Garmin released the Striker series of fish finders early last year. These devices were marketed as more than just regular fish finders, with fully fledged high-tech gadgets. In one manner, Striker fish finders are quite advanced compared to many other fish finders. The Striker 5dv is comparable to the echoMAP53dv. Read ahead for a full Garmin Striker 5DV review:
Specs at a Glance
Garmin Striker 5dv has a 5-inch screen and is quite a bit like a smartphone of that size. The screen is in WVGA color and has 800H x 480V backlit resolution. The fish finder comes with Dual Frequency 2D CHIRP imaging technology and a traditional style DownVü sonar. The sonar has 200 kHz / 15° and 77 kHz / 45° frequency and range. The 2D imaging is capable down to 1,900 feet of depth (pr about 580 meters). DownVü works up to 750 feet range (about 230 meters). This fish finder also has a 4-pin GT20-TM transducer capable of HD-ID. It, of course, has a high-precision built-in GPS. The device is capable of recording 5,000 waypoints. Power output is 500w RMS.
It’s important to note what’s missing as well. This fish finder doesn’t have a plotter, which is a big downer. It doesn’t have a microSD card reader either. It’s not NMEA compatible either. Perhaps because these feature are missing, you can buy this fish finder for significantly cheaper than an echoMAP unit.
Performance
The features given the specs are quite modest compared to later versions of Striker models. The CHIRP tech only works in mid and high ranges for 2D. But, on the positive side, CHIRP tech works with DownVü sonar for more precise data. Some fish finders in similar price ranges don’t have such features. The transducer uses two conical beams with the CHIRP sonar to provide more coverage. Essentially, the user can target fish better than traditional 2D sonar thanks to this ability.
This fish finder also supports multiple frequencies. The transducer covers 77/200 kHz, DownVü 260/455/800 kHz and 2D supports 50/77/200 kHz frequencies. The sonar can modulate over each frequency for better targeting and viewing. So the user can get advanced penetration and improved details over fish targets. The targeted objects also appear clearly and separately on the screen, so you can easily distinguish between fish big and small.
DownVü down scanner is excellent for observing the terrain of the sea floor and noting the various structures, vegetation and objects at the bottom. It will help you navigate the boat away from potential hazardous objects that might present a collision risk. The details offered by this sonar are surprisingly clear and clarity is close to a photograph. The 2D sonar additionally facilitates features like circular flasher, fish symbols, split zoom, bottom lock, A-Scope and alarm functions. While there is no plotter, there is a temperature graph function which will show you a chart of various temperature differences in the water.
Navigation and Controls
The GPS on this fish finder is particular impressive. It’s extremely precise so you can get to know current coordinates and speed with high accuracy. The GPS allows users to marks thousands of waypoints and keep records of favorite fishing spots or points of interest. Waypoints can be assigned different icons to help you remember the place you are marking. But the GPS does not support any types of maps. So it’s a very basic GPS system, albeit a very accurate one.
As for control, this unit is designed to be easy to use. It’s compact and waterproof. The larger screen offers plenty of space to view data. All features are accessible with a press of a button. Because the screen is backlit, you can view it even in bright sunlight. The backlight is adjustable too to get the best viewing resolution.
Verdict
Garmin Striker 5dv is a rather modest fish finder. It has a lot of things going for it, like dual frequency CHIRP sonar, 2D CHIRP supported DownVü scanning, and a multi-frequency transducer. It comes packed with features and provides reliable data to enjoy a good fishing experience. On the downside, it doesn’t have certain features many fishers take for granted in their GPS fish finders, like GPS mapping or a plotter. Overall, this fish finder is great for those who want a budget gadget with solid performance.
