Key Facts | Full Specs | Manuals | Videos
ADVANCED NAVIGATION | Compact & Fast
Should you upgrade to a – GPSMAP 942xs Touch?
We take a detailed look at the specifications and get a couple thoughts from some who already have.
Garmin GPSMAP 942xs – is advanced navigation solution in a 9″ very sunlight-readable touchscreen all-in-one fully networkable chartplotter/fishfinder .
Building on the popularity of the 7-inch touchscreen that Garmin pioneered in 2010, the 942xs adds big value in a compact device.
Wireless – It features built-in wireless connectivity for Garmin mobile apps and VIRB® action camera integration, and a 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver for smooth on-screen navigation.
Preloaded charts and mapping include BlueChart® g3 charts and LakeVü g3 maps. Built-in Wi-Fi paired with the free ActiveCaptain app makes updates and chart upgrades pretty simple.
The Ultimate Connected Boating App – the free ActiveCaptain™ app, enables you to manage your marine experience from nearly anywhere. It creates a powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and your Garmin 942xs, charts, maps and the boating community.
Wherever you are, you’ll have unlimited access to your cartography, the ability to purchase new maps and charts and access to the Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours Community.
Stay connected with smart notifications on your chartplotter screen. ActiveCaptain will automatically sync with your chartplotter, receive notifications for software updates, and decide when to download them on your device.
Networking – The 942xs is fully Garmin Marine Network capable which allows for sharing sonar, maps, user data, radar, IP cameras and PanoptixTM all-seeing sonar including Panoptix FrontVü collision avoidance sonar among multiple units. Plus, there’s NMEA® 2000 and NMEA 0183 support for autopilots, digital switching, weather, VHF, AIS and other sensors.
Anglers, cruisers and sailors alike will definitely benefit from the 942xs built-in 1kW traditional CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar capability for a near-picture quality view of what’s beneath the boat.
It also fully supports the full line of Panoptix all-seeing sonar transducers
A 9” Touchscreen Chartplotter Combo – that proves that advanced navigation does come in a compact package.
Garmin confused this model series a bit as the 942xs comes in 2 flavors. The Touch and the Plus models have much of the the same features with a several additions added to the Plus.
The 942xs Plus was announced in October of 2019 and included enhanced features focused on more integration capabilities like Garmin OneHelm™ which allows control of onboard systems directly from the screen.
OneHelm adds screen control and customization of crucial systems like lighting, stabilization and digital switching to one master source.
Two other additions for the GPSMAP Plus series are the additinon of a J1939 connection port on the back for engine integration and the internal processing power was improved to provide a faster user experience across the entire network.
Chart redraw speeds are faster and all other sensors like radar, sonar and multimedia benefit from the increased system performance.
Garmin GPSMAP Touch | Lineup
This Lineup – Comes in 3 screen sizes, features full scanning sonar capabilities and supports Panoptix.They all come preloaded with both Garmin BlueChart g3 charts and LakeVü g3 mapping.
Clear and Bright – This is one of the first things you notice. The 9″ diagonal WSVGA Color Touchscreen display measures 1024 x 600 pixels and is bright with an excellent viewing angle even in direct sun.
Built-in GPS – The 10hz GPS receiver acquires satellites quickly on start up and shows exact location without much delay.
Network Capabilities – Easily share sonar data, Panoptix sonar, user data, waypoints, routes, radar, IP Cameras and supplemental charts among multiple units.
NMEA 2000 | 0183 – Connect the Ultra to an autopilot, digital switching, weather, FUSION-Link audio system, media, VHF or AIS and other sensors.
GPX Waypoints Transfer – If you have waypoints, tracks or frequently used routes on another GPS, GPX is an easy way to transfer them to the 942xs Touch. GPX is an industry-standard software formatting for transferring GPS data (waypoints, routes and tracks) to other devices.
Touchscreen navigation – Setting up the unit for how you fish or cruise is simple and adding custom screens and settings is pretty easy without having to do a deep dive into the manual.
You can add items, rearrange items on the home screen and even change to background image.
Garmin GPSMAP 942xs Touch – Navigation
Custom Pages – Creating custom combinations is easy. Setup a custom screen for fishing with sonar splitscreen with traditional on one side and clearvu on the other.
Set one up with chart and sonar for cruising or one for finding structure using ClearVü and Chirp sonar only.
