0ur opinion: :The GPSMAP 198C Sounder is ideal for seafarers who log a lot of miles on their boats, or for people who don't have access to a PC to load individual charts onto their plotter. The unit boasts built-in, highly-detailed BlueChart cartography of the coastal United States - including Alaska and Hawaii. This data provides detailed coastlines, shaded depth contours, navaids, port plans, wrecks, restricted areas, and more. Boaters can also purchase pre-programmed data cards of other BlueChart regions - like Canada or the Bahamas - or charts of inland U.S. lakes.The unit has been updated with a new look and feel that makes marine navigation even easier. Building on Garmin's popular and proven GPSMAP 182C, the GPSMAP 198C Sounder has a new and brighter display that makes charts incredibly easy to view - even in direct sunlight. The unit also features an updated faceplate.Designed for easy installation in your boat's open cockpit or overhead boxes, Garmin's GPSMAP 198C Sounder helps you chart a clear path to your fishing or boating destination.ln addition to the features mentioned above, the GPSMAP 198C Sounder also has a dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar that outputs 500 watts of power (RMS), or 4,000 watts (peak-to-peak) - for a clear and accurate picture of bottom depth, density, thermoclines, and fish targets.
:The Garmin GPSMAP 198C Sounder is ideal for mariners who travel great distances and need high-quality chart plotting and GPS positioning capabilities in a single device. The 198C features an updated look and feel that makes marine navigation easier than ever. A brighter display makes charts incredibly easy to view, even in direct sunlight. Designed for easy installation in your boat's open cockpit or overhead boxes, Garmin's 198C helps you chart a clear path to your fishing or boating destination.

Built-in BlueChart Cartography offers a complete navigational profile. View larger. |

Get detailed fishing hot spots data. View larger. |

U.S. tide data provides information by date and location. View larger. |
The unit boasts built-in, highly-detailed Bluechart cartography of the coastal United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. This data provides detailed coastlines, shaded depth contours, navaids, port plans, wreck sites, restricted areas, and more. 198C also comes preloaded with the Worldwide Marine Basemap. This includes worldwide coverage of the continents, including rivers and streams down to 100 feet, lakes greater than five square miles, oceans, principal cities with a population greater than 20,000, major highways, and urban areas with a population of at least 50,000. Meanwhile, the unit allows you to upload additional Bluechart pre-programmed data cards of other Bluechart regions, such as Canada or the Bahamas, or charts of inland U.S. lakes. You'll also get built-in tide data and celestial tables.
 The Garmin GPSMAP 198C Sounder packs sonar, GPS, charting, and more into a single, rugged device. |
The 198C's GPS capabilities are nothing short of robust. lts WAAS-capable receiver offers an accuracy of less than three meters 95 percent of the time and the unit can store up to 3,000 waypoints, as well as 50 reversible routes with up to 254 points each. The 198C also includes a 2500-point automatic track log that saves up to 15 tracks so you can retrace your path with ease. The GA-29 low-profile external patch-style antenna can be placed virtually anywhere on your boat via the included 30-foot connecting cable, ensuring you the best possible signal reception. Additionally, positioning data can be displayed with DSC-equipped VHF radios.
As a safety feature, 198C has alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity to waypoint, user-set clock times, and low battery voltage. lt also has a front-loading Bluechart port, and it's both bracket or flush mountable. Rugged construction means the 198C can operate between -15 and 70-degrees Celsius. lt also meets rigid lEC-60529 and lPX7 submersible standards, which means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
lncluded with the 198C is a sonar transducer with a dual-frequency (200/50 KHz) sonar that outputs 500 watts of power (RMS), or 4,000 watts (peak-to-peak), for a clear and accurate picture of bottom depth of up to 1,500 feet. The transducer also provides density, thermoclines, and fish target information. The data is translated into clear graphs on the unit's highly readable, 16-color, five-inch diagonal TFT display, which features 234 x 320 pixels and a backlight.
Another major feature of the 198C is its Marine Updater functionality, allowing you to continuously update its software after it has been mounted to your boat. Marine Updater is a Windows-based PC application that works in conjunction with a Garmin USB card reader, a Garmin data card, and an lnternet connection to generate software update cards for your fixed-mount Garmin marine products. The Marine Updater will download all necessary updates and write them all back to the data card, providing you with a custom-programmed software-update card which meets your specific needs. The next time you visit your boat, just insert this custom-programmed card into the 198C and it, and all devices connected to it, will be automatically updated.
What's in the Box GPSMAP 198C sounder with built-in BlueChart cartography covering U.S. waters, worldwide marine basemap, power/data cable, bail mount, protective front cover, remote antenna with 30-foot cable, transducer, owner's manual, quick-reference card.
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