who's CHIRP'ing?
Submitted by t bone on Sun, 2014-11-09 00:47
Gday all.
Got the new boat coming and the hardest part about it all is the electronics. I was looking at going with the SIMRAD NSE12 & CHIRp setup, but the more i look into it, the more i think it is a better idea to go with a smaller screen and getting a FCV 295. My question is, anyone out there running this headunit with the chirp gear? Looking into the TM265lh transducer, matched with one of the "modules" once i work out whats better.
Ive never really had much to do with the Furuno gear, what are the pro's and con's that ya have all had first hand?
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
I have the NSS9 evo 2 running
I have the NSS9 evo 2 running the standard chirp transducer but cant dial in frequencies, only have high or low chirp. Comming from a Furuno 585 with 1kw I have found the Simrad to be no where near as good a picture or as user friendly. I find I am always going into my settings trying to find the right balance which takes time and is a pain in the bum. The Furuno is so much more user friendly and has a better picture. If you can afford the 295 you will not regret it. If I had the room on the dash I would put a Furuno 587 and 1kw which is plenty for where I want to fish. Will still find bottom in 500mtrs water.
Cheers
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
Cheers for the info
Cheers for the info Bouttime.
How do you find the NSS touchscreen with the fishy fingers?? If im not mistaken (good chance i am) to dial in the frequencies ya need the BSM3 module??? otherwise you cant get the full adjustment range of frequencies? Ive only ever had lowrance, and will be networking it together with a HDS 10 (gen2) so IF i were to go with the simrad, id hope that i have got a head start with the user friendly side of things. Being blessed with a trade and a solid job as an expat, the 295 is a realistic purchase, but i think i would struggle to exchange data between lowrance/furuno.
I come accross the MFD12 units and to me it seems that you can attached a module and transducer to that and have a nice fishfinder/plotter combo?
Broady
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 16/01/13
Chirp
I've spent a lot of time looking into chirp over the past couple of months and from my experience info is really tough to come by - the local dealers I've personally spoke to haven't been much help and even chatting to the suppliers at the boat show they gave me some conflicting info.
I've found "the hull truth" forum to be one of the best sources of real world info. Worth a look and take the time to do your research.
if you go Simrad, the NSS EVO2 has a chirp processor built in so no need to look at modules like I believe you will need with the NSE. With the LH transducer you will need the dual channel processor like the BSM2 or 3 otherwise, the Sonarhub is a single channel processor. I ended up with a Sonarhub because I already had a HDS 12 head unit and it was a far cheaper way of seeing how Chirp performed before looking at any upgrades. Only had one run with it so far but the results look promising - no screenshots yet sorry.
Good luck and congrats on the new tub.
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
not the only one
It makes me feel a bit better that im not the only one fighting a loosing battle to find this info. Im not even going to bother wasting my time talking with the local dealers at home. West aussie is the last place to get anything, and out of that, Im sure Geraldton is the last (baby) city to get anything.
Really looking fwd to a few screenshots on ya setup when ya do get a chance. It makes me sad that they put all this new tech into the touchscreen units, but with touchscreens the main HMI we have out here at work- i hate the things.Give me the buttons anyday.i wonder if the chirp processor in the NSS EVO2 is a single or dual unit? YOu make a good point thou. If i were to go with a NSE12 and 1kw transducer or a FCV295 with a 1kw tranny, then just use a sonarhub/chirp setup on the HDS10 to "test the water".
Cheers for the congrats- its taken a while to build up the funds, i can tell ya. But if all goes well on delivery, my x-mas present for myself with be a new BARCRUSHER 730HT... Im worse than any kid ever was counting down the days till the fat man in red comes along :P
searover
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 26/05/14
Chirp
I am going through the same dramas regarding the chirp mode. I have just bought a NSS7 EVO2 and as stated before the local dealers are not much help with operational depths and confidence of these units. I have been using utube footage from a bloke called Mike Smedley (USA) and have found his videos very interesting also you can type in chirp sonar and there are snapshots of various depths.My biggest challenge is matching up the proper transducer to the unit. I fish up to 200 metres and just want to make sure I do it right the first time. The other reason I bought this unit is the gps capabilities of it and taking screen shots and looking back at history on the screen. I run a 585 also so it will be good to compare the chirp and normal transducer pictures. I should have it up and running next week and will keep you informed. Just hope this does not give me a head f**k like most new toys.
