humminbird smartcast

[dradulescu]

hi,

anyone got a humminbird smartcast sonar ?
can you please share your oppinion on this item ?

thx, dan

[Shawn2]

Buddy of mine bought one to try out on his planer boards. Just didn't have the range. When he let it out 20 feet it lost the signal to the receiver. I don't think this product is ready quite yet. Great idea though...

>hi,
>
>anyone got a humminbird smartcast sonar ?
>can you please share your oppinion on this item ?
>
>thx, dan

[danr]

did he try to change the sensor, the batteries or did he contact the customer support from humminbird ? I'm worried about that, as I just ordered one :(

[Cottontuf]

I have the RF30 wrist mount modle. I used mine last night and it worked fine. I threw it about 50 feet, and it returned a strong signal. The only problem I have had with it is I can see the fish, but they wont bite. If someone could make one that would chase the fish down, and put him in a headlock, well.... Now were talking.

[Greg Walters]

Shawn 2,

I work for Humminbird (Techsonic) and have tested the SmartCast system(s). So I know that they will work out to at least their advertised distance (some work farther). One thing that has to be remembered with the SmartCast systems; they use RF (Radio Frequencies) and are therefore line-of-site. This means that there can be no obstructions between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter is the bright green 'bobber' (RSS - Remote Sonar Sensor) on the end of the fishing line and the receiver is either the RF10 Control Head unit that is mounted on a portable box or it is the RF30 Wrist Mounted receiver. If your friend has the RF10 system, I would recommend that he place the portable case on something to elevate it - like an upturned bucket or on a tackle box. Reception can also be helped by turning the left side of the display towards the RSS bobber. If he has the RF30 Wrist Mounted receiver, he needs to make sure that he isn't wearing it in such a manner that he is blocking the RF signal with his body.

Any obstruction can block the RF signal from the RSS bobber to the receiver; this includes waves. So generally, the higher you can get the receiver, the farther and better your reception will be. I've heard that some people are using their SmartCast on planer boards - with mixed results. We at Techsonic are aware of the potential of this product and are working on possible solutions for using the SmartCast in this manner. Can't say more than that and probably said to much already...

Greg Walters
Product Test and Calibration Technician
Techsonic Industries, Inc. (Humminbird)

[Einstein]

No message

[Hollis]

Greg while you are around , what do you think of the new Matrixes. Do you think they are/will be realiable? How do they compare in general to whats out there.

[Greg Walters]

I don't think that I could give an un-biased opinion on the Matrix units and I certainly hope that they are reliable! Unfortunately, they do not let me play with copetitors units so I really can't say how they work versus any certain unit/brand.

As for the dual-frequency, color mapping gps, wrist sonar with grayline that is linked via satellite to the morphable wireless Stealth bobber... I can't believe it! Another security leak! Now everyone will know what we are up to! And we just broke the last guy's arm trying to test it when we strapped that thing on him. What will we do... wait, I'll bet the Hulk is looking for employment after his movie contract expires...

Greg Walters
(too much sun and rain today!)

[Hollis]

well,...you came over from the Zercom people didn't you? Isn't the Matrixes engineered from another division?,...does it put you in a bind to talk about the Matrixes?,..OK compared to the other Hummingbird products,...what do you think of them?

[hollis]

somwhere there is a missing post,..OK I re read your post and misunderstood the first time,...they do LOOK great,..but how are they doing,..many in for service yet or do they look as of now pretty realible? lots of stuff for the money!,..

[pwrfshn]

Thanks Greg!

[Greg Walters]

Hollis,

Even if I knew the answer to that question - I wouldn't be able to answer it as this would be proprietary information (I would get fired!).

As for coming from the Zercom people - when we bought the Zercom brand name, there were only two Engineers who continued until they finished the one product they were working on at the time of the deal. There were no production people as Zercom used other companies to manufacture their products. I'm not sure what our Engineering department may have learned from them but we alone are responsible for the Zercom Legend products design (and the LPG160 & LPG2000 units too).

Compared to other Humminbird products - I believe that the Matrix units are better in many ways. They have more "bang-for-the-buck" as they were designed with more features than any previous Humminbird unit. They are upgradable through software updates (over the web) and "Smart Accessories" as well. They really are a part of a 'system' and not just a stand alone depth sounder. All that said, I still like the LPG2000/Legend 3000 unit best. I guess I like the complete adjustability of that unit along with the knobs and 320 vertical pixel display. This is not to say that I may not change my mind with anything new that we may come out with in the future!

Greg Walters

[pwrfshn]

Greg,

Thanks for the info.

Currently I use a different brand of sonar on my bow and console, but I have to say that dollar for dollar, the Zercom 160 and LPG 2000 that I used to use is by far the best unit I had used in that price range hands down.

If the Legend units are similar they still get my vote in the price range for sonars.

The customer service I received from Techsonic when I sent in my 160 a couple of years ago was great. Keep up the good work.

My old bow unit (Z160) has a scratch on the screen and I don't use it anymore because of it. Is this fiaxable? If so, can I fix it myself or does it need to go in?

One of my fishing buddies ordered his Smartcast last night for his Canadian fly in trips. He will probably be asking a few questions.

Thanks again,

[Greg Walters]

Guys, we've really gotten off the 'Strictly Fishing' subject here and should take this to the General Discussion board. If you have any questions, please post them there and/or e-mail me:

greg.walters@techsonic.com

PS: Mexico, $88.95 is the standard service charge for a Zercom 160, but you could first try polishing the scratch out with a commercial plastic polish - if it doesn't work you can still send it in to be changed.


Greg Walters
Senior QC Technician
(that means I'm getting old!)
Techsonic Industries, Inc.

[Hollis]

Greg I hope I didn't come across as being argumentative,..I really have always had good relations with Huminbird and the customer service has done well by me. I REALLY want to see both the Legend and Matrix line do well (I have and love my LPG 2000.) and have owned other Humingbird products. Some were not as good as things are now but that was some years ago and many companies had their problems in the past. (I've owned a few Lowrances that had their problems too.) I really hope the Matrixes have good quality control and help rebuild the HB image as some people don't go back to a resturant if they ever had just one bad meal. I think people that know about the Legends have no argument with that they are well engineered and made. I'm hoping the Matrix line will give your company a great boost. They look great and with all its features and at that price they should sell well.