CHIRP. How important is it?

[slothman]

I am really thinking of pulling the trigger on a new Garmin echomap 73sv. I can buy the old model for significantly less than the chirp model. My question to all you electronics gurus: How important is chirp? How much of a difference does it make?

 

I'm really looking forward to using my unit to locate fish and structure. I just got my first boat (used) and am very excited to join a bass club and do some minor local tournament fishing.

 

i know some of you are really knowledgeable about this and I would love to hear from you. I don't take large purchases lightly and could really use some guidance. 

Thanks.

[rps]

CHIRP means the signal emitted by the unit covers a broader spectrum of frequencies than what we had 3 years ago. That means the unit, if equipped, can process more information to translate a clearer picture. The real question is whether that clearer picture is something you need, and, if so, at what price.

Sonars, right now, are comparable to computers. The vast majority do not need top of the line. The earlier generation will do everything they need. Only a few leading edge types need the latest. The rest buy for ego.

Look at it this way. The recently "outdated" unit is a lot better than what you will replace, right? Use the less expensive unit to learn. If you ever need the upgrade, fine, do it.

[moguy1973]

I have the 73sv at my console that isn't CHIRP and a 53dv at my bow that has CHIRP, and honestly I couldn't tell you the difference.  I've read websites about what CHIRP gets you but for as much as I use my electronics to me the extra money for CHIRP isn't worth it.  Right now the 73sv at Cabela's is $479 without CHIRP and $637 with CHIRP.  I can think of a lot of things I can spend $150 on for a little less clear picture on my finder.  If I was able to get out and fish more and actually use time on the water to study my graphs instead of fishing it might be worth it, but my limited time on the water right now is better spent fishing IMO.

[dtrs5kprs]

Have an Elite 7 Lowrance on the bow, my first unit with CHIRP. It does what I need, but think it would without CHIRP too. 

[moguy1973]

Here's an article about CHIRP but I don't like the way they did the testing.  It's almost like it's a sales pitch for CHIRP since not all things are equal such as the depth scales used between the CHIRP pictures and the 200Hz pictures (the CHIRP is zoomed in and shows 1' increments while the 200Hz one is 2' increments).  But the article kind of gives you an idea of what CHIRP gets you.

http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1544296-all-you-wanted-to-know-about-chirp-sonar

[slothman]

I'll admit I've been leaning pretty hard toward the chirp, but it seems like most that have answered so far don't seem to think it is that big of a deal. Is that kind of the consensus? 

I currently have an old 73dv on my console that was on my boat when I bought it. My plan is to move the 73dv to the front and put the sidevu on the console. I'm really wanting something that I can use to more efficiently and effectively search for structure under docks and out deep.

This is is the unit I'm going to have for probably a very long time. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I would do the opposite, i like my chirp up front and my non chirp at the console,  I can see strucure just fine with the non-chirp.  I love the chirp up front, can really see your bait when drop shotting

[moguy1973]

3 minutes ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

I would do the opposite, i like my chirp up front and my non chirp at the console,  I can see strucure just fine with the non-chirp.  I love the chirp up front, can really see your bait when drop shotting

that is the one thing that they said the CHIRP does well, shows your bait a lot more clearer when fishing vertically under the transducer.

[Quillback]

I've heard that Chirp is better on picking out fish that are glued to the bottom.   My non-chirp finder isn't too good at that, but through spending quite a bit of time fishing for fish glued to the bottom I can figure out what I'm seeing.  I would like to upgrade the font unit to chirp, but I can get by with what I have so I probably will not anytime soon.