14 DAY TRIAL // We might know Garmin best for its numerous GPS navigation devices, but the truth of the matter is that the company has rolled out, over time, a much wider range of orientation products, including here a serious lineup of fishfinders, which they're updating today with the addition of the echo series. The flagship echo 550C model features an ultra-sharp video-quality 640x480 pixel 5-inch VGA screen, a powerful 500-watt sonar transmitter, and offers excellent fish Arch display and bottom tracking as deep as 1,900 feet. The echo 550c is dual beam (200/77 kHz) capable and gives optimum deep or shallow water performance with up to 120 degrees of effective fish scanning area. Next in line comes the echo 500C model, that boasts the same aforementioned premium features, and offers a crisp 256-color QVGA display which gives 320x234-pixel resolution. Moving on to the more budget offerings, we come across the echo 300c model, a color sonar option that uses Garmin’s exclusive HD-ID target tracking technology to give you a crystal-clear picture of fish returns and bottom features on its 3.5-inch TFT display. The echo 300c is the first in its class to offer dual-frequency compatibility that lets you optimize performance for deep or shallow water, the built-in 300-watt RMS sounder being able to can scan as deep as 1,500 feet with up to 120 degrees of viewing angle to see target fish well beyond the sides of your boat. Garmin’s echo series also features three fishfinder models with grayscale displays, starting with the echo 200, a 5-inch, versatile fishfinder that combines easy operation with a powerful 300-watt RMS sounder. This fishfinder has a high-resolution grayscale display, and is dual-beam capable, being able to go down to a maximum depth of 1,500 feet. In a compact, space-saving design, Garmin’s echo 150 dual-beam fishfinder features an ultra-crisp 4-inch, 8-level grayscale display. With 200 watts RMS of sonar power output, the echo 150 lets you scan depths down to 1,300 feet. And completing the echo series family of fishfinders, the echo 100 is a single-beam (200 kHz) sonar that features fast screen updates on its 4-inch grayscale display. The echo 100 transmits with 100 watts RMS of power output, which gives you depth down to 600 feet. Each model in the echo series features Garmin’s new HD-ID target tracking technology, which gives fishermen an impressive level of detail on fish returns, structure and bottom contours, while, for an uninterrupted view of the sonar image, the echo 200, 300c, 500c and 550c also boast Garmin Smooth Scaling technology, which means you won’t lose sight of the sonar history as the unit changes depth ranges. And the 5-inch models (echo 200, 500c and 550c) also feature the ability to rewind your sonar history, to ensure that you don’t miss a thing. Manufacturers suggested retail prices are as follows: $449.00 for the echo 550c, $349.99 for the echo 500c, $219.99 for the echo 300c, $159.99 for the echo 200, $99.99 for the echo 150 and $79.99 for the echo 100.
Garmin debuts the new echo series of fishfinders
hot right now