52HW-TM Transducer. I see on the Garmin site that they have a choice of two transducers, the 52 and the Clearvu. Which is the transducer that would be the best option or is there a difference?

I also found it at Sportsmans guide and it has the GT41-TM 77 / 200 kHz transducer (12 pin). What is the difference in these options? As I mentioned earlier, I am afraid some of these may seem like goofy questions, but I just don't know. Thank you winchester for your replies.

[Jtj]

You can find what is a slight difference between the GT52 and the "clear vu" by searching this forum. The difference is very slight from what I gathered, mainly a different name to get around the lawsuit. I just bought the echo Map chirp 93 sv for the $749 ( last years model) where you mentioned, the clear vu ( this years model) is $250 more. With updates available, last years model seems a no brainier.

[muley1o]

Thank you for the info. I am a fellow northwesterner that has been transplanted to Arkansas for work. New to largemouth fishin and hot humid weather. We didn't have this humidity in Idaho.

[Larry3215]

The GT52 is much better than the GT41.

[muley1o]

Thanks Larry. Jtj told me that there wasn't a lot of difference between the Cleavu and the 52. I am not opposed to buying last year's model at all. That is how I used to buy my son's goalie gear for hockey.

[MonteSS]

Get last years 93sv Chirp.

The GPSmap7600 series are way overpriced especially since the Echomaps have been upgraded with chirp, better transducer, and Panoptix capability.

Dont even consider the Striker.

[TroyBoy30]

i prefer the 7600 series

[Treeguyus]

Get last years 93sv Chirp.

The GPSmap7600 series are way overpriced especially since the Echomaps have been upgraded with chirp, better transducer, and Panoptix capability.

Dont even consider the Striker.

Monte agree with you, if a non-networkable or stand alone suits ones fishing. Guess am a rare breed liking the 1040XS, suits my needs just fine for panoptix. For chirp have dedicated Lowrance Gen 3 with a TM 150 through a sonar hub. Have a 70S (discontinued) in the bow networked for panoptix does the job. Some say not a large enough screen with the 70, depends on the application if in your face just fine. Garmin chirp is fine and the 7600 might is a great choice the guys on here are better suited to comment on that. The game changer is networkabilty. If using a 1040 need a GMS network module to read both a panoptix 30 and 31.

[LWINCHESTER2]

People want different things for different reasons. My breakdown of Garmin products is my own doing and possibly Garmin themselves might not agree. I look that their current offerings in three levels: Entry Level, Mid-Level and High End. Striker for the Entry Level, echoMAP CHIRP for the Mid-Level and the 7400-7600 at the High End.

Each of these products are top performers within these levels. The Striker is a top performer with chirp on all channels. For what it is advertised to do, it competes on performance and price with the other brands. The echoMAP CHIRP units add maps, QuickDraw and a bonus-Panoptix but it does NOT network sonar. That they are so deeply discounted makes them especially attractive now. The 7400-7600 are the premium units at a premium price.

There is no escaping establishing what your priorities are and setting some sort of budget. For some mapping is their number 1 consideration. If so, the Striker is out of the picture and the others depending upon how well Garmin has mapped the lakes you fish. If your single most important consideration is detailed side sonar to moderate depths then you'll need to explore Humminbird MEGA imaging. If networking sonar is very important to you then Striker and echoMAP is out of the picture. My fishing is jigging deep water and this makes the Vexilar Edge3 my top choice. Luckily I am not limited to one unit and even though I have networking and wifi capability I rarely use it.

There is fishing and there is finding fish to fish for. Garmin's SideVu paired with Panoptix PS30 for finding fish cannot be beaten. They may be prettier on Humminbird MEGA and more to scale; I don't know but it very likely true. People who fish for structure will love it <grin>. Once I stop the big motor and start fishing I use them all including PS21/31 to precisely position the boat. Then I'm back to 2d for most of the catching except shallow springtime fishing. Then the PS21/31 goes to the primary technology used.