Creating a New Combination Pages – You have choice between 7 different screen combinations and can customize each pane individually.
942xs Touch | Custom Screen Combinations
Built-in sonar capabilities – The GPSMAP 942xs Touch includes a 1kW CHIRP traditional sonar, ClearVü scanning sonar and supports the full line of Panoptix all-seeing sonar transducers.
Addtional info on the Panoptix™ all-seeing sonar line.
Networked units can share their internal sonar with any other device connected on the network. You can choose what information is overlaid on the sonar screen; for example, radar, time of day or GPS speed.
Garmin GPSMAP 942xs | Sonar Combinations
TRADITIONAL CHIRP SONAR – CHIRP sonar sends a continuous sweep of frequencies ranging from low to high, instead of sending just 1 single frequency at a time.
Non Chirp | Traditional Chirp Sonar
Traditional Chirp Sonar Target Separation
The 1kW CHIRP sonar sweeps a continuous range of frequencies, from low to high, in a single transmission. The information returned from each frequency in that transmission is then shown on the screen.
Since this continuous sweep of frequencies provides a much wider range of information, CHIRP sonar is able to create a very clear, high-resolution image.
As you can see above, you get far greater target separation and more defined arches than you would with standard 50/200 kHz sonar. The maximum working depth is about 5,000 ft at 1kW, saltwater depending on bottom type and water conditions.
Recording the Sonar Display – A very cool feature that allows you to record the sonar screen for playback on Garmin HomePort™ and review it later. I find it pretty valuable to be able to look over the the recording from the day and mark any spots that i what to check out in more detail.
As I play it back, I can stop and drop a GPS mark on something interesting and upload to the GPS to take a look at next time I’m on the water. See image above.
942xs Touch | Sonar Recording – Homeport
To Start Recording – Insert a memory card into the card slot. From a sonar view, select MENU > Record Sonar. Garmin says 15 minutes of sonar recording uses approximately 200 MB of space of the inserted memory card but i recorded several hours and only had a 980mb file.
An individual recording automatically ends after it reaches 4 GB in size. You can record sonar data until the card reaches capacity.
Note: Before you can play back the sonar recordings, you must download and install the Garmin HomePort™ application and record sonar data onto a memory card.
Sonar History Rewind – As the GPSMAP 942xs gets sonar data, while you’re tracking bottom or fish, you can go back and see what you previously went over by just tapping the screen and scrolling back. The amount of sonar history available to scroll back and view is about from 2-3 screens wide.
The scroll speed will effect how you will have recorded. For example, if the GPS is set to a slower scroll speed in the sonar menu, window of time the unit can rewind will be greater. If the device is set to it’s fastest scroll speed, you will see a smaller window of time within the sonar rewind.
If you see some thing good that you just marked, rewind the history, tap the screen and drop a waypoint on it to save it. The best honey holes are often found when moving from one location to another.
ClearVü SONAR – ClearVü sonar is mainly used to identify structure and gives you a nearly photographic image structure below the boat.
With ClearVü, you see structure, submerged objects, and fish separation more clearly.
ClearVü Sonar | Excellent for Structure
ClearVü sonar | Custom Color
ClearVü vs Traditional | Structure vs Fish
Instead of a cone-shaped beam like traditional CHIRP sonar, ClearVü scanning sonar sweeps a narrow beam of very high-frequency (455 or 800kHz) from side to side, producing “slices” that are combined to create very detailed images.
Fish are easily identifiable on Traditional View with CHIRP where as Structures are well defined using ClearVü.
For fishermen and divers looking for structure like wrecks, reefs, log piles and other underwater natural and man made features, ClearVü is a great tool.
Traditional CHIRP Sonar Cone
CHIRP ClearVu Sonar | Slice
Panoptix Sonar – is pretty amazing sonar technology. It gives us the ability to see all around the boat in real time and in 3 dimensions.
942xs Touch | Panoptix Sonar Support
Panoptix shows highly detailed, easy-to interpret live scanning sonar images of structure, bait and fish swimming below and around your boat in real time, even when the boat is stationary.
Images are so clear, that Garmin says with a little practice, we might be able to identify species!
Both LiveScope Forward and LiveScope Down modes are included in one transducer and are available with either transom or trolling motor mounts. To use Panoptix sonar, you need a compatible chartplotter which the GPSMAP 942xs Touch is, and a compatible transducer. The transducer plugs right into the Panoptix network port.
