The catch
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Side by side
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD vs Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv Compared: Eagle suits compact chart navigation, Garmin gives sonar more room on screen
Quick verdict
Compact chart support or a larger sonar display with no charts.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD has about 11 square inches of display area, while STRIKER Vivid 7cv has about 21.6. That helps you judge viewing distance and split-screen comfort.
Where this comes from
Assuming square pixels and the published diagonal, Area = diagonal² × horizontal pixels × vertical pixels ÷ (horizontal pixels² + vertical pixels²). The values are geometric estimates and not active-area measurements.
The catch
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
SideVu is not available from the transducer in the box.
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Why pick it
- A smaller case and chart cards are what you need
- Its SplitShot HD sonar setup fits the way you fish
- The catch
- Side imaging is not something SplitShot HD provides.
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Why pick it
- Seven-inch viewing area and Quickdraw are what you want
- The GT20-TM sonar in the selected US bundle matches how you fish
- The catch
- SideVu is not available from the transducer in the box.
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What this page compares
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD and STRIKER Vivid 7cv set out on included sonar, display workspace, chart support and the battery demands of your boat.
Compact chart support or a larger sonar display with no charts.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Reading sonar while sitting in the usual position
Both Eagle 5 and Vivid 7cv have 800 × 480 pixels. Garmin stretches that matrix across a larger display, and Eagle stays compact while supporting chart cards.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Picking a setup around maps and a small battery
Downward imaging is offered by both supplied bundles, and neither has side imaging. A kayak that mostly tracks depth and structure below may get by with either sonar scope.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Reusing hardware, or growing the boat system
At 182.1mm, Eagle’s body is 52.9mm narrower than the 235mm Garmin body. On narrow accessory tracks, bracket clearance and the cable route need special attention.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Only the smaller body fits a 200mm mounting span
Within 200mm, Eagle 5 leaves 17.9mm. Vivid 7cv goes 35mm over the same span, before knobs or cables.
- Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD has about 11 square inches of display area, while STRIKER Vivid 7cv has about 21.6. That helps you judge viewing distance and split-screen comfort.
How we worked this out
Assuming square pixels and the published diagonal, Area = diagonal² × horizontal pixels × vertical pixels ÷ (horizontal pixels² + vertical pixels²). The values are geometric estimates and not active-area measurements.
A 12.8V10Ah battery, keeping 20% in reserve
At the 102.4Wh working allowance, the published electrical point of Eagle 5 SplitShot HD works out to about 30.5 hours and the STRIKER Vivid 7cv point to about 15.5 hours.
How we worked this out
The assumption is 12.8V ×10Ah ×0.8 =102.4Wh usable for this device alone. At the published points, power is 0.28A ×12V =3.4W and 0.55A ×12V =6.6W. HELIX input is taken as 12V, since the draw specification leaves out the test voltage. Converter loss, temperature and battery aging are ignored. This is not a measured runtime comparison.
Only the smaller body fits a 200mm mounting span
Within 200mm, Eagle 5 leaves 17.9mm. Vivid 7cv goes 35mm over the same span, before knobs or cables.
How we worked this out
200 minus 182.1 =17.9mm. 200 minus 235 =negative 35mm. For final clearance, use the installation drawing.
Option A
Lowrance, Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
This five-inch IPS fishfinder and chartplotter uses SplitShot HD for CHIRP and views of structure below the boat. A small case and a published 280mA draw make it a fit for compact 12V setups.
- Best for
- Compact down-looking sonar plus chart cards
Facts we checked
- IPS display, 5-inch, 800 × 480
- Includes SplitShot HD
- 280mA at 12V when the backlight is full
- Genesis Live provides 0.5ft contours
Option B
Garmin, STRIKER Vivid 7cv with GT20-TM
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
You get a 7-inch display and, in the named Amazon configuration, a transducer.
- Best for
- map an uncharted lake and fish from a kayak
Facts we checked
- A 7-inch display is built in.
- A transducer comes with the named Amazon configuration.
- The named configuration leaves out side imaging.
- The unit supports charting or live mapping.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD | Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display diagonal | 5 inches | 7 inches | A bigger physical view helps if the unit is mounted farther from the seat. |
| Display technology | IPS | WVGA color | Check how it looks off-axis and through your polarized glasses. |
| Published electrical point | 0.28A at 12V | 0.55A at 12V | Size a battery using the stated conditions. The HELIX voltage is a nominal 12V assumption. |
| Included transducer | SplitShot HD | GT20-TM in the selected US bundle | The sonar modes and installation hardware you get depend on this exact bundle. |
| Chart-card path | C-MAP chart-card support | No chart-card support | Navigation chart cards are a different thing from GPS waypoints and self-recorded depth maps. |
| Personal mapping | Genesis Live, 0.5ft contours | Quickdraw Contours, 1ft contours | Fit the layers and contour display you need to the fishing task. |
| Bare body width | 182.1mm | 235mm | Allow extra room for the bracket and the cable exits. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
- The package selected here is the base transducer bundle, and a C-MAP DISCOVER card comes as its own named package. Verify the included regional charts against the exact lake.
With Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- No detailed chart bundle comes preloaded.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
A smaller case and chart cards are what you need
Go with Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD. Both Eagle 5 and Vivid 7cv have 800 × 480 pixels. Garmin stretches that matrix across a larger display, and Eagle stays compact while supporting chart cards.
Seven-inch viewing area and Quickdraw are what you want
Go with Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv. Downward imaging is offered by both supplied bundles, and neither has side imaging. A kayak that mostly tracks depth and structure below may get by with either sonar scope.
Decision guide
How to decide
Decide between compact chart support and a larger sonar display that has no charts.
The display versus the sonar bundle
Both Eagle 5 and Vivid 7cv have 800 × 480 pixels. Garmin stretches that matrix across a larger display, and Eagle stays compact while supporting chart cards.
What to know about maps and power
Downward imaging is offered by both supplied bundles, and neither has side imaging. A kayak that mostly tracks depth and structure below may get by with either sonar scope.
Fitting it in, and growing later
At 182.1mm, Eagle’s body is 52.9mm narrower than the 235mm Garmin body. On narrow accessory tracks, bracket clearance and the cable route need special attention.
What this page can’t tell you
- Only manufacturer specifications are compared here, and there was no on-water testing.
- Pixels on the screen and contour spacing do not establish sonar or depth accuracy.
- Compatibility with the exact model must be confirmed for chart cards, mounting accessories and networked live sonar.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the fish finders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
8 of the 23 models checked meet every need here: “Take in split screens at a glance” and “View structure straight below”.
8 models fit, out of 23 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Take in split screens at a glance” and “View structure straight below”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD |
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| Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Lowrance Eagle 5 SplitShot HD
A smaller case and chart cards are what you need
See price & reviews on AmazonGarmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
Seven-inch viewing area and Quickdraw are what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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