The catch
Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
There is no side imaging with SplitShot HD.
Side by side
Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD vs Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv Compared: Eagle navigates using chart cards, and Garmin makes Quickdraw contours that need no chart
Quick verdict
It comes down to chart-card navigation on Eagle or Garmin’s chart-free Quickdraw approach.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Display area is about 21.6 square inches for Eagle 7 SplitShot HD and about 21.6 for STRIKER Vivid 7cv. Use it to 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 7 SplitShot HD
- Why pick it
- Compatible chart cards and Genesis Live are requirements
- Its SplitShot HD sonar setup is a match for your fishing
- The catch
- There is no side imaging with SplitShot HD.
Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Why pick it
- Garmin Quickdraw and the selected GT20 bundle suit you
- The GT20-TM sonar in the selected US bundle suits how you fish
- The catch
- SideVu is not available from the transducer in the box.
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What this page compares
Eagle 7 SplitShot HD and STRIKER Vivid 7cv put side by side on included sonar, display workspace, chart support and the battery demands of your boat.
It comes down to chart-card navigation on Eagle or Garmin’s chart-free Quickdraw approach.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Reading sonar while sitting in the usual position
Each has a seven-inch 800 × 480 display and downward scanning sonar. Screen pixel count and the published 12V current point are the same on both, so those numbers will not make the decision for you.
- Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Picking a setup around maps and a small battery
Compatible chart cards work in Eagle, which also records Genesis Live contours. STRIKER Vivid 7cv records Quickdraw contours and waypoints, but it is not a chart-card plotter.
- Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Reusing hardware, or growing the boat system
The Wi-Fi on the Garmin handles its documented phone and Quickdraw functions and does not make STRIKER a LiveScope network display. For Eagle, no documented Ethernet live-sonar path exists here either.
- Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
Across a 2ft contour change, there are four configured intervals versus two
Contour increments are 0.5ft on Genesis Live and 1 ft on Quickdraw. Across a 2ft depth change, those settings represent four and two intervals.
- Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
- Depends
- Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Actual screen area, given the published aspect ratio
Display area is about 21.6 square inches for Eagle 7 SplitShot HD and about 21.6 for STRIKER Vivid 7cv. Use it to 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
Using the 102.4Wh working allowance, the published electrical point of Eagle 7 SplitShot HD works out to about 15.5 hours, and the STRIKER Vivid 7cv point gives about 15.5 hours as well.
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 0.55A ×12V =6.6W 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.
Across a 2ft contour change, there are four configured intervals versus two
Contour increments are 0.5ft on Genesis Live and 1 ft on Quickdraw. Across a 2ft depth change, those settings represent four and two intervals.
How we worked this out
2 ÷0.5 =4.2 ÷1 =2. This compares displayed contour spacing. It does not measure depth accuracy or survey quality.
Option A
Lowrance, Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
This seven-inch IPS fishfinder pairs SplitShot HD with GPS chart support and Genesis Live mapping. Compared with Eagle 5 it offers more viewing area on the same 800 × 480 pixel matrix.
- Best for
- More room for chart and down-sonar views
Facts we checked
- IPS display, 7-inch, 800 × 480
- Includes SplitShot HD
- 550mA 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 7 SplitShot HD | Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display technology | IPS | WVGA color | Check how it looks off-axis and through your polarized glasses. |
| 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 | 225.9mm | 235mm | Allow extra room for the bracket and the cable exits. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD
- This package is the base transducer bundle, while a C-MAP DISCOVER card is sold as a separate named package. Check 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
Compatible chart cards and Genesis Live are requirements
Go with Lowrance Eagle 7 SplitShot HD. Each has a seven-inch 800 × 480 display and downward scanning sonar. Screen pixel count and the published 12V current point are the same on both, so those numbers will not make the decision for you.
Garmin Quickdraw and the selected GT20 bundle suit you
Go with Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv. Compatible chart cards work in Eagle, which also records Genesis Live contours. STRIKER Vivid 7cv records Quickdraw contours and waypoints, but it is not a chart-card plotter.
Decision guide
How to decide
Eagle for chart-card navigation. Garmin for its chart-free Quickdraw approach.
Sorting the screen from the sonar bundle
Each has a seven-inch 800 × 480 display and downward scanning sonar. Screen pixel count and the published 12V current point are the same on both, so those numbers will not make the decision for you.
Deciding on maps and the electrical plan
Compatible chart cards work in Eagle, which also records Genesis Live contours. STRIKER Vivid 7cv records Quickdraw contours and waypoints, but it is not a chart-card plotter.
Installation and the system down the road
The Wi-Fi on the Garmin handles its documented phone and Quickdraw functions and does not make STRIKER a LiveScope network display. For Eagle, no documented Ethernet live-sonar path exists here either.
What this page can’t tell you
- The comparison is built on manufacturer specifications, with no testing on the water.
- Screen pixels and contour spacing do not tell you how accurate sonar or depth readings are.
- Make sure chart cards, mounting accessories and networked live sonar are compatible with the exact model.
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 7 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 7 SplitShot HD
Compatible chart cards and Genesis Live are requirements
See price & reviews on AmazonGarmin STRIKER Vivid 7cv
Garmin Quickdraw and the selected GT20 bundle suit you
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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