Panoptix Livescope Forward
Panoptix Livescope Forward is cool tool for scouting and fishing out ahead of the boat. You get live, detailed images of structure and fish out to about to 200′ – even while the boat is siting in one spot. A live sonar look at fish moving toward or away from the boat.
Panoptix Livescope Down
Panoptix LiveScope Down gives us live scanning sonar images of structure and swimming fish in awesome detail below the boat up to 200′ out from the transducer. Shows real-time moving sonar images of baitfish and large fish swimming below the boat and pinpoints distance left or right and their depths
Coastal Charting & Lakes Maps – The GPSMAP 942xs Touch comes preloaded with BlueChart® g3 coastal charts and LakeVü g3 inland maps, both with integrated Navionics data and Auto Guidance technology data for very detailed charts and mapping.
BlueChart g3 Charts cover the coastal U.S., including the East and West coasts, Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Great Lakes. LakeVü g3 inland maps cover more than 17,000 lakes with up to 1’ contours.
Upgrading charts is easy with the 2 microSD card slots located on the front of the device or the Active Captain App.
Blue Chart g3 & LakeVü g3 features
942xs Touch | LakeVu g3 – Inland Charts
942xs Touch | Chart Auto Guidance
Garmin Auto Guidance technology – shows a suggested route to a destination, based on specs that you enter in the device like draft, and vertical height restrictions.
BlueChart g3 | Depth Range Shading
Depth Range Shading – is shown in high-resolution for up to 10 depth ranges, so you can see your needed depth at a glance by color.
BlueChart g3 | Shallow Water Shading
Shallow water shading – allows for shading at a user-defined depth to give a clear picture of shallow waters to avoid based on your own draft.
Detailed Contours – 1′ contours that provide a more accurate look of bottom structure for improved fishing charts and enhanced detail in swamps, canals and port layouts.
BlueChart g3 | 1 Foot contours
Quickdraw Contours instantly creates personalized high definition charts with 1’ contours and depth labels for any body of water as you fish.
When Quickdraw Contours records data, a colored circle surrounds the vessel icon. This circle represents the approximate area of the map that is scanned by each pass. Quickly see where you have been.
The screen shows maps being created instantly in real-time. Easily add labels, mark timber, brush piles, favorite fishing spots and anything you want to remember on your map for the next trip.
Improve Your Saltwater Maps & Uncover unknown areas – Many areas have no map detail. With Quickdraw, you can create maps that show you depth contours clearly labeled on the screen. You also can improve your existing maps that show locations of underwater mountains, drop offs, crevices or wrecks.
942xs Touch | Quickdraw Contours
The maps are all yours – tailor them to fit your needs. Keep the data for yourself, or share maps with others in the QuickDraw Community on Garmin Connect .
You can view Garmin Quickdraw Contours in a combination screen or as a single view on the map. The amount of saved data depends on the size of your memory card, your sonar source, and the speed of your boat as you record data.
You can record longer when you use a single-beam sonar. It is estimated that you might be able to record about 1,500 hours of data onto a 2 GB memory card.
When you record data on a memory card in your chartplotter, the new data is added to your existing Garmin Quickdraw Contours map, and is saved on the memory card. When you insert a new memory card, the existing data does not transfer onto the new card.
Connected Boating App – The free Active Captain app from Garmin gives the GPSMAP 942xs Touch a connection for upgrading charts, maps and access the Garmin community.
Wherever you are, you can have unlimited access to your cartography, purchase new maps and charts, and access the Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours Community. Active Captain is available for both Iphone and Android.
GPSMAP 942xs Touch | Active Captain
Active Captain Features
GPSMAP 942xs Touch | Force Trolling Motor
Garmin launched a new trolling motor called FORCE that they developed for the freshwater market. It has a brushless motor, and is said to be very quiet above and below the water. It can connect to the GPSMAP 942xs Touch wirelessly and be controlled by the chartplotter.
8/2020 Update: As of July 2020 Garmin announced the 3 year Force warranty now includes salt water use.
It’s the first trolling motor to include built-in Garmin CHIRP traditional and Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonars.
