Set ups

[GoneFishingLTN]

I thought it would be interesting in seeing how/what electronics people run. Also if they fish in tournaments or if it's just going out with the kids etc.  

 

 

 

[Sprocket]

Garmin 1042xsv and Garmin 53dv at the console.

Garmin 73dv with Panoptix on the trolling motor.

Getting something else on the front end later this year.  Not sure what, yet.

 

Fish a weekly jackpot and a couple tournaments a year.

Pleasure fish quit a bit.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[contium]

Lowrance HDS-9 Gen 2 on the bow and two HDS-9 Gen 3's at the console. Just for fun. Never tournaments (anymore).

[GoneFishingLTN]

On 7/14/2017 at 6:25 AM, Sprocket said:

Garmin 1042xsv and Garmin 53dv at the console.

Garmin 73dv with Panoptix on the trolling motor.

Getting something else on the front end later this year.  Not sure what, yet.

 

Fish a weekly jackpot and a couple tournaments a year.

Pleasure fish quit a bit.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

 

How do you feel the garmins are?

[Sprocket]

I test new marine products for Garmin, so I am somewhat biased.  I'm not on their payroll so I am totally honest with them when I test.  The absolute very best thing about Garmins is the ease of operation.  I'm old and not very tech smart.  All the units I've tested are so easy to navigate through the menus.  If your lakes are mapped by Garmin their cartography is great.  If not, you can use QuickDraw while you fish and map the lakes yourself.  The Panoptix is incredible!!  Crappie and other schooling fish is like video game fishing.  It's also great when you have submerged vegetation and submerged timber.  Finding brush piles in front of docks is awesome because you don't have to run over them or beside them to find them.  You can look forward while you're fishing and see them coming up. 

 

SE Kansas grass grower 

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Sprocket said:

I test new marine products for Garmin, so I am somewhat biased.  I'm not on their payroll so I am totally honest with them when I test.  The absolute very best thing about Garmins is the ease of operation.  I'm old and not very tech smart.  All the units I've tested are so easy to navigate through the menus.  If your lakes are mapped by Garmin their cartography is great.  If not, you can use QuickDraw while you fish and map the lakes yourself.  The Panoptix is incredible!!  Crappie and other schooling fish is like video game fishing.  It's also great when you have submerged vegetation and submerged timber.  Finding brush piles in front of docks is awesome because you don't have to run over them or beside them to find them.  You can look forward while you're fishing and see them coming up. 

 

SE Kansas grass grower 

Do you have an honest unbiased opinion on the image quality compared to Humminbird? I was set on Humminbird but I'm questioning that decision for a number of reasons. I've heard (like you said) the ease of use is great, the mapping is spectacular, and the pricing is pretty good as well. Humminbird is a great unit as well, it's the fact that you need to make sure you don't open the transducer, send it it with $80 wait a week or 2 for your HDSI transducer to show up in order to get images that are good. By that time and the extra $80 is annoying. Then to do it all over again for the trolling motor. 

   I read on another forum mixed reviews on the images compaired to Humminbird. These were guys who are die hard Garmin guys say that Humminbird is superior in that catagory, then there were others who said Garmin is better,the same, or not too far behind. Any comparisons you've experienced? 

[Sprocket]

I think the 2d and the DownVu are as good or better than Hummingbird.  I do think the birds have a better SideVu.  I'm anxious to see what Garmin comes up with now that the DownVu lawsuit is settled.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, Sprocket said:

I think the 2d and the DownVu are as good or better than Hummingbird.  I do think the birds have a better SideVu.  I'm anxious to see what Garmin comes up with now that the DownVu lawsuit is settled.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

What model are you referring to when referring to having better DV and 2D? I've been looking into the 73sv and I read the transducer for that model doesn't have a dedicated DV crystal it uses the SV. Any thoughts?

[FordsnFishin]

I'm running a lowrance hds 10 gen2 at the console and lowrance  hds 5 up front.

 

I typically fish 2 club tournaments a week.

[Sprocket]

23 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

What model are you referring to when referring to having better DV and 2D? I've been looking into the 73sv and I read the transducer for that model doesn't have a dedicated DV crystal it uses the SV. Any thoughts?

My 53 has a GT20 and the others have the GT52.  The dedicated downvu crystal issue came about from the Navico lawsuit, which Garmin finally won a couple months ago.  Best discussion and explanation can probably be found at thehulltruth.com boards.  I can't really tell much difference between the transducers, but I rarely fish over 20' and never over 50'.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[3dees]

Lowrance HDS 9 touch gen 2 on console and bow. side scan on console unit. no need for more.

[slonezp]

On 7/17/2017 at 8:38 AM, 12poundbass said:

Do you have an honest unbiased opinion on the image quality compared to Humminbird? I was set on Humminbird but I'm questioning that decision for a number of reasons. I've heard (like you said) the ease of use is great, the mapping is spectacular, and the pricing is pretty good as well. Humminbird is a great unit as well, it's the fact that you need to make sure you don't open the transducer, send it it with $80 wait a week or 2 for your HDSI transducer to show up in order to get images that are good. By that time and the extra $80 is annoying. Then to do it all over again for the trolling motor. 

