Livescope Plus

Hello! I want to buy Livescope Plus to use both on my boat and ice fishing. My original plan was to buy the standard Livescope Plus system that comes with the lvs34 transducer, the GLS-10 box, mounts, network cable, and power cable. This seems to have everything I would need to hook it up to my boat and be ready to use. I would then purchase the case and battery for ice fishing next winter. However, I now see there is a lvs34-if transducer that is specifically for ice fishing. If I buy this and re-purpose for my boat it is going to end up costing more, even though the transducer itself is selling for the same (doesn’t come with boat mounts, persepective mount, etc). I prefer to buy the standard system as it will be primarily for my boat but I will use it 5-10 times ice fishing every year.

Does anyone know what the actual difference is between the lvs34 and lvs34-if? It is hard to find information about it but it sounds like the lvs34-if has a more flexible cord. Has anyone used the standard lvs34 transducer for boat and ice fishing? I am really struggling to know what exactly I should be buying. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I’d call Reeds sporting goods. They sell all season bundles that cover exactly what you are talking about and they have them for a very good price based on my shopping and research.

I have the 32 IF and the 34 non-IF and I wish I would have waited for the 34IF just because it is very stiff once it gets cold. Might just use it in the boat and get a 34IF next fall. Right now it seems like there is no 34IF by itself to be found or at least the places I have looked.

James Almquist wrote:

I have the 32 IF and the 34 non-IF and I wish I would have waited for the 34IF just because it is very stiff once it gets cold. Might just use it in the boat and get a 34IF next fall. Right now it seems like there is no 34IF by itself to be found or at least the places I have looked.

I can find the 34-if by itself on Garmins website and The GPS Store. The downside is it doesnt come with the mounts, specifically the perspective mount that comes with the standard system. It is good to hear from someone with experience ice fishing with the non if version. I live in Wisconsin and it isn’t uncommon for us to be ice fishing in 0 degree weather. Sounds like the standard lvs34 might not work well in this situation. I’d be interested to hear others experince with it.

IT will work but is much more rigid then the IF version. I am sure that most have the non-IF just because of how late the release was this past year.

Lots of info on this in the Garmin IDO page…

I did not know that there was a 2nd version of the LVS34… I guess that I am in the same position as the OP.

I did not see this addressed in the Garmin forum but I could have missed it.

I sent off a e-mail to Garmin. They have been good in the past in responding.

We discussed the LVS32 versions, I have a LVS34-IF on order and will post about it when it arrives.

If you order the 010-02706-00 open water bundle then you receive the LVS34. If you desire the LVS34-IF then you need to purchase a ice fishing bundle or purchase the LVS34-IF separately.

From Garmin – With the LVS34-IF the cord stays more flexible in cold weather. If you plan on using the system in the boat as well as ice fishing then they recommend using the LVS34-IF.

My thoughts – then why have a LVS34 in todays world? Are they just trying to clear out old stock? I asked Garmin to explain any advantages of the LVS34 for open water.

With my request to Garmin asking about any advantages with the LVS-34 for open water, here is their response.

The only difference between the IF bundle is a more insulated (thicker) cable to prevent the cable from freezing. Both cables can work in warmer waters or ice. Although if you want a more extended lifespan of the unit, we recommend to purchase the one that best fits what it will be used for. The thicker cable will be harder to install if you’re using for basic water fishing, with less flexibility.

Here are the LVS34 advantages vs the LVS32 (it a nutshell everything is about 30% better)

1) Better range – You can now see a crappie jighead 100’+ away, LVS 32 was about 70′ max (other factors can influence those numbers, water clarity, bottom compostion, etc)
2) Better target separation, so a big mark 50′ away on the LVS32 looks like 1 fish, the LVS34 can show it’s actually 3 close together…
3) Better image clarity – LVS34 shows fish, weeds and structure a little sharper, less pixelated
4) LVS34 shows slightly better bottom transition – its not alot, but a bit better showing fish directly on the bottom…

The ONLY difference between the LVS34 & LVS34-IF is the cable material as Garmin mentioned..

LVS34 disadvantages – it’s bigger/heavier than the LVS32 and will NOT fit down a 6″ ice hole…

I believe the inquiry was for open water fishing with the plans to also use it for ice fishing which LVS34 transducer version was best.

The LVS34-IF was explained as a more flexible in the cold but personally I do not think that Garmin provided a adequate answer on why the LVS34 would be better in open water application then the LVS34-IF.

6″ holes? Do we allow those type of people on this forum?

OG Net_Man wrote:

6″ holes? Do we allow those type of people on this forum?

