Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv

The ECHOMAP Plus 73sv is one of the discontinued Garmin fish finders. It’s also a chartplotter equipped with an internal GPS system and the US LakeVü charts. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01897-01, the model released in 2018. Also, you might want to check out the ECHOMAP UHD 73sv which is one of the newer versions.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 7″ diagonal, 800H x 400V pixel resolution, WVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: High-Wide CHIRP Sonar, CHIRP ClearVü, CHIRP SideVü
• Frequency and Coverage (with the included transducer):
  • 2D CHIRP Sonar: 150-240 kHz 24°/16°
  • ClearVü CHIRP: 425-485 kHz 2°/50° & 790-850 kHz 1°/30°
  • SideVü CHIRP: 425-485 kHz 2°/50° & 790-850 kHz 1°/30°
• Depth Capability (with the included transducer):
  • 2D CHIRP: 800 ft (244 m)
  • ClearVü: 500 ft (152 m)
  • SideVü: 500 ft (152 m)
• Transducer: CV52HW-TM (12-pin)
• Max. Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• GPS: 5Hz, Internal
• Maps: U.S. LakeVü HD
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracklog: 100; 5,000; 50,000 points (50 saved tracks)

Transducer and sonar features

The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv 010-01897-01 includes the CV52HW-TM transducer which supports all three main types of sonar from the unit: 2D CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü. It integrates a temperature sensor, it has a transom mount, 20′ of cable, and a 12-pin connector.

For the unit’s High-Wide CHIRP 2D sonar, the CV52HW-TM transducer can use one high-frequency beam, with a CHIRP modulation between 150-240 kHz, using a conical beam with a coverage between 24° and 16°. However, the control unit is capable of other 2D sonar frequencies, such as 50 kHz, 77 kHz, and 83 kHz. It’s also dual-frequency capable and can use 50/200 kHz transducers or 77/200 kHz transducers.

For ClearVü and SideVü, the transducer can operate at 455 kHz and 800 kHz, the CHIRP modulation intervals being 425-485 kHz and 790-850 kHz. However, the unit is also capable of 260 kHz, therefore being compatible with transducers such as the CV23M-TM. For these types of sonar, the transducer beams are very thin fore/aft (1°-2°), but with a side-to-side coverage of approx. 50° @ 455 kHz and 30° @ 800 kHz. Also, for SideVü the side beams can extend on each side of the boat for several hundred feet.

When it comes to depth capability, with the included transducer this Garmin fish finder can scan depths up to 800 ft (244 m) with the 2D CHIRP sonar, and up to 500 ft (152 m) with the CV/SV sonar. However, the system’s depth capabilities can reach up to 2,300 ft (701 m) with a 50 kHz capable transducer.

The ECHOMAP Plus 73sv is Panoptix sonar capable. The Panoptix sonar features are not usable with the included CV52HW-TM transducer. In order to use Panoptix LiveVü for example, you will need either a PS21-TM or PS31 Panoptix transducer.

The unit offers several useful standard sonar features. Among them, we can count Sonar Recording and Sonar History Rewind, Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Circular Flasher View, Bottom Lock, and more. It also provides traditional sonar support for Minn Kota® and MotorGuide® trolling motors with integrated transducers.

Navigation features

The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv features the same internal GPS module as the ECHOMAP Plus 63cv or the ECHOMAP Plus 74cv. It’s a 5 Hz GPS receiver that provides position updates up to 5 times per second. It shows the (lat, long) coordinates of any waypoint or the current location of your boat. It can also calculate the speed of your boat so you won’t need any additional speed sensors.

Like all the other “73” or “63” units, this model comes with the U.S. LakeVü HD charts. These charts cover more than 17,000 total lakes, of which over 13,000 lakes have 1′ contours. They show interstates, general roads, bridges, boat ramps, fishing areas, camping grounds, marinas and other points of interest. They also have the Shallow Water Shading feature which allows you to assign a minimum depth and see it at a glance on the map display.

The included LakeVü charts are typically for inland fishing. However, the unit is compatible with the BlueChart g2 HD and BlueChart g2 Vision charts, in case you want off-shore charts. Also, if you want more detail for inland lakes, you can always upgrade to LakeVü HD Ultra. However, like all the other ECHOMAP units, this one is not compatible with Navionics charts.

