Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv – No Transducer

The ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv is one of the new Garmin fish finders and chartplotters released at the beginning of 2019. As its number suggests, it’s a 10″ ECHOMAP unit. Like most other Garmin units, it is available in various bundles with different charts and transducers. In this post, we’re going to address the ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv part number 010-02112-00; this unit is preloaded with both BlueChart g3 and LakeVü g3 charts but does not include a transducer.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 10″ diagonal, 1280H x 800V pixel resolution, WXGA color, backlit, touchscreen & keypad
• Sonar: 2D CHIRP, ClearVü, SideVü, Ultra High-Definition Scanning, Panoptix LiveScope
• Transducer: Not included
• Base frequencies supported: 50/77/200/260/455/800 kHz & 1.2 MHz
• Max. Depth Capability: 2,300 ft (701 m)
• Max. Power Output: 600 Watts (RMS)
• GPS: 10 Hz, Internal
• Maps: BlueChart g3 and LakeVü g3
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracklog: 100; 5,000; 50,000 points (50 saved tracks)

Sonar features

The ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv includes built-in support for 2D traditional CHIRP sonar, Ultra High-Definition CHIRP sonar, CHIRP SideVü, CHIRP ClearVü, Panoptix LiveScope LVS12. This being said, you do not need an additional Black Box sonar in order to use these sonar technologies; you just need to opt for the transducer that supports the ones you want to use.

The unit supports a wide range of base frequencies, including 50/77/200/260/455/800 kHz & 1.2 MHz. It is compatible with most Garmin transducers. For example, you can pair it with the GT23M-TM, the GT22HW-TM, GT21-TM, GT20-TM, and also supports the new UHD transducer GT54UHD-TM. Along with these, the unit supports the full line of Panoptix all-seeing transducers (again, no external Black Box sonar is required for them).

The unit features a 12-pin connector for the transducer, but the package also includes an 8-pin to 12-pin cable adapter. Also, depending on the selected transducer, this Garmin fish finder system should be able to scan various depths, up to 2,300 ft (701 m) with a 50 kHz capable transducer, or up to 500 ft (152 m) on each side of the boat with a SideVü transducer such as the GT54UHD-TM. It also supports 50/200 kHz and 77/200 kHz dual-frequency, which means that if you opt for a transducer capable of both these frequencies, the unit can use them simultaneously and you can compare the two sonar views in split-screen format.

In terms of standard sonar features, the ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv offers the full range; A-Scope, Bottom Lock, Fish Symbols, various alarms, Sonar Recording, Sonar Rewind, are on the list, and much more. It also has a Temperature Graph function, so if you’re going to use a transducer with an internal temperature sensor, not only that you will be able to see the topwater temperature, you will also be able view any water temperature differences.

Navigation features

The big plus of the ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv 010-02112-00 over the “Plus” series units, such as the ECHOMAP Plus 94sv, is that it comes pre-loaded with both BlueChart g3 and LakeVü g3 charts. Both these chart platforms are Navionics enhanced and have Auto Guidance technology.

BlueChart g3 offers coastal coverage for the U.S. waters, including West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast and the Canadian side of the Great Lakes. The data provided by these charts is derived from official charts and private sources, including nav-aids, depth contours, tides and currents information, spot soundings, and much more.

The LakeVü g3 offer in-land coverage. Over 17,000 U.S. lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in high detail with up to 1′ depth contours are covered by this chart platform, and they’re all integrated with Navionics. The Shallow Water Shading feature is available with these charts. Plus, they show fishing areas, boat ramps, camping grounds, marinas, general roads, interstates and other points of interest.

Of course, the unit is also compatible with the BlueChart g3 Vision and LakeVü g3 Ultra. These charts offer extra features and detail, such as the elevation shading of bottom structure, satellite images, and more. However, like many other Garmin plotters, this one is not (yet) compatible with the Navionics+ or Navionics Platinum+ charts.

Needless to say, the Quickdraw Contours feature is also available with this unit. This is an application that allows you to reveal and record the depth contours of your lake on the map. Therefore, in case the current charts do not offer satisfying detail for your lake, you can create your own, personalized charts with up to 1′ depth contours. Plus, you can upload your custom charts on the Garmin Quickdraw Contours Community to share them with other users, or download similar charts from there, as the unit has wireless connectivity.

