Is a 1KW Transducer worth the $$ for 40-50m of water?
Submitted by Braxi on Fri, 2011-09-02 00:16
Im a bit torn with the transducers. I was sold on the 1KW Airmar In Hull transducer but I was told that at 30-50 metres it read quite a narrow beam. I heard that the 600w are still ok and have a broader beam. I have looked at their website but not having too much experience with these a lot of it doesnt make much sense. Is it worth spending the extra $$ for the 1KW if im not fishing deep water?
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Cant fish from home...
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Darren Long
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 19/10/10
Hi, No dont throw your money
Hi, No dont throw your money away on a 1kw, 600w is fine for 180- 200m of water
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
i will soon tell ya mate.i
i will soon tell ya mate.
i have just got the airmar m260 and i am fitting it now.
i still have my 600 as well so i can compare the two at the same time both on hds, i got a mixed response after asking 10 differant people who are supposed to be the pros, this is from the states and around here in auz, some said yes it will and others said not.
i think it will but i will soon see.
check my post
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/new-toy-my-tub
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Tranny
Have just fitted a tm260 and it's good also still have p66 which is just as good had a good picture in 300mt only can't travel all that fast with p66 in deep water big difference in price and size
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
Stick with the 600W
I WAS going to upgrade to a 1KW for a JRC FF50 to try and get better definition in 100m. In 30-50m a 300w will work well. Save your money!
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
having done the test between
having done the test between a 600w and a 1kw on a FCV 620 some time ago and seen the difrence on Furunos website information , I am a true beleiver in the bigger the tranny the clearer and better quality / definition the picture.
http://www.furunousa.com/Learning%20Center%20Documents/FurunoTransducerGuide-LR.pdf
download this pdf brochure from Furuno on Transducer selection and guide to see your answer on page 8.
screen shot comparison between a 600w and 1kw tranducer both on same sounder ( 600W) on same ground in 200 feet water ( =/- 85m)
always remember your transducer is like speakers on a hifi system, better the speakers, clearer the sound. Same goes for transducers
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Darren Long
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 19/10/10
Did not think the FCV 620 can
Did not think the FCV 620 can take the 1kw tranny
on my boat i run the FCV 585 with the 600w and i also have the 295 with the 1kw, having them both on auto and manual i really cant see the 1kw being better that the 600w in shallow waters, both transom mount transducers
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
The FCV 620
should take the 1kw with an adapter plug I believe
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
Darren Long
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 19/10/10
(No subject)
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
darren
im not sure about your last comment i have the 585 in my boat and the old boy has the 295 in his and the difference between the two is amazing! the 295 is in another class! the clarity of the 295 in reading the bottom is so defined!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Darren Long
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 19/10/10
In 40m of water??
In 40m of water??
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
I also run a 585 & 295
side bye side 600w and 2kw there is a huge difference in shallow water
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
in any depth darren!
im guessing you may need to look at your settings if you think there is no difference!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
FCV 585 and 620 have same
FCV 585 and 620 have same plug on the back, so you can plug in the 1kw 585 tranny directly.
if you using any of the commercial high end trannies, then you need a MB1100 matching box to get the impendence spot on and it has the correct plug on it for the FCV 585 and 620.
FCV 295 and 1100 don't need matching box, as they have it built in.
read through the that trnasducer link from Furuno I put up, explains it all.
in fact you can put a 2kw 200khz transducer and a 3kw 50khz trandcuer with a matching box on a FCV 585 or 620 and have absolute top end performance.
My present set up has trnaducers worth more than the sounder
, in summer I'll post up some deep watr pic for people to droll over..... 
I will be running a FCV 295 with a 5kw (50F-38) 50khz http://www.marineequip.com.au/furuno-50f-38.html and a 2kw (200B-8B) 200kz http://www.marineequip.com.au/furuno-200b-8b.html both in wet box's in the hull.
even though the FCV is 3kw sounder, I am running a 5kw deepwater 50khz to get the top end picture quality.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
Now thats a
lekker set up boet !
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Bliksem
Baai lekker.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
YES IT IS!
the 1kw is so much clearer when reading the bottom! had the 620 with 600 w now have the 585 with 1kw and it is certainly worth it!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
ive just put a tm270w on my
ive just put a tm270w on my hds only one trip so far but everything looked a bit clearer only went to 15mtrs
still need to tune it up wish they need a uni degree in sounder tuning hahah
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Darren Long
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 19/10/10
In 30m of water have you
In 30m of water have you considered getting a view glass?? cheaper than a 1kw tranny hehehe
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
(No subject)
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
Braxi
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 11/12/09
Does the 585 have a spot for both the 1KW and a 600W?
Is there much difference with the width of the beam that it reads between the transducers when bottom bashing? Im still pretty close to sold on the M260 in hull. Dont think I can afford to hook up a 2KW setup. Just getting the missus talked into the 1KW.
Cant fish from home...