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
Its hard to compare what the
Its hard to compare what the yanks do to us sometimes. It would be nice to get the picture perfection that they do with the structrescan units. But none the less, and info is good info at this stage.
i (and sure others) will be here chewing my nails waiting for a few screenshots. It would be great to see real time footage of these 2 units side by side.
Luke
Posts: 167
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Im running Garmin 8000's
Im running Garmin 8000's with GSD26 chirp and a PM265 in the boat I just sold. The simrads were having too many issues with there BSM 2 when I was looking so I steered away from it. As far as deep water performance goes you would struggle to find something that can match it. I can pick up the bottom in 1100m clear as a bell and still mark drop offs and ledges etc. I can read the bottom doing 25knots up to about 500m before it starts to get abit faint. Would definatly recoment that set up.
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
first time for everything
Gday Luke.
Thats the first time ive heard much good said about a garmin unit. ITs a very posative thing thou with the tracking bottom @ 25kn in that depth. How long ago was it that you were looking at the simrad gear? Ive seen a lot of info talking about the i ssues with the BSM2 gear. I wonder if they have fixed it with this new "red box" BSM3 unit they realased not long ago.
searover
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 26/05/14
Transducers for chirp
Hi Bouttime,
Just wondering what tranny are you running on your unit? What depths are you getting with good results?
Thanks
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
I have the standard 600 watt
I have the standard 600 watt 50/200 deep water transducer. Was told that it is chirp capable when i upgraded from the nss8 to the nss evo2 9. Yet to have it out in over 25mtrs water yet. Will know more in the next few weeks when the weather comes good to head out wider.
searover
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 26/05/14
Transducers
Thanks for the quick reply bouttime. I was offered that same deal but on doing more research (I am more confused than ever) I am leaning toward a B175L alot more expensive but for deeper water should provide the goods, I am also running a 585 which will do the shallow stuff. Your tranny will chirp but not as efficient as a chirp tranny (thats what Ive been told ) good luck will keep you informed there is not much info about these units at all.
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
Basef on all the things I
Basef on all the things I have seen, the Furuno 585 will be better in shallow, medium AND deep water. The CHIRP will be better only on the rift or in very calm conditions.
Do yourself a favor and just install the best transducer you can afford on the 585......
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
bigger is not always better?
I seem to reading a lot of good things about the 585 / 587 range of furuno gear. With the size baot that its going on thou, id like something a bit bigger so i can sit up the back with a rod & beer and see the ground. (call me lazy if want:) The 295 looks to be bang on the money for what im looking for, but whan ya spending that much, it dosent hurt as much to go up to the CHIRP range. This is the first time ive seen anything about chirp only being good on the "drift"? or very calm seas. I know first hand thats the case with structurescan, but didnt know about chirp having the same setbacks.
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
could put a second screen
could put a second screen down the back
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
hmmmmmmm..
Now there is an idea.. That would increase the "wank" factor 10 fold.. All the rednecks i work with over here insist on having 2 screens on a 19 foot bass boat, so wouldnt look outta place on a 24 footer.. ;)
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
Luke
Posts: 167
Date Joined: 02/11/09
Hey mate,Yeah unfortuently
Hey mate,
Yeah unfortuently Garmins dont get much rep here in australia, I did most of my reaserch from forums in the states. Id recomend thehulltruth forum for some really good info on chirp too.
i was looking when simrad had there evo 1 units out with BSM2, the 3 should fix most on the old issues.The 8000 series garmins are up there with the best, as 5k each they should be though! Ive found so much ground with them cruising where other setups dont read they've already paid for themselves.
As with any setup, your transducer type and location is the most important part of the whole set up, transom mounts just dont cut it IMO.
I've seen a 295 furuno with a 3kw in hull transducer set up and that was very impressive too!