7" combo's - options please

[stevet]

Hi all

I am in the market for a 7" combo - would love 9" but too exy.

I am after advice base on my fishing types being:

• estuary - Georges and Hawkesbury Rivers
• Botany Bay and Sydney Harbour
• Off Sydney and Wollongong in depts. 80m to 100m
• I would not need to network engine information onto the units display

I am not bound to any brand,

How does the Elite Ti Total Scan compare with say the Garmin echomap Chirp Side view or Hummingbird of same levels. Is there one brand that stands out as the one for the above fishing or like most things it's a compromise?

Would side view and total scan enhance my fishing experience?

thanks
Stevet

[chocolatemoose]

side scanning sonar is like a second honeymoon!. chicken and champaign. down the river. music playing!

okay maybe thats a bit too much rum and coke mr moose. lets digest this

7" options ,

Humminbird "Helix 7si (forget the DI models)
Garmin striker 7sv (forget the DV model)
echomap 75sv
echomap CHIRP 75sv
7407xsv

Lowrance HOOK7 combo
elite 7ti
HDS7

simrad GO7XSE
NSS7 evo2

raymarine dragonfly 7pro
a78
es78

lets rule out the 7407,NSS7,HDS7,ES78 for now as they will prob be over your budget "but correct me if i am wrong"

the way i figure it is, three catagories. Build quality(performance), Features, Ease of use

and they all have pros and cons in those

take the Elite 7ti. its PACKED with goodies. 10htz antenna total scan transducer with the capability of CHIRPing its 83/200khz element. touch screen. NMEA2K interfacing. quick release bracket. seems pretty good!
however its only a passing grade when it comes to build quality and sonar performance. so... theres that

Garmin echomap "original" brilliant build quality. but mapping was.. okay. sonar was powerful but not as sensitive as newer stuff. its priced very well though

garmin echomap CHIRP. fixed a lot on the odler model by putting in high quality Agrade sonar. one of the best lower level sonar systems ive seen. still . remains the same button only system "take or leave it. personal choice" and priced a bit higher now.

raymarine has a rather excellent screen quality, sonar performance as well is pretty good. no side Vision and the mount system isnt the greatest. nor is its performance. but quality elsewhere


so where does one travel

well. a lot comes down to how it is for you to use. the Lowrance might be the BEST for most of your needs. but its a pain to use then its no good. garmin might prove to be the best value but if it sucks to navigate then thats to consider

i forgot to mention simrad. which has the same love as the lowrance but a step up in quality. lack of buttons may annoy some. but its pinch to zoom and high quality screen can make up for some of that


to answer one of your questions. the Elite TI scores a 5.5/6 on the moose scale for sonar performance "in the waters ive been demoing it in. gippsland victoria. port phillip bay and bass strait. its a hands on unit that can provide .. okay results.
the echomap chirp "side vu... wit hthe GT52 transducer" or striker 7sv with the same transducer produces excellent results.. .easier... 8.5/10 on the moose scale

anyway. just some thoughts

Moose

[ranmar850]

How would the Elite TI go with a HST-DFSBL ? i know you would lose side scan but the overall performance? I fitted a s/h HST-DFSBL to my Elite 7 Chirp and it just blows the 83/200 that normally comes with them out of the water. Haven't been past 40 fathoms,normally work the shallows out to 26 fathoms.

[chocolatemoose]

depends on how your fishing and for what etc. the dfsbl is a pretty trusted unit in a lot of ways. a bit more focused. a bit better hydro than the p66. pricier. though they are subject to cooking and im warey of used transducers.
still. if you buy a 8pin to 9pin xsonic adapter then yep it will work okay.

lowrance "can be said" is releasing a 50/200 500w Total scan transducer shortly.

[Camhawk88]

To be honest, my thoughts are that side scan is a waste on anything smaller than 9 inch, particularly if you want to run GPS and/or sonar at the same time.
The resolution is next to useless at that size. Just an opinion.

[hainsofast]

I have the older nss7 from simrad, very nice little unit.

