Simrad GO5 XSE worth it?

[SHSU]

Looking at picking up a descent fish finder/Chart plotter. Saw that Simrad is offering a $100 rebate and Navionics a $50 rebate on select models.

Questions:
Simrad worth the money?
Is the touch screen worth it?
HDI or Total Scan?

Figure I can use an old Ipad to duplicate the display and get a bigger screen with the built in WiFi

As always thanks in advance

 

[dingbat]

Looking at picking up a descent fish finder/Chart plotter. Saw that Simrad is offering a $100 rebate and Navionics a $50 rebate on select models.

Questions:
Simrad worth the money?
Is the touch screen worth it?
HDI or Total Scan?

Figure I can use an old Ipad to duplicate the display and get a bigger screen with the built in WiFi

As always thanks in advance

Worth it to do what?

Of note:
Requires purchase of Optional transducer
Advertised as "CHIRP and "Broadband" yet in reality uses a "tone burst" transducer. (Deceptive advertising at best)
Requires purchase of optional maps if you want detailed maps
Do you have room at the helm to mount a second, "old IPad", display and keep it powered?

 

[SHSU]

Worth it to do what?

Of note:
Requires purchase of Optional transducer
Advertised as "CHIRP and "Broadband" yet in reality uses a "tone burst" transducer. (Deceptive advertising at best)
Requires purchase of optional maps if you want detailed maps
Do you have room at the helm to mount a second, "old IPad", display and keep it powered?

I should have provided more detail from the get go.

Use: this is being used on a 16ft family fish/ski boat.
Area: For use in the Galveston Bay area and other close shore/lake areas of Texas.
Ipad: figured two fold, one it would allow me to walk around with it if needed and two allow my daughter something to do when she gets bored (Primary)
Maps: Do any units provide detailed maps from the start?

As far as the deceptive advertising can you elaborate on what I should be looking for and suggest an alternative? So their Total Scan is not worth it?

Thanks for the insight

 

[dingbat]

I should have provided more detail from the get go.

Use: this is being used on a 16ft family fish/ski boat.
Area: For use in the Galveston Bay area and other close shore/lake areas of Texas.
Ipad: figured two fold, one it would allow me to walk around with it if needed and two allow my daughter something to do when she gets bored (Primary)
Maps: Do any units provide detailed maps from the start?

As far as the deceptive advertising can you elaborate on what I should be looking for and suggest an alternative? So their Total Scan is not worth it?

Thanks for the insight

The wifi connection is not a "Hot Spot". It has no conductivity to the WWW. It simply enables the use of an app with a compatible device to be used as local remote. Similar to a bluetooth connection. I would image it wouldn't take long for your daughter to get bored looking at a chart plotter display.

I will not get in the technical aspects of the sonar, but they're painting a Chevy red and putting a Ferrari badge on it....wouldn't matter as a commuter car, but you probably wouldn't be happy the first time you took it to the race track for time trails.

Big clue on game...CHIRP requires transducers that produce a range of frequencies....28 to 60 kHz, 80 to 130 kHz, 130 to 210 kHz, etc. If they list a single frequency like 200 and 83 kHz or 200/83 kHz, they're playing games.

The worth of Total Scan depends on what your doing with it. If your not a hardcore fisherman it wouldn't matter one way or the other. It you like posting cool pictures of things on the bottom of lakes on the internet, then maybe it's your deal.

 

[SHSU]

Thanks Ding

The Ipad was so she could watch videos and play games on it and dad can get a little more time fishing. When shes not using it, i can zoom in and see things better.

With that being said, can you reccomend a unit? Don't mind spending the money for something that will last me years.

 

[dingbat]

The Garmin echomap CHIRP 53DV is currently on sale. No touchscreen, wifi or side scan but comes preloaded with either lake or coastal maps.

The unit has more zoom options than available on a remote display.

If you have a larger budget go to the 73DV

 

[SHSU]

Much appreciated, I will have to take a look at Garmin. So they have true Chirp vs Sirmad.
Thanks,

 

[dingbat]

Much appreciated, I will have to take a look at Garmin. So they have true Chirp vs Sirmad.
Thanks,

Simrad offers true CHIRP as well. You just have to read between the lines to see which "version" they're pushing.

 

[MH Hawker]

i just bought one of the Garmin echomap CHIRP 53DV and its more or less loaded found one through amazon for 350, i haven't tried it yet, been working on my boat

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ds=Garmin+echoMAP+CHIRP+53dv+with+transducer+

 

[SHSU]

i just bought one of the Garmin echomap CHIRP 53DV and its more or less loaded found one through amazon for 350, i haven't tried it yet, been working on my boat

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ds=Garmin+echoMAP+CHIRP+53dv+with+transducer+

Thanks Hawker. Would really appreciate a review of what you think of the Garmin in real world situation when you have a chance.


Also, to anyone: What would you rate as the top 3 brands to look at? What features should I keep look at?

As stated before, looking for navigation and fishing as primary features.

Thanks all in advance

 

[dingbat]

Also, to anyone: What would you rate as the top 3 brands to look at? What features should I keep look at?

As stated before, looking for navigation and fishing as primary features.

Each brands has their good and bad points. To pick which brand is best for you requires you to identify your needs. Navigation and fishing doesn't tell me a thing about your requirements and expectations. Without that, you can't determine which manufacturer best suits your needs.

My story... I'm part time guide and competitive angler. i fish inshore and offshore. I have run Sitex, Furuno, Lowrance, Eagle, Standard Horizon, Magellan and Garmin equipment over the years. They all worked. I caught fish and or didn't get lost.

Current setup: criteria at the time of purchase was best of class in performance.

Garmin 4208 with AIS and HD radar

Furuno 587 with airmar B160 transducer

Garmin Echomap CHIRP 94S with a GT51-M-TM transducer (80 to 160 kHz CHIRP), side view and downview.

My setup is over the top for your average boater but it suits my needs.

Set a budget and determine your needs and go for it. For the average person, most brands are pretty good right out of the box anymore.

 

[SHSU]

Each brands has their good and bad points. To pick which brand is best for you requires you to identify your needs. Navigation and fishing doesn't tell me a thing about your requirements and expectations. Without that, you can't determine which manufacturer best suits your needs.

My story... I'm part time guide and competitive angler. i fish inshore and offshore. I have run Sitex, Furuno, Lowrance, Eagle, Standard Horizon, Magellan and Garmin equipment over the years. They all worked. I caught fish and or didn't get lost.

Current setup: criteria at the time of purchase was best of class in performance.

Garmin 4208 with AIS and HD radar

Furuno 587 with airmar B160 transducer

Garmin Echomap CHIRP 94S with a GT51-M-TM transducer (80 to 160 kHz CHIRP), side view and downview.

My setup is over the top for your average boater but it suits my needs.

Set a budget and determine your needs and go for it. For the average person, most brands are pretty good right out of the box anymore.

Thanks Ding, appreciate your expertise. As for my needs/expectations, i don't have anything to really compare against, so anything would be better then what I have (Like 1990s old Hummingbird [exaggerating a little]). Just want to do my due diligence before I pull the trigger. Doing a complete restore of a 16ft Starcraft so want to trick it out to last me for years.