Deeper CHIRP 2 Smart Sonar

The Deeper CHIRP 2 smart sonar is a castable fish finder that uses your phone as a control unit. It is a newer version of the Deeper CHIRP model that we’ve already covered here. It comes with several improvements over the previous model. For example, its equipped with a superior battery, it offers a better connectivity range, and the box includes the night fishing cover. For reference, this is the Deeper smart sonar part number ITGAM0996.

Key Features and Specifications

• App: Fish Deeper
• Sonar: Triple-beam CHIRP
• Frequency and Coverage:
  7° @ 675 kHz
  20° @ 240 kHz
  47° @ 100 kHz
• Depth Capability: 330 ft. (120 m)
• Transducer: Built-in
• Broadcasting range: 394 ft. (100 m)
• Connection type: Wi-Fi
• GPS: Uses phone’s GPS
• Mapping: Bathymetric maps

Unit construction and accessories

The Deeper CHIRP 2 smart sonar is encased in a spherical water-tight ABS casing featuring three attachment points. Two attachment bolts are included with the fish finder, and depending on the type of fishing, the manual points out where to attach your bolts. A tether for attaching to the fish finder is not included, but just as for any castable fish finder, you can simply tie it to a fishing line.

The top section of the spherical casing is removable. The bottom section contains the transducer and the battery. A USB cable for recharging the unit is included, but the box does not include an adapter. You should be able to use your phone’s adapter (if it’s one with a removable USB cable), or simply recharge it from a PC or laptop.

Next to the USB connector, there is a LED indicator that should glow green when the battery is fully charged. It also glows blue when the temperature is lower than 37.4° (3°C) which is too cold for the battery to charge. The battery charges pretty fast. It shouldn’t take more than 110 minutes to have it charged at 100%. Also, with the battery fully charged, your Deeper CHIRP 2 fish finder should last for up to 15 hours (while the first model only offers a battery life of 8 hours). The box also includes a transparent top cover for night fishing which allows the light of the internal LED to pass through it, and a neoprene portable bag.

Fish Deeper App

As we’ve mentioned above, the Deeper CHIRP 2 fish finder connects uses your phone as the sonar receiver unit. It connects to it via the Fish Deeper app. This app is free and available for both iOS and Android systems. There is also a premium version for it which offers access to over 50,000 global bathymetric maps. With the Deeper CHIRP 2, you can actually claim a 3-month free subscription to the app, but once it expires, you don’t really need to renew it. You will still be able to use the other features of the app, just without the 50,000 bathymetric maps.

This Deeper fish finder creates a Wi-Fi hotspot to which you will need to connect your phone. In order to establish a better connection, it is recommended to turn off your Mobile Data. This being said, while using the fish finder, you won’t be able to use the internet. The maximum Wi-Fi range is 394 ft. (120 m).

The Fish Deeper app has quite a versatile interface. First of all, regardless what features you use, its top bar offers a variety of indicators and shortcuts. For example, in sonar mode, you’ll have shortcuts to the calendar, your phone’s camera for a quick selfie with the freshly caught fish, weather data, maps, and more. There is also a split-screen function that offers the possibility to work with the sonar and the bathymetric mapping applications simultaneously.

Sonar features

First of all, this Deeper smart sonar offers CHIRP technology. This means it can modulate the sonar pulse over an entire range of features. The operating base frequencies are 100 kHz, 240 kHz, and 675 kHz. The exact CHIRP intervals for each one are not specified.

The internal transducer can use three different conical beams. Their coverage is 47° @ 100 kHz, 20° @ 240 kHz, and 7° @ 675 kHz. The maximum depth capability is 330 ft. (100 m). This can be achieved when using the Wide CHIRP beam (47°). Conversely, the Narrow CHIRP beam (7°) offers the best target separation, this being 0.4″ (1 cm).

The Deeper CHIRP app offers several useful sonar features. To begin with, it has a Circular Flasher function which puts the sonar data into a ring format with the depth and temperature in the middle, and the bottom, fish, and other data on the outer ring. This feature is great for ice fishing.

Amplitude Scope and a Fish Symbol mode are also available. The A-Scope shows the data caught by the most recent sonar pulse. The Fish Symbol feature turns the signals interpreted as fish into fish icons with different sizes corresponding to the size of the fish.

Other notable features that we can mention here are the water temperature reading (the unit has a temperature sensor built-in as well), self-adjusting depth scale, bottom hardness, and sensitivity adjustment. Plus, the app also makes available a fish alarm and a depth alarm.

Navigation features

The Deeper CHIRP 2 smart sonar does not have its own internal GPS module. However, it can connect to your phone’s GPS system so you can use the bathymetric mapping feature offered by the Fish Deeper app. However, since it does not have its own internal GPS, in order to use this feature, it is important to keep your phone close to the fish finder. That’s why it’s best to use this feature while fishing from a boat or kayak.

The bathymetric mapping feature can be viewed in split-screen with the sonar. It uses your phone’s GPS and the sonar in order to reveal and record the depth contours of the body of water that you are scanning. You can create waypoints for the best fishing spots or other points of interest. You can view the coordinates of a certain spot on a created map by simply tapping your finger on that certain area (as long as the GPS is connected, of course). There is also a history feature so you can access unlimited data of the sonar imaging and recordings.

The Deeper CHIRP 2 is also compatible with the Fish Deeper Premium version of the app. As we’ve mentioned above, this feature opens access to over 50,000 already mapped bodies of water. This feature requires a monthly subscription, but you can claim a 3 months free membership with a purchase of a Deeper CHIRP 2 unit.

The Pros

• Compact construction;
• Free Fish Deeper app;
• Compatible with the Fish Deeper Premium;
• Wi-Fi connection type (better than Bluetooth);
• Quick access for calendar, weather, phone camera, notes, maps, sharing, and settings on the app interface;
• Triple-beam sonar;
• CHIRP sonar technology;
• Superior target separation (0.4″);
• Excellent depth capability – 330 ft;
• Excellent broadcasting range – 394 ft;
• Circular Flasher and Split-Screen functions;
• Fish Icons, Display Sensitivity, A-Scope, and Sonar Data Storage;
• Connects to the GPS on your phone;
• Bathymetric mapping function;
• Weather data function;
• Easy to use from the shore, from a boat, or on ice;
• Superior Li-Ion 3.8V/1300 mAh, with an operating time up to 15 hours;
• Micro USB / USB cable included;
• Portable bag included;
• Transparent top cover for night fishing included;
• Two attachment bolts included.

The Cons

• For a better Wi-Fi connection to your fish finder, you will have to turn off your Mobile Data;
• Fishing line can snap and you can lose your fish finder;
• The Deeper sonar arm mount is not included.

Summary

The Deeper CHIRP 2 smart sonar is a castable fish finder that uses your phone as a sonar receiver unit. It connects to your phone via Wi-Fi and the Fish Deeper app. It offers triple-beam CHIRP sonar with a depth range of 330 ft. and has a Wi-Fi broadcasting range of 394 ft. It also connects to your phone’s GPS system offering access to the app’s bathymetric mapping function. It’s a versatile, year-long fish finder for both onshore and boat fishing.