why color or why monochrome?

[killer nut]

Aside for the difference in purchase price, what are the advantages of color and what are the advantages of monchrome for a chart plotting gps/sounder? Looking at lowrance and garmin products right now.
thanks, Rick

[REW]

Rick,
A general advantage of black and white - is that for most units across the board- they generally have better visibility in the sunlight.

the newer color units are making good progress in this area; but you still might find even the newest color units a bit more difficult to see in direct sunlight. Try each before buying.

The big advantage of color - assuming that you aren't color blind - is that you can bring more information into your head more quickly with a color unit - compared to a black and white unit.

i.e. - when you are looking at a screen containing only shades of gray - you need to look at the screen for several seconds to check the differences between top, bottom clutter etc.

However, with a good color unit - the screen really pops - so to speak.

i.e. the mid lake area is going to be brightly painted in one color, The bottom will be brightly painted in a different color. Any fish - or other mid water "stuff" will be painted in yet another color.

Then, if you are using a gps unit, you will find that your routes are laid in - in a very distinct color from the back ground. The islands will have a different color - compared to the water. The waypoints etc. will have yet another color.

So - to sum up the differences:
1. You might find black and white units - of some brands easier to see than comparable color units in very bright direct sun.

2. Color units generally save you time by giving your head information more quickly and easier to figure out.

Take care
REW

[Auggie]

Color allows you to see stuff way better in the sun. Contrasting colors is also a plus. The gray scale can be hard at times to detect fish under certain circustances. These time would be weeds or fish high in the water column. There is inerference at the top of the graph fo both models. This can be eliminated by switching the sensitivity, but again its harder to see fish because of the closeness of gray and those red or orange blibs stick out way better. Garmin makes a pretty good unit, but look at the differences in color, resolution, and sharpness. I think the Lowrance is ahead of the game.
Chris Augustin

[gunrac]

>Aside for the difference in purchase price, what are the
>advantages of color and what are the advantages of monchrome
>for a chart plotting gps/sounder? Looking at lowrance and
>garmin products right now.
>thanks, Rick
You need to go to a place like West Marine, Cabela's or GanderMountain, Check out there instore displays. They are already set-up in simulater mode. You will very easily answer your own question. Take a peek at the Raymarine while your there.

NEVER APOLOGIZE....
AS IT SHOWS SIGNS OF WEAKNESS
HAWG ON, SEA YA

[Chad]

Think to yourself....What is the difference from a color TV to monochrome?

More information is better. Color gives you more info.


ChadM

[Old guide]

Money. Monochromatic costs less, but for experienced users these will show anything they want to see.

Entertainment value. Color is more interesting to look at, and maybe easier to decipher.

[newbietroller]

Killer nut, if you are interested in monochrome units, I have an x-15 with 200khz transducer and a Lowrance 4000 GPS unit for sale. Run in tandem you have 7" screen for finder and GPS. e-mail me at rbauer@suttonbank.com if you're interested.

[mbrandt]

Yes, check them out in the store, but keep in mind what REW said, they are going to look a lot different outside in sunlight compared to what you see in the store. Also, make sure you look at them with the sunglasses you will use for fishing. I have seen several units that can't be read with polaroids on.

[Wade@JollyAnnMarine]

Color is awesome. No doubt about it. It's easier to read and I think it separates targets better. It can even allow you to determine the strength of a sonar return. Even a color GPS is easier to read than a black and white. Think about trying to read 1-foot depth contours in color versus black and white. If you can swing it financially, color is definately the way to go, IMO.

Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine
Jolly Ann Marine can be found in the Walleye Central Business Directory under Electronics/GPS
www.walleyecentral.com/phpyellow/

[ebijack]

monochrome you can see in any light conditions with sunglasses on.. color..you can see larger fish (red pixels) running at higher speeds and know what your looking at. plus what the others mentioned.

[REW]

Wade,
What are the user comments about current and previous color screens with respect to visibility of the screen in direct summer sunlight with no shade on the screen?