There out there. I get ribbed because I run a 10″

OG Net_Man wrote:

I believe the inquiry was for open water fishing with the plans to also use it for ice fishing which LVS34 transducer version was best.

The LVS34-IF was explained as a more flexible in the cold but personally I do not think that Garmin provided a adequate answer on why the LVS34 would be better in open water application then the LVS34-IF.

6″ holes? Do we allow those type of people on this forum?

They (LVS34 & LVS34-IF) are identical transducers with only the cable material being different, the IF version has a silicone cable that’s more pliable in the ice cold vs the normal version having a more plastic cable that gets stiff in the ice cold, ZERO difference otherwise…

Think open water man.

Why is the LVS34 better than the LVS34-IF when using in open water? If it is not better then why would I want a LVS34 vs the LVS34-IF? I do not think that Garmin’s answer was adequate.

We just want the best unit if we plan on using it in open water as well as ice fishing preferably with out buying 2 transducers.

OG Net_Man wrote:

Think open water man.

Why is the LVS34 better than the LVS34-IF when using in open water? If it is not better then why would I want a LVS34 vs the LVS34-IF? I do not think that Garmin’s answer was adequate.

We just want the best unit if we plan on using it in open water as well as ice fishing preferably with out buying 2 transducers.

are you serious with this reply? I said the transducers are identical besides the cable material… Do you want a transducer cable that’s more pliable when its cold out or not, thats the only decision….

Yes, you are focusing too much on ice fishing. Let’s start the original question completely over.

Is the cable on LVS34 transducer better than the cable on the LVS34-IF transducer for open water fishing application and if yes then why?

My opinion is that Garmin did not adequately answer this question.

The answer to this question might persuade the specific product that some one might purchase.

It doesn’t really matter. I have the reg and it’s worked just fine in both applications

Garmin sells the IF version specifically for fishermen in northern climates that could use the more flexible cable when ice fishing…if you’re in a warmer climate, you dont need the more flexible cable..

Maybe the normal version cable is a tad more durable when hooked upto a trilling motor shaft during open water season… but any cable that gets caught in a trolling motor mount bracket is going to get cut….

I prefer the IF version

OG Net_Man wrote:

Is the cable on LVS34 transducer better than the cable on the LVS34-IF transducer for open water fishing application and if yes then why?

No it’s not better for open water. The cable is just skinnier so might fit in cable clamps easier and be easier to route through the boat, that’s all Garmin was saying.

My apologies if I came off as a bit of a a-hole but we seem to be on the right track of answers now.

This is what Garmin had stated. “Although if you want a more extended lifespan of the unit, we recommend to purchase the one that best fits what it will be used for”. I did not think that Garmin response was complete as to why this would be the case. I surely could have asked them to further clarify but I have not yet.

I do not see that a skinnier cable would extend lifespan in a open water application.

I treat my gear pretty good but I would surely say that my gear has a rougher experience when ice fishing then my open water boat applications.

You would think that if there is little or no difference in performance/strength of cables for open water application then it would be better for manufacturing to just use 1 version of cable. Unless you were trying to use up existing stock of some thing before you phased it out or some marketing scheme.

OG Net_Man wrote:

My apologies if I came off as a bit of a a-hole but we seem to be on the right track of answers now.

This is what Garmin had stated. “Although if you want a more extended lifespan of the unit, we recommend to purchase the one that best fits what it will be used for”. I did not think that Garmin response was complete as to why this would be the case. I surely could have asked them to further clarify but I have not yet.

I do not see that a skinnier cable would extend lifespan in a open water application.

I treat my gear pretty good but I would surely say that my gear has a rougher experience when ice fishing then my open water boat applications.

You would think that if there is little or no difference in performance/strength of cables for open water application then it would be better for manufacturing to just use 1 version of cable. Unless you were trying to use up existing stock of some thing before you phased it out or some marketing scheme.

Livescope was almost exclusively used in open water the first year it was released until Northern climate guys and lithium battery technology came together to make homemade kits that allowed the full system to be “portable”. Garmin then came up with their own portable kit a few years later and then listened to ice fishermen who complained about the cable becoming stiff in extreme cold water and made an “IF” version with a more flexible cable…

There was a guy another site who complained his non IF34 was not going to be warranted because he told them it was used for ice fishing . So i looked up the specs on each and sure enough the IF 34 was rated at much colder temps. News to me, evidently rep told him to pound sand ? Because the reg 34 was not designed to run in such cold temps . His post started a sh*t storm . And was removed by the moderator. So are the 34 and 34if the exact same ducers ? I believe they are , just the cable is different .Garmin does not differentiate between the ducers , nothing i found in print anyway .