Possible switch from lowrance

I’m pretty seriously thinking about getting rid of my lowrance units. I have generation 2 hds 7 and hds 5. Can anyone tell me if the Garmin units have as detailed of mapping as the navionics chip? Also, are the Garmin a compatible with motorguide or Minn kotas? I’d like to possibly upgrade my terrova to link if I can.

I like the look of the Garmin units, and I’m just not crazy about lowrance since I started with humminbird.

matthewkolden wrote:

I’m pretty seriously thinking about getting rid of my lowrance units. I have generation 2 hds 7 and hds 5. Can anyone tell me if the Garmin units have as detailed of mapping as the navionics chip?
I wouldn’t consider Navionics mapping “detailed” compared to Lakemaster.
Also, are the Garmin a compatible with motorguide or Minn kotas?
Not compatible with MinnKota. I don’t know about Garmin and Motorguide, but I doubt they are compatible. Humminbird and MinnKota are both owned by Johnson Controls, thus they share technology and are designed to work together.
I’d like to possibly upgrade my terrova to link if I can.

I like the look of the Garmin units, and I’m just not crazy about lowrance since I started with humminbird.

Humminbird – Minnkota

Lowrance – Motorguide

There’s no other pairing available on the market today. The sonars are compatible across the board.

I run both Lorance and bird , I like lorance for imaging and bird for mapping, Lakemaster has 1′ contours on most lakes that I fish.

If down imaging is important to you I’d be careful about buying the new chirp echomap/striker 9x, 7x, or 5xCV units that are bundled with a transducer . It’s come out within the last couple days that the new CV transducers that come with chirp echomap/striker XXCV units don’t have a down view/imaging element and instead use old technology to stitch together a down image. Evidently Garmin did this because of the rulings in the patent fight with Navico, but Garmin hasn’t been telling the whole truth about their CV transducers.

It’s a mess and I’ll refer you to the resident Garmin experts on this board and elsewhere on the internet (thehulltruth.com bassboatcentral.com) for the rest of the story.

The information about the Garmin is absolutely false. They have been cleared of all issues related by there is an appeal. Garmin stands by all of what they do is is the same concept as all others on the market. there will be a press release following up soon. The information released was put out by
Navico to miss lead consumers.

In regards to connectivity the link functions is only with Humminbird and lake master chips. you can still get the i pilot functions just not the link options.

I have Garmin and nothing else, so I’m not a hater. I’m just passing on information that has come out in the last couple of days.

Check other sites. Even a few of the Garmin pro’s are admitting that the CV transducer that is bundled with the NEW echomap/striker series units is missing the down imaging element. You can purchase a Garmin GT series transducer separately and it WILL have the down element.

Like I said check the other sites and research it before you buy.

Garmin has not been cleared. Models with downvu are banned from import into the US as pat of the navico lawsuit due to patent infringement. This is fact. The only imaging Garmin models that can be legally brought to us use side imaging to merge together a down image not a dedicated down imaging transducer. This is also fact. The information has been posted here and many other places for reference.

So my new Garmin 73sv still in the box, says it has clear vu,and side vu sonar. I know what side vu is. I assume clear vu scanning sonar technology is down view? Thanks.

I bought a 73sv as well and I also got the ClearVu, which means we have traditional 2D, sidevu and an old version of down view because the transducer that came with the unit (the CV40) has had the down view element removed. They had to remove the element because of the lawsuit against them with Navico.

Now, if I want to get a true down view transducer I have to go purchase a GT40 transducer from Garmin. That transducer has not had the down view element removed and it also has sidevu/2D. The lawsuit only forced Garmin to remove the down element from transducers that were included with the purchase of a head unit (IE the echomap/striker series).

Sounds like a mess….
My 2 cents is to use your Lowrance stuff until the dust settles on this other business.
At the end of the day/week/month etc., you’ll be able to make a better decision…
Until the technology changes tomorrow
Just sayin

The only saving grace for me personally is that I have a chirp 53dv unit (purchased prior to the ruling) that does contain the actual down imaging element in the transducer. It’ll be interesting to see the difference between the two transducers once I get everything up and running this spring.

So I have no down view? What is clear view? What does it do or show? Thanks.

riverruns wrote:

So I have no down view? What is clear view? What does it do or show? Thanks.

What you have is a great unit, with great sonar, even better side, and GOOD downview. Great downview perhaps not. But does it still work really well for probably what 95% of us fisherman on this forum do, yes.

If you can’t have the down element of a transducer, obviously there will be disadvantages to those that do. But everytime I look at sonar capabilities of a unit being able to read 500′ down, I say well that’s wonderful but I’ll never utilize that either.

