Super User Jig Man Posted July 25, 2018 Super User Posted July 25, 2018 Why do so many fishermen refer to sonar/gps units as graphs? I know that there were paper graphs some years back but I don't understand the near universal use of the word for these units. Can someone please expound on this so I can better understand. Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted July 25, 2018 Super User Posted July 25, 2018 Just guessing, but...back in the day, the only options available were flashers and paper graphs. "Graphs" was just a shortened and easy to use monicker that just caught on, and is much better than saying "liquid crystal recorder" or "liquid crystal display" once they eventually came out, maybe similar to Kleenex, aspirin or band-aid Similarly, guys out west that had a saltwater background still refer to their units as "meters" to this day (Any insight @WRB ). Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 25, 2018 Super User Posted July 25, 2018 Whatever they are called they are sonar units. My 1st "graph" verses a flasher was Lowrance model 800 paper sonar unit called a graph by Lowrance. The 800 was a metal case heavy unit for fresh water use and followed by the plastic case lighter weight 1500 paper graph. Both were 800 watt units with good bottom separation but limited with only paper speed and power gain adjustment knobs. The model 1600 paper graph was the most advanced unit with and all were replaced with black $ white liquid crystal displays that eliminated the paper stylist graph. We called flashers meters because they looked like a meter. Graphs draw lines with a electric stylist burning images onto carbon paper and were messy with carbon dust that needed to be cleaned constantly and the stylist replaced every few paper rolls along with drive bands that spun the metal stylist. The good old days were a lot of work! We saved the paper rolls and made notes on them where we caught bass. I had cases of paper rolls saved! Tom 1 Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted July 25, 2018 Super User Posted July 25, 2018 12 minutes ago, WRB said: Whatever they are called they are sonar units. My 1st "graph" verses a flasher was Lowrance model 800 paper sonar unit called a graph by Lowrance. The 800 was a metal case heavy unit for fresh water use and followed by the plastic case lighter weight 1500 paper graph. Both were 800 watt units with good bottom separation but limited with only paper speed and power gain adjustment knobs. The model 1600 paper graph was the most advanced unit with and all were replaced with black $ white liquid crystal displays that eliminated the paper stylist graph. We called flashers meters because they looked like a meter. Graphs draw lines with a electric stylist burning images onto carbon paper and were messy with carbon dust that needed to be cleaned constantly and the stylist replaced every few paper rolls along with drive bands that spun the metal stylist. The good old days were a lot of work! We saved the paper rolls and made notes on them where we caught bass. I had cases of paper rolls saved! Tom I ran Humminbird CH30 II and Eagle Mach 1 graphs...burned a lot of paper, but like you, saved the rolls for years with all kinds of notes highlighted on them. When the first LCR units came out, I thought they were crap compared to the paper graphs, so I ran paper just about until you couldn't get it any more. Lowrance finally coming out with their LMS-350A (GPS) and X-70 (non GPA) units (around 1993?) finally got me to make the change Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 25, 2018 Super User Posted July 25, 2018 I didn't change until the color/GPS LCX19 came outin the early 2000, talk about stubborn! Tom 1 Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted July 26, 2018 Author Super User Posted July 26, 2018 Well that seems like a long time for such an antiquated term to hang on especially since a large number of the guys who use it weren't even born when those devices were being used and probably have never seen one. I guess that is kind of like the common use of "chip" to define a mapping card for a chart plotter and the old guy who lives next door calling every bait a "plug". Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted July 26, 2018 Super User Posted July 26, 2018 Heck, we as fisherman can't even agree on fish definitions. Take the Crappie....Other names for crappie are papermouths, strawberry bass, speckled bass or specks (especially in Michigan), speckled perch, crappie bass, calico bass, (throughout the Middle Atlantic states, and New England), sac-a-lait (in southern Louisiana, lit.. Don't forget some call graphs/Sonar.....Plotters or Finders as well. Gotta love language!! 1 Quote
