Across the ocean, it is generally accepted that everything related to GPS navigation and electronics for wireless distance measurements is necessarily somehow connected with the Garmin company. The manufacturer, which for two decades has been producing navigation technology, has received worldwide fame and recognition. The focus of this article is the Garmin echo sounders, devices that are in great demand among people who prefer an active lifestyle, fishing. A review of popular models is made, instructions and reviews about devices in the circle of professionals are described.
About Brand
With brand products - the Russians are familiar firsthand. Some use car navigators, while others purchased a communicator created as a result of a symbiosis of two giants in the electronics market - Garmin Asus. There is still a small percentage of people who use Garmin echo sounders for fishing, reviews of which can be found at any fishing forum or in the media. In any case, the brand is well-known, and thanks to positive reviews, it is also reputable. Indeed, in addition to products for any category of customers, the manufacturer company provides users with detailed operating instructions, warranty service and repair. You can download any software and update for the device from the Garmin official site for free.
Recommended for beginners
If this is the first acquaintance with the device, then experts do not recommend making an expensive purchase, but give preference to budget options that have worked well in fishing. Their cost is quite acceptable for most future owners. Thus, the Garmin Echo echo sounder with a black and white display is presented by the manufacturer in a budget class up to 20,000 rubles. However, do not underestimate these devices. Unlike other models from a more expensive niche, they contain all the functionality that will not only be in demand, but also actively used during fishing. Indeed, judging by numerous reviews, the owners of expensive echo sounders, in addition to two or three functions, do not use the device 100%, and some do not know how to use it.
Best selling. "Kid"
The cheapest Garmin echo sounders that can be found on the market are the Echo-100 model and its updated modification Echo-101. The difference between them is only in the increased scanning depth - from 180 to 450 meters, and in the peak power, doubled to 1600 watts. Judging by the numerous reviews of the happy owners, a 4-inch black-and-white screen and one 60-degree beam are enough for a beginner.
With the echo sounder, two instructions in Russian are supplied. In one step, the assembly and installation of the device in pictures is painted. The second instruction contains a user manual; it is designed for all modifications of devices with black-and-white four-inch screens, including the Garmin-150 echo sounder. Professionals recommends to all new owners, without exception, when buying a used device, to reset to factory settings and make sure that the echo sounder is working in the presence of the seller. To restore the original parameters, you need to perform the following sequence of actions: “MENU”, “Settings”, “System”, “Factory settings”, “Yes”.
Acceptable compactness
A better scan of the bottom will help achieve the Garmin-150 sonar and its modifications. At the moment, you can meet the model "Echo-151" and "Echo-151dv". From the echo sounder "Echo 100" they differ only in price and number of scanning rays. So, the modification with the prefix “DV” has four scanning rays, and the rest of the models have only two. On the official website, the manufacturer claims to increase the scanning depth in the new Echo-151 modifications, but judging by the numerous reviews of fishermen, this fact is doubtful. After all, the electronics remained the same as in the old model, and the peak power is unchanged. It remains to be hoped that the manufacturer is telling the truth, because there is nowhere to be sure in practice with measuring the depth of a pond by half a meter during fishing.
Affordable, large-screen fishfinder
The manufacturer did an excellent job in relation to its customers, providing a relatively inexpensive device with a large screen on the market. Let the image be black and white, but it holds more information and fine details. Fishfinder "Garmin Echo-200" has a five-inch screen with a resolution of 480 by 320 pixels and a 16-level display of gradations in gray.
The buyer will pay attention to the fact that all modifications of the 200th series are similar in functionality to the models of the 150th series. The difference in price between devices is only due to the enlarged screen (from 4 to 5 inches). Therefore, when buying an echo sounder from inexpensive black and white options, you should pay attention to such a factor as ease of use and make a choice in the right direction.
Budget options with color screens
The Garmin echo sounders of the Echo-300 and Echo-500 series have color screens, which allows you to see a more detailed picture than on black and white devices. With careful study, any buyer will find that the three hundredth series in functionality, size and appearance is very similar, as mentioned above, to the cheap Echo-150 series. And he will be right. This is the same device. Accordingly, the Garmin-200 series (echo sounder with a black-and-white screen) has a color analogue "Echo-500". Between these devices, the difference is only in the battery capacity and peak power of the device, because, as you know, a color screen requires more electricity. The instruction supplied in the kit confirms that the devices are similar, since it contains a complete user manual with all possible combinations of calling up the menu for a specific modification.
