humminbird wireless?

[nugs]

i was looking at the new wireless humminbird fish finders (the lil green transducer you cast on a rod) and was wondering if anybody had used one or knows if it'll hold up to ice fishin also is it accurate? thank you in advance.
[signature]

[cat_man]

don't do it!!!
[signature]

[Coldfooter]

Agree'd! Save your money and invest in something thats a little more than the latest hook!..
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey nugs, while these little gadgets look kinda nifty, most experienced sonar shoppers tend to feel that they are more novelty than serious sonar.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Over on the float tubing board we have had a couple of threads on those "Smartcast" systems. Here are the links if you care to review them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=59608;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"][#333366][size 1]HUMMINBIRD SMARTCAST[/size][/#333366][/url][size 1]
[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=68652;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"][#333366][size 1]SMARTCAST AGAIN[/size][/#333366][/url][size 1] [/size]
[signature]

[PREDATOR]

If you look into it, you will find that the smartcast system is just one of many things hummingbird has done under its new managment.

The awesome team of engineers that are now working to rebuild and revamp hummingbird are doing some amazing things.

The smartcast system has a ton of options.
The most recognized are the small wrist watch and rod attached screens.
But, the smartcast trasducers can also be used with thier dash mount full size sonars.

Thats one thing about the new hummingbirds is they are upgradeable.
All the units come with the extra ports to plug in all the aftermarket upgrades and extras that hummingbird provides.

If you go to your local tackle dealer, and check through the menu screens you will see the demo screen of the smartcast.

You will get the best idea of what you are going to get for your money by seeing it in this manner.

You will see the resolution is poor, but what do you expect from a unit that has a small battery, and is sending its signal wireless?
Its got an effective range, and its got a battery life.

If it suits your purposes, buy one.
[signature]

[Fishhound]

Hey nugs,

This seems to come up every now and again and I usually add my "half'o'scent" - because I have one.

I own a Smartcast along with 2 other fish finders. It came as a free promotion with my Matrix 37 - it works in conjunction with the main fishfinder, or as a stand alone unit. It can provide some interesting advantages in certain applications, if you care to explore them and have time, imagination and energy to do so. For example, my Matrix 37 can handle two of the remote sensors simultaneously using two seperate frequencies (in the form of an "A" and "B" channel)and I have done that.

Mind you, that on my Matrix 37 the screen is much larger than what you would get in the stand alone model, so, I can view things in greater detail and see them much more easily than with the stand alone screen.

The sensors have power limitations as you would expect - as do the batteries they contain. They do shut off automatically when removed from the water so battery power can be conserved, However, they also turn on automatically when placed in the water - any water. This should concern you if your main intention is to use it on the ice as water will freeze on the unit. It was not properly designed for that, although with some effort, you could make it work. You should also be aware, that, the sensor floats high in the water - above some of the denser ice chunks that will be floating underneath it.

Unless you intend to get the entire Matrix system, I would suggest you look at it, or demo it, in the exact form you intend to buy - to avoid any disappointment with any unmet expectations.

If it were your only fishfinder, you might find it lacking in what you might want a fish finder to do, and if it were not your only one, you might find yourself frustrated with what it cannot do well. Unless you like novelties, or experimenting with gadgets, or have already envisioned an application where it could be applicable, there are other fishfinders on the market that might be more appropriate for what you intend - if that intention is to find fish or information beneath where you are fishing.

There are some very cool things I have done with it - but to do them, I needed the rest of the Matrix system and those particular things were not part of the originally intended application nor it's design. If you want the details about some of those things, I would be glad to share them with you.

However, my general recommendation as a stand alone unit would have to be - make your decision carefully.
[signature]