Showdown Digital Fish Finder

[nige]

Ok before I go and buy a Showdown I want to know what people think of them? Anyone have one?

Thanks

Nige

[BartmanMN]

Generally speaking, people like them. If you get a used one make sure it has the newest software version on it.

You can get NEW MarCum-Showdown depthfinders at OutdoorProStore.com

[RebelSS]

Love'em love'em love'em !

[herefish101]

my buddy has the Showdown and he really loves his, i'v used it a few times and i really liked it. I'v been holding off but i'm buying one for my old lady this year.

[PerchJerker]

Marrcum took over the ShowDown last year, and updated the software to Marccum technology for zoom and interference rejection. Ever since then the ShowDown has been hugely popular, extremely reliable, and has received outstanding reviews.

Last year ShowDowns sold out in December and there were tons of people looking for them who couldn't find them.

I've always been a flashr guy but am getting a ShowDown this year --- still keeping my flashrs but adding a ShowDown to the arsenal

We have ShowDown 5.6s in stock and have already shipped several to customers. If you want you can check them out at Pro Fishing Supply

[nige]

Thanks expect and order really soon

[JSK76]

Bought one for a backup and to have one for guest that didn't have a flasher, and I found that my LX-5 stayed in the truck and the the Showdown got use 95% of the time. Bringing it to the BWCA this weekend too! Awesome battery life.

[CNY Tim]

Got the 5.6 Showdown last season and really enjoyed it. Simple, lots of features and if your color blind the gray scaling is the way to go. Did I mention the 1/2" target separation Can't wait to put the "New "Dual Beam Showdown to use this season.

[DaSwede]

I bought one last year and love it. I don't mind using flashers either, but the Showdown is just plain easy to use. I highly recommend it.

[Acemac]

showdown = awsome

[deadeye]

My Dad and best friend both have a showdown and they love them. I have borrowed their showdowns multiple times and like using them.

One thing that the showdown has over any flasher is that its major upgrades are software based. You don't have to buy a new one to get more features and better performance. You send it in, they flash it and you have a better running fishfinder.

[nige]

Marrcum took over the ShowDown last year, and updated the software to Marccum technology for zoom and interference rejection. Ever since then the ShowDown has been hugely popular, extremely reliable, and has received outstanding reviews.

Last year ShowDowns sold out in December and there were tons of people looking for them who couldn't find them.

I've always been a flashr guy but am getting a ShowDown this year --- still keeping my flashrs but adding a ShowDown to the arsenal

We have ShowDown 5.6s in stock and have already shipped several to customers. If you want you can check them out at Marcum ShowDown at Pro Fishing Supply

Ordered the showdown on Monday night. Got email from you on Tuesday morning and package was waiting for me when I got home from work on Thursday evening. Thank you for the super quick service

[jbird68]

I have the original VPG (Showdown) and have done one software upgrade that only cost me $20. I need to upgrade to 5.6. I've been putting it off because I was laid off for 18 months before finally finding a full time job early this summer. Still diggin' our way out of a small financial hole. Plus Christmas is coming up and I have to think about the kids first. I'd love to get the 5.6 upgrade for the 1 ft. incremental zoom range. I'm still stuck at 5 ft. increments.

[otterman2]

Would you get the showdown 5.6 or the new showdown troller with shuttle case? what would be the advantage of the regular showdown over the troller?

[Shadow]

I have a showdown 5.6 and think its a great unit. Its smaller size is one of my favorite features. It lays down flat on top of my plastic organizers in my tackle box and stays safe. I've fished in the same house with a friend with a vexilar 18 without any problems. However, I fish most often with two other friends with the older vexilar fl 8's, the ones without the 10-stage interference rejection, and we can't get my showdown and those older 8's to work together. I ended up going out and buying a humminbird (different frequency)just so I had a flasher/finder when I'm fishing with those guys. The showdown works great otherwise, I'm sure you would have the same problem trying to use any of the new marcums and vexilars with these older vexilars.

[PerchJerker]

Would you get the showdown 5.6 or the new showdown troller with shuttle case? what would be the advantage of the regular showdown over the troller?

The ShowDown has a bigger display than the Ice Troller. The Ice Troller is great for hopping around and checking lots of holes, and with the Performance Pack you can use the Ice Troller just like you'd use the regular ShowDown. But if you're not likely to be hopping around checking lots of holes, then the bigger display on the ShowDown is probably a better way to go.

[gman2002]

just ordered one! sold my lx3 but am definatly keeping my lx5 , we'll see which one gets the most work this winter . thanks for the great deal. brian

[aquafang]

I have to agree they are pretty cool. The only complaint I have is that when they came out they were $199. and anyone knows that a software upgrade is technically pennies and very little labor to install. Now they are up to like $350 or something! I think they are taking advantage of popularity. Keep the low price and then see what they make for profit. I bet at a very low price, profits would be better. And they would have more on the ice for exposure!

[PerchJerker]

Now they are up to like $350 or something! I think they are taking advantage of popularity.

They also moved their manufacturing to Minnesota. ShowDowns (and almost all other Marcum products) are now Made In USA. Prior to this year the ShowDown was made overseas. I like Made In USA products but you almost always end up paying a higher price for them.

[Robw]

With my price range sitting around $250...I'm leaning towards a troller vs. trying to get a used flasher on HSO-Classifieds/classifieds. I fish mostly out of a wheel house and dont get out a ton. I use my camera for panfish during the day, but as soon as the sun goes down the camera is useless. I guess I'm just looking for some backup that the troller would be a quality unit for a novice...or should I go for a used unit.

