Which Fishfinder Should I buy?

[cbadmin]

From: josepepper (Original Message) Sent: 6/3/2003 2:35 PM
I have a standard non plotting GPS and separate Radar. I want to buy a fish finder but am a bit confused about all the options and different
brands, some of them state that they can take a handheld gps feed but I doubt if mine would be able to output into the new units. I just want a
decent fish finder at a max of a couple hundred bucks. Is water temperature and water speed important? Is high resolution B&W LCD Ok?.
Should I sell my GPS and radar and buy an all in one unit? Can you disengage the existing depth finder wiring and use it for the new fish finder?
The old radar unit (1995) is crt based and it's huge but it works great. Sorry for all the questions but I don't want to make the wrong purchase.
Jose on the "Susan Renee"


From: josepepper Sent: 6/3/2003 3:18 PM
Humminbird Piranha 5 Fishfinder is a nice low cost unit? 132 bucks and it has a temp sensor. Only 100 watt power output, seems to be the high end of the low cost units from hummingbird.

# Depth capability: 600 feet
# Number of beams: Two
# Operating frequency: 200/83 kHz
# Transducer (standard): Transom mount
# Transducer area of coverage: 53 and 20 degrees at -10 decibels
# Power output: 100 watts (RMS), 800 watts (peak to peak)
# Power requirement: 12 VDC
# Display type: FSTN liquid crystal display
# Display matrix: 160 x 65 pixels
# Display size: 3.44 x 2.5 inches
# Zoom: Yes
# Water temperature: Yes
# Depth alarm: Yes
# Fish alarm: Yes
# Speed sensor: No
# Backlit: Yes
# Width: 4.38 inches
# Depth: 3.25 inches
# Height: 6.13 inches
# Warranty: Information not available

From: josepepper Sent: 6/4/2003 2:49 PM

I found this on the www.humminbird.com site under reconditioned units, it includes water temp and speed sensor and although it only uses a single beam it has a very fine high resolution screen and a lot of features for 139 bucks, I thought it was a great deal so I ordered it today. It has a lot of power and seems to blow away the similarly priced units.

Humminbird Zercom Z160 Fishfinder

Now state-of-the-art Zercom LPG (Liquid Paper Graph) technology is available in a smaller size with the versatile new Zercom Z160. Crisp, clear images. Simultaneous real-time display. Includes Speed and Temperature indicators. Easy-access menus and precision controls. All in a compact, yet powerful sonar unit that can be installed either flush in the dash or gimbal-mounted. The new Z160. Only from Zercom.
Features

* 8 level grayscale, FSTN display
* Single beam sonar
* 200kHz sonar operation
* Narrow spacing of depth ranges for optimum performance in shallower water
* Fully adjustable rotary Gain control provides superfine adjustments
* Manual or Automatic bottom tracking modes
* Split Screen Bottom Lock with user selectable range Digital depth display
* Speed and temperature capable
* Fully adjustable Display Contrast for optimum viewing in all light conditions
* Back Lighting for display
* Shallow depth alarm - adjustable from 2' to 99'
* Eight level manual Surface Clutter optimizes display for all conditions
* Waterproof, gasketed construction
* Low profile gimbal mount, or in-dash mounting
* Connector Collector makes all cable connections at once
* Built-in high quality simulator using real sonar data (with point of sale reset)
* High speed, transom mount transducer with kick-up mounting system
* Comes standard with speed and temp gauge

Specifications

· Display Matrix 160 V x 160 H

· Display Type FSTN, Grayscale Grayscale Levels 8

· Display Size 3 1 /2" Vertical, 3 1 /2" Horizontal, 5" Diagonal Back Light Incandescent

· Total Screen Update

· Feature Memory

· Depth Capability 600'

· Power Output Power Output 400 Watts RMS, 3200 Peak to Peak

· Sonar Frequency 200 kHz

· Sonar Configuration Single Beam

· Sonar Cone Angle 20¡ @ -3db

· Sonar Resolution Target Separation 2 1 /2"

· Transducer High Speed Transom Mount, Universal Mount

· Speed/Temp Gauge Included

· Cable Connectors Power, Transducer, Speed/Temp

· Unit Dimensions 4.9" High, 6.25" Wide