I know that the first color screens were semi unsatisfactory in this area. Are todays screens - actually usable in "DIRECT" bright summer sun?

thanks much
REW

[FreeByrd]

Most of the color screens have made great advancements in the last few years in terms of sunlight visibility. I've fished with a few guys that have the Lowrance / Garmin units the last two years and they are much better than screens prior to 2003. The Raymarine screens took a big step foward in the 2003 timeframe as well. On my 2003 boat I had a one year old color Raymarine L760RC unit that I used as a primary GPS chartplotter and a new 770D HD Digital sonar. The 2002 L760RC was one of the better screens avaialble at the time it was purchased and the difference in the 770D was "night and day" - with the 770D being amazingly better. The screens on the newer "C" and "E" series units have gotten even better - with the "E Series" unit capable of color video. We used two of the lower end "A" series Raymarine units last year - the DS600X and the DS400X. Both worked well in direct sunlight in totally open boats. The DS400 is not as good - it is dimmer than the others, but still viewable in direct sunlight and it retails with a dual frequency transducer for $400 or less.

The Lowrance / Garmin / Raymarine units I've used in the last few years are all very functional in direct sunlight. One tip that works for me is to set the background color to white - some units have a "classic blue" background as a default that is harder to see for me.

[Wade@JollyAnnMarine]

>Wade,
>What are the user comments about current and previous color
>screens with respect to visibility of the screen in direct
>summer sunlight with no shade on the screen?
>
>I know that the first color screens were semi unsatisfactory
>in this area. Are todays screens - actually usable in "DIRECT"
>bright summer sun?
>
>thanks much
>REW
>

REW, I'd agree with FreeByrd. I know Lowrance units best and I can tell you that the new Solarmax screens on the new units work very well in sunlight. You're correct that this wasn't always the case, but color screens can now be read in direct sunlight. I have no problems with mine and I'm sure we can get some others to provide their input here.

Thanks,

Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine
Jolly Ann Marine can be found in the Walleye Central Business Directory under Electronics/GPS
www.walleyecentral.com/phpyellow/

[killer nut]

thanks to all for your comments - they have confrimed many of my suspicions!
how about some opinions on several lowrance units in the same price neighborhood (I understand the dif in the screen size, pixels, and color vs. monochrome)
X-20 w/GPS & dual cone
LMS-480 w/GPS single cone
LC X-15MT w/GPS pack and dual cone
LMS 332c w/ext GPS and single cone
LMS-337c DF w/ext GPS and dual cone

thanks, Rick

[fishinfreak]

newbietroller
Still have the units? fishinfreak@comcast.net

[Ohio fisherman]

I have the LMS-332C and love it. Moved up from monochrome. The difference is wonderful. Color is more important for GPS and mapping than for sonar - at least to me.

Wade is the expert and treated me right on three purchases. He gets all of my electronics business. best wishes, O F

[Wade@JollyAnnMarine]

>thanks to all for your comments - they have confrimed many of
>my suspicions!
>how about some opinions on several lowrance units in the same
>price neighborhood (I understand the dif in the screen size,
>pixels, and color vs. monochrome)
>X-20 w/GPS & dual cone
>LMS-480 w/GPS single cone
>LC X-15MT w/GPS pack and dual cone
>LMS 332c w/ext GPS and single cone
>LMS-337c DF w/ext GPS and dual cone
>
>thanks, Rick
>

Of the units above, the 332C would be my #1 choice (the 337C if you need dual frequency for the great lakes).

Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine
Jolly Ann Marine can be found in the Walleye Central Business Directory under Electronics/GPS
www.walleyecentral.com/phpyellow/

[newbietroller]

Fishinfreak, I still have the units as of today. Drop me an e-mail at rbauer@suttonbank.com or check the e-mail i sent you.

[JimH]

I went from a Humminbird Legend to a X107CDF, and I've never looked back. I've never had a problem reading the screen, even in direct sunlight. It's mounted on my console, Lund 1800 Explorer SS, and I can see the screen w/o any problems from the back of the boat. No issues at all. Bought it from Wade, got a great deal, would highly recommend him.

[killer nut]

Wade, I sent you an email on the WC service directory email.
Rick