Every time I come across a new piece by Garmin, I assume that the manufacturers can’t do better than that. Man, they prove me wrong every single time. My reaction was the same when I took the pair CV52HW-TM transducer and Garmin Striker 7SV to a nearby coastal area. This latest version follows the same trend of keeping the fancy, non-essential features to the lowest and focusing mainly on actual fish hunting.
The collage of traditional Chirp sonar along with ClearVu & SideVu makes you privy to critical details regarding the fish, structure and bottom terrain. Alongside that, the built-in mapping software together with Wi-Fi and GPS lets you note waypoints and record information about acres of terrain. All this crucial information is translated into one bright and crisp picture on its 7” colour display for your viewing. Of course, the device isn’t free of shortcomings. But you’ll hardly find such a high-performing fishfinder in other brands’ inventory at this price point. The bottom line is you should take advantage of this opportunity and buy this spectacular fish locator without wasting more time.
Below, we’ve shed light on its highlighting specifications to make the decision-making process easier.
Table of Contents
What Makes Garmin CV52HW-TM Transducer Standout?
The highlights of this fishfinder are advanced Chirp technology coupled with SideVu and ClearVu and DIY mapping software to make it stand out. The reasonable cost of the unit further adds to its appeal, making it a savvy investment.
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Garmin CV52HW-TM Transducer Review
If anyone can turn a relatively bare-bones fishfinder into something special without adding extra cost and hassle, it is the legendary Garmin. This opinion of mine solidified after subjecting Garmin’s CV52HW-TM transducer to a few inshore and offshore fishing tests. The Chirp technology of the device is one of the most incredible that you’ll witness, at least in models of this price range.
The CV52HW/TM transducer uses this advanced Chirp system together with ClearVu & SideVu to give you updates about the fish and bottom landscape. Every bit of information is absolutely accurate because I have caught catfish and carp on multiple occasions; missed fish a couple of times too, but that sob story is for another time.
Garmin dubs it as a perfect transducer for freshwater fishing. But it is good for offshore fishing as well, considering the extreme range of Side and Down view.
Speaking of view, the ample size of the display together with decent pixels presents a vivid image of the show happening in the realm below. The visuals are so neat and sharp that one might mistake them for shots taken from a professional photographer’s camera.
The fact that it lacks the coveted pre-installed maps can be a wee bit disappointing. However, Garmin has made up for the loss through built-in GPS, Wi-Fi and Quick Contour abilities. The former keeps you updated about your current coordinates and boat’s speed as well as allows you to form a digital diary of favourite waypoints, tracks and fishing zones. The latter, i.e. QuickDraw Contours, is a replacement for the lack of mapping systems. You can compose comprehensive maps of up to 2 million acres of terrain. The ability of the gadget to pair with your smartphone or tablet using wi-fi connectivity is icing on top. You can seek help from Contours Community or ActiveCaptain application for additional mapping guidance, which improves your fishing game quite dramatically.
All in all, if your demand is a high-utility and value fish finder without a dramatic jump in price, simply invest in this duo.
Chirp Sonar with ClearVu & SideVu
The folks at Garmin have combined the power of advanced 2D Chirp sonar along with SideVu and ClearVu into this little thingy to help you catch more fish. The traditional Chirp sonar fires frequencies between 150kHz and 240kHz to collect a vast amount of data about the terrain and fish with spectacular target separation.
Besides, ClearVu and SideVu reveal every single structure, fish and submerged object below and on either side of your vessel. The maximum range of side and down view is 500. But I have learnt from experience that you barely find anything useful below 250ft, especially if it’s shoreline fishing or river fishing.
Despite being advertised as a freshwater transducer, it can serve you in all such events where you want to dive deeper than 100ft, including coastal and offshore fishing.
DIY Mapping
You will not be able to take advantage of pre-installed maps, but they’ve stripped down these features to keep it closer to inexpensive models. Fortunately, that doesn’t affect your fishing, courtesy of the DIY mapping facility available.
As you know, it’s a GPS fishfinder. So, you can take readings of dozens of fish-abiding spots and highlight routes leading to those lucrative locations. On top of that, you have the opportunity to produce DIY maps containing crucial data and save information about more than 2 million acres of area through QuickDraw Contours. You can refer to these meticulously-crafted maps time and time again to make your next fishing trip better than the previous one.
Wi-Fi Connectivity
The built-in wi-fi system available here is the highlight of this device and a real game-changer, in my opinion. What you couldn’t find through GPS and Quick Contours could be acquired through mobile pairing technology.
You can take help from your mobile phone or tablet by syncing the device through the wi-fi connection. As a result, you’ll be able to take guidance from a third party in Contour Community or ActiveCaptain app. Not to mention, share the critical data you gathered to help some other poor soul.
Pros
- Impressive Chirp technology paired with Clear and Side scanning sonars.
- Bright and distinguishing images on a sleek, sun readable screen.
- Efficient GPS allows you to register crucial data for future reference.
- DIY mapping facility with Quick Contour technology.
- Built-in wi-fi provides mobile pairing facility and additional mapping assistance.
- Relatively inexpensive.
- Ideal for varying fishing scenarios.
Cons
- No pre-existing maps.
- Complaints about minor glitches are registered in a couple of scenarios.
- Some accessories required are a bit costly.
Why Should You Invest In Garmin CV52HW-TM Transducer?
It is a somewhat bare-bones model, but the trio of Chirp sonar, Clear and Side view promises a dramatic increase in your fishing score.
Secondly, you’ll have a hard time finding a fishfinder laden with such detection and navigation capabilities at this price point.
Its simplicity and value make it the best fishfinder for an angler who is solely interested in catching fish and least interested in wasting time on complicated bells and whistles.
Final Verdict
All being said and done, relying on Garmin Striker 7SV and this versatile transducer for fish tracking will not disappoint you due to its impressive sonar scanning. The simple design and reasonable pricing often make people sceptical. However, if you take into account its mapping and GPS support, you can catch more fish – more than compared to some high-end models. Buy this model if you’re looking for a fishfinder that doesn’t distract you with bells and whistles and offers you excellent value.
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