Plotter / Sounder

L

Larry Patrick

New member
Can anybody recommend a combo marine gps fishfinder? Price range $800 to $1400 approx. Anybody using garmin 547xs chirp unit. Any brands as long as there proven reliable,want to locate fish. I have a garmin 740s,but been having problems with depth going out or being innacurate. Will be changing transducer to a airman p 66,hope this fixes it. But have read others having same exact problem. I may buy just fishfinder sounder or another combo unit. Looking for owners that are satisfied with the ones there using. Im going to try and send garmin back for refurbish if transducer doesn't fix it. Im leary of the 547xs after the problem with the 740s. Thanks
 
The new Garmin 470S is a 7" with a good sounder (I KW with the right transducer) and are on sale because being replaced by the 741xs This will cost a bit more--it has faster refresh and a touch screen It also has Chrip--but the Chrip transducer is going to set you back $1400. (There is one which is 300 watts, but If you want the full features of Chirp--go with the 1000 watt transducer.

The other way to consider is Simrad NSS 7 which has the Navico broad band module built in (the NSS 7) I believe the transducer is extra--but you will have to check. The Simrad is only 6.4"--not 7" as the Garmin.
Another option is Lowrance HDS, or if you don't want to upgrade or the broad band, the Lowrance Elite 7(but this is not expandable to radar etc)
 
The mounting location and depth of the transducer in the water have as much or more to do with the ability to hold bottom as the type of the unit. How and where is the current (or new) transducer mounted? Can you move it up or down? Has any adjustment in position been done with better or worse results? Also, under what conditions (speed and depth) does the sounder give you problems?
 
I have the Garmin gaps map 541s, and same issues with less than satisfactory sounding. In weeds and soft ground it tends to lose its reading. I've replaced the transducer and even just had Garmin send me a replacement unit with no improvement! Otherwise I have been pretty happy with its gps and chart functions. This being said, I have found the Navman unit that came on the boat seems to be much more accurate in the sonar department and in fish finding, however it does not have GPS or chart plotting. Btw Roger, you sound like the techs from Garmin I've dealt with. Lol. And as I answered them, there is no specific speed or operating condition, other than I think I have it narrowed down to weeds, and/or shallow water, however I've also had it read down to 2 feet or maybe even a bit lower, but that's usually on solid bases. Using manual settings with more or less gain does not help, nor does changing frequencies, although sometimes freq changes will help it reaquire sonar readings once in deeper water. I have not moved the transducer, but it is located per instructions, and on par with the navmans transducer. Also before its mentioned, I have turned the Navman off with no correction to the Garmin, so interference is not the issue either... :-(
 
I jumped in with mask and cleaned transducer thinking the scum was the problem,but no go. It can be moved up and down,tried every time out this summer. When first starting motor it works coming out of marina,then after 15 min its on the fritz again. When I reboot unit it will then work for a short time. Going to put a p66 on there hope it helps,but I think its the garmin itself. Read other posts saying similar things. So far im going with a furuno 585 so I will have accurate depth and a good fishfinder. Does anyone know if I use two transducers on same boat and both call for p 66 will there be any interference or should they work okay?
 
Larry, I think most operating manuals talk about transducers on the same frequency possibly interfering with each other, particularly if located close together. That has not been the case with my two units, but I'm not sure what frequency the Navman operates on. The garmin I have is dual frequency, using 50 and 200 khz. Colby
 
Had a Lowrance 3 in 1 that started flashing on and off. Finally died completely. Bought a different, newer model Lowrance. Video died before I made it to the bell buoy. Still haven't used the replacement unit. Their video chips must be heat sensitive or defective.
 
Very happy with my Standard Horizon combo unit. Fast redraw - which I find is a good thing with a 5"screen. Cost $899. with gold card . Seldom looses bottom - maybe on hard turn to port at speed.

Regards , Rob
 
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