In the Market for a FishFinder

[mytmouse]

Battery options are simple... You can go with a 8 AA battery pack from Radioshack. That's what I did and have had no problems. I like it because it's cheap and I NEVER have to worry about charging batteries because I keep fresh ones with my gear. I just get the pack of 48 from Costco. I get about 2-3 trips out of a set.

Or you can get a small 12 volt battery. Sorta like the ones that come out of UPS'. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Power-sonic-PS.../dp/B0002ILJZ0 I just picked that one for reference, you might be able to find cheaper ones. You just need to get a charger and a set of connectors to put on your FF battery leads.

[c-villefisherr408]

Dont be confused by the humminbird 175i when they say "chart plotter" charts do not exist. Its more of a tracking feature with no maps at all.

[M_Duong60]

well I think I can do with out a ff with a map because I do carry around a compass and whistle. For now I might just buy a cheap FF off of amazon or something b/c i'm pretty sure they are refurbished and everything like I-pods/phones/touches. Also seeing as i'm still in highschool I want to stick with a less permanent installation on the mod pod on my trident 13 rather than drilling a hole in the sonar shield.

[c-villefisherr408]

Gotcha. Good luck with whatever u decide to go with

[M_Duong60]

oh and can anyone give me some tips on how to read a FF?

[c-villefisherr408]

Use fish arches. There more accurate then fish id (shows a little fish symbol) and if u put ur thrumb in the bottom left corner of the screen thats the info thats actually under the boat. Anything past your thumb is already passed. If ur bottom fishing im sure ya kno you always want to look for some kind of structure or drop off. Theres a start for ya any other questions just let me know

[M_Duong60]

Sure thing ill keep that in mind once I get the ff and test it...didn't know about the thumb trick. I know the hummingbirds have the fish symbols but is there a setting without these?

[c-villefisherr408]

Under the menu u should be able to switch to arches. You get the arch picture based on the fishes position in the water. But go to your menu. I do know if its a cheapo like a 150 170 its prob not going to have the fish arches function.

[M_Duong60]

ohhhh....that stinks I was thinking about getting one of those but I guess I have to spring for a different model now. Anyway I greatly appreciate the help that you have given me.

[M_Duong60]

Scratch that I might buy dson5 160 model used for $50...that work well for you right?

[c-villefisherr408]

Anytime man. Id google the model he has to see if it has it. The reason arches are sooo much better is when its on fish id it comes up as a fish but could be anything (can log rock etc) arches is never wrong cuzthe arch respresents the fishes position.

[dson05]

I don't think the 160 has fish arches to be honest. It has an option to turn the fish id on and off, but to be honest.. havn't tried it with fish id off so I am not sure. I will try it out when I can, but won't be for at least another few weeks.

[c-villefisherr408]

Take fish id off. That might be all ya have to do for arches to be activated.

[Turtle135]

c-ville is correct, if you turn off the "fish-id" feature on the PiranhaMax series (in the menu) then fish will show up as raw sonar data (in the case of a fish completely in the sonar cone the fish will show up as an arch)

Hey c-ville, does the current data on your fish finder show up on the left hand side of your lcd? On my Humminbird's the current is on the right hand side (info to the left is the sonar history).

[c-villefisherr408]

Yep i got the elite 4. Put ur thumb in the left corner and thats the current info. Everything past that is already gone. Infos going left to right