Review and characteristics of the Garmin Striker echo sounder
Garmin Stryker fish finder: photo
Every serious fisherman will confirm that Garmin has become a household name when choosing a fish finder. Garmin Striker fish finders come with a variety of features and combinations that not only make finding fish easier, but also make fishing fun and make your boating safer by keeping you informed about depth levels and risks to your boat.
Conveniently, the line of Garmin Striker echo sounders (Garmin Strike) starts from budget models and ends with more elite options for more technically complex fish finders. The electronic fishing assistant you choose will depend on how much you want to spend and what technologies you have on the pond.
Many fish finder models combine traditional sonar with depth and side circle technology. Garmin Striker is equipped with GPS receivers for use in fresh water, estuary fishing, coastal fishing, and the use of inflatable PVC boats and kayaks.
The Striker Series features clear, bright, glare-readable color displays with a modern, rugged design and keypad interface. Such models are suitable for use in active sea fishing conditions.
With Garmin's CHIRP sonar, you can determine the number of fish in a body of water with more accuracy than other sonar systems. Sonar helps determine not only how many fish are nearby, but also what size they are. Agree, this is very convenient for a serious approach to fishing.
For active anglers who want maximum insight into what's going on under the boat, Garmin Striker provides a nearly photographic view of the underwater world with detailed structure in both fresh and salt water.
Larger Striker models have side-scanning sonar. This option is convenient because it tends to see prey swimming up to 200 meters in a horizontal circle.
Despite the built-in GPS antenna, all Garmin Striker fish finders are equipped with a waypoint map. With its help, you can quickly mark the bite spot and move to your favorite fishing spot. For social fishing, this option allows you to share waypoint data between multiple users of these fish finders.
Absolutely all Garmin Striker fish finders and echo sounders have:
- sensors;
- transom brackets;
- engine mount.
Flexible mounting options give the echo sounder design the ability to rotate, tilt, and take the desired position for better viewing.
The Garmin Striker echo sounder has already come a long way in three decades in the line of GPS devices. Over this journey, fish finders have become a practical tool for fishermen.
It should be noted that the Garmin Striker echo sounder boasts reliability and safe operation. So, when a fisherman swims into a flooded forest, he can study the condition of the bottom and the depth level using a GPS system, optimizing his search for fish.
Garmin also emphasizes Striker fish finders as durable models that can withstand the rigors of marine use.
Taking a look at the entire line of Garmin Striker fishfinder echo sounders, we can conclude that the main difference between them is the different screen sizes. Large screens are convenient for viewing displayed data. The resolution, frequency and power of the gadget are also important.
Garmin Strikers come with customizable frequencies. This option gives users a choice at what depth to use the fish finder.
What to consider when choosing a Garmin fish finder?
Scan depth . An important parameter when fishing at great depths. The function is relevant for large bodies of water and for professional multi-day fishing.
- Sensitivity. An important option for detecting small fish and other small objects. The higher the sensitivity, the more informative the scanning of the reservoir will be.
- Emitter power. A key parameter on which the quality of operation of the entire device depends. The stronger the signal, the more information the device can provide.
- Working at shallow depths. A necessary function when catching fish species that live in the upper layers of the reservoir. This is also an important parameter when fishing in shallow waters.
- Reliability of fastenings. A relevant parameter if fishing takes place from a speedboat or boat. If the fastening is not strong enough, there is a high risk that the device will break off with a sharp push.
- Display quality. Screens are available in monochrome and full color. The readability of information depends on their contrast and brightness, which is very important in high-light areas.
Garmin Striker Plus 7cv echo sounder: characteristics
The practical Garmin Striker Plus 7cv fish finder features built-in standard CHIRP ClearVü sonar and comes with Garmin Quickdraw Contours mapping software that not only creates maps, but also stores them with one-inch contours of two million acres of information.
The Garmin Striker Plus 7cv model has built-in WI-FI, by connecting to which you can use the “ActiveCaptain” application. Here you can receive notifications, view and share waypoints, and activate software updates.
The seven-inch display and practical, intuitive user interface with built-in GPS and functions for creating waypoints, routes and speed information provide everything you need for serious fishing.
Technologies used in Garmin fish finders
HD-ID - tracking of underwater targets . Made possible thanks to the use of new processors and software. The function improved signal sensitivity, image rendering and reduced the amount of interference. Overall, the innovation increased the information content of echo sounders.
- DownV is a sonar sensor that provides a clear image of the bottom and moving objects. The introduction of technology has increased the efficiency of target detection.
- CHIRP - improved the clarity and detail of the picture on the display. The result is achieved through the use of wide-range multi-frequency signals.
- SideV - allows you to receive information not only about the situation directly under the boat, but also to the sides of it. In combination with other technologies, it gives a picture of photographic clarity.
Garmin Striker Plus 4cv echo sounder: characteristics
The reliable Garmin Striker Plus 4cv echo sounder will become an indispensable, compact assistant on the water. It is similarly equipped and comes with a CV20 transducer and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar.
The model also includes the useful Garmin Quickdraw software for creating map outlines. The gadget also provides the owner with a platform to create and store maps with one-inch outlines of 2 million acres.
