CHIRP Compatibility

There are two main factors to consider when matching a CHIRP transducer to a CHIRP sounder or fishfinder:

• A dual-band transducer must be used with a sounder or fishfinder that can handle dual CHIRP frequency bands. Some sounders (e.g. the Lowrance/Simrad SonarHub) are designed to handle a single frequency band only and a dual-band transducer cannot be connected. Similarly, you should not use a single-band transducer with a sounder such as the Simrad BSM-3 that is designed to handle dual bands.
• The frequency bands in use must match up. The Furuno DFF1-UHD, for example, is designed for dual-band transducers transmitting in the Low/High (LH) bands. You cannot use a Low/Medium (LM) transducer with this sounder.

Always check the documentation for the transducer and the sounder or fishfinder before making a purchase.

Another important factor is the transducer connector. Many Airmar transducers are made with cables ending with bare wires. Some sounders have a removable back panel covering a terminal block where these wires can be connected.

However, manufacturers have recently launched sounders and fishfinder models that use proprietary connectors for CHIRP transducers. You can buy transducers that are pre-fitted with the correct connector, or you can use an adapter box in combination with a bare-wire transducer.