FORCE Trolling Motor Features
The Garmin Marine Network allows sharing of sonar, mapping, user information, Radar, and video cameras among multiple connected units. The NMEA 2000 network connectivity and NMEA 0183 supports connecting to autopilots, digital switching, weather sensor, media, VHF, AIS, engine monitoring and other bunch of other sensors.
NMEA 2000 / 0183 | NETWORK SHARING
Digital Switching – The GPSMAP 942xs Touch can be used to monitor and control circuits when a compatible digital switch system is connected. For example, you can control the interior lights and navigation lights on the vessel. You can also monitor live well circuits.
A full digital switching system allows you to power up your boat while away from the dock, switch on pumps and control lights — even underwater lights
GPSMAP 942xs Touch | Digital Switching
Resources:
Garmin GPSMAP 942xs Touch | Help & Support
Garmin GPSMAP 942xs Touch Software Updates
TheHullTruth – Garmin 942xs Upgrade
GPSMAP 942xs Touch | Brochure
Performance Features
Charting | Mapping
Sailing Features
Fishfinder | Sounder
Ports | Rear Connections
| Model | GPSMAP 942xs |
| Physical dimensions |
10.1" x 6.4" x 2.1" (25.6 x 16.2 x 5.2 cm) |
| Weight | 2.52 lbs |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| Display type | Multi-touch | WSVGA display |
| Display size |
7.7" x 4.5" | 9.0" diagonal 19.6 x 11.4 cm |
| Display resolution | 1024 x 600 pixels |
| Display - Brightness | Not Available |
| Power consumption |
Max power usage at 10 Vdc: 27 W Typical current draw at 12 Vdc: 1.3 A Max current draw at 12 Vdc: 2.3 A |
| GPS Antenna | Internal or External NMEA 2000 |
| GPS Receiver | 10 Hz high-sensitivity |
| Mounting options | Bail or flush |
| Model | GPSMAP 942xs |
| On-Board Memory | No |
| Accepts data cards | 2 microSD™ cards |
| Waypoints | 5000 |
| Routes | 100 |
| Track log | 50,000 points; 50 saved tracks |
| Preloaded Maps |
U.S. LakeVü g3 inland maps BlueChart® g3 coastal charts |
| Tide Tables | Yes |
| Model | GPSMAP 942xs |
| Radar compatible | Yes |
| Sonar compatible |
Traditional sonar (50/77/83/200 kHz) Single Channel CHIRP (low, medium, high) CHIRP ClearVü (260/455/800 kHz) |
| Supports AIS | Yes |
| Weather | SiriusXM |
| Supports DSC - GPS Data / VHF | Yes |
| Supports FUSION-Link | FUSION-Link | FUSION PartyBus |
| Black Box sonar support | Yes |
| Planning Software Compatible | Garmin - Homeport |
| App-Control Compatibility | Yes - ActiveCaptain |
| Remote Input Device - compatible | GRID™ (Garmin Remote Input Device) compatible |
| Alarms |
Navigation Anchor Radar - when connected Sonar - when connected Weather - when connected |
| Model | GPSMAP 942xs |
| Transmit Power | 1kW |
| Dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar capable | Yes |
| Dual-Beam Sonar (77/200 kHz) capable | Traditional: 50/200, 77/200, 83/200 kHz |
| CHIRP sonar technology | Single Channel CHIRP: from 40 to 240 kHz |
| ClearVü | Down | Garmin ClearVü™ CHIRP: 260/455/800 kHz |
| SideVü | Side | Yes (with external black box) |
| Forward View | Panoptix |
| Model | GPSMAP 942xs |
| NMEA 2000 compatible | Yes |
| NMEA 0183 input ports | 1 (Differential) |
| NMEA 0183 output ports | 1 (Differential) |
| Marine Network Ports | 1 |
| Video input ports | 1 BNC |
| Video output ports | None |
| Wireless connectivity | Yes |
| BlueTooth connectivity | No |
| Other Ports | 8 Pin Transducer |
| Model | Garmin GPSMAP 942xs |
| SEE PRICE »» |
|
| Additional - 1 | Garmin Meteor™ Audio System compatible |
| Additional - 2 | VIRB® compatible | gWind wireless | Wearables compatible |
| In The Box |
GPSMAP 942xs chartplotter Power cable Bail mount kit with knobs Flush mount kit with gasket Protective cover Trim piece snap covers Documentation |
Garmin GPSMAP Touch 942xs – Manual
