Lowrance x67C Ice Machine

[fishergurl]

Anyone have one of these units, or tried one out? I am wondering how well they work, and how much interference it would cause a vex? I am looking at purchasing another machine before late ice season! Thanks for any info!

[tsande00]

A lot of people love them. I wouldn't be worried about causing the vex interference, I'd be more worried about picking up interference from the vex.

Other than the lackluster interference rejection they work very well.

[magnum mike]

Why not another Vexilar?

[jdsmi]

I have one and fish next to a Vex FL-8 all the time with no interference between either of us.

I prefer my unit over any flasher but that's me. Be aware that there are more settings that need to be adjusted than your Vex. Proper setup can be found on the forums and once set, I haven't needed to touch mine other than minor sensativity tweaks from time to time. I just saw one at FF for $249.

[that-guy]

Anyone have one of these units, or tried one out? I am wondering how well they work, and how much interference it would cause a vex? I am looking at purchasing another machine before late ice season! Thanks for any info!

I've been using one of these for 4yrs now. I love the graph mode, the instant depth reading, and a lot of the other features mainly the large screen. On more than one occasion where I ran out of battery power for my lights I was able to jig by using teh screen as a backdrop to see the spring bobber.

The things I don't like about it, is the horrific interference rejection, the LCD screen and cold temps. The interference is the worst with a vexilar. On the graph mode you'll get these vertical lines that will be pretty annoying, and it does effect the accuracy of the unit.

I wouldn't use this unit with a vexilar around...they just don't play well together. Marcums and Birds don't effect it nearly as much. This could be due to their ability to change their IR levels...they find a way to get around the x67's issues.

Also look at this units power rating. Its pretty low compared to any other ice electronics. Just last wee I had an instance where there was a bait cloud or something we can't identify swaim into the area and completely rendured the unit useless as I couldn't tell my jig from anything. Its very difficult to explain, but it was very frustrating for something you pay so much for.

Please remember that this is just my experience and does not in anyway reflect what you or others may find.

[McGurk]

The things I don't like about it, is the horrific interference rejection, the LCD screen and cold temps. The interference is the worst with a vexilar. On the graph mode you'll get these vertical lines that will be pretty annoying, and it does effect the accuracy of the unit.

I got one for my Dad, and the settings are a bit tricky to fine tune. Once you get it set up it's pretty nice, though. He likes the graph mode more than the "vex circle" mode, and my Marcum LX3 renders his x67c pretty much useless even w/ the IR settings.

The screen is NOT lcd, but instead cold-weather-friendly tft, so most cold weather won't affect it too bad. I do beleive that there is still some hesitation (It's pretty small, though) between what's happening and what's being displayed. Most of the time it's fine, though.

[tsande00]

I think the "vex circle", or "flasher mode" is junk on those units. Yes it works but the screen ends up so small it's pretty hard to use. If I had one I would only use the graph mode, which does work well as long as your not next to a Marcum.

[jBohmer]

I have the X68c. I love it and do not think that I would go with anything else after using it the last three years. I use it in my Dad's boat when I am drifting as well. The interfernce is an issue. I sit next to tSande fishing sometimes and I have to be 15 ft. or so away to avoid inteference with his Marcum. Sometimes the interference does not bother it that much, I think the bottom type matters but I am not sure. My unit will inerfere with his too but he can filter it out easily.

The settings can be tricky a first. It did not take me long to get savy with them and be able to pick up both of my lures at once.

The tranducer cable on mine is a little rigid and it sometimes will cause the transducer be slightly angled. I have actually learned to use that as an advantage but I would prefer a more placid cable.

I only use the graphing function. It's split zoom graph is reason I love my Icemachine. The batteries will out last any unit out there. I keep a spare and never have to use it. I never can seem to drain the batery and I fish a lot. I would like a better case but I would buy another if had to.

The GPS on mine though, well that's another story.

