Garmin 010-01305-13 GPSMAP 7608xsv 8" Combo w/ J1939 LakeVu HD & g2 Review

GPSMAP® 7608xsv 8" Chartplotter & Sounder w/J1939 Port8-inch Multi-touch Widescreen Chartplotter/Sonar Combo8-inch multi-touch widescreen display (1024 x 600 WSVGA) preloaded with both BlueChart® g2 U.S. coastal and Garmin LakeVü™ HD mapsBuilt-in dual CHIRP sonar plus CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP S...ideVü scanning sonar with the clearest images on the water (transducer sold separately)High-sensitivity internal 10 Hz GPS/GLONASSFully network capable for Garmin Marine Network and NMEA 2000® plus NMEA 0183 supportSupports GSD™ 26 professional sonar moduleDesigned for sportfishermen cruisers sailors and sailing racers who demand high performance ease of operation and feature integration in a chartplotter/sonar combo. The 8-inch multi-touch widescreen GPSMAP 7608xsv combo includes built-in dual CHIRP sonar plus CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar with the clearest images on the water. Its internal 10 Hz GPS updates your position and heading 10 times per second. GPSMAP 7608xsv is fully network capable including Garmin Network and NMEA 2000 and offers the conveniences of built-in Wi-Fi® connectivity.Built-in Advanced Sonar CapabilitiesThe built-in sonar capabilities of the GPSMAP 7608xsv include 1 kW dual CHIRP sonar the most sophisticated sonar technology available for the fishing and boating public. Dual CHIRP sonar provides amazingly clear target separation and definition because it puts even more energy onto the target than CHIRP. It gives you the ability to show low/high med/high or low/med on the screen at the same time enhancing your ability to distinguish between game fish and balls of bait fish. It also includes both CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar that provide nearly photographic sonar images of fish and structure that passes below and to the sides of your boat. Garmin ClearVü™ and Garmin SideVü™ provide the clearest scanning sonar images on the water. Also supported are 50 kHz/200 kHz 77 kHz/200 kHz and Minn Kota® and MotorGuide® trolling motor transducers (sold separately). GPSMAP also includes sonar-recording capability that coordinates the timing of the sonar return with your boats position and saves digital information for playback on a computer using HomePort™ planning software.Preloaded BlueChart g2 mapsIn addition to basic charts tidal stations currents depth contours IALA symbols and included fishing charts BlueChart g2 offers smooth transitioning between zoom levels and more seamless continuity across chart boundaries. You can customize your screens with Safety Shading that allows you to shade all depth contours shallower than your boat’s safe depth. Fishing charts emphasize bathymetric contours with less visual clutter on the display. And there’s also a choice of standard 2-D direct overhead or 3-D “over-the-bow” map views for easier chart reading and orientation.Preloaded LakeVü HD MapsThese highly detailed freshwater maps include 17000+ U.S. lakes rivers and reservoirs. Included in those are more than 13000 HD lakes with 1-foot contours shoreline to shoreline; excellent detail of underwater features plus Shallow Water Shading that allows you to designate a minimum depth; interstates highways general roads and bridges; designated fishing areas; and points of interest such as docks boat ramps marinas and campgrounds.Garmin Marine Network and NMEA 2000 SupportFull-network compatibility allows you to add more capabilities to your boat. GPSMAP 7608xsv supports radar autopilot instruments multiple screens FUSION-Link sensors remote sonar modules digital switching thermal cameras GRID rotary knob joystick and keypad control and more.Add Array or Dome RadarYou can add your choice of Garmin marine radar including our powerful xHD2 open array radars or xHD dome radars that pairs ease of use with advanced open array features.Network SharingGPSMAP 7608xsv allows you to share features with other compatible GPSMAP units such as sonar radar supplemental maps and user data including waypoints routes and tracks. User data entered into 1 chartplotter can be automatically synced with other chartplotters in a network.Heading and Position Refreshed 10 Times Per SecondFast responsive 10 Hz GPS/GLONASS refreshes your position and heading 10 times each second to make your movement on the screen more fluid. It makes dropping up to 5000 accurate waypoints — and finding your way back to them — quick and easy.Upgrade with the Best Maps on the WaterTwo SD™ card slots provide expandable memory for accessory map purchases such as LakeVü HD LakeVü HD Ultra or BlueChart® g2 or BlueChart g2 Vision.FUSION-Link Entertainment SystemEnjoy the ability to control all compatible FUSION-Link-enabled audio systems directly from your compatible chartplotter