Garmin 7612xsv

Received this 42lb box today!! Already updated both units and should be starting the installation tomorrow. I have the GT50, NMEA2000, Point 1 Antenna and all the electrical blocks so it shouldn't take too long. Have to come up with a way to mount the forward Panoptix to the trolling motor but hopefully my plan will work.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...psvyx6db36.jpg

Couple of quick notes:

1. The unit boots up to the warning screen in about 25 seconds. That's faster than my Simrad Evo2 by a bit.
2. The screen is very bright and the touch interface is fast and precise.
3. Updating the unit is very easy. You download the update from Garmin, open it up and it starts a wizard to transfer the update to the SD card. Then you put it in the unit and follow the instructions. Very simple.
4. The unit is very light and narrow compared to the Simrad or Onix.
5. GPS was acquired extremely fast and inside my house I had 8 satellites locked in about 1 minute.
6. The unit comes with a NMEA2000 drop cable included.
7. So far this thing is pretty impressive.
8. My all time favorite feature of the Humminbird Onix was the maximizing of screens. On a multiple pane view you could touch a pane with 2 fingers and it would go to a full screen. You then touch the maximized pane with 2 fingers again and it would go back to the multiple pane view. Garmin took that to the next level as you only use one finger and you don't have to touch it for 2-3 seconds. You then hit the "back" key and it returns to the multiple pane view. Just works much better and faster also.

Will update later this week after installation.

I envy your ability to devote so much investment in so many varied products as soon as they come to market ...

:biggrin :ThumbsUp

Rickie

I have a great wife that puts up with my addiction!! Lucky for me she likes to fish so anything related to catching fish or sonar technology is good to go. Thanks!

So playing around at the house with my ps30 and ps31, these things are pretty trick. The AHRS sensor adapts to whatever angle you move the transducer to. So you see this cone on the screen and depending on how you move the transducer, the cone shifts. There's no delay or jumping around, the cone just rotates. You can turn on a grid to have a better idea where exactly the fish are, and you can change backgrounds, etc. Range is also adjustable, so is Gain, noise reduction, etc.

When you switch to 3D that's where you truly realize how usable this technology is going to be. You can rotate the view in any direction, zoom in or out, etc. I have to get this mounted and tested on the water!!!

The mounting brackets are almost as heavy as the transducers, nothing cheap about them. The edges are extremely sharp but I don't think that's going to be a problem.

Custom frequencies are super easy to set. I've been using CHIRP on my Simrad with a TM150 and when I get shallow (less than 10') I usually switch from medium CHIRP to a custom frequency (either 93 or 105khz). In order to do that with the Simrad you have to choose "custom frequency" then type it in, then accept it. But if I change back to CHIRP I lose that setting. With the Garmin you can have preset custom frequencies, so all you have to do is go under frequencies, hit the preset and you're good to go. If you want to change to a frequency you haven't used before, you type it in and the unit will remember it and show it as a choice from then on. On the GT50 you can go from 85-168khz (if I remember correctly). What that does is give you many choices and on top of that a really fast way to try them when you're on fish.

Like I said before, booting is around 25 seconds. Shut down is about 2 seconds, by far the fastest I've seen. The Onix takes almost 40 seconds, the Simrad is around 10-15 seconds.

For those using the CHIRP transducers out of the water, hit the power button and you will see the sonar pause button. It will shut down all transmissions until you hit the button again.

The screen backlight can be set to auto but in my opinion that makes the brightness go up and down a lot. I have mine set at 85% and it's plenty bright. Haven't had any problems with freezing up or slow downs but please remember I am testing this at the house right now.

Very cool...I'm anxious to see some pics!!

Wondering if the 840xs can do custom frequencies also?

Looking at the specs on the 840xs I think it can. Since it has a CHIRP sounder built in, it should have the same type of software as the 7612xsv. Just can't tell you for sure as I don't have one. Sorry.

Yes, it does have the variable settings,
Why 93 and 105?
What's the advantage in those specifically?

Thanks

Those are just the 2 I use the most when going shallow (less than 10'). I can still see really good target separation without the clutter of trying to run CHIRP. That's the beauty of it. You can start with 93 and experiment up or down quickly until you find a frequency you like. Then delete the others and have your favorites preset. Mess with it Brettw and see what you think.

I'm getting an invalid frequency message on 93, maybe I was typing 95

thanks

Which transducer do you have? You will only be able to choose the frequencies the transducer supports.

Everything installed!! Testing tomorrow if I have some time.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssjm69pak.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...psng6yseom.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszkzyqp3x.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...pshkvjhioc.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...psyilwrjvd.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...psopkjhnme.jpg

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...psodtv6xbo.jpg

Airmar TM150m

thanks

right now it says 120 and chirp as options

I run a TM150 with my simrad and I can do custom frequencies also. If you put it on CHIRP you should be able to choose the custom frequency. Read your other thread, how long did you run it out of the water?

Hey Diel ...Where are the Onix units now ...??

Rickie

Someone broke into my shop and took them. I filed an insurance claim and got money back, but decided to go with Garmin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Diel11

Someone broke into my shop and took them. I filed an insurance claim and got money back, but decided to go with Garmin.

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Criminals like that make everything worse for everyone else ...

Rickie

Diel sorry about the thief!! Keep posting about the Garmin, please. I am impressed so far!!

Tm150 is ticking very steadily in the garage.
im much more careful about how long I run in.
never feels hot to the touch

Diel
im confused abut what's hanging on you ducer, it it forward looking?

On the Motorguide? Yes sir, that's the forward panoptix. It does Live and 3D imaging.