[fishergurl]

Thanks for feedback on the icemachine. Let me ask another question. We currently have a Vex FL-8, I am looking to purchase another unit(I hate sharing), but do not want to have to deal with any interference when in the shack. Any suggestions on another unit?

[chad220]

I have an X67c and love it. There silent, no wirring sound from the spinning disk. The colors are good for me as I am somewhat color blind. Graph mode is nice but I use flasher the most. The screen is smaller, The battery life is shorter then other units. They dont play that well with others, the marcums seem to be the worst for me. If your looking for one that will, the hummingbird runs on a totaly different freqency then the rest. We have 2 birds and the lowrance and all get along fine in one house.

[fishwater]

Thanks for feedback on the icemachine. Let me ask another question. We currently have a Vex FL-8, I am looking to purchase another unit(I hate sharing), but do not want to have to deal with any interference when in the shack. Any suggestions on another unit?

I'd get an ice35 if you can find one. You won't have any issues between the fl8 and the ice35 - they operate on different frequencies.

[tsande00]

The batteries will out last any unit out there. I keep a spare and never have to use it. I never can seem to drain the batery and I fish a lot. I would like a better case but I would buy another if had to.

Hmmm, I might take that bet. I just ran my flasher from Friday evening until Sunday around noon (minus 5 hours each night sleeping) and I still had 40% left on Sunday when I went home.

On Red Lake for 5 days earlier this season I charged it one time and came home with the battery reading 70%.

What it boils down to for perspective buyers is that neither style unit uses much battery power and shouldn't at all be a factor in deciding what to buy.

For somebody buying a second unit interference should be the main concern. Personally I would look at a Humminbird. People have great things to say about them regarding interference since they are on a completely difference freq. Humminbird also offers graphing units if you are looking for something different from your FL8 flasher. It would be nice to have one of each style.

[fishwater]

Humminbird also offers graphing units if you are looking for something different from your FL8 flasher. It would be nice to have one of each style.

The graphs use the same frequency as vexilars, so I'd stay away from those if noise is your primary concern.

[Swimmer]

I've used the x67c for four years now and I don't see the interference problems that others complain about. As long as you tune the two interference settings, ala the Vex and the Ice Machine together, you can 90% of the time eliminate interference. In some instances, don't ask me why, just rotating either unit slightly will eliminate the interference. I admit that in those 10% of situations you will have some interference that is annoying, but still fishable. And there is no "delay" in signal (it is a microsecond). And battery power? I would take any bet with a Vex or Marcum. 40 hours of fishing (and running LED lights off the same battery some of the time) and I still have 40% battery left...no Vex or Marcum can touch that. I know I sound like a Homer because I own the unit, but after using the graph -- clearly seeing a fish seperate from the bottom and chase your jig (and the history to what has just happened) -- is way more fun and at least as effective as fishing with a spinner.

[tsande00]

but after using the graph -- clearly seeing a fish seperate from the bottom and chase your jig -- is way more fun and at least as effective as fishing with a spinner.

LOL - The whole point of a flasher or grapher is to clearly see the fish separate from the bottom and chase the jig.

[tsande00]

For whatever it is worth the Humminbird 345c graphing unit draws 380ma. The vex FL20 draws 275ma.

Still want to take that bet?

[PurpleFloyd]

I bought one this year at Scheels. They had it on sale for $199 and I had a 25 dollar gift certificate so it was pretty inexpensive. My personal preference is for the graph mode Vs the flasher mode and while it does take a quite a bit of time and reading the instructions to get it dialed in, once that is done it is a pretty slick little unit for the money. I fish in a 2 man clam where there is the x67, an fl18 and a Hbird 798 running side by side with less than 4 feet separating the three and the interference can be tuned out in my experience but we are also fishing in less than 20 feet and often less than 15. If the water gets deep my guess is interference might get to be more of an issue but at these depths it is not.

I did drop the plastic ducer arm down the ice hole already(Didn't like it any way and will put a foam float on it instead).

