Fish Finder | Sonar & | Navigation | Networking | Control Unit |
Sonar: | GPS: | NMEA 0183 | 9" Diagonal |
The Garmin echoMAP 94sv is one of the older echoMAP units released in 2015. It’s no longer supported by Garmin, but might still be available on various retailers. It’s a fish finder and chartplotter unit offering traditional and structure scanning sonar. Also, this is the Garmin part number 010-01392-01, the one that comes with the transducer. In case you can’t find it anymore, you might want to have a look at the ECHOMAP Plus 94sv or the ECHOMAP UHD 94sv.
Key Features and Specifications
- Screen: 9″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel resolution, color TFT, with auto-adjusting backlight
- Sonar: Dual Frequency, SideVü and DownVü
- Frequency and Coverage:
- standard sonar: 200 kHz / 10° and 50 kHz / 40°
- DownVü sonar: 260 kHz / 2°x51°, 455 kHz / 1.4°x29°
- SideVü sonar: 260 / 455 kHz, up to 750 feet on each side of the boat
- Depth Capability:
- 1,500 feet (457 m) for standard sonar
- 1,000 feet (304 m) for DownVü
- 750 feet (228.6 m) for SideVü
- Transducer: Transom GT41-TM (12-pin), standard sonar, DownVü, and SideVü
- Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
- Power Consumption: 11W
- GPS: 5 Hz, Internal
- Maps: U.S. BlueChart g2
- Routes, Waypoints, Tracklog: 100; 5,000; 50,000 points (50 tracks)
Control unit features
To begin with, this unit offers a large 9-inch display, with high-contrast color and keypad. The display uses automatic backlight adjustment, to provide a clear view in direct sunlight, or during night fishing. The display unit is IPX7 waterproof, meaning it’s resistant to spills and can withstand incidental water exposure or immersion up to 1 meter, for up to 30 minutes.
One of the best aspects regarding the echoMAP 94sv multifunction display is the mounting system. The cables plug directly into the mount, not into the unit, so in case you want to remove the display unit from the boat, the task is easy, you don’t have to disconnect cables.
The unit features one microSD card slot, for data backup, or access to various maps. It also offers an NMEA 0183 port, which gives you the possibility of easy system integration on your boat. It also supports AIS and can display position data from DSC-capable VHF radio.
Sonar and transducer
When it comes to fish finding functions, first of all, this unit offers dual-frequency standard sonar,

DownVü and SideVü. The GT41-TM transom transducer included, supports all these sonar technologies. For standard sonar, it will operate at 50/200 kHz with a maximum depth of 1,500 ft. The 200 kHz transducer beam is pretty narrow, 10° wide, but does offer a pretty clear view especially for shallow waters. On the other hand, the lower, 50 kHz frequency offers a more powerful depth-wise, and wider beam, of 40°.
For DownVü and SideVü, this fish finder uses thin beams, between 1.4° – 2.0° fore to aft. and 29° to 51° wide. DownVü offers photo-like clarity imaging for what’s directly under the boat, at depths up to 1,000 ft. in freshwater. SideVü offers the same photo-like clarity imaging as DownVü, supplying an above view side-to-side from the boat, stretching up to 750 ft. on each side. Although Garmin specifies that this unit’s SideVü is capable of scanning depths up to 750 ft., it might be a bit of a stretch though, side view imaging sonar typically provides the best quality imaging at depths up to 300 ft.
The transducer supplied with this unit features a built-in temperature probe. This being said, the display unit can indicate water temperature, also offering a temperature graph function.
A few other sonar-related functions of the echoMAP 94sv are Bottom Lock and A-Scope. Bottom Lock focuses on sonar returns close to the bottom, a great feature to use if you’re looking for catfish, for example. A-Scope is a vertical flasher available in full-screen sonar mode, displayed on the right side, function which expands the most recently received sonar data, enabling it easier to see.
However, one of the most useful sonar-related functions of this unit is sonar recording. This function gives you the possibility to record your sonar feed and re-watch it later or to scroll back through it for a quick review of a certain spot. Sonar recording requires a data microSD card to be plugged into the unit, as it cannot be saved in the unit’s memory. However, the recording typically doesn’t occupy much. In general, about 15 min. of recording should take up to 200 MB on your card.
Navigation features
The best part about the echoMAP 94sv when it comes to navigation is its preloaded charts pack BlueChart g2. This charts package covers the coastal U.S. and Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, East Coast, West Coast, and the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. Differently put, it includes basically everything available on NOAA charts. BlueChart g2 provides a very smooth transitioning between zoom levels and superior continuity across chart boundaries. It also makes available 2D and 3D (over the bow) map views, while the included fishing charts feature bathymetric contours with less visual clutter.