   I read on another forum mixed reviews on the images compaired to Humminbird. These were guys who are die hard Garmin guys say that Humminbird is superior in that catagory, then there were others who said Garmin is better,the same, or not too far behind. Any comparisons you've experienced? 

Are your intentions to take pretty pictures or catch fish?

I'm running an 1198 and 1188 with Ipilot link. The new Birds have much better resolution and sharper images...but, is it really that necessary? I can identify cover, structure, and fish just fine with what I have. I debate an upgrade but, as long as my graphs are working, For me, the only real benefit in the extra expense would be the ability to make my own maps. I have zero experience with Garmin. It would be difficult for me to switch from HB. The Link and 360 capabilities, along with the customization gained when using Lakemaster cards is superior to the offerings by Lowrance, Garmin, and Raymarine.  

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Are your intentions to take pretty pictures or catch fish?

I'm running an 1198 and 1188 with Ipilot link. The new Birds have much better resolution and sharper images...but, is it really that necessary? I can identify cover, structure, and fish just fine with what I have. I debate an upgrade but, as long as my graphs are working, For me, the only real benefit in the extra expense would be the ability to make my own maps. I have zero experience with Garmin. It would be difficult for me to switch from HB. The Link and 360 capabilities, along with the customization gained when using Lakemaster cards is superior to the offerings by Lowrance, Garmin, and Raymarine.  

I'm not looking to take pretty pictures lol. I'm not looking to get all fancy and get the Helix with MEGA imaging. I've seen Wayne P's side by side images with and without the HDSI transducer and there's quite a difference. All I want is the most bang for my buck within my budget. If I were to go with Garmin and the images turn out to be a fuzzy mess and look like crap then ill wish I would've went with Humminbird. The only reason at this point I'm back on the fence is with the Echomap. In order for me to get that out of Hummingbird I'd have to cough up more money for a card on top of the upgraded ducer. That adds up pretty quick. If Garmin had the images of the Hummingbird HDSI ducer plus 17,000 lakes for almost the same price of a Helix 7 then it's almost a no brainer. 

    360 and the Link are out of my reach at this point. I do believe though that the 7" Garmin units and bigger can run the Panoptix if that's your thing, and I think Garmin links to both MG and MK. Again neither are with in reach right now so I haven't researched much on either so I could be wrong.

 

  Bottom line when I do purchase which ever units I decide this is going to be a big purchase. I don't have the budget of some so I'm making sure I have exactly what I'm looking for, because these units are going to have to last me quite a few years.

[sully420]

I have a helix 7 gn2 si ds with the transducer it came with and i think the image is just fine i can see rocks i can see grass and how its laid out. I can see fish and bait on 2d ds and si. I think learning how to use the tool effectively is the key.

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I'm not looking to take pretty pictures lol. I'm not looking to get all fancy and get the Helix with MEGA imaging. I've seen Wayne P's side by side images with and without the HDSI transducer and there's quite a difference. All I want is the most bang for my buck within my budget. If I were to go with Garmin and the images turn out to be a fuzzy mess and look like crap then ill wish I would've went with Humminbird. The only reason at this point I'm back on the fence is with the Echomap. In order for me to get that out of Hummingbird I'd have to cough up more money for a card on top of the upgraded ducer. That adds up pretty quick. If Garmin had the images of the Hummingbird HDSI ducer plus 17,000 lakes for almost the same price of a Helix 7 then it's almost a no brainer. 

    360 and the Link are out of my reach at this point. I do believe though that the 7" Garmin units and bigger can run the Panoptix if that's your thing, and I think Garmin links to both MG and MK. Again neither are with in reach right now so I haven't researched much on either so I could be wrong.

 

  Bottom line when I do purchase which ever units I decide this is going to be a big purchase. I don't have the budget of some so I'm making sure I have exactly what I'm looking for, because these units are going to have to last me quite a few years.

The number 1 factor in clear pictures is to eliminate RFI. Without interference, the screenshots from any brand unit should satisfy what you're looking for. I have struggled with RFI on my bow mount and have reduced it to an acceptable level but it is still there. I'm not sure if one brand is more susceptible to RFI over another, or if all brands have issues.

[12poundbass]

16 minutes ago, slonezp said:

The number 1 factor in clear pictures is to eliminate RFI. Without interference, the screenshots from any brand unit should satisfy what you're looking for. I have struggled with RFI on my bow mount and have reduced it to an acceptable level but it is still there. I'm not sure if one brand is more susceptible to RFI over another, or if all brands have issues.

Makes sense. I'm not looking for images of fish (bonus if I can see the fish on "side seeing and down) I just want to have decent images of trees,rocks, and other fish holding structure. I'm looking for fishy areas instead of chasing tiny little dots. I've seen screen shots of some units where it's really hard to decipher what you're looking at. You're probably right. With the proper set up and proper tweaking of the unit most or all will suit me just fine. Hell I don't have a unit so anything is better than what I have now.

