New Sonar

[stepchild]

Hi everyone,

I couldn't find a place on this board that specifically talks about electronics so I posted here (Mods - feel free to move it to wherever you see fit).

I'm basically in the market for a new sonar and when I started looking up all the different makes and models, it got pretty confusing.

I'm looking for a decent sonar, but not top of the line stuff. I don't really need any of the GPS mapping as most of the lakes and rivers I fish are quite small, but I guess having a GPS memory wouldn't hurt to pinpoint that honey stump 20 feet deep! (but not mandatory). I'm just wondering what some of you think are important features to have on your depth-finders to give you the best odds in identifying bottom composition and seperate fish from baitfish pods?

Thanks a bunch!

[Matt Fly]

When talking electronics, it don't matter what brand.   The best picture will give you the best details.

The best picture comes from the most pixels that money can buy.     Pixel count in the screen and size of display is where cost goes up.

Color graphs will add to the cost also.        I like color, it is easy to decipher, but can get the same with black and white units.

 

[Jig Man]

Yes pixels really make a difference.  Color is also really nice if you take the time to figure it out.

[Shad_Master]

I recently bought a Humminbird 565 - 640 pixels and dual beam - cost is around $200 and recently saw them in the BPS Christmas sales flier on sale.  You may want to check it out.  

[fishfordollars]

I own a 565 and I am very pleased with it.

[Crestliner2008]

I'm a Lowrance fan. The one I currently use is the X-135 black & white. Has all kinds of options and flexibility. Great resolution as well. Will do anything you need a sonar for.

[NBR]

Similar to real estates location, location, location in depth sounders it's pixels, pixels, pixels. When you get enough pixels you will have more other bells and whistles than you will need or use.

[A_Glenn_2]

I have and like, the lowrance x96 black and white 320x320 pixels and a 5" screen I want to buy another for the front of the boat they are about 199.00

I think it has a quality picture.

Oh and your right this board needs a electronics section good idea!!!!

[Tin]

Any model, as long as it is Lowrance. I like the x-135 and lms-332 is amazing.

[HPBB]

I would say, got to a store like BPS, Cabela's etc. that has a bunch of units set up and check them out side by side. go in with an open mind. set a price and say "I'm going to buy the best for me" not a set brand one that will work for you. by that I mean is at your price (not the cheapest) one that is easy for you to use and understand (one company might be easier for you to understand than the other) and one that will do what you need. I will say look at color, once you try it you will not want to go back. all the companies make great unit and most are priced similar.  

Example. A few years ago I was in the market for a new DF/GPS. I knew I wanted color and knew my price limit.  I was set on a lowrance 337c or 332c I read everything I could and checked out the web. I knew there were some others brands that where almost the same, but like I said I was set on lowrance. well i went to Cabela's to look at the units all next to each other (I also did this when buying my new TM and would also recommend it) looked at all the units and played with them for about 2-3 hours. when all was said and done i ended up with a Humminbird Matrix 87c. the matrix 87c was all most the same as the 332c and the same price, but the Humminbird was easier for me to use, also i liked how the color screen looked (now read this close) when i was wearing my polarized sun glasses. just go and  check them out

[RoLo]

A good place to start is to decide on a "Display Mode", there are four basic technologies:

> DIGITAL The digital display is unexcelled for "Rapid Data Processing" but bottom readings & fish signals are not well defined.

                 In spite of their matchless speed, digital sounders violate the most critical attribute: "Resoluton". I would avoid digital.

> GRAPH Graph is the inverse of Digital, it offers the Most Resolute Detail but has the Slowest Transmission of any display mode

                 Except for a few ole salts and commercial work, there aren't many anglers willing to change paper reels and styluses.

> CRT       (Cathode Ray Tube) CRT is the same technology used in the television tube (pre-HD), and offers excellent graphic detail.

                 The CRT display provides the best low-contrast signal, but unfortunately the display washes out in direct sunlight.

> LCD       (Liquid Crystal Display) LCD is the same technology used in watch faces and offers excellent graphic detail.

            LCD sounders are available in Black & White (achromatic / monochromatic) or Color (chromatic).

On balance, the LCD display provides the most advantages and the fewest disadvantages.

The choice between "Color" (chromatic) and "Black & White (achromatic or monochromatic) is not of monumental importance.

There are situations when a colored display may discriminate between minute signal nuances, even better than

a 16-level grayscale (black & white). On the downside, the Color display is generally not as visible as a monochrome screen

in direct sunlight and in strong glare, and of course, the monochrome unit is also less expensive.

I've had poor luck with a Columbia flasher (now defunct), Texas Instruments, Ray Jeff and Humminbird (Super 60).

I strongly recommend "Lowrance". As noted above, I've given them all a chance (brand loyality follows, it doesn't lead).

I have one final suggestion: Turn off that silly "Fish Symbol" toy and LEAVE IT OFF

We pay good bucks for the best technology, but when we superimpose a Fish Icon on top of that technology,

we'll never learn how to interpret the remarkable high-tech signals being produced by our own sounder.

Roger

[tntitans21399]

The pixels are the resolutions on the screen but don't forget about the watts.  The watts how fast the transducer sends and receives the signals.  I went to Bass Pro and looked at the different models they had and I really spent some time looking at the different screens, functions, prices, and really comparing them.  I found for me I really like the Lowrance X67C Depthfinder.  It has a 320 x 240 pixel resolution (color), which color screens usually always give you a better screen shot even with less pixels.  It has a 800 watts peak-to-peak transmit power.  What I really liked about this model is it was $250 ($50 more then the black & white one I was looking at), but the different screen modes are great.  Their is a night view (screen is black and bottom green) and some other views, but the best which I use the most is the bottom tracking mode.  It gives you gives you a great view of the bottom that you don't get with the black and white.  The bottom tracking lets you see, by lines if the bottom is hard (maybe rocks) or lighter (like sand).  I couldn't find any picture of the view, but if you go by Bass Pro look at this one.  Because when I was looking I wasn't looking for the top of the line one either.  I think for the price and what it gives you this one, in my opinion, is the best one.