Garmin echomap 70dv

[Berger4]

Need some help with a sounder purchase, I am looking at the Garmin echomap 70dv at the moment as I can get the unit for a reasonable price and later add the side vu/down vu module. Just have a few question in regards to it and thought that there maybe some experts/owners out there. What is the difference between it and the echomap 70s? How does it compare to lowrance and Hummingbird? What are the preloaded maps like as I haven't seen Bluechart before? Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is giving me a headache.

[chocolatemoose]

i know a thing or too

well...........i used to know how to knitt.. can you belive that!. yeah its true though. when i was little my grandmother taught me to knitt to make my own beanie so i could play outside.. pretty dam awesome right?..

but more to the question

the 70DV comes with down Vu sonar built in as well as a Downvu transducer "downscan, down imaging, downvision etc". high frequency bottom sonar.
the 70s is just standard 77/200 sonar. and is being phased out....

how does it compare? pretty well. the humminbird is no slouch but i find its highfrequency to be a lot grainier and not as nice as both lowrance or garmin or raymarine. for down imaging. they are all pretty even. the downVu on the 70dv can pump down a litttle deeper. thats about it.

the preloaded maps are good and great and not so good all in one .. depends where you are. i find here in melbourne. metro areas etc are just as good as any navionics card or jeppesen card. but more remote areas are a bit .. meh. but the bluecharts do have built in the Fishing chart extra with 1ft contours giving far nicer reach to fishing spots.. something that is available on the higher end navionics cards only.

heres a heap of videos ive made over the time

comparing the 70s and 70dv



As your doctor . i order you to fish.

Moose

[rtp1984]

Hey mate.
I have the 70s. I use it as a plotter only. I am no expert on them what so ever, but I am really impressed with how user friendly the unit is. I highly recommend it.

[ozynorts]

the 70s is just standard 77/200 sonar. and is being phased out....



Moose

Does that mean they are cheaper now Moose?

[chocolatemoose]

not quite.. it means the DV are cheaper.. to the point where you may as well buy the DV models

[Berger4]

Moose thanks for the info. Think I will be getting the DV and later adding the module, just to keep the boss and bank manger happy.

[chocolatemoose]

yeah good choice man. ive made a small 2 seater sofa out of all the 70DV's that have been arriving, pretty popular unit

[rodneyk]

Hi Mate have downloaded all my waypoints from my old 550 chartplotter on to sd card Garmin had trouble finding old card to do this will the new dv unit accept that card or recognize it to up load as that's the unit I want Cheers Rod

[cchhiill]

hi guys

i was weighing up this garmin echomap 70dv sounder vs the hummingbird 859cxi-hd-di-combo
http://humminbird.com.au/products/80...ics-gold-card/
been offered price of $1100 installed for the humming bird. i like the gamin more as it's a touch screen.
anyone has any experience with the hummingbird?

also do i need to get additional maps or is the standard gps maps good enough? basically i just want something that will show/alert when i'm about to hit a sand bank.

cheers
Gary

[Seahorse]

I just bought the garmin 70 DV. put it on boat, but the weather has been shit to try it.
it looks ok.
I have had a play in the boat . Looks pretty easy to nav. Maps look good. Touch screen is great.
i think i will be happy.
i paid $990 for mine.

[muntted]

I am in the market too, was considering this or a Lowrance Chirp 7. Does lack of chirp hurt anything? I believe the DV came out in march last year, are we expecting one in march this year?

[Shelby35]

I just bought the garmin 70 DV. put it on boat, but the weather has been shit to try it.
it looks ok.
I have had a play in the boat . Looks pretty easy to nav. Maps look good. Touch screen is great.
i think i will be happy.
i paid $990 for mine.

How is it going Seahorse thinking about getting one my humminbird is giving me the shits.
Thanks
Byron

[chocolatemoose]

well i just finished watching Samual L jackson play "shaft" on tv tonight......and he is cool as ice... dam cool. SUPER COOL

.......the garmin 70dv., yeah its pretty cool. not sure if its SHAFT cool. but same post code at least