display.Compatible with gWind™ TransducersGarmin gWind gWind Wireless and gWind Race transducers feature twin-fin technology with 3-bladed propeller. Connect to the NMEA 2000 and compatible Garmin chartplotters via the GND™ 10 black box bridge.Black Box InterfaceThe GND 10 black box interface seamlessly integrates Nexus instruments and sensors with the Garmin family. It converts data between the Nexus network and NMEA 2000 to provide trouble-free compatibility between Nexus and Garmin products.The Ultimate Connected Boating AppBuilt in Wi-Fi gives you access to the free all-in-one ActiveCaptain™ app so you can manage your marine experience from nearly anywhere. It creates a simple yet powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and your Garmin chartplotter charts maps and the boating community. Wherever you are you’ll have unlimited access to your cartography the ability to purchase new maps and charts and access to the Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours Community. Stay connected with smart notifications on your chartplotter screen. You can also plan a trip or prefish a lake and ActiveCaptain will automatically sync with your chartplotter. Even get notifications for software updates and decide when to download them on your device.Enhanced Auto GuidanceJust enter the location where you want to go and patented Garmin Auto Guidance² technology instantly searches through relevant charts to create a virtual pathway on the display that helps you avoid low bridges shallow water and other charted obstructions en route.Better still with enhanced Version 2.0 you now have access to even more features and capabilities. You’re able to adjust the calculated Auto Guidance pathway by inserting “via” points at interim stops or landmarks along your desired route. You can easily review hazard points along your calculated path. And you can even engage your compatible Garmin autopilot to follow the Auto Guidance route automatically. Other 2.0 enhancements give you the ability to calculate arrival times at any point on your route (great for timing arrivals to correspond with bridge openings and other time-critical events). Better still you can now save your plotted Auto Guidance paths for future navigation by backing them up on an SD™ card with your BlueChart® g2 Vision® or Garmin LakeVü™ HD Ultra cartography¹.Simplified SOS Calling This exclusive SOS safety assist feature makes it easier for anyone – even those not familiar with marine electronics or radio protocols – to quickly call for Coast Guard help in an emergency. By simply tapping the SOS button on the chartplotter’s touchscreen display your networked Garmin VHF radio will automatically tune to the Channel 16 emergency frequency and a list of possible situations (fire man overboard etc.) will be displayed. Once the applicable choice has been selected the screen will provide a Coast Guard approved VHF radio distress call script along with the ship’s current lat/long GPS coordinates that can be read off to responders – thus saving time averting panic and providing the essential information needed by rescuers to assure the best possible outcome.GPX Waypoints TransferIf you have waypoints tracks or frequently used routes stored on another manufacturer’s GPS product – or on a Garmin handheld device –  now it’s easier than ever to transfer those items to your new Garmin chartplotter via industry-standard GPX software formatting. GPX is an open standard format for GPS data exchange across platforms and applications. With this easy-to-use interface technology Garmin has taken “no waypoint left behind” to a whole new level of trade-up convenience.Special Sailing FeaturesTo help you gain a wind-maximizing competitive edge your chartplotter features a pre-race guidance page that shows your virtual starting line along with data fields showing laylines time to burn before the start and a race timer that can be synchronized across all your networked Garmin GPS products. In addition other supported sailing features include an enhanced wind rose heading and course-over-ground lines set and drift true and apparent wind data and more. You can also use available built-in wireless connectivity to access and control a variety of marine-specific apps via compatible smartphones or tablets.Panoptix™ Down TransducerWith 1 Panoptix Down transducer you get 3 remarkable views allowing you to actually see fish and bait swimming around under your boat – in real time. You can even see fish in the water column in 3-D from the bottom to the surface. You can be stationary yet still see things in 3-D below your boat.LIVEVÜ DOWN: Shows real-time moving sonar images below the boat. This screen shows bait drop echo trail movement in purple with sonar history data at left.REALVÜ 3-D DOWN: Scans the area below the boat from front to back and side to side. This