The manufacturer has equipped the Garmin Striker Plus 4cv echo sounder with built-in GPS with the ability to mark waypoints and track the speed of the boat.
The fish finder also has a 4.3-inch display, with an easy-to-view screen even in bright sunshine. The interface is quite conducive to using the echo sounder even for a beginner in this matter.
Detailed review of GarminStriker 4
In the Striker line from Garmin, this is the most budget model that has the characteristics and capabilities of top-end fish finders. What's the catch? There is no catch, it’s just that this fish finder uses modern technology, as well as technology that was still too expensive a few years before the release of the Striker 4. It’s almost the same as with smartphones, today a model costs 50 thousand, in a year – 20.
GarminStriker 4 allows you to solve most of the problems that an angler faces. Of course, it loses in detail and image clarity to echo sounders from a higher price category. One of the shortcomings that I would like to correct is the lack of cartography. All other shortcomings are a consequence of the price and in fact are not such. Do you want a clearer picture, a powerful transducer? Pay from 30-40 thousand rubles. The disadvantages are often attributed to the small screen, but it is precisely such limitations that make the price of this echo sounder low.
Separately in our review it is worth mentioning CHIRP technology. In simple terms, the essence of CHIRP technology is that echo sounders using this technology make several pulses in one cycle, resulting in a higher-definition image. It is also very good at identifying small fish that are close to each other. On many previous generations of fish finders, in this case, you can see one or more large fish on the screen, whereas when using CHIRP technology, this situation is unlikely. And Garmin Striker 4 is one of the cheapest fish finders that are created using this technology.
Built-in GPS and flasher are also very important. The presence of a flasher allows you to use Garmin Strike 4 for winter fishing or during stationary fishing. If you prefer this type of fishing, then you cannot do without this function.
Let's summarize in our review. GarminStriker 4 is a universal echo sounder, which is objectively one of the best models in its price segment. For comparative money it is difficult to find a better option, and if you are not satisfied with something in the Striker 4, then Garmin has other models in this line that are more advanced, but they are more expensive.
If you are going to buy your first echo sounder, you don’t go fishing too often, but you want to get fairly complete data about fish when fishing with a spinning rod, trolling, a float rod, a donkey, or ice fishing, then Garmin Striker 4 is worth a very careful look.
If you are considering models that are 4-5 thousand rubles cheaper, you should be prepared for the fact that they will be significantly worse. Perhaps it's worth waiting and saving up for the Garmin Striker 4?
Garmin Striker Plus 9sv echo sounder: characteristics
This model is created for connoisseurs of large screens.
The Garmin Striker Plus 9sv fish finder is equipped with a nine-inch display and a full complement of sophisticated Garmin chips: standard CHIRP sonar and scanning ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü, built-in WI-FI, contour mapping software, and the ability to connect to an application for exchanging data on fishing routes.
There is everything for comfortable fishing here. Safety and convenience are confirmed by GPS, showing the speed of the boat, the depth of the highest image quality.
How does an echo sounder work?
Since Striker 4 fish finders are equipped with GPS receivers, this provides additional capabilities. For example, look at the place where you are at the moment. It is also possible to use waypoints that are easy to navigate. You can select them, mark their position, change the route, and set new points. You can also use them to return back to the place where the route began.
The transducer in Garmin is called CHIRP. It is initially different from other models of echo sounder sensors. Despite the fact that these sensors work to obtain a high-quality image, nevertheless, in this case, they distribute all frequency information, from the lowest to the highest. When the signal returns and when it does, each frequency is read individually. This function gives the echo sounder the ability to separate objects in the water, no matter what depth they are at.
Garmin Striker 4 fish finder: characteristics
This practical and compact fish finder model with a push-button interface, rechargeable battery, pan-tilt mount and mounting kit is especially suitable for those fishermen who choose affordability and minimalism.
This is not to say that the Garmin Striker 4 fish finder with a 3.5-inch display is somehow weak compared to its brothers in the line.
Not at all! This model also allows you to view a map of waypoints, enter data and navigate around the location.
Chirp sonar controls the frequency so that the wearer receives a wide range of information.
The built-in flasher gives the echo sounder the ability to use it for winter and ice fishing.
The reflective beacon is convenient for jigging in a vertical position and hunting for underwater predators.
The practical model comes with a case so that the gadget can be conveniently transported in a PVC boat or kayak.
Popular models of Garmin fish finders
- Garmin Echo 150 - sees objects at a depth of up to 150 m. Information content provides a wide viewing angle of 120º. The set includes an inclined stand that is easy to remove.
- Garmin Fishfinder 140 is a budget device with an auto-save function. Able to determine bottom parameters. Operates at depths up to 450 meters. The contrasting monochrome screen is easy to read even in sunny weather.
- Smooth Scaling is a compact echo sounder with a color display. Has built-in temperature and motion sensors. The case is completely sealed and protects the device from moisture and dirt.
- Garmin Echo 500c is an advanced fish finder with many features. Equipped with a 5-inch color display that provides a clear picture. It works at depths of up to 570 m and can plot temperatures.
