Firmware 5.6 upgrade for the Showdown & VPG sonar units.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Called into Versa Electronics at (763) 512-3988 Sent in my Older Vertical Pixel Grap (VPG) unit(which was upgraded once already to the 3.2 firmware) to get the 5.6 firmware.

Cost was $58 to get it upgraded.

To answer some questions I had & have heard from others, here is what I found out talking with the rep. from Versa Electronics.

VPG & Showdown units are the same, upgrades can be done to both of them.

To do the upgrade they have you send in the Powerhead Unit & the Sonar cord.

The 5.6 firmware upgrades for the unit from what I was told are improvements on 2 things.

1. The Zoom feature is upgraded & the zoom area can be moved up or down in the water coulm in 1ft increments allowing you to zoom in on the part you want regardless of where it is in the water coulm.

2. Improvement on the rejection & interferance, guess they had problems with other sonars, which I never happend to run into with mine. It sounds like this is an area that they really improved uppon drasticly from what the rep said.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I noticed a person can pick up a old VPG or showdown on some sites cheap with the upgrade it should be a heck of a sonar.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Anyone else get the update done, and get their sonar back yet?

[aquafang]

I have my RMA# but haven't sent it in yet. Will definately do so though. I hope the noise rejection improvement works. That's the only downfall of the flasher now. I love using it.

[pulsar_nx]

Ag, how long did it take to get it back?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Ag, how long did it take to get it back?

Don't know, called in and they told me it would get shipped back to me last Friday, Still haven't seen it. If you're thinking of doing the upgrade, I'd send it in as soon as you can so it's back before first Ice.

[jbird68]

It would be nice if you could just download the upgrade and do it yourself.

Why so much for the upgrade. when I sent mine in last time it was only $20 plus shipping.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Called in to versa today. They gave me a tracking number and should be getting it back today.

Talking with the rep I found out some cool stuff.

-If you have a VPG when they upgrade it, they will put on a new showdown face plate on the sonar.

-If you missed the 1st upgrade, you can go directly to this upgrade.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

It would be nice if you could just download the upgrade and do it yourself.

Why so much for the upgrade. when I sent mine in last time it was only $20 plus shipping.

Yea, it would be cool. I bet it would take a special cord for the head unit that would cost about as much as the unit though.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Got it back today, and put the sonar to the test in the fish tank. Worked great. Checked the zoom feature and can move it in one foot increments.

[aquafang]

Got my VPG unit back with upgrade. No instructions . So.........how do I use the new 'anywhere in the water column" zoom feature? and how does the new noise rejection work? I assume that works the same and it's just better?????

[aquafang]

Nevermind... I played around with it. Pretty self explanitory. Very easy. Can't wait to use it. Sunday I'm hitting the ice. according to ice right now and the temps, I will be on at least 3" of ice on sunday morning.

[deadeye]

I gotta admit, its kinda sweet that you can just send it in for a upgrade and it comes back better. I will probably send my Dad's vpg in for the upgrade in the offseason. I got him the first upgrade last year for free. I have yet to see any problems with the first upgrade but that zoom feature would be pretty neat. Probably the most undrated sonar out there for ice fishing.

[BroncoFan85]

I recently sent my VPG in and they sent it back in just 4 days but no paper work was sent back and the original decals are still on it. Do you have to ask them for the new decals?

[fishinmedic]

I realize that this post originated awhile ago, but this is information that I need. I love my VPG (1st gen), but the interference is an issue with some Vex's on the ice. Since the ice is [PoorWordUsage] right now anyway, I'm calling on monday. Thanks for the information. That's what I love about this place. Atleast I can get one of my electronics fixed, now if anyone has any tips on how to get a card to start reading in a Lowrance Endura, please see my post in the equipment forums. Thanks again,