Sprocket Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 Why do we still dial someone's phone number? No one has dialed a number in years. SE Kansas grass grower Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted July 26, 2018 Super User Posted July 26, 2018 Interesting responses to an interesting question. I only use the word to refer to a graphic showing the history of the sonar returns. I call the units "Fish Finders" even though Humminbird now refers to them as "Control Heads". They do a lot of things that don't involve fish so the name change makes sense. I call the lake maps "Maps" even though they are called "Charts" on the unit. I'm sure this is following the tradition of using paper "nautical charts" on ships but I've never heard a fisherman call a lake map a "chart", paper or otherwise. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 26, 2018 Super User Posted July 26, 2018 Back in the day, you had paper graphs or flashers. Typically up here, it was the big salmon charter boats that had graphs, while bass/pan anglers use a flasher. I still refer to the RTS (Real Time Scanner) more than the history when fishing "in the cone." I guess it's a holdover from my flasher days. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted July 26, 2018 Global Moderator Posted July 26, 2018 4 hours ago, Sprocket said: Why do we still dial someone's phone number? No one has dialed a number in years. SE Kansas grass grower How often do you video tape things using your phone? Some things are hard wired in our heads. I've heard my 15 yr old niece say she video taped something. Quote
Super User Further North Posted July 27, 2018 Super User Posted July 27, 2018 On 7/25/2018 at 5:03 PM, Jig Man said: Why do so many fishermen refer to sonar/gps units as graphs? I know that there were paper graphs some years back but I don't understand the near universal use of the word for these units. Can someone please expound on this so I can better understand. 14 hours ago, Jig Man said: Well that seems like a long time for such an antiquated term to hang on especially since a large number of the guys who use it weren't even born when those devices were being used and probably have never seen one. I guess that is kind of like the common use of "chip" to define a mapping card for a chart plotter and the old guy who lives next door calling every bait a "plug". If we look at the 2D and DI screens...they are still graphs, with the data right below the transducer being mapped on the right side of the screen and scrolling off to the left. It's really a cone of data, but close enough for rock 'n' roll. SI is showing two graphs, with the data from a line vertical to the transom graphing data down towards the bottom. 360° graphs in an arc, from the center out. 13 hours ago, Sprocket said: Why do we still dial someone's phone number? No one has dialed a number in years. SE Kansas grass grower I dialed one just this afternoon on the way home. Told my car to do it. ? 1 Quote
RHuff Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 Why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway? Quote
jbmaine Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 Why do we cut a tree DOWN, then proceed to cut it UP Quote
haggard Posted August 17, 2018 Posted August 17, 2018 Does anyone really roll down their car windows anymore? Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted August 17, 2018 Super User Posted August 17, 2018 1 hour ago, haggard said: Does anyone really roll down their car windows anymore? I do. My truck is the plain Jane version. It does not have power windows and door locks. If I want a window down I have to turn the handle. 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted August 17, 2018 Global Moderator Posted August 17, 2018 Is a disagreement between two vegiterians still called a BEEF? ? 2 Quote
haggard Posted August 17, 2018 Posted August 17, 2018 3 hours ago, Log Catcher said: I do. My truck is the plain Jane version. It does not have power windows and door locks. If I want a window down I have to turn the handle. Same here. It would even be a manual transmission if I could have ordered it that way. I guess "they don't make 'em like they used to" When my son was really young looked at the roller handle and says "what's that?" Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted August 27, 2018 Global Moderator Posted August 27, 2018 On 8/17/2018 at 1:42 PM, haggard said: Same here. It would even be a manual transmission if I could have ordered it that way. I guess "they don't make 'em like they used to" When my son was really young looked at the roller handle and says "what's that?" I drive a 2006 or 07 Dodge Ram with manual transmission manual windows and locks . Single cab 4.7 L v8 4x4. They are out there you just have to get lucky and find them 1 Quote
Lincoln Posted September 27, 2018 Posted September 27, 2018 On 8/17/2018 at 7:56 AM, haggard said: Does anyone really roll down their car windows anymore? I actually have my first car still and you do roll them down Quote
haggard Posted October 3, 2018 Posted October 3, 2018 On 8/16/2018 at 11:26 AM, RHuff said: Why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway? Why does an alarm go off when it really goes on? Quote
Super User Further North Posted October 23, 2018 Super User Posted October 23, 2018 Why do we take a cab, ride a train, get in a car, get on a plane... Quote
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