screen shows a school of fish sitting against the back side of vertical face on Pport side of boat 35 feet deep.REALVÜ 3-D HISTORICAL: Scrolls through the data as the boat moves to show the history of entire water columns – from the bottom to the surface and all of the fish in between. This screen shows the boat passing over a stream channel with a school of fish between 30 to 40 feet.Panoptix Forward TransducerOne Panoptix Forward transducer provides 2 impressive views even while your boat is stationary. It shows the bottom plus fish and bait swimming in the water column in front of your boat – in real time. You can even see your lure as you reel it in. You can also get 3-D views of fish and structure in front of your boat.LIVEVÜ FORWARD: Updates are provided with a single ping providing real-time moving images of what’s in the water. This screen shows a large target (a diver) approaching the boat.REALVÜ 3-D FORWARD: Digitally scans the area in front of the boat creating a forward-looking 3-D view of the bottom structure and fish. This screen shows fish targets at 10 feet and drawing bottom depth of 20 feet.Create your own HD mapsQuickdraw Contours is a free easy-to-use software feature already installed on your compatible Garmin combo. It instantly creates your own personalized HD fishing maps with 1-foot contours. Tailor them to fit your needs. They are your maps — you own them. Keep the data to yourself or share it with the Quickdraw Community on Garmin Connect™. There’s no special surveying expertise required. You just fish while it creates maps. You don’t have to wait around or send your files away like other mapping software requires — your results appear instantly. Use with any of the following sonar transducers:  Garmin Panoptix™ HD-ID™ traditional CHIRP-enabled Garmin ClearVü™ or NMEA 2000®-compatible depth. Have more than 1 sonar device installed onboard? Quickdraw Contours automatically selects the most capable sonar device to provide the very best results for you!Multiple Depth Range ShadingDesignate up to 10 different depth ranges each with its own color. Makes it easier to view target depths at a glance.Commission Autopilot from ChartplotterTo make commissioning easier and more convenient you can handle the entire autopilot commissioning process from your chartplotter screen.Axis and FLIR Camera SupportGarmin offers support for select Axis cameras and for select FLIR cameras. These can be used for surveillance and situational awareness on vessels of any size. You can control your cameras pinch-to-zoom and pan/tilt settings with gestures directly on the plotter screen and view video on multiple screens as well as multiple video streams on the same screen. Use an Axis encoder to convert analog camera such as Garmin GC 10 to video over IP.Catch All the Action On the WaterThis chartplotter supports wireless connections to Garmin VIRB® X and XE action cameras so you can catch all the action during your time on the water. More importantly with a simple software update you can control recordings take still pictures and stream video from a VIRB X/XE action camera to your GPSMAP® 7400/7600 series chartplotter or 8000/8400/8600 series Glass Helm chartplotter. In fact you can stream video from up to 4 VIRB X/XE action cameras and view the video on a compatible marine chartplotter. You can even view previously captured images and videos on the chartplotter and display thumbnail previews for easy selection. Control play pause seek and replay from your chartplotter. There’s even an automatic slide show mode and the ability to delete unwanted VIRB images or videos. Each VIRB can be named for easy identification. You can also control your VIRB cameras to change VIRB video settings including aspect ratio video resolution frames per second photo size field of view and more — directly from the marine chartplotter. Send NMEA 2000 boat information from the chartplotter to VIRB X/XE to be overlaid as G-Metrix™ data on the video using VIRB Edit or the VIRB mobile app. Some data requires optional accessories.In The BoxGPSMAP 7608xsv J1939 preloaded with U.S. BlueChart® g2 and U.S. LakeVü™ HDJ1939 connector which offers a dedicated CAN port for receiving engine dataPower/data cableNMEA 2000® drop cableT-connectorBail mount with knobsFlush mount kitProtective coverDocumentationConnectionsGarmin Marine Network™ Ports: 2Transducer Ports: 1 (8 Pin) and 1 (12 Pin)NMEA 2000® Port: 1NMEA 0183 Input Ports: 2NMEA 0183 Output Ports: 2J1939 Port: 1Video Input Ports: 1 CompositeVideo Output Ports: NoneWireless Connectivity: YesiPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.¹BlueChart® g2 Vision® or Garmin LakeVü™ HD Ultra SD card is required for this technology.²Auto Guidance is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations.WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.