The contours on the maps can be shaded via the Safety Shading function, in order to ensure safer navigation. On top of that, this unit features Enhanced Auto Guidance, which instantly searches through your maps to create the safest pathway for your routes. Hazard points can easily be reviewed on your calculated path, and your autopilot can be synchronized with the Auto Guidance app, in order to follow the course set by it. The Garmin echoMAP 94sv offers the possibility to store up to 5,000 waypoints and up to 100 routes, and 50 trails containing 50,000 trail points each.
Of course, the unit is compatible with various other chart packs, which can be uploaded to the unit via microSD card. LakeVü HD Ultra, LakeVü™ HD, or BlueChart g2 Vision are some of them.
This unit also offers tidal, current, and celestial information. Via BlueChart g2, you can view the information provided by different tide stations, or current stations, regarding tide height, or current speeds. The celestial information function gives you the possibility to know the correct sky view location of the sun and moon, and plenty of info regarding sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, moon phases, etc.
Last but not least, the Garmin unit incorporates a very precise and responsive, 5 Hz internal GPS, with a 5 times per second refresh. To maximize precision, the unit’s GPS uses GLONASS correction.
Summary
The Garmin echoMAP 94sv is one of the discontinued Garmin fish finders. It is also a chartplotter and comes with the BlueChart g2 maps. It has internal GPS, DownVü sonar, SideVü sonar, and standard sonar. It also includes the GT41-TM (12-pin) transducer. It’s a great fish finder for a wide array of boats, intended for bluewater fishing due to the BlueChart g2 maps, but can be used for freshwater fishing as well.
Can you please clarify in the first paragraph where you mention this doesn’t offer CHIRP. Everything I am seeing online says this is a CHIRP unit.
There are two Garmin echoMAP 94sv units: The Garmin echoMAP 94sv (part number 010-01392-01), and the Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 94sv (part number 010-01580-01). This model here, is the 010-01392-01, the one without CHIRP.
do the depth finder features work In shallow coastal nc waters. 3 to 20 feet.
Yes, it should. In fact, sv and dv sonar types are for fishing in shallows.
Can this imitation be flush mounted in my console or does it have to be installed in the provided support where the cables are attached?
First of all, you’re looking at the older unit. The echoMAP 94sv is an older unit. Not sure if it has a flush mount kit. However, the newer echoMAP CHIRP 94sv does come with a flush mount kit. It’s probably a bit cheaper than the older unit too, and has CHIRP sonar capabilities. Give it a check.
would you guys recommend this for offshore fishing?
It appears that it has all the elements required for off-shore fishing. 200/50 kHz transducer for deep water, plus 260/455 kHz for Sv and Dv, and BlueChart g2 maps, which are coastal maps. I would say so, yes.
You mentioned it includes mapping of the great lakes but US waters only offered with the BlueChart g2maps. Fishing the St Clair & Erie on and over the Canadian border would I have to install a different map chip?
You can either go with a Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 95sv, which is basically the same as the 94sv, but comes with LakeVü HD Canada. Or buy a LakeVü HD Canada charts chip, if you want to get a different unit. As a general idea, the x5sv / x5dv units, come with LakeVü Canada charts.
Can you use a navionics platinum plus sds card in this unit
No. Garmin units are not compatible with Navionics charts.
I bought this unit, and then bought a map chip on line. When I install the chip then I get no maps at all on the screen. If I remove the chip the default mapping comes back. I have tried to see if I’m doing it wrong, but can’t find anything on line. Any suggestions?
Sucks to answer a question with another question, but are you sure that the maps chip that you bought has maps compatible with this Garmin unit? This unit is only compatible with Garmin LakeVü™ HD, LakeVü HD Ultra or BlueChart g2 Vision charts. And in general, Garmin units are not compatible with Navionics or C-MAP charts.
hi there,I have 2 questions,
1.) what is the difference between the echomap Plus 95sv, 94sv and the 93sv? All 3 of these units come with auto mapping correct?
2.) I recently purchased last years model in the echomap chirp 75sv, I am wondering if the older echomap models can be networked together with the new “plus” models?
Thankyou
1.
– 95sv – Canada LakeVü charts, CV52HW-TM transducer,
– 94sv – BlueChart g2 charts and CV51M-TM transducer,
– 93sv – U.S. LakeVü charts CV52HW-TM transducer.
They all have Quickdraw Contours automapping.
2.
You can’t share waypoints between 7x/9x Plus units and the older units as they have Ethernet and the older ones don’t. Only via microSD card maybe.
Tell me what you recommend as a through hull transducer with 40 feet of cable for this unit and the price. I would like to order one
Thanks Brian
According to Garmin, there are only two thru-hull transducers (that can do both SV and CV) available for this unit. These are the GT41-TH and GT41-THP. They’re a bit expensive, and they only have a 5 ft cable + an extension of 30 ft.
Radar compatible?
No. It only supports AIS data. If you’re looking for a 9-inch Garmin unit that’s Radar compatible, you should go with the Garmin GPSMAP 942xs. The GPSMAP units don’t include a transducer, though. You will have to purchase one separately.