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Forward-Facing Sonar on the Ice: LiveScope Plus vs MEGA Live 2 vs ActiveTarget 2

Short answer: Buy the live sonar that matches the screen you already own: LiveScope Plus for Garmin ECHOMAP/GPSMAP, MEGA Live 2 for Humminbird APEX/SOLIX/XPLORE (no separate black box), ActiveTarget 2 for Lowrance HDS or Elite FS. On the ice, battery size and the full bundle cost matter more than the 150 vs 200 ft rated range.

Live sonar lets you watch a fish come to your spoon instead of guessing, and it saves a lot of drilling over empty water. Most comparisons I found only covered Garmin, so this one puts all three systems next to each other, with the ice in mind rather than a bass boat.

The short version

• Already own a Garmin ECHOMAP or GPSMAP? LiveScope Plus is the natural fit.
• Running a Humminbird APEX, SOLIX or compatible XPLORE? MEGA Live 2 plugs straight in. You don't need a separate black box.
• Lowrance HDS or Elite FS owner? ActiveTarget 2 is your system, and it's the only one that runs a second transducer for multiple live views at once.

The biggest cost is usually the display, not the transducer. Buy the sonar that matches the screen you already own.

Spec comparison

	Garmin LiveScope Plus (LVS34)	Humminbird MEGA Live 2	Lowrance ActiveTarget 2
Rated range (forward/down)	200 ft	150 ft (per published specs)	200 ft (per published specs)
Beam	20° × 135°	20° × 120°	Not stated in the same format
Separate black box	Yes (GLS 10)	No	Yes (module, 4.12 lb)
Views	Forward, Down, Perspective	Forward, Down, Landscape	Forward, Down, Scout; Forward+Back and Scout Wide with an optional 2nd transducer
Transducer cable	20 ft	20 ft	Check spec sheet
Power draw	21 W typical / 58 W max (LVS34 listing)	Lower; no black box (check spec sheet)	Check spec sheet
Displays	Garmin ECHOMAP / GPSMAP (compatible models)	Humminbird APEX, SOLIX, XPLORE (compatible models)	HDS PRO, HDS LIVE, HDS Carbon, Elite FS
Transducer weight	Check spec sheet	Check spec sheet	2.67 lb

Sources: Garmin LVS34 dealer spec listing; Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 product page; published MEGA Live 2 specs as compiled by independent comparison sites. Brands update firmware and specs, so confirm on the manufacturer page before you buy.

What actually matters on the ice

1. Battery and cold

On the ice you run off a portable lithium pack, not a boat's cranking battery. A black-box system draws more power. Size your battery for long sits at -10°F, not for the brochure. Lithium packs lose capacity in the cold, so keep the pack insulated inside the shelter.

2. Range is rarely the deciding factor

Most ice anglers watch fish inside 60 ft of the hole. The 150 vs 200 ft difference matters if you're scanning big open basins for suspended crappies. It matters a lot less on a 25-ft weed edge.

3. Mounting and the pole

All three need an ice pole or shuttle so you can rotate the transducer to scan. Check that the pole fits the transducer mount you're buying. Plan on a thick, cold-rated cable path as well: cables stiffen and crack when they're bent hard in the cold.

4. The whole bundle cost

Display + transducer (+ black box) + battery + pole + case. Price the full kit before you decide, not just the transducer line item.

Where to check prices

Garmin LiveScope Plus: Buy at FishUSA →
Humminbird MEGA Live 2: Buy at Humminbird →
Lowrance ActiveTarget 2: Buy at Lowrance →

Tackle Warehouse carries all three brands: Browse fish finders →

Gear in this guide

• Where to buy the Garmin LiveScope Plus (LVS34 + GLS 10) · more on Garmin
• Where to buy the Humminbird MEGA Live 2 · more on Humminbird
• Where to buy the Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 (Module + Transducer + Mounts) · more on Lowrance

Related guides

• Ice Flashers Compared: Vexilar FLX-28 vs MarCum M1 vs Humminbird ICE Helix 7
• Flasher vs Forward-Facing Sonar: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Cory Arnold, Iron County, Michigan. Specs checked October 2026.

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