Sounder or fish finder?

[slowbuilder2005]

Looking at the GPSMAP 498C at the Garmin web site, I was a little confused ...what's the difference between a "sounder" and a "fish finder"? The product description mentions the GPSMAP 492C (pic shows map only) also ...it's not necessary to own both, or a separate GPS receiver is it? I think the '498C is a complete GPS and 'sounder' package, right (the pic shows fish and map in split screen)? Sounder, fish finder ..what's the diff?

Can someone in 25 words or less tell me the difference between a 'sounder' and a 'fish finder' and whether or not the '498C is an all-in-one package or not? Quick ...before I go off and buy a bunch of Furuno stuff! Doi doi doi...doh!

Brian

[Chrome Bumper]

a sounder shows you depth, a fishfinder fish.

[slowbuilder2005]

That's what I thought ...but how come the pictures of sounders show fish in the graphics like a fish finder?

There must be more to it than this ...



Brian

[Soft Plastic]

I think this is just the way they word things. They all sound the bottom thus they are all sounders. The amount of power and how the return is discriminated {software} determines if they can really find fish or not. I have heard really good things about the Garmin units. That said you could do a lot worse things than buy a bunch of Furuno stuff. :smile: :smile:

[slowbuilder2005]

Got a good response on how fish finders and sounders are different ...from Lowrance (see below)

Brian

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Thank you for your inquiry. The terminology "sounder" and "fish finder" are somewhat the same and somewhat different. Both work on the principals of sound waves traveling through the water and being bounced off the bottom for a depth reading or the swim bladder of a fish for an arch. In the past, there were units like Flashers that were principally for reading depth, these were often referred to as "depth sounders". Later versions had a bulb that would blink if a fish was detected-hence the name "Flasher". Later still, units like our X-15 and 16 papergraph units began being called "fish finders" because they registered depth and drew a picture of the fish under the water. The papergraph units have been out of production for years but gave way to the present technology in our LCD units. There are still flashers and depth gauges which some may refer to as "sounders". Depth gauges do just that-measure depth. They couldn't show a fish target if they wanted to because they aren't equipped with the correct circuitry to do so. But, our LCD units will do both. The transducer used to accomplish both functions is the same and has to be pointed so that the signal will travel in a vertical direction to the bottom of the water. So, while all "fish finders" are "sounders", not all "sounders" are "fish finders".


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