Marine Electronics Forum - Garmin chartplotter questions

Hi guys,

I am about ready to pull the trigger on new electronics and I have a couple questions for the group here. Your opinions are greatly appreciated!

1) Other than screen size is there any other significant differences between the 740 and the 546?

2) The new unit will go into a fiberglass electonics box, I am assuming the internal antenna will be blocked, true and if so which external unit is the best value and does it just plug into the unit?

Thanks!

CT

740 is bigger and lightning speed. A well respected unit and the 740S has the sounder capability. 740s around $1300 or more

I am in the belief that you should buy the largest screen you can afford as long as it will fit where you want to put it. With that I would say go for the 740S. As for the internal antenna, you will not have a problem with reception in the electronics box. I have my HDS-10 Gen2 flush mounted in my console with a 740S as a backup in my electronics box. I also have a hard top T-top and both units work just fine with the internal antenna.

740S is a touch screen and the 546S is not.

If you get the V2 Vision chip you will love the 740S over the 546S.

740S has a faster processor over the 546.

740S is much easier to use with the touch screen over holding down a button to move the screen
and being a larger screen you can seen the area better while scrolling fast.

The pixels are better in the 740S 800 x 480 over the 546S 480 x 640

740S can do radar down the road if you want radar. 546S cannot do radar.

Both units should work in a fiberglass box without antenna. The signal cannot go through metal.
If you need the external antenna both units has the ability.

Both do the fish finder.

My choice hands down is the 740S.

Yes the price is more on the 740s but worth every penny if you can afford.

Hi guys,

2) The new unit will go into a fiberglass electonics box, I am assuming the internal antenna will be blocked, true and if so which external unit is the best value and does it just plug into the unit?

Thanks!

CT

My 740s is flush mounted in a fiber glass center console, under a T-top, and the internal gps antenna works fine and gets a signal quickly.

Thanks guys for the replies;

I was really leaning to the 740 but needed a bit of extra push and got it here. I also visited West Marine and found the 546 next to the 740 and it was no comparison at all. 740 won hands down. Love the touch screen, you were right Trainxxman.

Hodges Marine has the 720, 740, and 740S available remanufacturered from Garmin with a 1 year warranty. Since I plan to get a Furuno 585 I figured it was not really needed for me nor worth the extra$$$ and it would have needed a transducer anyway which is extra $$$ on top. I will take those savings and get a better transducer with the 585 from Gil.

I did decide to go ahead and spend another $43 and get the GA 30 external Antenna, it was inexpensive and worth it to go ahead and get it taken care of in one installation expense.

Appreciate what I learn here, THT rules for sure!

CT