[hays47]

I also run a 1040 XS along with a 721XS upon the bow. They are networked with a GCV module than also enables the SI and networks both units. I lucked out when I bought the 721 XS as it has two ethernet ports. This allows me to see both my PS-30 and PS-21 on both screens.

If you are trying to keep the wife as happy as possible. You might look into the 800 GPSMAP or 10XX GPSMAP series by Garmin. They are not touch screen but are good performers as Treeguyus has mentioned.

As Lwinchester2 mentions no one else has anything to compete the panoptix. It flat finds fish. It has saved me from many fishless trips more than I can count. Some Humminbird 360 owners and fans will say the the 360 is superior to panoptix. I run both on my boat. After testing side by side for almost two years. The 360 is almost like a hood ornament now for me. When running the 360 I can't say for sure if it is showing fish. It is mostly a hopeful guess. When the panoptix shows me fish I don't have to guess. I know some kind of fish are there.

I am not immune to pretty pictures. I just purchased a MEGA 10 Helix. But if I had to choose only one. The Garmin stuff would go with me and the Humminbird stuff would be left ashore.

But you have to decide what is most important to you and the way you like to fish. Good luck in keeping you and your wife happy with your fishing purchases.

[Treeguyus]

I also run a 1040 XS along with a 721XS upon the bow. They are networked with a GCV module than also enables the SI and networks both units. I lucked out when I bought the 721 XS as it has two ethernet ports. This allows me to see both my PS-30 and PS-21 on both screens.

If you are trying to keep the wife as happy as possible. You might look into the 800 GPSMAP or 10XX GPSMAP series by Garmin. They are not touch screen but are good performers as Treeguyus has mentioned.

As Lwinchester2 mentions no one else has anything to compete the panoptix. It flat finds fish. It has saved me from many fishless trips more than I can count. Some Humminbird 360 owners and fans will say the the 360 is superior to panoptix. I run both on my boat. After testing side by side for almost two years. The 360 is almost like a hood ornament now for me. When running the 360 I can't say for sure if it is showing fish. It is mostly a hopeful guess. When the panoptix shows me fish I don't have to guess. I know some kind of fish are there.

I am not immune to pretty pictures. I just purchased a MEGA 10 Helix. But if I had to choose only one. The Garmin stuff would go with me and the Humminbird stuff would be left ashore.

But you have to decide what is most important to you and the way you like to fish. Good luck in keeping you and your wife happy with your fishing purchases.

Glad to hear as for myself very close to pull trigger on a HB 360 could not see the advantage over panoptix

[hays47]

Treeguyus- wasn't trying to talk anybody into or out of anything. The 360 has been a major disappointment to me. Other do rave about it so perhaps it is my fault. I have tried fine tuning it till I am blue in face. What I love about the panoptix both the PS 30 and PS21 is they worked with no great adjusting on my part. Also it kinda brought the " fun " factor back in searching for fish.

My 360 does find structure well. But the only reason the Humminbird equipment remains on my boat. Is the Terrova I-Link. That has been worth every penny I spent on it. It has its faults but love the follow the contour set. The spot lock does not work as advertised but I can live with that. Mostly like the " hands off " operating the boat while I am busy fishing. I rank it right next to the panoptix as a must need.

[muley1o]

What level of units would I have to buy to be able to share maps from console and bow?

[Larry3215]

You have to move into the GPSMap series, but Im not sure they all do share maps. I know the 7600 do for sure. The unit needs to be Ethernet capable. Some models have Ethernet ports, but they are Radar or Panoptix only. You need one that isnt restricted that way.

[Larry3215]

It just occurred to me - why would you need to share maps? If you have two matching units, they will already have the same maps on them. Or are you talking about sharing a premium map card?

What level of units would I have to buy to be able to share maps from console and bow?

[muley1o]

So Larry, if I was to buy an ECHO Map 93sv for the console and an ECHO Map 73sv for the bow and each came loaded with the same map card, they could share waypoints and those points would show each unit on the map for that body of water? If that is true then I beleive that may be the best choice for me right now. Maybe not exactly those models, but that plan.