Thread: new to side imaging?

Don't know a lot about the Garmin models, but make sure you check out their mapping, it may or may not meet your needs.

The latest software release only allows Garmin's own mapping on the unit ..... If the maps you need are the Ultra mapping you will be good .... They no longer allow Navionics mapping........This may change at some time in the future since there is quite a bit of flak about it right now.

Garmins shoot a beautiful picture for sure. But are priced pretty much the same as the tried and true Humminbirds and Lowrance. So unless u got alot of money for experimenting, Better go with what ya know (In my opinion), becuase there is not much of a price difference. Im not dissing garmin for sure. I like the images I have seen from them. I also get great images from my birds. So 6 in one and half dozen for the other. If garmins were ALOT cheaper, we would have a different argument. I hope I helped.

The other benefit of the Garmin's are that they have really great range on the SI...... even better than Humminbird. Some have said that the tradeoff for that is that it is harder to see the fish on SI and DI with them......just another factor to consider.
I like to set my Humminbird to max range when trying to figure out the features of a new body of water.....On a body of water you are familiar with, the ability to see fish better would be a greater advantage.

Originally Posted by BobB

The other benefit of the Garmin's are that they have really great range on the SI...... even better than Humminbird. Some have said that the tradeoff for that is that it is harder to see the fish on SI and DI with them......just another factor to consider.
I like to set my Humminbird to max range when trying to figure out the features of a new body of water.....On a body of water you are familiar with, the ability to see fish better would be a greater advantage.

Where's that documented? I'd be interested in reading that or seeing some screenshots. Thnks

I think I read that the Garmin SI will go out to 600' ...... You can probably check out the specs on Garmin's website, or read some of the threads or ask the question over here Garmin Sonar/GPS

The Garmin web site says 750 feet to the left or right. Now that sounds great but with a 9 inch screen....with 480X800 pixels.....I don't know what you could see with the range set out that far that would be any use to someone.....IMHO.


Regards

The extra range is good to learn the overall bottom features of an unfamiliar body of water ..... but I think the 250 each way (500 total) on the birds is plenty.

500' is almost a football field wide per pass.

Even though the unit is capable of that distance. No way u could see what us needed to unless maybe if u were fishing in 500 feet of water. And then even with 800khz that's not enough power to get much detail in ur image.