Which to Buy? Lowrance X16 or spend more for X19

[rngrfshm]

Hello,
I am debating right now if it is worth spending the extra $1000.00 for the X19 versus the X16 Lowrance. I have seen in the lowrance HSOforum product specs that the X16 is for sun and shade and so forth not for direct sunlight whereas the X19 they say it is. But when I look that detail up on product comparison, both units have exactly the same screen being "Color Illimintaed Full VGA 256-color TFT" and also say Enhanced Visibility on Direct Sun Viewing. So I am trying to decide if it is worth the extra dollars or not. I have found the X16 with GPS for around a thousand. I would like your input to what you have seen with the X16 or X19 comparison on this.

Thanks for your replies,

rngrfshm

[Guest]

I would get the Vexilar Edge2
http://www.vexilar.com

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MILLE LACS GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Scott Steil]

I would consider the X-15. Unless you are set on Color I would look into the X-15. Seems like a bargain for the unit you get.

[Deemo]

I was checking out the 16 also. Got scared away by the sun thing also. The new lowrance catalog also says that they have to have sun shade. They must have done something to the screens this year. You could e-mail them on the web site and ask them but I would hate to risk a grand for a graph you cant see.
Im going for a X15 or the edge. The 15 has a huge amount of pixels. Wish i knew more about the edge its kinda scarry when your talking big $$ and not sure how well it works. Or if its easy to use.
Derek likes it and the linders like the products they put out.

[JP Z]

The Edge has been out for over a year. I haven't heard anything bad about it. And Vex do know their locators so that should definitely remain an option.

[Paul Rohweller]

With all the locator talk how come nobobdy has brought up the new lowrance x97? It doesnt have any built in navigational aids but it is a pretty decent locator for the $$$ Paul

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Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[shadman2]

I've been debating the merits of the X-97 vs the 15 for two weeks, I ended with the 15 basically because of the screen size. All the dealers I talked to suggested the 97 if I didn't need GPS, there seemed to be agreement that this is a really good unit and has nearly the same vertical pixel count as the 15 (320 vs 350). In the end though I thought the 15 would be more visible from across the boat, I guess I'll find out.

[rngrfshm]

Thanks Everyone for the feedback. I am going to see if a friend of mine can do the side by side comparison in the sun between these two units. He has just bought the X19 and has the X16 as well. I will let you know what I find.

rngrfshm

[Opie]

I have both the X-15 and the X-16 on my boat (15 on the bow and 16 on the console), and the X-16 is hard to see in the sun. There are times I have to change the angle a bit to see it better. I do have the sun shade for it, but have never used it. Even with the sun issue, I love this unit. Don't know if the X-19 is worth the extra $$$, but please let us know your opinion after the side by side comparison.

Dean Thorn

[rngrfshm]

The X16 fades out slightly from the direct sun and the X19 is brighter. Very nice unit. The X19 has a little bit bigger screen as well. Otherwise I did not see much difference.

[rngrfshm]

Thanks Everyone for replying, I ended up getting the Dual Freq. X16 from Cabelas. Thanks Again. rngrfshm

[Chris Haley]

I have to say that I have always been a Lowrance guy. I am seriously looking at the Edge, I was using my aqua view on a dead calm day once and was watching the camera going down on my graph and when it hit bottom according to the graph I looked in the camera and could not see bottom. I had to go another 6-8 inches to get to bottom. I am using the LMS 350A, this being the top of the line during it's time I expected better than that. After checking the Vexilar web page and seeing the displays of real lake bottom for the Edge, I have to say that that's what I'm looking for. Every Lowrance user should check out the web page http://vexilar.com/products/lc507_shots.html and see if what you're looking at on the left is the same on your Lowrances, and what you want to see is the Edge on the right. You get both with the Edge.

[This message has been edited by Chris Haley (edited 03-21-2003).]

[Guest]

I didnt get mine for free and I bought two of them. Vexilar will not let the "chain stores" sell the Edge because it's an advanced unit. Using a 170 KHZ and 400 KHZ ducers at the same time is like using two finders at once which eliminates "dead zones"
Lowrance has a much bigger sponsorship than Vexilar does.I know of 5 pro tounrney anglers that have a level 1 pro staff with Lowrance that get free units every spring when they get a new boat. Here's an e-mail from Ron Linder
"Derek, I hope you'll love your Edge 2, as much as all of us here at
LindnerMedia. The unit is very user friendly, as long as your dual
transducers are mounted right. Everything else is by the numbers. On
Mille
Lac we run around and look for fish before we fish for them. In fact
on a
tv show on Mille Lac, on wallleye's we do this very tthing. If you
have any
problems, simply contact us.....Good fishing".......Ron

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Mille Lacs Guide Service
651-271-5459
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[This message has been edited by Derek Johnston (edited 03-21-2003).]

[rngrfshm]

Vexilars are very good units and I had a chance to use a friends for a bit on his boat. Very easy to use, but only if the screen was in color at the resolution the lowrance is. I am found of the units of vexilar very much as I am one of the people listed in their web page for testimony to the FL18. The color Vexilar LCD unit I had also worked with some but not quite up to the X16/X19 that Lowrance has.

By the way, I am just a fishing person and do some tourneys, but not sponsered by no one and just give info as I see it.

One unit to look at will be the X67C from lowrance when it comes out next month. This will be around $310.00 with 240(H)X 320(V) pixel settings. Something great to get, but no GPS, but a very sound finder. Has 256color as well, but 1/4VGA active matrix TFT display.

My 2c.

[WalleyeSnob]

i really want to get a x 18 for my boat i currerntly have a 15 with the gps but i want to move the 15 up front and put the 18 on the steering wheel
are the cords for the gps the same so that all i have to do is move the unit or do i have to rewire>????