garmin fishfinder colour vs BW

pellesmil · 11 June 2007, 22:49

I have a budget that gives me a choice between Garmin 160C or 90 or 140
My use is mainly hitting the right dive site (less than 50m) possibly find some wreck and of cource figure out the depth, all in saltwater . not really interested in finding fish (but loves fishing)
My last fishfinder was a garmin 80 and i was quite satesfied with it.
Since it is dead now (prob. high voltage from a broken battery) i need a new one.

what do y recomend for my use,
good BW or poor colour?

codprawn · 12 June 2007, 03:39

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

pellesmil · 12 June 2007, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

Was my firs thought when i looked at the screen shots of the 160c

Eny other than Garmin BW in that price class +100$ that could be recomended?

MikeCC · 12 June 2007, 11:33

For what it's worth, the FF140 came out best in a recent PBO magazone review of budget fishfinders.

mike · 12 June 2007, 11:42

hi,
the 140 has a better resolution than the 160c by far, it also appears to blip faster. The 140 is I think the better bet as it seems to me that you can get them cheaper for a better resolution therefore more use.

read the comparisons and take the 140 as your benchmark then compare the 160c like for like I'm sure you'll go the same way as I did ie the 140.

mike

jwalker · 12 June 2007, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

pellesmil · 12 June 2007, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

The colour display y are refering to is that the 160c ?
, it seams to be a quite difference from 160c and up to the better colour displays like 340 and 400.
I wish i had money for that but a small comfort can be that it,s larger and will cill the harmony on my crowded dash.

140

160

340

400

codprawn · 12 June 2007, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

I manage fine with my Garmin GPS12 and my mates Eagle fishfinder. I find they are EASIER to read in bright sunlight!!!

Downhilldai · 12 June 2007, 23:51

For a cheap mono fishfinder, you won't get much better than the Eagle Cuda 128. For around £70, it's a bargain. Top performer with accurate soundings at all speeds and very reliable.
Seen a few Garmins break down early in their lifespan....

jwalker · 13 June 2007, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I manage fine with my Garmin GPS12 and my mates Eagle fishfinder.

I have a GPS 12 too but manage is the operative word. I can manage with a chart and a compass but I don't choose to.

Quote:

I find they are EASIER to read in bright sunlight!!!

That's not what I said. If you are facing the sunlight your eyes will shut down and the GPS screen will be in the shade. It's not uncommon to be travelling into the sun when boating and I know I can't read a mono screen in this situation.

This has been discussed before and I posted pictures of a colour screen adjacent to a mono screen in subdued light. The mono screen is all but invisible.

However, to identify features on a mono sounder you need to be able to clearly see the shades of grey and this isn't always easy. The colour sounder uses contrasting colours adjacent to each other and reading it is therefore easier.

Jono · 13 June 2007, 10:29

I've told you before, JW... don't argue with the Codmeister...

jwalker · 13 June 2007, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono

I've told you before, JW... don't argue with the Codmeister...

Yeh, I should know better. But sometimes you just have to do it...you are familiar will that particular emotion, aren't you?

John Kennett · 14 June 2007, 09:57

John

codprawn · 14 June 2007, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono

I've told you before, JW... don't argue with the Codmeister...

Just agree with everything YOU say instead..............

pellesmil · 14 June 2007, 21:15

Thank you all for valubale info.
I had my mind all set today, and with brass in my pocket i went to my local store to get me a 140, but they where fresh-out and i despare i went out with a solar panel insted.
So after a hard bargen with the finance dep. i have been granted extra funds and have just ordered a 400c with dual frequency trans.
Hope to take it for a test soon.

DJL · 14 June 2007, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours.

Totally agree - my current Garmin colour screens are much easier to read than the old grayscale ones

pellesmil · 03 September 2007, 17:22

Finnaly got my fishfinder now,

i bought a 400C from http://stores.ebay.com/Shop-ePal quick service good price and low shipping cost only good things to say about theese guys.
Lookin fwd to test the "ship-wreak-loc." capability,

hmm hope next week

Chris · 20 September 2007, 21:33

I have a Garmin 178C which is a combined GPS and Sounder, I am not really sure how to get the best from it seeing the images on the previous page can I expect to see that sort of detail on mine?

It has a dual freq transponder that I leave set to the dual setting.

The manual is very limited in the information it provides and I can't say I have ever seen one of those Arches that represent a fish on mine despite haging around over some well know Mackrel grounds.

Chris

Pete7 · 21 September 2007, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I have a Garmin 178C which is a combined GPS and Sounder, I am not really sure how to get the best from it seeing the images on the previous page can I expect to see that sort of detail on mine?

Yes and depending on the number of pixels perhaps even greater clarity.

Quote:

it has a dual freq transponder that I leave set to the dual setting

why not have a play with it, but I think you will find 200 hz better than 50 hz for around the UK.

Quote:

The manual is very limited in the information it provides and I can't say I have ever seen one of those Arches that represent a fish on mine despite haging around over some well know Mackrel grounds. Chris

Have the Fish ID symbols been turned on? On a lowrance for example you can choose arches or fish or nothing, our Garmin regularly picked up fish in Brittany last week, and thats with the transducer glued inside the hull.

Pete

Chris · 21 September 2007, 10:11

Pete I turned the fish ID symbols off as I was getting lots of reports of fish that I think were just spurious.

Chris