The essentials in 30 seconds
- At the same size, the ECHOMAP UHD2 92sv displays more pixels than the Elite FS 9 (1,024 × 600 vs. 800 × 480); the Elite FS 9 compensates with a published brightness of over 1,200 nits, a figure Garmin does not publish.
- Supplied transducer: GT54UHD-TM or GT56UHD-TM with Garmin (ClearVü/SideVü up to 1,200 kHz), Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 with Lowrance (DownScan/SideScan up to 1,075–1,200 kHz).
- Network: the Elite FS 9’s Ethernet port accepts radar, sonar modules and other displays; Garmin’s network on the UHD2 is reserved for live sonar and explicitly closed to GPSMAP, GSD and radar.
- Live sonar on both, but in two sealed ecosystems: LiveScope with Garmin, ActiveTarget 2 (via an external module) with Lowrance.
- Cartography: Garmin Navionics+ and Vision+ on one side, C-MAP and Navionics on the other. The format already owned often weighs more in the choice than the screen size.
- Ball-joint mount on both; the UHD2 adds a recessed installation documented in the manual, which the Elite FS 9 guide does not describe.
Contents
What this duel decides—and what it doesn’t
Here we compare two chartplotters of similar size and class, both sold with their stock transducer: the ECHOMAP UHD2 72sv and the 92sv from Garmin, the Elite FS 7 and the 9 from Lowrance. The UHD2 72cv, which lacks side view, is out of scope. We do not cover the HDS Pro, ECHOMAP Ultra 2, Simrad NSX or Raymarine Element: these are different ranges with their own comparisons. Specifications come from the installation manuals and manufacturer pages, read on October 1, 2026. The workshop has not yet installed both chartplotters side by side on the same sailboat.
Screen: resolution, touchscreen, weight
Both brands offer a multi-touch touchscreen. The difference lies in pixel density at the 9-inch format and in what each manufacturer chooses to publish.
| UHD2 72sv (7") | UHD2 92sv (9") | Elite FS 7 | Elite FS 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 800 × 480 | 1 024 × 600 | 800 × 480 | 800 × 480 |
| Brightness | not published | not published | > 1 200 nits | > 1 200 nits |
| Weight (screen only) | 1.0 kg | 1.3 kg | 0.9 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX6 and IPX7 | IPX6 and IPX7 |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 55 °C | -20 to 55 °C | -15 to 55 °C | -15 to 55 °C |
Sources: ECHOMAP UHD2 6/7/9 sv specifications page; Elite FS installation guide. Garmin does not publish brightness in nits for the UHD2 in the documents consulted: we do not invent it to complete the table.
Resolution matters most when the screen displays multiple views at once: chartplotter and fishfinder side by side, or the three views of a 3-in-1 transducer simultaneously. On a UHD2 92sv, each view retains more pixels than on a Elite FS 9 of the same size. On a single full-screen view, the difference is less noticeable.
The supplied transducer: what it sees
At equal screen size, it is the transducer that creates the image. The UHD2 72sv ships with a GT54UHD-TM, the 92sv with a GT56UHD-TM: traditional CHIRP from 50 to 200 kHz, ClearVü and SideVü from 260 to 1 200 kHz. Both Elite FS units receive the same transducer, the Active Imaging HD 3-in-1. It covers traditional CHIRP at 83 and 200 kHz, DownScan CHIRP at 700 and 1 200 kHz, and SideScan CHIRP at 455 and 1 075 kHz. Garmin states a range of 701 m at 77 kHz for its traditional CHIRP. We found no official equivalent for the Active Imaging HD and therefore do not invent it.
Sources: ECHOMAP UHD2 specifications page; Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 transducer datasheets, cross-checked with frequencies already published by Lowrance for the same transducer on the HDS PRO.
Chartplotter software: two ecosystems
The UHD2 reads Garmin Navionics+ and Navionics Vision+ charts, plus Quickdraw personal sonar logs. The Elite FS reads C-MAP and Navionics charts in Lowrance formats, plus Genesis Live sonar logs. The two formats are not interchangeable: a chart purchased for one will not be read by the other. If you already own charts from one brand, this choice often outweighs the screen itself. Switching chartplotter software ecosystems means repurchasing your regional charts, not just changing the screen. The details of formats and coverage areas are in our marine chartplotter software comparison.