It’s been mentioned but I’ve also split structure on my side left/right screen. The down view might not be all that but everything else is.

Can’t remember a thread in IDO history that’s mentioned how awesome DI is. Side yes, over and over, DI not so much. Not saying there aren’t those that do, but kind of surprised of the butthurt on this topic.

FWIW I have the chirp model.

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YOU ARE HERE: HOME / FISHING NEWS / GARMIN CAN IMPORT AND SELL GARMIN DOWNVÜ SCANNING SONAR TRANSDUCERS
Garmin can import and sell Garmin DownVü scanning sonar transducers

08/29/2016 BY MARK

garmin downscanGarmin® responds to misleading statements from Navico in the ITC patent investigation
OLATHE, Kan./August 29, 2016/Business Wire – Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced its response to a modified order by the International Trade Commission (ITC) on August 18, 2016, in the long-running investigation brought by Navico Holdings AS against Garmin. The modified ITC order did not address Garmin’s new tilted DownVüTM scanning sonar transducer design – which Garmin strongly asserts does not infringe – that has been shipping since last December when the previous decision was made by the ITC. The status of Garmin’s new tilted transducer design relative to any of Navico’s patents is still amatter pending before the courts and government agencies, and Navico has never accused Garmin’s new tilted design of infringement before the ITC. On August 25, 2016, Navico issued a press release regarding the ITC’s modified order that incorrectly asserts that the new tilted design infringes on their patents as no court or government agency has ever made any infringement ruling on Garmin’s new tilted transducer design.

In fact, the modified ITC order confirmed the ITC’s previous decision made in December 2015, that Garmin can import and sell Garmin DownVü scanning sonar transducers, including the original design, because they do not separately infringe any valid claim of Navico’s patents. The modified ITC order also left in place the ITC’s earlier decision that Garmin’s chartplotters do not infringe any of Navico’s patents. It clarifies the certification language that Garmin may use when importing its transducers which is a procedural matter. The modified ITC order applies only to Garmin and has no impact on any existing distributor, dealer, or retailer inventory or any products already purchased by our customers.

Garmin fully cooperated with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) after the ITC’s original order to ensure that the importation of its products were in full compliance with the ITC’s order. Garmin is currently cooperating with CBP to ensure compliance with the ITC’s modified order and will provide relevant information to our distributors, dealers, and retailers as it becomes available. All of these issues are currently pending before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the court with review authority over the ITC, and Garmin anticipates a definitive ruling on these topics in early 2017.

nhamm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>riverruns wrote:</div>
So I have no down view? What is clear view? What does it do or show? Thanks.

kind of surprised of the butthurt on this topic.

Don’t take pot shots at me just because I’m passing along information about Garmins product so other people can be more informed about the product they’re thinking about buying. Never once did a cry and whine about how “butt hurt” I am or that I’m going to never buy Garmin again.

nhamm wrote:

What you have is a great unit, with great sonar, even better side, and GOOD downview. Great downview perhaps not. But does it still work really well for probably what 95% of us fisherman on this forum do, yes.

Well that’s good enough for me. Has to be better than the little depth finder that came with my boat in 1997! Thanks.

Nothing with you Shamus. Generally speaking.

right on, sorry to have taken your post like I did.

Ron wrote:

Also, are the Garmin a compatible with motorguide or Minn kotas?
Not compatible with MinnKota.

I just found this tonight and started a thread here.

Garmin and Minn Kotta

Seems some Garmins are compatible with Minn Kota

At least that is what the article said.

Hope this helps
James W

James W:
My post was a little unclear. Yes, many Garmin units can use the US2 transducer option built into MinnKota motors. I was referring to the OP’s desire to “possibly upgrade my terrova to link if I can.” That’s not possible with a Garmin or any other unit except Humminbird. Sorry for the confusion.

Ron wrote:

James W:
My post was a little unclear. Yes, many Garmin units can use the US2 transducer option built into MinnKota motors. I was referring to the OP’s desire to “possibly upgrade my terrova to link if I can.” That’s not possible with a Garmin or any other unit except Humminbird. Sorry for the confusion.

Hi Ron,
No it was me! I know nothing about the Garmins except that a lot of people are switching and what I have seen on videos.

I ran across the page telling about connecting minn kota and garmin and got to excited and did not know enough to know that it was limited and was to excited to properly read your reply.

Lol I thought I was bringing good news and instead only brought my lack in understanding this.

My apologies to you sir.
Have a great 2017 season
JW