First Look: Garmin LiveScope XR

Garmin has brought its live-scanning sonar to coastal and open-water fishing with the new XR system, which delivers images of fish and structure around the boat up to 350 feet in salt water (500 feet in fresh water). LiveScope’s trolling-motor-mounted LVS62 transducer can be pointed forward or down, or turned sideways with the included Perspective Mode Mount. The system also includes a GLS 10 black box, essentially a computer mounted beneath a console. The Reverse Range feature allows anglers to use more of the screen to display fish and structure. To see details closer to the boat, deploy the Compress Range feature and see both near and far. XR carries additional sensors to constantly adjust the sonar beam to compensate for boat motion, even in rough seas. With a free software update, the LVS62 transducer (sold separately) can be added to an existing LiveScope system black box. The full system costs $2,999.99; the LVS62 costs $2,499.99.