Sound(er) advice?
Submitted by Hansie on Sun, 2007-12-02 11:28
Gday guys
If anyone can offer some advice I would be stoked
Background:
I have a Humminbird 250dx dual beam b&w fishfinder on a 3.9m tinnie, we get out into the goods (50+m) at Exxy and also round Dunsborough and Augusta fairly often.
The sounder has only ever been good for depth and occasionally bottom type, fish ID’ing is a little dodgy on it I reckon. Previously the unit has operated a little funny eg: as soon as you troll onto the 33m contour at Tantabiddi, the screen lights up with fish everywhere EVERYTIME! (Doubt it unfortunately), or often when drifting pretty quick, it will show a fish repeatedly at the same depth (not a rope/anchor, not a sinker, unlikely a dhuie following us at the same depth the whole time). So needless to say, I’ve been thinking of upgrading it.
But: the other day the wiring at the water end right before the tranducer gave way. It was pretty corroded from a nick in the coating. I could spend $150 odd on a new transducer, but thinking of upgrading it, I spent $25 for an autosparky to solder it up and reseal it. Now all I get is the depth numerals (they seem to be accurate), with no bottom details at all! Upsetting. After trying all the menu options I could think of, including solid bottom, and correct depth range, I have concluded that I have problems, but am wondering if the dicky behaviour previously might have been due to the corroded wiring.
Questions:
1. is it worth having the unit checked out or better sense to just get a new one?
1. is it worth having the unit checked out or better sense to just get a new one?
2. does this sound like purely a transducer problem or a likely can of worms?
3. anyone know a reliable repair agent?
4. with a total budget of <$1000, how good a unit is available?
I know there’s a lot of knowledge/experience out there, can anyone help out?
cheers guys
Hansie
cheers guys
Hansie
thebear
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 09/06/07
Go the extra few hundred and
Go the extra few hundred and get ya self a Furuno FCV 620 IMO
Awseome unit.
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bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
New sounder
If you can afford to get a new sounder than that would be the best option. As soon as 1 thing goes wrong and you get it fixed thats when something else stuffs up and you end up spending more money fixing than what it would cost to replace. There are some good quality sounders out at the moment in your price range so have a look around before you get it fixed. You might find a new sounder for around the cost of having yours fixed.
peteman2480
Posts: 90
Date Joined: 20/05/07
hey hansie i have own
hey hansie i have own several Lowrance sounders and found them really easy to navigate through the menu systems and qaulity units overall. if you stayed in the monochrome ( black and white) range you will pick up an excellent sounder, go into the color range you start to sacrifice power. good luck
harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
furuno
bro firstly u need a sounder with bottom lock if ur serious about fishing,i got the fcv 585 foruno awesome ,commercial grade this is a cple grand but the size down has the same opts .. for a few hundred less. once u go colour u,ll never go back.. not sure if u fish bottom etc but for me this works i had mine a yr and i can tell diff in fish most sounders bounce echoes on swim bladders etc butthe old saying is u get blue smarties and red smarties ,believe me when usee thes u gegt fish,also the bottom locks r great for pickinup ribbon weed/soft coral /shell etc takes a while to master but best thing u,ll ever do
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Dean
Posts: 1943
Date Joined: 23/02/07
Where abouts are you
Where abouts are you located? Might be able to help you out.
harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
lol don,t bite it yet
i heard the swim bladder theory from a few good fishermen but i have sussed out this sounder.. red blobs/blue blobs and arches ,all my settings are manual with some help form a charter mate that had the same sounder once,still learning bro but the swim bladder apparently makes a hug diff in echoes..
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Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
yep!
As the Bear stated, go the FCV620. They're a great unit and i've sold a few to mates that had the same budget and they're wrapped with the unit. On that note, coming from my comercial Furuno unit i too was very impressed with the detail and discrimination that this unit offers. The bottom locks a must and most units dont have this unfortunately.
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harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
agree
*totally agree. like i said i,m still learning.. the furuno 585 is awesome,i like the bottom lock first sounder i had with this feature and its set to 0-5m,when the spikes get high and u get fish..
we fished a while ago older boat same sounder and we hit a scholl of red snapper, follwed it around thats why i say certain blobs etc, we did the same with ytk,s hooked into some monster 15-20m down just usuing sounder.. hard to tell dhue,s etc but i hear some pple know,some friends o mine tag dhue,s down here.. same blobs a yr alter same spot they caught theyre 1 yr older dhue,2 cm bigger.. all there info is reported to busso fisheries.. intersting stuff.
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harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
2kw
*does extra power mean much?,i have a dual also 600-1kw but gotta 600 kw transducer,most pple i speak to down here reckon 600 is more than enough.. any thoughts on this
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