If you don’t opt for any of the premium charts and your home lake is not covered by the included LakeVü charts, you’re still covered by the Quickdraw Contours feature which is up to a point similar to the AutoChart Live available with the Humminbird HELIX 7 SI CHIRP GPS G2N. It uses the GPS and 2D sonar information to reveal the depth contours of the lake or body of water where you’re fishing and draw them on the map.

The SailAssist feature base is also available with this unit. This feature base includes laylines, the enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines. They can help you gain a wind-maximizing edge, give you the possibility to see true and apparent wind angle and speed. A pre-race guidance page shows you the virtual starting line along with data fields showing laylines, time to burn before the start, and the race timer. Plus, the unit supports AIS and VHF radio units. It does not support Radar, though.

Control unit features

One of the new features of the ECHOMAP Plus 73sv over the last year’s echoMAP CHIRP 73sv is the touchscreen display. The unit can be operated in the same way as any tablet, with the same pinch, drag, or tap commands. However, the touchscreen display is also supported by the keypad on the right side of the unit.

The unit’s interface is highly intuitive, highly customizable, and very easy to use. It gives you the possibility to personalize your home page as you like, with the most used application to be able to access them quickly. It offers several split-screen options with up to three applications per view.

The unit’s display is 7-inch in diagonal, with a pixel matrix of 800H x 400V. It integrates adjustable LED backlight for superior readability in direct sunlight. It’s WVGA color and IPX7 waterproof.

As opposed to the Striker Plus 7sv unit, this one has NMEA 0183 ports and offers NMEA 2000 networking options. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi connection and is compatible with the ActiveCaptain application. Via the Wi-Fi connection you can sync your Garmin unit with your smartphone or tablet, connect to the ActiveCaptain, and access OneChart features, the Quickdraw Community for local maps, benefit from smart notifications directly on the unit and more.

A microSD card reader with one card slot is available on this unit. It can take microSD cards with a memory up to 32 GB. It’s a great feature to have for data transfer, chart upgrades, or even software upgrades.

Finally, the box includes the classic tilt-and-swivel mount with the quick-release cradle. A flush mounting kit and a protective cover are also included.

The Pros

• High-Wide CHIRP, ClearVü sonar, and SideVü sonar;
• Supports 50/77/83/200 kHz standard sonar frequencies, and 260/455/800 kHz ClearVü frequencies;
• Panoptix sonar capable;
• Dual-frequency sonar;
• CV52HW-TM transducer included;
• Data graphs and other sonar functions;
• Sonar recording and rewind;
• Multiple standard sonar features such as Bottom Lock, Fish Symbols, Split-Zoom, A-Scope, Circular Flasher, Alarms, etc;
• Fast 5 Hz internal GPS;
• Preloaded with U.S. LakeVü charts;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Shallow Water Shading and Depth Contours Shading;
• Compatible with various other chart types, such as BlueChart g2 Vision or LakeVü HD Ultra;
• SailAssist features;
• Enhanced Auto Guidance capable;
• Supports AIS and DSC-capable VHF radio;
• Touchscreen and keypad control;
• Intuitive, customizable, and easy-to-use interface;
• Quick disconnection (tilt-swivel) and flush mount included;
• MicroSD card reader (1 slot);
• ActiveCaptain compatible;
• Internal Wi-Fi module;
• NMEA 0183 ports, and NMEA 2000 capable;
• Unit cover included;
• Easy to install.

The Cons

• The manual is not specific to this unit but to the whole ECHOMAP Plus units. It also covers features that this system doesn’t have;
• NMEA 2000 adapter cable not included.

Summary

The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv is a 7-inch display fish finder and chartplotter unit, featuring 2D CHIRP sonar, ClearVü, SideVü, GPS, and the U.S. LakeVü charts. It includes the CV52HW-TM transducer for 2D/CV/SV, but the unit is also compatible with Panoptix transducers. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi connection being compatible with the ActiveCaptain Garmin app. It’s a great unit for a wide range of boats, perfect for inland fishing and navigation, but can also be used successfully off-shore, especially if you equip it with a deepwater transducer and/or the Garmin coastal charts.