There are advantages to each frequency, but for almost all fresh water applications and most salt water applications, 192 kHz is the best choice.  It gives the best detail, works best in shallow water and at speed, and typically shows less "noise" and undesired echos.  Target definition is also better with 192 kHz.  This is the ability to display two fish as two separate echos instead of one "blob" on the screen.

There are some applications where a 50 kHz frequency is best.  Typically, a 50 kHz sonar (under the same conditions and power) can penetrate water to deeper depths than higher frequencies.  This is due to water's natural ability to absorb sound waves.  The rate of absorption is greater for higher frequency sound that it is for lower frequencies.  Therefore, you'll generally find 50 kHz used in deeper salt water applications.  Also, 50 kHz transducers typically have wider angles of coverage than 192 kHz transducers.  This characteristic makes them useful in tracking multiple downriggers.  Thus, even when these downriggers are in relatively shallow depths, 50 kHz is preferred by many fishermen.

In summary, the differences between 192 kHz and 50 kHz are:

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