[Mjmj]

I don't have any experience with any FF , but the helix 9 mega .

I can tell you, that I use the autochart feature as much, if not more than my side imaging.  I fish alot of lakes with weeds and use this feature to fish breaks and depth. 

[Further North]

Bow: Helix 10 DI G2N

Console: Helix 12 MEGA SI G2N

 

Trolling Motor: Ulterra 112 36 volt

 

I also have Humminbird 360°

 

Image quality on the new Helix units is insanely good.

 

Note that the SI is "only" 455 Hz, on CHIRP, not the new 1.2 Hz MEGA frequency.  Yes, that's three fish you see just off the weed line in the zoom box.

 

No tournaments for this guy, I fish for myself, for fun, and I do it a lot.

 

 

 

On 7/17/2017 at 8:38 AM, 12poundbass said:

Humminbird is a great unit as well, it's the fact that you need to make sure you don't open the transducer, send it it with $80 wait a week or 2 for your HDSI transducer to show up in order to get images that are good. By that time and the extra $80 is annoying.

What units do you have to do this with?  I've heard of this, but is must be the lower cost units...the Helix 12 and 10 I just installed this season came with the transducers they needed to produce top notch imaging.

 

 

On 7/17/2017 at 8:38 AM, 12poundbass said:

Then to do it all over again for the trolling motor. 

This really confuses me...what do you have to do with the trolling motor that you have to spend $80 and wait two weeks?

[12poundbass]

6 minutes ago, Further North said:

Bow: Helix 10 DI G2N

Console: Helix 12 MEGA SI G2N

 

Trolling Motor: Ulterra 112 36 volt

 

I also have Humminbord 360°

 

Image quality on the new Helix units is insanely good.

 

Note that the SI is "only" 455 Hz, on CHIRP, not the new 1.2 Hz MEGA frequency.  Yes, that's three fish you see just off the weed line in the zoom box.

 

No tournaments for this guy, I fish for myself, for fun, and I do it a lot.

 

 

 

What units do you have to do this with?  I've heard of this, but is must be the lower cost units...the Helix 12 and 10 I just installed this season came with the transducers they needed to produce top notch imaging.

 

 

This really confuses me...what do you have to do with the trolling motor that you have to spend $80 and wait two weeks?

Helix 5,7, and 9 come with the compact transducer and it's recommended to upgrade to the HDSI transducer for better images. It is also recommended to exchange to a TM puck style transducer if you mount it on the TM because it has more shielding to reduce interference. 

 

BTW those are nice images you have.

It's not $80 to exchange the TM ducer, I must've miss spoke. It's and even swap plus shipping.

[Further North]

1 minute ago, 12poundbass said:

Helix 5,7, and 9 come with the compact transducer and it's recommended to upgrade to the HDSI transducer for better images. It is also recommended to exchange to a TM puck style transducer if you mount it on the TM because it has more shielding to reduce interference. 

Thanks, didn't know that.

 

What was the deal with the trolling motor?  I ran a HDSI transducer on my Terrova for years with no interference...after I did some detective work to hunt it all down and eliminate it.  Didn't know there was a puck style SI transducer available.

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, Further North said:

Thanks, didn't know that.

 

What was the deal with the trolling motor?  I ran a HDSI transducer on my Terrova for years with no interference...after I did some detective work to hunt it all down and eliminate it.  Didn't know there was a puck style SI transducer available.

I'm no expert and I honestly couldn't tell you for sure. I'm pretty sure I've read on here from way more knowledgeable people that certain transducers are susceptible to RFI and the puck style transducer has better shielding to help prevent it. 

 

Disclaimer: I could be way confused, and off in left field.

[Further North]

Just now, 12poundbass said:

I'm no expert and I honestly couldn't tell you for sure. I'm pretty sure I've read on here from way more knowledgeable people that certain transducers are susceptible to RFI and the puck style transducer has better shielding to help prevent it. 

 

Disclaimer: I could be way confused, and off in left field.

OK, thanks - I appreciate the info.

 

On my current set-up I just use the front for 2D off the US2 transducer...I grab the SI and DI from the back, and the 360°...which seems to eliminate any interference at all.

[12poundbass]

7 minutes ago, Further North said:

OK, thanks - I appreciate the info.

 

On my current set-up I just use the front for 2D off the US2 transducer...I grab the SI and DI from the back, and the 360°...which seems to eliminate any interference at all.

Sounds like you have a nice set up. I can't get enough of the awesome MEGA images. One thing I know for sure is there's a ton to learn with these new units and I'm glad I started looking into these units before making my purchases.

[Further North]

Just now, 12poundbass said:

Sounds like you have a nice set up. I can't get enough of the awesome MEGA images. One thing I know for sure is there's a ton to learn with these new units and I'm glad I started looking into these units before making my purchases.

Yeah...research before you plunk down your cash is way better than buying whatever the sales guy is pushing.