Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv

The Striker Vivid 7sv is one of the fish finders released by Garmin at the end of 2020. It’s not far different from the older Striker Plus 7sv but has the new vivid color palette which offers several extra color modes to work with when using ClearVü and SideVü. For reference, this is the Garmin fish finder part number 010-02553-00.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 7″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel resolution, WVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: High Wide Traditional CHIRP, CHIRP ClearVü, CHIRP SideVü
• Frequency and Coverage:
  2D CHIRP: High Wide CHIRP 150-240 kHz, 24°-16°
  ClearVü: 455 kHz (425-485 kHz) 2.0° / 50° and 800 kHz (790-850 kHz) 1.0° / 30°
  SideVü: 455 kHz (425-485 kHz) 2.0° / 50° and 800 kHz (790-850 kHz) 1.0° / 30°
• Depth Capability:
  2D CHIRP: 800 ft (244 m)
  ClearVü: 500 ft (152 m)
  SideVü: 500 ft (152 m)
• Transducer: GT52HW-TM (12-pin)
• Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• GPS: High-precision, internal
• Charts: No
• Waypoints, routes, tracks: 5000, 100, 50

Sonar and transducer

The Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv fish finder offers three types of sonar. These are SideVü, ClearVü, and standard CHIRP. It supports multiple frequencies, including 50/77/200 kHz for standard CHIRP, and 260/455/800 kHz for structure scanning. It also supports dual-frequency which means that if you pair it with a 50/200 kHz transducer, for example, you can work with both standard beams simultaneously.

The unit comes with the GT52HW-TM transducer. This transducer supports all three types of sonar provided by the unit. It has a transom mount, 20 ft. (6 m) of cable, and a 12-pin connector while the unit’s transducer connectors are 4-pin. However, the box includes a 12-pin to dual 4-pin adapter cable. The GT52HW-TM transducer also integrates a temperature sensor.

For standard CHIRP, the included transducer only uses a High-Wide CHIRP beam with a variable coverage of 24° – 16° and a maximum depth capability of 800 ft. (244 m). Of course, the unit supports dual-frequency so you can always use a 77/200 kHz or 50/200 kHz transducer to benefit from two different standard CHIRP modes.

For ClearVü, the transducer can use two oval beams with a coverage of 2°/50° @ 455 kHz, and 1°/30°@ 800 kHz. The maximum depth capability that can be reached with the ClearVü sonar is 500 ft. (152 m) when using the 455 kHz beam.

The SideVü, the GT52HW-TM basically uses the same beams with the same range but oriented sideways. Their side range is 500 ft. (152 m). The beams are oval and thin, with a coverage of 2°/50° @ 455 kHz, and respectively 1°/30°@ 800 kHz.

The unit offers multiple standard sonar functions. For example, it has a Circular Flasher mode for ice fishing, Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Bottom Lock, Split-Zoom, Auto Gain, multiple alarms, and more. It does not have Sonar Recording like the ECHOMAP models, only the Pause Sonar function. It also has the seven new color modes for SideVü and ClearVü which may offer a better view of the bottom, structure, and fish, depending on the current underwater environment.

Navigation features

The Striker Vivid 7sv is not pre-loaded with any charts and does not support charts. However, it does have a basic GPS plotter which offers the possibility to view your current location, mark waypoints, create routes, and record tracks. The unit can save up to 5,000 waypoints in its memory, 50 tracks with up to 50,000 points per track, and 100 routes.

Although this Garmin fish finder does not support charts, it does have the Quickdraw Contours feature. This application uses the GPS and the CHIRP sonar to reveal and draw the depth contours of the lake you’re scanning on the map. You can also share your custom maps with the Quickdraw Community as the unit has wireless connectivity.

A Depth Range Shading function is also available. It gives you the possibility to set color ranges on your recorded maps to become aware of the depth of a certain area at a quick glance. You can set deeper ranges to monitor how quickly the bottom depth changes within a specific depth range. While for inland fishing, a maximum of five depth range colors can help reduce map clutter.

Control unit features

The Striker Vivid 7sv features a 7-inch display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V. It has built-in LED backlight for improved readability in direct sunlight. It’s not a touchscreen unit; this being said, the navigation through the menus and usage of its functions can only be done via the keypad on the right side. The unit is also IPX7 waterproof which means it’s built to withstand incidental water exposure with no problem.

The unit does not have NMEA connectivity or Ethernet. However, it does have wireless connectivity and is compatible with the ActiveCaptain app. Therefore, you can install this app on your smartphone or tablet and sync your Garmin fish finder with your device. The ActiveCaptain app opens quite a few possibilities. For example, it allows you to backup waypoints or routes, download software updates if it’s the case, access the Garmin Quickdraw community for shared maps, and more.

The included unit mount is the tilt-swivel standard model. The transducer comes with a transom mount for boat installation; a trolling mount is not included. Also, the box includes a Garmin bumper sticker. A unit cover is not included.

The Pros

• Standard CHIRP sonar;
• ClearVü sonar;
• SideVü sonar;
• 7 new color palettes for ClearVü and SideVü;
• GT52HW-TM transducer included;
• Dual-frequency sonar – which means you can use both 2D beams simultaneously;
• Supports 50 kHz;
• Various sonar features such as Fish Symbols, A-
  Scope, Ultrascroll, Flasher, Bottom Lock etc;
• High-sensitivity GPS;
• Quickdraw Contours;
• Depth Range Shading;
• Waypoint creation, route creation, and track recording functions;
• Can show coordinates;
• GPS speed and GPS heading functions;
• Wireless connectivity;
• Compatible with the ActiveCaptain app;
• IPX7 waterproof and LED backlight for better readability in direct sunlight;
• Easy to install;
• Affordable unit.

The Cons

• Does not support maps;
• No NMEA support;
• No Ethernet support.

Summary

The Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv is a fish finder with a GPS plotter and the Quickdraw Contours feature. It includes the GT52HW-TM transducer for SideVü, ClearVü, and High-Wide CHIRP sonar. It does not have networking features like Ethernet or NMEA, but does have built-in wireless connectivity which allows you to use the Quickdraw Community as well as backup waypoints, or download software updates. It is one of the most affordable 7-inch fish finders with structure scanning and GPS at the moment, great for a wide range of boats, for inland and blue water fishing.