Vanselena Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hi folks, I'm designing a new fishfinder and really would like it to be designed by fisherman. So if you could have any feature on a sonar unit, what would it be? Also what features do you find to be useless? For me personally I prefer a big screen and big buttons for my fat fingers...lol. Things that annoy me are having to be a computer expert just to run my sonar unit, most of the features I never use because I can't find them,,,grrr. How about you? Now's your chance to get it all out and if enough people agree then you will influence how your future fishfinder will look and feel. Thanks, Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 are you talking flasher or LCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Are these going to have the 6" transducers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 for LCD, detail and temps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishHog Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 automatic fish ID is an absolute waste if you ask me. I don't need to see little fish symbols, just show me the sonar return. Plus, why to these auto fish always swim in the same direction. Automatic depth changes are OK, but they also need to reverse themselves. I hate when the unit switches to 60' depth, then I get back into 20 and am still looking at a 60' screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setomonkey Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Decent sized screen and fast pickup of signal so you can motor to a new spot and be able to tell depth. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gbfisher Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Usless feature?...........fish ID!..... With how fast they come out with new FF's and the fact that you have been talking about this FF of yours for years now. I can't see why I would ever buy another to replace the one I have now...unless it breaks or I do..... in that case I would buy another Lowrance. If I didnt break that is. Good luck with yer ventures Vans. When are you putting it on the market? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoz Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hey GB . . . . you want I should hold a spot in line for you, to pick up Vans new flasher / fishfinder when he markets it? I was gonna go to the FL20 . . . . but I think I'll wait just a bit more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gbfisher Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hey GB . . . . you want I should hold a spot in line for you, to pick up Vans new flasher / fishfinder when he markets it? I was gonna go to the FL20 . . . . but I think I'll wait just a bit more! OH MAN....that would be great! Thanks Steve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 power what a 1500 watt finder pick up is totally different than a 4000 watt pixel definition - gotta be 480 minimum dual transducer function narrow/wide cone make the screen highly visible from all angles 5" minimum screen size If you want to do something different, make the front all screen. put the adjustment buttons on the top or side of the unit. Buttons now take up way to much real estate that could be used for screen. Look at a computer screen and see how much the adjustment buttons take up. 1 button temp/speed control. Have it toggle through options as you push the button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 power what a 1500 watt finder pick up is totally different than a 4000 watt pixel definition - gotta be 480 minimum dual transducer function narrow/wide cone make the screen highly visible from all angles 5" minimum screen size If you want to do something different, make the front all screen. put the adjustment buttons on the top or side of the unit. Buttons now take up way to much real estate that could be used for screen. Look at a computer screen and see how much the adjustment buttons take up. 1 button temp/speed control. Have it toggle through options as you push the button. Ok I understood some of that,but lost metoggle through. I do like the idea of a nice big flat screen.Maybe hook up a SPS for those slow days.LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanselena Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 The first unit will likely be an LCD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 press button once and speed shows up press it a second time and speed and temp shows press it a third and only temp press it once more and temp disappears I run mine on auto about 95% of the time so having to adjust at set up is not a big deal but one thing I wish my lowrance models would have is a fav settings switch where I could run on auto and then pop it into manual with last settings still there Also I hate having to turn off fish ID and teunr on speed and temp every time i turn on my Eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfish1965 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 A few things I would like to see... GPS split screen option select Better option navigation (two stage..show title then select to show options) Auto-depth select over-ride (someone else metioned this) Manual selection of max depth. maybe 5 ft increments 'Favourite settings' preselect. This way an angler could have a few presets ready...one for trolling , one for jigging, etc. Give up Fish ID processing power for more processing to raw sonar "Quick Mark" for the GPS...see a school and hit a single button that adds a quick mark on the GPS and assists in returning to that spot. Most GPS require a few steps to accomplish this Actual depth vs Map Info depth editing Dual transducer 3-D mapping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headhunter Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I'll keep this simple... how about a screen you can read from any angle! Also, how about a screen that you can see/read in bright sunlight. Or, a machine that can be updated on line with a simple usb connection to a computer for up loading any new s/w releases/upgrades/mapping. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 well ,lots of vertical pixels... horizontal is just history but it's nice to have some history i say get rid of all the stupid bells and whistles..except people seem to buy the ones that sound like a slot machine paying off every time a weed floats by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccmtcanada Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 (edited) I'd like one that has a boat attached to it...then I'd be looking to buy...retail should be under $200 Edited December 12, 2006 by ccmtcanada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 How about a scratchproof screen, even when carefull you end up with a hazy screen after a while. Make the case out of a lighter colour, black in the sunlight can't be good for the electronics. Connectors should be non corroding. How about a transducer cable thats 5 feet, I always have a ball of spaggetti wrapped up in one corner. Good luck, hope to see a prototype. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Cross Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 My new unit has a depth alarm, saved hitting bottom more than once. Maybe a depth window. Where you get an alarm if you go to deep or too shallow. CX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanselena Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Great comments, please keep them coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 [*]'Favourite settings' preselect. This way an angler could have a few presets ready...one for trolling , one for jigging, etc. Now that is one feature I would really like. I also like the idea of one button, my old... crap... I can't even remember the name of it. Someting tournament Pro something or other, made by Bottom Line. Anyways it had one button, push to turn on unit, push again to go through options, turn dial to option, push to highlight option, so on.... Real easy to operate. Another option I like is the "real time" display. Sure a flasher might be quicker but do you really need to have mili seconds? A 1/2 or 1 second delay is not bad. Develop a transducer that will work as a through hull design for Aluminum boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschirk Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 A speed / distance scale along horizontal access so I cann see how far back the target has passed behind the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Farmer Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Go with the CRT instead of LCD it's a better definition. Have trolling speed speed in time GPS, so you don't have the little wheel getting fouled up. Swivel base. Just some info. There is going to be new things happening in the fish finder industry with in a year or two . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanselena Posted December 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Farmer I agree with CRT having better definition and also updates faster. That being said we will likely be looking at having a CRT and LCD model. Great posts, keep them coming! Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschirk Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 input for underwater video camera option (full or split screen) temp & depth probe for downriggers Quick Disconnect, w Over sized gold plated connectors (no flimsey pin & socket that are pone to intemittent connection) tilt/swivel base, SD card slot recording & for firmware updates HEAVY DUTY rubber boots on heavy duty (nick proof) cables I love side scan on the new Huminbird if it dosent compromise fishfinding response 500+ wats RMS 600+ vertical pixels Scroll back memory split display - vertical or horizontal Real bottom zoom 10-20 foot - using most vertical pixels Thermocline finder dual cone tranducer 40deg-192KHZ & 10deg-400Khz overlayed on same display adjustable target alarm based on target density No hassle warranty replacement policy (renewable annual contract) USB port for device networking options (i.e. NEMA 0183) 32+ shade grayscale display for target density (color can be confusing), White LED backlighting Bikini babe screen saver :-) bottom zoom tracking with superior bottom/target seperation NO COMPROMISE quality (mil spec) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now