Mapping SideVü

SideVü is Garmin's brand name for their side imaging sonar technology. Functionally equivalent to Humminbird's Side Imaging and Lowrance's SideScan, SideVü uses a high-frequency transducer beam aimed to both sides of the boat to create panoramic, photo-like images of the bottom and structure extending 100 feet or more from the hull on each side.

SideVü comes in standard and Ultra High-Definition (UHD) variants. Standard SideVü operates at 455 kHz and provides good structural detail for most applications. SideVü Ultra HD runs at 800 kHz, delivering significantly sharper images with finer detail — individual rocks, sunken timber branches, and even boat dock pilings are clearly defined. The UHD version requires a compatible transducer like the GT56UHD-TM.

Using SideVü effectively requires boat movement at a consistent speed between 2 and 5 mph. The technology builds images from stacking successive sonar returns as you move forward — sitting still produces a single static return line rather than a usable image. The ideal scanning approach covers the target area in overlapping passes, building a complete picture of the bottom structure.

SideVü data can be overlaid on the Garmin chartplotter map, allowing you to see structural elements positioned at their actual GPS coordinates on the chart. This overlay capability transforms raw sonar returns into a navigable structural map that you can reference and return to on future trips, making SideVü valuable not just for real-time scanning but for long-term lake intelligence gathering.