Garmin® Announces echo™ Series Fishfinders for Inland and Coastal Anglers

Garmin the global leader in satellite navigation*, today announced the echo series – a new line of standalone fishfinders that raise the standard for sonar performance and ease of use.  From economical 8-level greyscale units to a full array of super-bright colour models, these new Garmin systems sport an updated look, and with Garmin HD-ID™ target tracking technology, they deliver the separation and definition fisherman need and expect.  

“We’ve significantly increased the power and improved the performance so that with every echo, you can count on clear, concise fish targeting and bottom tracking” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.  “Ultimately it’s about catching more fish – and these powerful new fishfinders will help get even better results.” 

The premier high resolution echo 550C features an ultra-sharp video-quality 640×480 pixel 5-inch VGA screen, a powerful 500-watt sonar transmitter, and offers excellent fish arch display and bottom tracking as deep as 1,900 feet.  The echo 550c is dual beam (200/77 kHz) capable and gives optimum deep or shallow water performance with up to 120 degrees of effective fish scanning area.  Garmin’s echo 500C boasts the same aforementioned premium features, and offers a crisp 256-colour QVGA display which gives 320×234-pixel resolution for extra-sharp detail on fish returns, structure and bottom soundings.

For the fisherman on a budget, the echo 300c is a great colour sonar option and uses Garmin’s exclusive HD-ID target tracking technology to give you a crystal-clear picture of fish returns and bottom features on its 3.5-inch TFT display.  The echo 300c is the first in its class to offer dual-frequency compatibility that lets you optimize performance for deep or shallow water.  The 300-watt RMS sounder can scan as deep as 1,500 feet with up to 120 degrees of viewing angle to see targets fish well beyond the sides of your boat.

Garmin’s echo series also features three fishfinder models with greyscale displays. The echo 200 is a 5-inch, versatile fishfinder that combines easy operation with a powerful 300-watt RMS sounder.  This fishfinder has a high resolution greyscale display, and is dual-beam capable. With the echo 200, you can scan deep water to a maximum depth of 1,500 feet.  In a compact, space-saving design, Garmin’s echo 150 dual-beam fishfinder features an ultra-crisp 4-inch, 8-level greyscale display.  With 200 watts RMS of sonar power output, the echo 150 lets you scan depths down to 1,300 feet.  And completing the echo series family of fishfinders, the echo 100 is a single-beam (200 kHz) sonar that features fast screen updates on its 4-inch greyscale display.  The echo 100 transmits with 100 watts RMS of power output, which gives you depth down to 600 feet. 

Each model in the echo series features Garmin’s new HD-ID target tracking technology, which gives you an amazing level of detail on fish returns, structure and bottom contours.  For an uninterrupted view of the sonar image, the echo 200, 300c, 500c and 550c also boast Garmin Smooth Scaling™ technology, which means you won’t lose sight of the sonar history as the unit changes depth ranges.  And the 5-inch models (echo 200, 500c and 550c) also feature the ability to rewind your sonar history, to ensure that you don’t miss a thing.

These new systems come with everything you need – including a transom/trolling motor transducer mount – to make getting on the water even faster and easier.  All six new models also come standard with a quick-release mount with tilt and swivel included, and the 5-inch units also include a quick-disconnect cable management system.  An optional flush-mount kit is also available for each model.   

Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices are as follows: €499 for the echo 550c; €399 for the echo 500c; €249 for the echo 300c; €199 for the echo 200; €129 for the echo 150; and €109 for the echo 100. 

For more information, including availability, visit www.garmin.com/onthewater.

*According to Canalys report for sat nav sales made in 2009

About Garmin
The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology.  Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin's media centre at http://garmin.blogs.com/ukpr. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.  All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2009 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 000-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.