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
No, but you can run two
No, but you can run two single-element transducers with the MB1100.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Till is right, and advantage
Till is right, and advantage of goign this route is to buy a good 1kw 200khz to start with, then later upgrade the 50khz to a better tranny later, like I did.
I started with a 1kw 50/200 rubber 50/200B 1T and then up graded firs the 200khz tranny to 2kw and now just doing the 50khz to the soup plate one coming
ps remember the 1kw ones are not to big in size, but once to go into the 2kw, 3kw and 5kw you talking big bloody things. My 5kw 50khz one is over 20cm across!!!!
so make sure you got the room to fit them in your hull.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
For the cost of a big trany
You can get one of those HD cameras on a cable, throw it overboard with a weight and have a direct look at the bottom. Same technology as the pipes they shove up your bum to look for nasties. Awesome pictures (not of your nether ends!!!!!)
Next door neighbour has one.
I dont know how deep a go pro will go but I have been tempted to get one in the shallows and hoink it OB to see the structure in shallows. LOL
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
one day soon
www.seaviewer.com/index.html
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
1kw
Comes down to budget for me. If you can afford a 1kw over 600w then I would definately go down this path. The picture will be clearer without a doubt. And if nothing else you then have the option of going deeper without having to upgrade later on. It could also be worth the money getting someone to show you how to drive your sounder to get the absolute best out of it. People that pay upwards of $40k for a boat to go fishing in and then don't invest in decent 'hunting' equipment might as well of just thrown $40K in the bin.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
rotto box
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 07/03/08
can any one tell me why i
can any one tell me why i cant hit 150mtrs with a 1kw on the 585 tryed so many differt thing an still cant get the barsted to work little dissapointed atm feel like it was a waist of money
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
Thats odd?
We called it quits at 620meters and still were getting good readings with the 585. I run the 50b and 200b
"Its a life style job"
rotto box
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 07/03/08
mine calls its quiets at 150
mine calls its quiets at 150 on a good day an 50khz dont even bother dies at 80m an no 1 can tell my why as yet hopeing some one on hear can help even if they would come out for a days fishing with fuel bait an beer paid for be much appreciated
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
Ill take photos of all my settings this weekend for you
and send them monday. Pm me you email
"Its a life style job"
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
what transducer are you
what transducer are you running? My 585/M260 reaches 500m on 50khz and I wouldn't be suprised if it went deeper too. How fast are you trying to sound at and where is your transducer mounted? Either something is rooted with your settings or the installation is all wrong, you should have no probs whatsoever past 150m.
rotto box
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 07/03/08
not sure wat trannie i no
not sure wat trannie i no its a 50/200 trannie mount airmar im thinking its more likely setting are wrong but i have no idea were to start adjusting them an wat setting does wat iv tryed moving the tranny 3 time up/down and adjusting the angle that why i was hopeing sumone on hear could give sum help with any luk. but knowing me i prob brought a dud lol
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
Even with the worst settings
Even with the worst settings your sounder should be able to get 150m, especially on 50khz. I'd go out to whatever depth you want to test it in and stop the boat so there is no turbulence created from the hull. I'd then put all your settings to auto and see if this does anything. If you get the bottom that way start moving off and see how the picture responds. If it breaks up straight away it's an transducer placement issue. If not, start changing the settings to manual. Put your TVG to medium. Try adjusting gain, colour erase and clutter settings to see how they change things. Allocate a hour or 2 to getting it right.
Also something to try, select a small range, say 20m. Then use the shift function to move this down until the bottom is dispalyed on the screen. If you display the full water column in say 150m, the top section is always going to be fuzzed out in order to have enough power to read the bottom properly. You're only interested in the bottom section so why waste all that screen. This will also make it easier to adjust your settings.
rotto box
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 07/03/08
cheers mate ill give that a
cheers mate ill give that a crack an c wt happens appreicate the info gives me sumwere to start
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
good advice theredunno how
good advice there
dunno how well your tx is mounted , but this article should cover everything , and worth a look
http://www.airmartechnology.com/uploads/installguide/17-297-01.pdf
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Braxi
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 11/12/09
Thanks Tony
I had a look at the link you posted and I think Im sold on the 1KW M260. And then a 600w for the HDS 8 or 10 for the backup. Just wish my boat was here already...
Cant fish from home...
Braxi
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 11/12/09
Got my boat
And it has a thru hull tranny. Might upgrade it to another more recent Airmar tranny. Looking at the Airmar Thru Hull 1KW B164. Anyone used this?
Cant fish from home...
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Why don't you go shoot-thru,
Why don't you go shoot-thru, rather than thru-hull?
No more holes below the waterline, no noise induced by the profile either,
Braxi
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 11/12/09
Theres already a hole.
In the hull from the existing transducer that I am looking to replace when I take out the existing sounder setup and installing the HDS10. Do the Thru Hull trannys pick up noise when on the go do they? Is it at speed or anytime?
Cant fish from home...
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Any shape can cause the
Any shape can cause the sounder noise, its merely turbulence.
I guess if you have the hole already its either use it or fix it!