[jBohmer]

Don't worry about tSande you Lowrance fans. He is just jealous because I normally out fish him with my X68. I say get a Lowrance, I fished about 5 feeet away from his Marcum in about 15 FOW last night and I had no issue. I got a little interferance but almost not even noticable.

Bring it on tSande, it's not too late to join the club. You can borrow mine if you want and I will not even tell anyone if you please.

[IceIceBaby]

I use the 68C and it's big brother, the 334C and love them both. The 68C is all you need though, and it's battery lasts much longer than the 334C. I've used them both for several years now.

[tsande00]

LOL, JBohmer is a funny guy!

If I saw a Lowrance ice machine do or show even one thing that my flasher couldn't then just maybe, just maybe I would be jealous.

Until then, I'd take the adjustable zoom, quick adjust gain, and far superior push button interference rejection any day of the week.

I've spent several hours fishing with the Lowrance, even full days on the ice where I had to leave my Marcum turned off because the Lowrance wouldn't operate due to interference, and while it is a very functional unit, it just isn't my preference. Both will show something as small as a grain of sand suspended in the water column but for the reasons listed above I would always go with a flasher as my primary unit. I wouldn't' even discriminate between Chevy, Ford, Dodge (Marcum, Vex, Bird) but I would take any of them over an Isuzu (Lowrance)

If I was on a budget I would absolutely consider one...$200-$250 is a heck of a deal for the product. If not, I (like most people) would go with an FL20, Lx5 or Ice55. It's great that you're so excited about your Lowrance though, we're happy for ya! Hopefully you can rock that thing for years to come.

[Swimmer]

I know tsande00 is desperately trying to hold onto old technology as he seems to have some "envy". Not the envy that starts with "p" (but maybe that too) but the one that starts with "L".

[jBohmer]

I am just giving tSande a hard time. He is right about shutting off his Marcum so my Lowrance would work but I think that I have cleared up that issue for the most part. As I said earlier, I was able to fish 5 feet away from his hole with both units running and no issue. But on other ocassions I was not so lucky. Still trying to figure that out but I think it was mostly user error.

Truth is when I went looking to buy a flasher I was going to get a Vex or Marcum but everyone was sold out. tSande had mentioned something about the Icemachine while we were fishing once and the store had one left. So I bought it and now I love it.

[tbirath]

I have owned one for 4-5 years, our group of 6 fisherman, 5 have the x67, one the vex not sure what type. I always use the graph mode, split screen, right side shows the entire water column, left side i have 4X zoomed on the bottom. When you see suspended fish you can arrow up the zoom side to look at the target and bring your lure right in the zone and then watch the chase of the fish going after the lure...very effective. Never fished next to a Marcum, but next to Vex and other x67 with minimal problems...as for watching it all day, seems like a little easier on the eyes than the flasher units, easy to see targets move in and out...have fun shopping, a good price is $249.00, most have been at $299.00..

[tsande00]

I know tsande00 is desperately trying to hold onto old technology as he seems to have some "envy". Not the envy that starts with "p" (but maybe that too) but the one that starts with "L".

Swimmers right guys. I'm really envious of his state of the art graphing machine. Hell these sweet graphing units have only been out on the market now for what? 30 years or so? Way to say on top of the game Swimmer. You're awesome. I strive for your excellence at life...I think we all do to some degree.

[Swimmer]

Come on tsande, I was just ribbing you a little. Beside the obvious advantage of having a graph, the x67c also does not make noise, is easier to look at for extended periods of time, has water column zoom in graph mode, has multiple color schemes to play with, doesn't eat battery (though you insist your flasher doesn't either), easily transferred to your boat, and shows a history of what has just happened. It's just my humble opinion, but I bet in five years or a decade flashers will be looked at as old technology -- except for a few curmudgeons that will refuse to give them up. That being said, there really isn't much difference in the quality of a Vex, Marcum, or graph (like the x67c) in finding and catching fish. It's just fun to be a homer.