quadrabeam?

[tacoman]

is quadrabeam all its cracked up to be?  i'm trying to decide what fishfinder to get.  higher pixel count?  color screen?  i don't need one with gps i allready have a lawrance ifinder h20c.  i don't really know much about depthfinders so trying to pick one is kinda hard.  can you guys tell me what i should look for?  i 've been looking at the lawrance and humminbird models.  but have no idea what to get.  i'm trying to stay somewhere around $300.  oh yeah its for the bow and would like to be able to put the transducer on my trolling motor.  does this have a factor in my decision?

[Guest JoshKeller]

I personally would rather have a single 20 degree beam. On a 2d sonar, no matter how many beams, you cant tell where in the cone the fish/structure/etc is, only that a echo return has occurred SOMEWHERE in the cone. I'd much rather it be in a 20 degree circle semi around the boat, than a 60 degree cone that can go 15' on each side of the boat.

[RatONaStick]

I have a Humminbird 737 with the quadrabeam and I think it's great. The main thing I like about it is the fact I dont have to cover nearly as much water while searching for cover/structure. In my opinion this is a good thing considering todays gas prices as well as the fact that I can spend more time fishing than searching. Another area I've found it to be extremely useful in is following old creek beds by allowing you to stay on top of it more easily. Because of the wide coverage area it gives more of an advanced warning before passing over the channel.

Humminbirds quadrabeam actually has a narrow 20 degree beam, a 60 degree beam and two wide 45 degree beams on each side. Each beam has it's own mode as well as a mode that incoporates all of the beams together. Because of this you can pinpoint exactly where the object you are looking at is. I can't speak for anything but the quadrabeam but in it's case I would have to disagree with Josh about not being able to pinpoint what you are looking at.

I will admit it does take time to get a good understanding of it and how to use it. Once you do learn to use it I feel it is a very valuable tool.

If you do a search I think you'll find more info here about the quadrabeam sonar.

[DamnYankee]

Tacoman, like you I'm curious as to how well the quadrabeam works. I've been looking at sonars/GPS models for over a month now and decided to take a chance. I ordered the Hummingbird 787-C2 with a quadrabeam transom mount transducer. I have a Lowrance X-65 that's several years old and the last four years it hasn't worked very well. I sent it back to have it repaired but it still won't work in "auto" mode. The transducer shoots through the hull on my Lowrance. My son and grandchildren gave me a Hummingbird 535 for the front end of the boat last Christmas and I'm very pleased with it. I ordered a "wide side" transducer to put on the trolling motor to help (I hope) locate fish along the banks when I take my grandchildren fishing. They can get bored pretty quick if something isn't biting. The 787-C2 with quadrabeam transducer wasn't in stock so I back ordered it (maybe that's a sign that they are pretty good). With a little luck I'll have it mounted and on the water before the end of February. If so I'll let you know how it performed.

[sodaksker]

I agree with you "rat".  The quadrabeam allows you to more easily pinpoint  whatever it is you are seeing due to the split screen, showing both cone signals.  I like it as well.  If you go to humminbirds website and click on the "quadrabeam" links it will give you a description and picitorial of how the two beams work in conjunction to help you understand the location of what you are seeing on your graph. I actually drew a picture of their illustration on the web and keep it in my boat for quick reference.  I kept wondering why fish were showing up in one screen and not the other.  Now I know why and have a better idea where they are in relation to my boat.

[tacoman]

thanks for the info.  has anyone used the humminbird 343c?

[acar555]

The Quadrabeam technology for Humminbird works well.  It lets you know to which side of the boat the fish or structure is.  http://www.humminbird.com/productLines_wide.asp?ID=794 I used to be a Lowrance guy, but the innovation for Humminbird makes finding fish and structure easier and faster that anything from Lowrance and in most cases you get more screen resolution or power for the same price point.

To really appreciate the 343c you will need to see the screen in bright sunlight.  I really looks a little dim in the store, but the more light that hits that thing the brighter it gets.  Have someone in the store shine a bright spotlight on it.