Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv Overview
The Striker Vivid 9sv is a top end unit in Garmin’s Strike line. It has both down and side imaging which we will talk about below in more detail but there’s one thing that should be made clear right off the bat: this product does not come cheap.
The output seems to try too hard by mentioning all of its features while staying tightly focused on what matters most without overwhelming readers with information they don’t care or know anything about yet.
This little GPS unit does not come with any maps and lacks an SD card slot, which is a huge minus for us. However it makes the product less expensive so I’ll talk about how anglers who really need this kind of thing should consider buying one.
Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good transducer
- Sharp imaging
- Some of the best color palettes on the market
- Feature dense
- ActiveCaptain
Cons
- No touchscreen
- No built-in maps
- No way to expand memory
- No way to add maps
- So-so networking
Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv Key Features
The Vivid 9sv is a fish finder with many solid features and excellent quality. It can be used for pre-fishing lakes to help players prepare in advance.
Display and Interface
The Garmin Vivid is a great unit for anglers who need an easy to see display. It has crisp and clear vision, even in low light conditions or when it’s raining. You can also use this one during night fishing trips because of its backlit technology which makes everything visible no matter what time of day you go out on your boat ride.
The Striker Vivid 9 is a high end fish finder unit that can show you everything from the structure of your bottom to what kind of bait or lure works best for different types waters. It also comes with 7 color palettes so it will suit anglers who have deficiencies in their vision too.
The interface is easy to use, but some of the features are less than desirable. For example, it’s not possible with this device or any other notch display we’ve seen so far (such as Samsung) for you can have both portrait/landscape modes on at once the only way around this issue seems like replacing your screen altogether.
While the unit is easy enough to navigate through, featuring a customizable homepage with an intuitive interface that allows you access all of your settings in one place it does not have touchscreens. Nowadays we take for granted how quickly and easily our fingers can move across screens without having any physical buttons between us.
The interface is serviceable, though not spectacular. There are arrows for navigation and setting waypoints but no real customization options outside of those two things which means it will be hard to get used if you’re looking elsewhere in this niche market as well albeit one with more features than most others anyway.
Sonar
With a good sonar, you can find fish even when it’s deep sea fishing. This unit has an excellent transducer with 800 feet depth range and will provide fantastic results for most anglers only those doing waters longer than that may need something more powerful.
With CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) sonar, this unit offers great accuracy and target separation. While it’s becoming industry standard at this point in time worth pointing out if only so you can avoid units.
With options like interference rejection and variable sensitivity, this sonar can find fish in even the most challenging of environments. There’s also Ultrascroll to make sure you always have access if your vessel is moving quickly not just when trying out new techniques for ice fishing.
With flasher mode on hand (just be careful), it won’t take long before everyone’s excited about how good things are going at sea with such an advanced device.
Mapping
The Striker Vivid 9 has a mapping issue that many people might not be aware of. It’s missing the ability to add maps and doesn’t come with any pre installed, which means you’ll need your own if traveling outside an area covered by this ski map app for Android (which also happens in certain countries).
However it does have one saving grace, Quickdraw Contours allows users create their own custom trails using information from GPS signals sent by smartphones.
The Striker V9 is a great choice if you’re looking to take your fishing game up another level. You’ll be able do all of this and more thanks in part from its chartplotting capabilities, which allow users not only make their own charts but also add waypoints or routes on top as well, And best yet? With ActiveCaptain included on board.
The Quickdraw Contours feature is a welcome addition to the fishing experience. It helps you find your way through deep water with less problem, and makes it easier for those who don’t have charts as well.
Networking
The Striker Vivid 9 is a great choice for those who want to use their app on the go. This means you can take your connectivity with ease and without sacrificing any of its awesome features. The device offers both Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities, but if there are more devices in need then be careful because it only supports one type at time.
The Striker Vivid 9 is a great device for those who are angling on their own, but there isn’t much toneystone if you want other people in your party partied along with. Luckily enough though we now have two options available by connecting the Data Sharing Cable or through ActiveCaptain’s software solution.
Imaging
The Striker Vivid 9″ HD Touchscreen LCD Fish Finder is the best unit at this price point for fishing. You’re getting 250 feet per side, and 500 down – in high definition with stunning clarity. And because it has two screens (250 ft/ SideVu), you can use it both during pre fishing activities where visibility isn’t an issue.
The chartplotter comes standard with amazing sonar capabilities. You can have your map on one screen while checking out fish locations and exploring lakes in another. We also like using it to find our catch before heading over there so we know what kind of bait or lure is right for that area.
Conclusion
The Vivid 9 is an excellent choice for anyone who values screen real estate over price tag. It might be worth looking into if you have a tight budget and want to get the best bang-for-$500 possible.
If you want to make your charts yourself and don’t need networking or charting features, then this unit might be right for you. But most people get units of this size because they desire some sorta connectivity with other devices in order do so.
While it may not be ideal for us, you could get a smaller unit with networking and preloaded maps.