In terms of GPS, the Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv is superior to all the other ECHOMAP Plus units. It is equipped with a 10 Hz internal GPS (the Plus units only have a 5 Hz GPS), which means it can provide position updates up to 10 times per second. It can provide position augmentation via WAAS/EGNOS and also has a GPS speed function.

Waypoint creation, trackplotting, and route creation functions are also available. The unit can save up to 100 routes in its memory and can record up to 50 tracks with up to 50,000 plot points per track. Each recorded track can be converted into a route. Also, the unit can hold a base of up to 5,000 different waypoints.

Last but not least, the SailAssist feature base is also included. This is a pre-race guidance page that shows your virtual starting line along with data fields showing laylines, enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, time to burn before the start and the race times.

Control unit features

As we’ve mentioned above, the Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv features a 10″ display; it has a pixel resolution of 1280H x 800V which is considerably superior to the 9″ PLUS units which are only 800 x 400. The unit’s display is WXGA type, full color, with integrated LED backlight. It also offers polarized support, so if you’re wearing polarized sunglasses you should be able to read its display with no problem.

The unit has keypad-assisted touchscreen technology. This means you can surf through its menus and use its functions either via touchscreen or via the side keypad. Its interface is very easy to use; you can customize its homepage with the most used applications. It allows you to view or work with up to four applications simultaneously. The unit is also IPX7 waterproof.

The package includes two mounts for the unit; one is the classic tilt mount with the quick-release cradle, the other is the flush mount for surface integration. A protective cover is also included.

In terms of networking, the unit has NMEA 0183 input and output ports (1 each), 2 Garmin Marine Network™ ports for large connectors, and also supports NMEA 2000. This being said, you can share data between various Garmin units, or enable your ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv to communicate with different other instruments such as AIS units, VHF radios, FUSION-Link compatible radios, external GPS sensors, and more. However, the unit does not offer Radar suport such as the GPSMAP units.

This Garmin Ultra unit also has built-in Wi-Fi. This gives you access to the free all-in-one ActiveCaptain App. This app allows you to manage your marine and fishing experience from anywhere. For example, you can pre-plan a fishing trip and pre-fish a lake, it offers access to chart downloads or software updates, and you can even benefit from notifications from your smartphone on the plotter’s display.

Finally, the unit is equipped with a dual microSD card reader. Therefore, you can use two chart cards simultaneously, or a chart card and a data card for backups or data transfer.

The Pros

• Traditional 2D CHIRP sonar support;
• UHD CHIRP sonar support;
• ClearVü and SideVü support;
• Panoptix sonar support;
• Supports 50/77/83/200/455/800/1200 kHz base frequencies;
• Dual-frequency capable (50/200 & 77/200 kHz)
• 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;
• 10 Hz internal GPS;
• Preloaded with the new U.S. LakeVü g3 charts;
• Preloaded with the new coastal BlueChart g3 charts;
• Auto Guidance;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Shallow Water Shading;
• Compatible with various other chart types, such as BlueChart g3 Vision or LakeVü G3 Ultra;
• SailAssist page;
• Supports AIS and DSC-capable VHF radio;
• Supports FUSION-Link radio;
• Touchscreen and keypad control;
• Intuitive, customizable, and easy-to-use interface;
• Quick disconnection (tilt-swivel) and flush mount included;
• MicroSD card reader (2 slots);
• ActiveCaptain compatible;
• Wireless connectivity;
• NMEA 0183 ports, and NMEA 2000 capable;
• Garmin Marine Network ports (2);
• Unit cover included;
• Easy to install.

The Cons

• A transducer is not included;
• Not compatible with Navionics charts (however, its preloaded charts have Navionics data integration).

Summary

The Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv 010-02112-00 is a 10-inch fish finder and chartplotter offering CHIRP sonar, UHD CHIRP sonar, ClearVü, SideVü, and Panoptix support. It’s preloaded with the LakeVü g3 and BlueChart g3 coastal charts, and has a 10 Hz internal GPS receiver. It does not include a transducer but it is compatible with most Garmin transducers available. It is NMEA 2000 capable and has built-in wireless connectivity. In all, it’s a great unit for a wide range of boats, for both in-land and off-shore fishing.