New Vexilars for next season?

[ozzie]

I have heard from a couple different sources now that Vexilar has stopped production on the FL 8-12-18- and 20's and are coming out with a new flasher for next season. Everyone I have asked could not tell me what Vexilar planned on doing for the new flasher. Does anyone on this site have any idea as to what kind of upgrades or changes they plan to have for the new Vexilars? I just went and purchased a hard to find new FL-20 as I love these units and didn't want to have to deal with a "newer model" as they might have to work out the bugs.....Thanks

[jwmiller33]

i just got back from the "Motor Clinic" in Bloomington. I brought my trolling motor in for them to clean up the armature after some water got in there from having a bad seal (from getting line tangled in there)... Anyways, these guys specialty work is on Vexilar repair and Minnkota's and other trolling motors repair. They said they wouldnt be able to get to my trolling motor til the end of the week or the beginning of next week because they were so backed up on Vexilar repairs.. Anyways... I immediately thought of this thread and asked the guy if they were coming out with a new model of vexilars for next year and/or if they were discontinuing any of their current models... The guy said they were working on having an all digital display, similar to the Humminbirds. He also said that they have been having troubles on doing this because they have been having all of their screens freeze up (the Liquid Crystal Displays)... It was my understanding that the entire screen was going to be digital. He said this was the only "new feature" that they were working on coming out with for their new line of flashers.. Anyways, i thought I'd share this with you guys

[Boxcar Wllie]

Maybe they will make it into a graph too and you will have an X-67!!!! Nice to see them catch up. Marcum will be a couple years behind them.

[river rat316]

If its all digital then they need a heater behind it like the showdown otherwise it will freeze

[Zoob]

Conceivably, they could go LED screen (like the new TVs) - and totally end-run any sluggish-slowdown on screens like LCDs would have.

I would imagine that an LED display would be a few years off yet; considering it's just gaining traction in the TV market.

[Ed Carlson]

Sniff...Sniff...I smell smoke?

Vexilar tested and worked with LCD's many years ago, in fact they developed the first models in a vertical graph display, now defunct.

But what they found at the time is they were not well suited for on-ice applications. So as for a pure LCD, I feel is not too likely the new innovation they would pursue would be that, unless it had developed some significant technological changes to overcome LCD's past proven downfalls in durability, speed, and performance on the ice.

If....they looked to develop a new display, I feel they would go forward with VGA or QVGA, not likely back to LCD.

[hamms-scooter]

I like the good old flasher don't fix what ain't broke!

[Finlander]

How bout ifinz they put a rotating transducer that scanned a tight 5 degree cone that picked up fish off the side so you could move over to that area the fish were seen on the screen just like a sonar on a submarine! shouldn't be too hard to engineer! Oh ya! I am an engineer! DOH!

[fishwater]

... many years ago... ...at the time... ...unless it had developed some significant technological changes to overcome LCD's past proven downfalls in durability, speed, and performance on the ice.

If....they looked to develop a new display, I feel they would go forward with VGA or QVGA, not likely back to LCD.

First off, VGA and QVGA are formats that are presented on all types of displays; nowadays that means LCD more often than not. Modern LCDs are not even remotely close to LCDs of a few years ago; the technology has been developed very quickly over the last few years. Thin film research is very popular these days, many of the research labs at the UofM work on this.

[JIM C]

Maybe they will make it into a graph too and you will have an X-67!!!! Nice to see them catch up. Marcum will be a couple years behind them.

To really catch up? <J/K> But I do like their accessories...

[Ed Carlson]

Now if we want to play "What-If"...I'll play.

"WHAT-IF"...the Vexilar EDGE III...also had a flash'r mode along with it's present duel beam split screen graph capability's...and all in a new HD quality QVGA touch screen format...now...you have a truly "NEW"...Vexilar hybrid for soft and hard water use.

[deadeye]

I want one. Now. I think you may be holding out on us sir?

[JIM C]

Ed- I wonder how many guys would end up using the flasher mode? Most of the guys running Lowrance products on ice use their machines only in graph mode. But that 10 degree 400 kHz Vex beam would be sweet! Touch screen is coming no doubt.

I'd like to dunk a Lowrance LSS-1 Structure Scan transducer under the ice and spin it around to see what it can do...Hmmmmm...

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

[Ed Carlson]

I see your thinking Jim, and I have also been wondering along those lines about new down and side scan technology on the ice. It's not far off, if it is not too price prohibitive.

In the end price points will set a retail demand technological glass ceiling, in which the manufacturer will need to target.

Everyone wants more glittery gizmo's in a gadget, but they do not want to pay more than $X, $Y, or $Z amount.

Building the most useful, serviceable, and durable product at the most market appropriate and affordable price points to fill the anglers needs is a challenge, and Vexilar has been very good at doing this for many years.

PS: That is a sharp looking HDS 5 Portable package, well done!

[deadeye]

So I hate to bump old threads but I am really itching to hear if they are really making something new for next year. I really want a Humminbird but if there is a true hint at something new I am going to hold out till it comes out.