Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 45dv

The echoMAP CHIRP 45dv is one of the discontinued Garmin fish finders. It’s also a chartplotter and is preloaded with the Canada LakeVü charts. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01565-00 that also includes the GT20 transducer.

Key Features and Specifications

• Screen: 4.3″ diagonal, 272H x 480V pixel resolution, WQVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: CHIRP 2D, CHIRP DownVü
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • Standard: 200 kHz / 15° and 77 kHz / 45°
  • DownVü: 455 kHz / 2.5° (fore to aft) x 53°, 800 kHz / 1.6° (fore to aft) x 29°
• Depth Capability:
  • Standard: 1,900 (579 m)
  • DownVü: 750 ft (228.6 m)
• Transducer: GT20-TM (4-pin), for HD-ID and DownVü
• Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• GPS: 5Hz, Internal
• Maps: Canada LakeVü HD maps
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 100; 5,000; 50,000 points (50 saved tracks).

Sonar and transducer

The transducer that comes with the Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 45dv is the GT20-TM (4-pin) model. This transducer features 20′ of cable, and integrates a temperature sensor, the unit being temperature capable. The box includes two types of mounts for this transducer: transom mount and trolling motor mount.

As the name of the unit suggests, it’s a CHIRP capable unit. This means it provides

clearer images, with less clutter and a better focus on targets. Target separation is also superior. In other words, if the transducer beam catches a group of fish that are close together, you have a better chance to see their individual arches, rather than a big lump of color.

This Garmin combo can actually use CHIRP for both types of sonar, 2D, and DownVü. Evidently, it can use its CHIRP modes with the supplied transducer. With this transducer, the unit can use two frequencies for 2D, 77/200 kHz. In other words, it’s capable to use Medium CHIRP and High CHIRP modes. However, it’s capable of 50 kHz frequencies and Low CHIRP, but in order to use this mode, you’ll need a 50/200 kHz transducer. The sonar pulse modulation is not specified for Med and High CHIRP, but evidently, it’s somewhere around 77 and 200 kHz.

For DownVü, this Garmin fish finder is capable of 260/455/800 kHz, and with the GT20-TM transducer, it can use the 455/800 kHz frequencies. CHIRP modulation for Dv with this transducer is specified though. In other words, the pulse can be modulated between 435-475 kHz and 800-840 kHz.

With the traditional 2D sonar, the transducer uses two conical beams, with angles of 15° for 200 kHz, and 45° for 77 kHz. For DownVü, the beams used are very thin fore-to-aft, but wider side to side. For 455 kHz, it uses a 2.5° / 53° beam, while for 800 kHz the beam is narrower and thinner, of 1.6° / 29°. This unit is also dual-frequency capable. This means it can use both its 77/200 kHz beams simultaneously, and you can view the returns in split-screen.

One of the pluses in terms of sonar regarding this echoMAP CHIRP unit, its sonar recording function. It actually gives you the possibility to record sonar and rewind the sonar history, in order to have another look at a certain spot if you want, without turning the boat around, to re-scan it. As a general idea, approx. 15 minutes of recording will take approx. 200 MB on the memory card, and you can continue to record until the recording reaches the maximum capacity of the card.

Other useful sonar functions are Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Fish Alarm, Depth Alarm, Bottom Lock etc.

Last but not least, in terms of depth capabilities, this unit is quite impressive. With the GT20-TM transducer, it can offer a bottom reading at depths up to 1,900 ft (579 m) for 2D, and 750 ft (228 m) in Dv. Also, it should be able to offer a bottom reading at speeds up to 35 MPH, but the maximum recommended vessel speed for quality images is 6 MPH.

Navigation functions

Just like the echoMAP CHIRP 75sv, this unit comes with the Canadian LakeVü HD charts. These cover more than 13,500 Canadian lakes in the Trent Severn Waterway, the Great Lakes and many more others in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Yukon province. More than 1,600 of the lakes covered by these charts are in HD detail, with 1-foot contours. And on top of that, these charts offer various other details, such as general roads, interstates, highways, bridges, docks, marinas, camping grounds, fishing areas, boat ramps, etc.