Network and live sonar: what plugs in and what doesn't
The two displays have a NMEA 2000 port that shares position, depth and engine data with an ASN VHF or an AIS. The difference lies in the second network.
The Garmin network port on the UHD2 is used exclusively for Panoptix live sonar under the LiveScope brand and GCV fishfinders. Garmin states this clearly in its manual: this port is not compatible with a GPSMAP, a GSD module or a radar. The UHD2 therefore remains a closed unit, designed for live sonar and nothing else on the network.
The Elite FS offers a full Ethernet port: radar, sonar modules and other displays can connect to it, according to its manual. The ActiveTarget 2 live sonar also connects to it, but via a dedicated external module sold separately. The two brands therefore offer a live sonar: LiveScope for the UHD2, ActiveTarget 2 for the Elite FS. These are two closed ecosystems that do not interoperate: a LiveScope transducer will not work on a Elite FS, and vice versa.
Watch out. The NMEA 2000 port on both displays does not mean interchangeable networks. The NMEA 2000 port shares navigation data. Live sonar, radar and high-speed modules use a second network, specific to each brand: these two second networks do not communicate with each other.
Power supply and mounting
Both units are 12 V devices. The UHD2 accepts 9 to 18 V, with a supplied 3 A fast fuse. The Elite FS accepts 10 to 17 V, also with a 3 A fuse, for a maximum power consumption of 28 W, compared with 18.3 W (72sv) and 20.7 W (92sv) for Garmin.
Both are mounted on a standard ball-mount bracket. Garmin also documents flush-mounting in a dashboard, with the required hole-saw diameters. The Elite FS installation guide we consulted describes only a ball-mount bracket, supplied with a sunshade and a power cable in the box. This does not mean that Lowrance does not offer a flush-mount kit: it simply means that this document does not mention it.
For flush mounting, one figure matters as much as the front-panel cutout: the space available behind the dashboard. Garmin specifies a rear clearance of 118 mm (4 ⅝ in) for the UHD2, including cables. We found no reliable equivalent for the Elite FS in the document we consulted, and prefer not to guess a measurement.
Limitations and pitfalls
- Unmatched brightness as-is. Lowrance lists more than 1 200 nits for the Elite FS; Garmin does not publish an equivalent figure for the UHD2 in the documents we consulted. We prefer no figure to an invented one.
- Sonar power not compared. Garmin states 500 W RMS for the UHD2; no official Lowrance page provides an equivalent figure for the Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 to date.
- Two live-sonar ecosystems. Choosing the display means choosing LiveScope or ActiveTarget 2: there is no bridge between the two.
- Flush-mounting Elite FS not documented here. Verify with Lowrance or your installer before ruling this option out.
- No comparative installation by Skysat. This comparison is based solely on the manuals and manufacturer pages cited as sources.
Our verdict by use case
- You want the best 9-inch screen definition : the UHD2 92sv (1 024 × 600) wins over the Elite FS 9, which remains at 800 × 480 regardless of size.
- You want to be able to add a radar later : the Elite FS, whose Ethernet port is designed for that. The UHD2 does not allow it.
- You already have Navionics Garmin or C-MAP/Navionics Lowrance charts : stick with the ecosystem you already own rather than the screen.
- Live sonar is your priority : both allow it, but they lock you into a closed ecosystem (LiveScope or ActiveTarget 2) that you will have to keep for any future purchase.
- You want a flush-mount installation on the dashboard : the UHD2 documents this directly, including the rear cover; ask us to check the option for the Elite FS before purchasing.
- You are equipping a boat already fitted with Garmin or Lowrance (pilot, radar, instruments) : staying in the same network simplifies integration more than a slightly better screen from a competitor would.
Sources
- Garmin : ECHOMAP UHD2 6/7/9 sv installation instructions and its specification page ; Garmin Navionics+ press release for the ECHOMAP range ; ECHOMAP UHD2 product page (LiveScope compatibility).
- Lowrance : Elite FS installation guide (988-12758) ; Elite FS 9 product page (ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar ready) ; specifications of the Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 transducer, cross-checked with published frequencies for the same transducer on the HDS PRO.
Disclosure: Skysat distributes Garmin and Lowrance; links point to our catalogue. Article neither sponsored nor reviewed by the brands mentioned.
