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Long before the advent of sophisticated multifunction displays and networked electronic packages, the CombinationChartplotter/Fishfinder was born. Customers found that these machines provided both a space and cost savings by “sharing” a single screen. Often the penalty for this savings was reduced performance in one or both functions. Good plotters might not be the best fishfinders and vice versa. Today, the Combination GPS Chartplotter/Fishfinder is the most popular form of combined electronics. Recent advances in technology have eliminated the early problems and limitations of combined units. Consumers have a nearly limitless supply of units available in monochrome or color, with screen sizes as small as 3.5” up to a massive 12.1” screen, and a wide variety of sonar power and frequency combinations, including multi-frequency machines with up to 1,000 watts of power. While this kind of selection can be a bonus for the consumer, we all know it can be a real nightmare for the retailer. Below we have tried to give you a quick overview and some key points on these units: Fishfinder... of all the changes in Combiniation units over years, the biggest impact has been the quality of thefishfinder capability that is currently available. These units were originally designed for small boats in shallow water. Today, units are available in a multitude of frequencies including units with dual or even multiple frequency capability and with power outputs up to 1000 watts . As with everything inelectronics today, “better, faster, cheaper” means that the new generation equipment provides more features at alower cost. GPS Chartplotter... the advent of inexpensive GPS receivers has made it more affordable for manufacturers to include position and navigation features with fishfinders. Most units feature WAAS receivers that provide 5 meter accuracy and even the most inexpensive units offer more navigation features than the average boater is likely to ever use. Couple this with lower processor and screen costs and it is easy to see why these units continue to grow in popularity. Note on Cartography... many Combination units cater to the small boat market and price consciousconsumer. One new trend is the push to sell units with built-in mapping for the entire United States. This way the customer is not “forced” to buy an expensive chart. While consumers often don’t see a significant difference in coverage between the leading mapping brands, built-in factory coverage can vary widely in the quality and quantity of the information available. Fortunately, most of these units also offer the option to accept an external chart card from one of the major cartography companies. For the average boater these charts provide better detail for their area and a more secure upgrade path for their navigation software. Note on Multifunction Electronics... a few of the systems on these are the basis for a manufacturer’s Multifunction Electronics systems. For the most part only units that have built-in sonar capability are listed here. For other Chartplotters with external sonar, please see Multifunction Electronics |
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