Thanks

[Agronomist_at_IA]

LMAO......I picked up a showdown when it was actually the VPG (Vertical Pixel Graph). It wasn't a bad unit if you knew how to set the settings on it.(The Automatic setting never seemed to be the best) Since first purchasing it, I have done all the upgrades. The company even put a new Showdown face plate on it with the last upgrade. The first upgraded (3.2 I think) helped the units automatic setting in picking the correct setting for the unit to preform its best. Since the first upgrade, it's been a great sonar. The second upgrade didn't really improve the unit preformance wise much from what I can tell. I thought the 1ft zoom would be nice, but never really use it.

I do get a kick about how everyone hammered on the VPG/Showdown being junk when it came out and you could pick it up for less then half of what it is now. Overall, I like the unit and it works well. If you're looking for a deal on one I'd try to pick up an old VPG or Showdown cheap and do the $50 upgrade. After seeing the new $350 price tag on the showdown, I'd be getting a flasher so you don't have to deal with LCD display and cold temperatures. 90% of the time I didn't have a problem with it, but when I'm hole hopping in very cold weather the heating unit in the showdown just didn't keep the unit from slowing down. Other then that it's a great unit.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I have to agree they are pretty cool. The only complaint I have is that when they came out they were $199. and anyone knows that a software upgrade is technically pennies and very little labor to install. Now they are up to like $350 or something! I think they are taking advantage of popularity. Keep the low price and then see what they make for profit. I bet at a very low price, profits would be better. And they would have more on the ice for exposure!

The thing is the Upgrades were really just fixes to a unit that just wasn't where it should have been when it was released. Now that the upgrades have fixed those problems with the unit, there is no need for another upgrade. I called in thinking...sweet I could upgrade my Showdown 5.6 to a dual beam which would be nice when fishing in my flip over next to my FL 20 so I don't pick up the other guys jig with the 18* tansducer on the original one. They told me that you can't upgrade a single transducer unit to a dual. So I'm thinking the "upgrades" for the unit is over with now. Now, don't get me wrong the showdown is still a good unit IMO.

[CNY Tim]

Made in the U.S. is a big plus. Showdowns sell out quick because of features and pricepoint. Last season and in previous seasons by mid January most retailers were sold out. As far as a base unit the Ice Troller with the Performance Pack at around $250 for the combo I feel is a reasonable price. Back in 1996 I purchased An Eagle Fish I.D. 128 mounted on a blue Genz box with a Johnny Ray Swivel for $150. The showdown has way more features for the price then my first unit and its 2010.

As far as the Showdown VPG I really never gave it much thought back in the day because MarCum v.s. Vex was the headline. LCD's never were really talked about. I am sure it was disheartening that proud VPG consumers were squeezed out of the conversation on most threads. Apologetically speaking I never gave them a second look.

Well time marches on and you realize that this unit was a ground breaker and the pricepoint was better than what we were seeing on the flasher side of the house and most of us chose to ignored it. Not anymore..

The Showdown 5.6 made the case for me. Times are changing and if LCD is your thing than the Showdown is something special to look into. Satisfied customers and a growing popularity directly led to the 5.6 and the Showdown product expansion for this season.

With pricing we do pay more for American built products and I have no problem doing so for a quality product, the Showdown is that and more.

[Far-I]

I'm going in on Monday to recieve an upgrade and new ducer arm for my older unit. Excited for less surface clutter and better noise reduction. The customer service has treated me very nicely, as has Vex's in recent days, but thats another matter

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Made in the U.S. is a big plus. Showdowns sell out quick because of features and pricepoint. Last season and in previous seasons by mid January most retailers were sold out. As far as a base unit the Ice Troller with the Performance Pack at around $250 for the combo I feel is a reasonable price. Back in 1996 I purchased An Eagle Fish I.D. 128 mounted on a blue Genz box with a Johnny Ray Swivel for $150. The showdown has way more features for the price then my first unit and its 2010.

As far as the Showdown VPG I really never gave it much thought back in the day because MarCum v.s. Vex was the headline. LCD's never were really talked about. I am sure it was disheartening that proud VPG consumers were squeezed out of the conversation on most threads. Apologetically speaking I never gave them a second look.

Well time marches on and you realize that this unit was a ground breaker and the pricepoint was better than what we were seeing on the flasher side of the house and most of us chose to ignored it. Not anymore..

The Showdown 5.6 made the case for me. Times are changing and if LCD is your thing than the Showdown is something special to look into. Satisfied customers and a growing popularity directly led to the 5.6 and the Showdown product expansion for this season.

With pricing we do pay more for American built products and I have no problem doing so for a quality product, the Showdown is that and more.

Umm....this is the same exact product from the one when it cost $199, yea a few upgrades that fixed the software and they sell for $325-$399. Not what I call a good price point given the features anymore.

Auto Zoom on the flashers still let you see the entire water colum the showdown doesn't. In cold temps the showdown slows down, a flasher doesn't. These were easy things to overlook when a guy could save $100 or more, but now that they want has much as a premium flasher for one of these I can't see it being a good price.

I'm thinking most the hoopla over the Showdown is caused from the profit margin that the sales generate for the retailers and company. Last year I had a salesman at a store telling me that a Vex FL 8 had better and more features then a Marcum LX-5 ?????? Found out if he sold Vex he get a bigger bonus. Guessing the company and retailer figured out they could produce the Showdown cheaper, charge more and make more moeny. Is it a great product. Yes, but not at the price they have it at now compared to a flasher.