Showdown blues

[macminn]

Bought my wife the new Showdown for Christmas. First time I went to use it, the fuse was blown. Finally got out again this weekend on Mille Lacs, and some times we could see her lure, sometimes not. Could see fish down there, but not sure why we couldn't always see her jig. We were using a pretty good sized jig. I could pick it up on my vex no problem.

Starting to think I may have made a mistake, should have went with another vex.

[PerchJerker]

Call Marcum's customer service. If you can't mark your bait then there's something wrong with the unit, and they'll take care of it for you.

[pushbutton]

was also out on mille lacs late sun/early mon and was marking fish and lures with no problems. had that issue once, turned the unit off, made sure all the connections were tight, and upon turning it on, worked just fine. if you do have a unit that is not working properly, would just give them a call!

[osok]

I own a Showdown and am very pleased with it. I've noticed w/ mine that sometimes I need to adjust the gain one way or another. But it also coincides w/ the noise filter. If the noise filter gets cranked up, the gain(sensitivity) needs to go higher as well. Next time try turning the noise way down and you should be able to turn the gain down as well.

I've had the same problem as you, mostly when I fish w/ someone who has a Marcum or Vex. I need to turn my noise filter up more to counter the interference and will have to turn up my gain as well.

Also take it out of "auto mode", for whatever reason when it's in auto mode it low balls the needed values.

As far as the blown fuses..I've blown a few and I think the weak link is that pseudo RCA connector from the head unit to the batt. If moisture is present or I don't pay attention and go straight in w/ the connector I'll pop a fuse. I now keep spares behind the battery for this instance.

And if all else fails call VERSA, their customer service has been top notch for me on some other issues and questions. In fact they even have walk in service available @ the head quarters.

[PrairieLakeLogJam]

I have been looking at the Showdown for a quick hole hopper out side of the Vexilar base camp, Its light and could hang it around my neck and Go.

I have been watching reviews on the Showdown and found jig target, battery life,& interface are issues I could do with out.

I know a lot of people love them, but hey,,I think the Toyota Tacoma is the best truck ever built! Hummmm The big G has them on Close-out @ $314.00 so the demand this year must be on the Decline?

[zamboni]

Do you or do you not have to send them in every year for upgrades?

[osok]

No, there is an upgrade available for the 3.2 (original) model to the 5.6

It is an $50.00 upgrade. Another way to look @ it is, that it is upgradeable @ a fraction of the cost as buying a whole new unit with "the newest" technology from company XYZ.

[osok]

My battery lasts up to 2x as long as a friends Vex and another's Marcum.

And I like my interference reducing functions, especially when both of the other 2 main players are close by and messing each other up.

[DaSwede]

I think you just need to play with the gain and noise a bit. It took me a bit to learn what the settings did, but now it's really easy to lock in on my jig...even with a vex in the same portable. Don't give up hope yet!

[Acemac]

sometimes when there is lots of fish its is tough to see anything on the showdown its just a big black bloob!

[DaSwede]

sometimes when there is lots of fish its is tough to see anything on the showdown its just a big black bloob!

Great problem to have!!!

[pulsar_nx]

I've found that weather "ice mode" is on or not can greatly effect if the lure is seen or not. There is a small icon at the top that says ICE, if it is on.

Lure profile also can have some effect but bait usually solves that issue. It can be a tell for me if I need to re-bait.

[My_Key]

I have a Showdown and have never had any issues with it. Immediately upon fishing, I manually set everything, so nothing is 'auto'.

[PerchJerker]

You do not need to send them in every year for updates. The update that most people are talking about is the update to the 5.6 version. That update came out 2 years ago after Marcum bought the ShowDown from NatureVision (who is no longer in business). It put Marcum's sonar technology in the ShowDown and really improved the interference rejection, the zoom, and the overall performance from what the NatureVision units had.

Most people (who aren't 100% vexilar and nothing else) seem to be really happy with their ShowDowns. They are made in Minnesota now, instead of overseas, so they are able to produce them quick enough now to keep them in stock and on the shelves all season long.

[amateurfishing]

Bought a showdown troller on sale at C a b e l a s in ROg when on sale @ $170 and absolutely love it so far, greatest thing is looking for depth and fish thru ice b4 even drilling, compact & easy to use, went down on me on sat but think cause i had "ice" turned off so heater wasnt on. Soon as i got home let it thaw and workding well again. C a b's had 4 in bargain cave @ $305 last monday, may have been returns. a great deal if u have the $