Summing up the budget class
Having considered all the budget options, it remains to determine the functionality that the inexpensive Garmin echo sounders possess. The instruction supplied with the devices is apparently the same. Accordingly, we can conclude that the entire cheap class of devices is based on one chip and is capable of performing the same list of functions.
- The function of measuring the temperature of the water with a thermocline display. Having determined the non-moving layer of water and the lack of flow, it is possible to establish where a predator rests on a hot summer day. Because of this function, cheap Garmin echo sounders, reviews of which are only positive in the media, are quickly understood by fishermen in the summer season.
- Determining the quality of the bottom and the presence of fish or schools in the water is available due to the very high sensitivity of the sensor. It is also a useful feature for fishing in muddy ponds.
- Complete set and protection against moisture. IPX7 speaks for itself - dropping the device into the water and removing it within an hour from the bottom, you can continue to work. I was glad that all budget sounders in the kit have not only a transducer, but also an assembly kit for it for all kinds of mounting on the bottom of the boat or engine.
Inexpensive device with navigation
Judging by the reviews of many fishermen, GPS navigation is not very popular among those who prefer to fish in the same pond from year to year. Therefore, they are attracted to inexpensive Garmin echo sounders. Using a compass, you can easily find a place for fish or a hole with a predator's dwelling. But those who like to navigate the terrain by satellite will have to fork out a little. Thirty thousand rubles, and the user receives a four-inch echo sounder with a color screen and a GPS navigator using the Russian GLONASS.
The Echo MAP 42dv model has built-in memory and is able to save a hundred routes or create 50 tracks, each of which can mark up to 20,000 points. But picking up the instructions, you can find that it is the same as for the budget series "300", just added a menu for working with cards. This similarity applies to the configuration.
Fish hunter
Also on the market you can find devices whose purpose, judging by the advertising, is to hunt for fish in a pond. Sounders "Garmin" for fishing of the Fishfinder series have all kinds of sensor amplifications and the ability to enlarge different areas of the device screen for a closer look at the picture.
In gratitude for such a function, you will have to pay a round sum, which, depending on the modifications, will be in the range of 20-40 thousand rubles. But after getting acquainted with the instructions and the configuration, the buyer may come up with the idea that the functionality is almost the same as that of the entire Garmin Echo series. And he will be right.
The main difference between Fishfinder and other modifications is the presence of a split screen function, thanks to which two scan results are presented, with a wide and narrow beam. By comparing the data in different pictures, you can draw your own conclusions on previously inaudible objects in the water.
Elite devices
There are Garmin echo sounders, reviews of which attract new buyers to the brand. The devices are equipped with all the modern functions needed by many avid fishermen. Although the price of such devices starts at 100,000 rubles, the functionality will impress any user. What is the presence of a chartplotter, which using navigation maps displays the position of the vessel on the water! By exchanging cards with other fishermen, you can easily find the best fishing spot in any body of water.
In expensive devices there is no such thing as scanning speed. Even if you walk on the surface of the water on a glider, the bottom scan image will be perfect thanks to the many built-in sensors that work with different capacities and at different angles. You can get maximum pleasure from such fishing with the GPSMAP and Echo MAP series devices.
It will impress all buyers who paid attention to the Garmin echo sounders, instructions. To say that it is big is to say nothing. Thanks to its enormous potential, the instruction resembles an encyclopedia that is written in simple language and will be understandable even to a child.
About accessories
In most cases, fishing on a boat lasts more than one day, so any sonar owner should worry about buying additional accessories. Owners of boats with a battery for starting engines will only need to buy a portable charger with the ability to connect to the charging via terminals. But if there is no battery on the boat, you should pay attention to the additional battery for the Garmin echo sounder, whose assortment is huge on the market. Among the fishermen, judging by the reviews, a solar-powered battery charger proved to be good . Having its own high-capacity battery and many adapters, no mobile device will be left without charging, because the solar device is capable of delivering 5 volts at the output.