Switch to a 55?

[Ed Carlson]

There is a significant real size difference between the two displays. Subsequently the segments get expanded exponentially to fill in the radius, and hence diluted. That is the ratio to line segment offset. The ratio would need to be at least 1/3 again to get close to the same perceivable display ratio, twice would have been even better. They could have done better, is my point.

Think of it as the same display theory as a "pixel count" on a TV or a camera, but in an expanding radius display. If you blow up a picture, it gets blurred, if the pixel count is not fine enough to sustain the focus.

1 more in quantity in this case was just a "We got "1" more strategy", and has no real effect beneficially, except to be "1" more than Vexilar had...silly really. Zero positive effect, no real display quality effect, no gain.

As for wider beams, the main pain there is it significantly increases the likelihood of interference or skipping of sonar of hard bottoms. It begins to work against you when you get too wide. If it could be pulled off cleanly, without being that obnoxious neighbor on the ice, it may be nice while in search more.

[fiskyknut]

Hmmmm, the 'new' math! LOL. I think you meant circumferance not radius btw.

I dunno they look pretty close in size eh, you're a salesman at Gander so maybe you can get a measurment of their respective diameters assuming the GM you work at carries both lines. I used Tom's 55 last winter and my memory could be off but the dial size was close anyhow, 1/4 maybe a half an inch tops difference in diameter.

How many segments in an 18's display?

[fishersofmen]

You must be onto something with what your saying Ed because that is the very reason I got rid of my Bird after using it for a week. Something just wasn't right with the detail in the display for me and I couldn't get used to the difference.

[fiskyknut]

I guess I don't get this reasoning. 55 and 20 are real close diameter wise and seg wise. Following the reasoning above of the slightly bigger dial on bird more segments are needed, it was even mentioned once the bird should have 3 times what it does.

With this reasoning, and considering the 18's with their much smaller dials also having 525 segments why would'nt the 20/22's need more then with there much larger display. Maybe Vex could've done better following this mathmatical mumbo jumbo.

Kinda contradicts the statement that the bird needs so many more as the display differnce is so much greater going from 18's to 20's and seg count is the same.

[Surface Tension]

I use the Bird for everything including lake trout over deep water.

One benefit there is hole hopping on structure. In auto depth mode you don't have to adjust your depth from hole to hole.

Its just one less thing you have to do when moving around.

[Ed Carlson]

The display of the Fl-20 is small enough to fit entirely inside the dial of the Hummer with some room to spare. It is significantly larger in comparison. For many this is a big plus.

The dial assembly of the FL-8 and FL-18 and the FL-20 are not the same exact size, the new flat panel on the FL-12, FL-20, and FL-22HD is 1/4" OD larger. It's just the new flat panel configuration lays it out to appear greatly larger on the exterior, in basically the same internal space. Otherwise they would require a whole new larger chassis, and they did not. The new optical lens cover on the FL-12, FL-20, and FL-22HD appears much larger on the exterior when it's more like 1/4" larger internally. It's a bit of optical trickery in the display to gain a wider field of vision for the operator.

That said, the larger display on the Hummers is a big selling point and is greatly appreciated by it's owners. If it fits the individual need, I'm all for it. That is what we all want, toys that work for use. A unit that works for us personally.

It's all good, whether I'm a fan of it or not. There is more about the Hummer 55 I like than I dislike..if it matters. If it works for you...Kewl.

[fiskyknut]

Ya and the display of the 18 would fit in a 20's with room to spare and seg count was'nt increased. I won't break out a calculator and do the math but Spose we could also use the word "significant" when comparing these Vex units.

If the 1/4 inch or so larger dial {diameter} from the 20 to the 55 is significant enough for bird to need to increase seg count by TRIPLE!!! as you've mentioned to avoid the "dillution" bash or whatever was being spun, one would think that Vex should have had to up there seg count, at least some anyways to avoid said dillution on their new larger displays as well. Apprently NOT LOL, but perhaps all those segs crammed into the early smaller Vex display is why they have that large blobby undulating return.