[stevet]

to answer one of your questions. the Elite TI scores a 5.5/6 on the moose scale for sonar performance "in the waters ive been demoing it in. gippsland victoria. port phillip bay and bass strait. its a hands on unit that can provide .. okay results.
the echomap chirp "side vu... wit hthe GT52 transducer" or striker 7sv with the same transducer produces excellent results.. .easier... 8.5/10 on the moose scale

anyway. just some thoughts

Moose

thanks Moose great thoughts and put some clarity - in that price range your rating tell the story of Garmin appearing to have the stronger products - subject to the usual stuff.

My understanding is that the Striker series is only a Sounder and does not encompass a full GPS system and I would have to use a separate GPS - not that I am against this.

Being Sydney based a quick look at Whitworths had the Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 75sv Colour Chartplotter/Sounder at $1300 and Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 95sv Colour Chartplotter/Sounder at $1600 Lowrance Elite-7 Ti Fishfinder/Chartplotter with TotalScan Transducer $1100 and Lowrance HOOK-9 Fishfinder/Chartplotter at $1400.

My question to myself is whether the Garmin is a $200 better unit and working on Moose's 5.5/6 for the elite when compared to 8.5 for the Garmin it certainly is.

Is there anything that I should also consider in making this decision?

Thanks
Steve

[The Mad Cat]

My two bobs worth.
I purchased a Garmin GPSmap820xs from Moose last year great price and find the the manual buttons amazingly easy to use. I have mostly used touch screen Garmin's before. The only thing to watch for is the physical size of the unit compared to the the touch screens.

Hey Moose you will probably read this, how can i connect a Yamaha F70 2015 model to the Garmin's with out buying the Yamaha Command link kit?
Is it something you can help me out with please.

TMC

[chocolatemoose]

i have read it!. you know me too well
that said ive been setting up for a show this weekend and for some reason my brain is failing me "and this coles brand milk is disagreeing with me :S" so i shall reply to all in the AM

"side note. if your thinking of having a bit of fun tonight in the shower.. try this, get a bedside lamp and a fake palm pot plant. place the pot plant infront of the lamp and aim towards the roof/wall. around 45o azimuth. then turn off the main light. put on some cool jungle sound effects and soothing music and have a shower in the most amazing set up!. " .............yep. brain is very much slipping away tonight!

[Dezzer]

Well that was weird

[Funchy]

i have read it!. you know me too well
that said ive been setting up for a show this weekend and for some reason my brain is failing me "and this coles brand milk is disagreeing with me :S" so i shall reply to all in the AM

"side note. if your thinking of having a bit of fun tonight in the shower.. try this, get a bedside lamp and a fake palm pot plant. place the pot plant infront of the lamp and aim towards the roof/wall. around 45o azimuth. then turn off the main light. put on some cool jungle sound effects and soothing music and have a shower in the most amazing set up!. " .............yep. brain is very much slipping away tonight!

You been hanging around that cameraman in the yellow daks too long Moose

[Moonlighter]

Whatever it is you're on, Moose, i dont want any of it!

What about the Simrad GO7xse? It was mentioned on Moose's original list but then not discussed any further.

Im very impressed with it so far, side scan is great, sounder performance with totalscal is pretty impressive so far too, although i havent yet had it out in 80-100m. A solid step up from the HDS with P66 that it replaced, and that was by no means a slouch in the sounder performance department.

Touch screen very slick and menu one of the easiest Ive seen. Navionics maps work great, and everything is far, far faster than the HDS5 gen1 it replaced.

Plus, it just looks great too!

[Sleepydragon]

Whatever it is you're on, Moose, i dont want any of it!

What about the Simrad GO7xse? It was mentioned on Moose's original list but then not discussed any further.

Im very impressed with it so far, side scan is great, sounder performance with totalscal is pretty impressive so far too, although i havent yet had it out in 80-100m. A solid step up from the HDS with P66 that it replaced, and that was by no means a slouch in the sounder performance department.

Touch screen very slick and menu one of the easiest Ive seen. Navionics maps work great, and everything is far, far faster than the HDS5 gen1 it replaced.

Plus, it just looks great too!

You are right. I think Simrad GO7xse is the best 7" Combo so far. Very smart choice. I am interested to see if Simrad make GO9xse.