Multiple Depth Range Shading is a function available with this unit, concerning the charts. It allows you to color code various depth contours in order to view your target depth at a glance. Also, via the Shallow Water Shading function, you can set up a minimum depth to be rasterized, in order to always view the safer waters, or make sure you’ll remain fishing in areas with greater depth than the selected one.

Even though it’s one of the smallest units from Garmin, the echoMAP CHIRP 45dv does offer the new Quickdraw Contours function. As its name suggests, this function allows the unit to draw the contours of the body of water where you’re fishing, based on the sonar information. This way, even if your local lake isn’t covered by the LakeVü HD charts, you can reveal its contours by using this function or simply re-draw contours in order to benefit from the newest, most up-to-date ones.

This Garmin unit also integrates a 5 Hz GPS antenna, which updates your position up to 5 times per second, also measuring your boat’s speed. The unit can save up to 5,000 waypoints, and 100 routes. It can also save up to 50 tracks, or 50,000 track points in total.

Control unit features and functions

This Garmin unit is IPX7 waterproof, which means it’s built to withstand water splashes or rain without any problem. It features a small display, with a 4.3″ diagonal and 480V x 272H pixel resolution. The display is WQVGA color, and also features LED backlight, which means it offers excellent readability in direct sunlight or during night time.

It’s an NMEA 0183 capable unit, also integrating a microSD card slot, for data transfer, sonar recording, or charts upgrades.

Finally, the unit does not come with a cover, but the box does include a classic, tilt-and-swivel mount.

Upgrade Possibilities

Since it’s a dual-frequency unit, and it’s capable of operating at 50/77/200 kHz for 2D, and 260/455/800 kHz for Dv, it can, of course, be paired with various other transducers, such as the 50/200 kHz or the GT22HW-TM transducer. But in this case, you may need a cable adapter.

This unit is compatible with LakeVü HD, BlueChart g2 Vision or LakeVü HD Ultra, or with the LakeVü HD Canada. The LakeVü HD Ultra and BlueChart g2 Vision make available the Enhanced Auto Guidance feature. This feature gives you the opportunity to use several useful functions. For example, it can instantly search through the charts to offer the safest virtual paths between two points of interest, it can also calculate your arrival times or enable your AutoPilot to follow a safe route.

The unit also supports AIS and can display position data from DSC-capable VHF radio.

The Pros

• Fast and accurate internal GPS;
• Preloaded with the Canadian LakeVü HD charts;
• Compatible with various other charts, such as BlueChart g2 Vision or LakeVü HD Ultra;
• Multiple Depth Range Shading;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Enhanced Auto Guidance capable;
• Tide tables information;
• CHIRP technology offering superior clarity, target separation, and target definition, for both 2D and DownVü;
• Dual-frequency sonar;
• Transducer (GT20-TM, 4-pin) included;
• Data graphs and other sonar functions;
• Sonar recording and sonar history rewind;
• Supports AIS and DSC-capable VHF radio;
• Quick disconnection (tilt-swivel) and flush mount included;
• NMEA 0183 connector;
• Easy to install;
• Straightforward, comprehensive operation.

The Cons

Manual may not be specific to the unit, but for the whole series of units, and some of the instructions may not apply to this one;

Unit cover not included.

Summary

The Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 45dv is a small, but inclusive unit, offering dual-frequency 2D sonar, DownVü imaging sonar, also using CHIRP technology for both types of sonar, for a better target separation and overall, crisper images. It’s a unit with GPS and comes with the Canadian LakeVü HD charts, but due to its impressive depth capabilities, it can also be used for offshore fishing. Since it’s a small unit, it might not be the best choice for a bigger vessel, but it’s perfect for small boats, kayaks, canoes etc. It’s not one of the most affordable unit, but considering the whole amount of features that it offers, and the fact that it comes with a transducer which costs more than $100, it’s safe to say the whole package stands up to its price.