Down Imaging Problems?

[sticksteer]

Thank you so much to all the regulars whose comments and advice are soooooooo helpful and very much appreciated. I am considering a unit with down imaging . . . . . however, lately I have become a little hesitant about jumping into a DI unit. I have been reading some comments on various forums nationwide about problems with fuzzy images unless speed and boat steadiness are very constant, precise and controlled. What those specific speeds might be I am not certain. I would very much appreciate feedback on these issues of DI . . . . . . . and, if these concerns are justified, does that mean that the fiberglass bass boats would be a more likely candidate for DI (and perhaps also SI) than the lighter-weight aluminum fishing boats? Thanks for any and all feedback.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

Any high frequency sonar system requires movement to create picture like images. The most detail is obtained by the slowest steadiest speed to create the best images. on my transom mounted transducer I always idle at the slowest possible speed to get the most details and match chart speed to the boat speed. Fluctuating speed will change the image and crispness in the image but it does not keep the data from displaying just not picture perfect. That doesn't stop you from finding fish or fish holding structure...that to me is far more important than having a picture perfect image.

[exiledguide]

I know very little about this , but on Tuesday August 9 at BPS in Springfield at 7:00 PM a rep from Hummingbird will give a presentation on the new technology available. I have been thinking about down imaging for crappie and walleye fishing so I will be there it is part of Fishing with the Pros series at BPS. The presentation usualy are by BPS pros and pretty much concern lake fishing in the ozark area. It's free and there are attendance prizes.

[JEVPhoenixBass]

Ex.

I'm located in Clever, email me anytime. I will be in Minn. MN the week of the 8th however Troy will probably be at BP and he can answer any questions you may have. JEVPhoenixBass@yahoo.com

J.E.

[sticksteer]

Thanks guys for all of your valuable comments . . . . much appreciated. I swear I must have put in 50 hours this past week reading, researching, reading, researching and then more reading and researching on forums, retail outlets and online support sites in an attempt to make a half-way intelligent decision in choosing a new gps/finder combo. I have decided to choose a Humminbird unit over Lowrance and a Lakemaster chip over Navionics. I have gained a wealth of knowledge over the past week. The average cost of installation will be between 125 and 150 . . . . the chip another 120 to 130 and perhaps a Ram mount between 35 and 70 . . . . . the numbers keep moving higher even without the price of the actual unit included. The entire process would be made a lot easier if money was not a factor . . . . . as I mentioned once before, I think the highest priced units should include a link to a list of divorce attorneys. The new technology come with a price, for sure. I think I've narrowed it down to the 798ci HD SI Combo . . . . although I am concerned about the side-imaging details being somewhat too small on a screen measuring only 5 inches diagonally . . . . I will attend the Tuesday night presentation at BPS and check back on this thread for possibly some additional input . . . . . you guys on this forum are great! Thanks so much for any and all input.