Humminbird

[Doctor J]

I have owned a Vex FL 18 and been very happy. However, its getting a little older. Would love to get a new flasher and make my 18 a back up. I have a HBird 898 SI in my boat and love it. I have nothing against Marcum, Vexilar or HBird. I DO get sick of the noise my FL-18 makes though.

Were I to put a FL20( not a 22), LX5 (not going with a 7), or ICE 55 head to head, what do you guys think?

[broman]

I have an LX-5 and LX-3. They will also put out some noise. Louder than my cuz's FL-18. Not sure about a bird though.

[Doctor J]

I am curious about the sound they make, but also of everyone's overall opinion of the products.

[Boker001]

Just get the ice ducer ($120) that is compatible with your Humminbird get a 2nd mount, put it in a soft sided tackle box bag and you can use that on the ice. Thats what I did and love it.

[broman]

I am curious about the sound they make, but also of everyone's overall opinion of the products.

I like the Marcum because the of the greater power and it's ability to knock out interference from other flashers. The movable zoom is nice, but I would also like to have a locked on bottom zoom which some of the Vexilars have and the VX-1 Marcum has as well. Having to move the zoom up and down on my Marcum can be a pain. Especially since every time you turn it off you loose the zoom position. Maybe the LX-7 keeps your last zoom position, that would be nice.

I like the screen on the Vexilars a little better than my Marcum. I also notice that the battery on my Marcum doesn't last as long as my cuz's Vexilar, probably because of the lower power output.

[Doctor J]

Thanks broman.

"Just get the ice ducer ($120) that is compatible with your Humminbird get a 2nd mount, put it in a soft sided tackle box bag and you can use that on the ice. Thats what I did and love it."

Broker, I don't see that the 898 would be able to do that. I would love to, but battery transducers don't seem to be made for the 898 for ice fishing.

Are the Hbirds as loud as the marcums or vex's? I know that sounds really stupid, but i kind of like the idea of a quieter system.

[tsande00]

My only gripe with the Humminbird flashers is there seems to be a slight flicker or flash to the flasher dial, it's not constant like the Vex and Marcum.

I like the idea of trying to convert your boat unit to an ice unit for winter season. Might be worth exploring.

[CJH]

I have an HB Ice 55 and I like the display better than any of the others. It has the auto depth and I have never had any problems with interference (different frequency than the others). Its got a low humming sound, which doesn't bother me. I haven't had any problems with it and have no regrets, I really like it.

[fisherman-andy]

When spending that much why not consider into factor the LX7 into it?

Seems like your more concerned about sound, I figure the LX7 would produce the least amount of noise as its digital and has no dial spinning.

But if your staying with the 3 listed I each has its own features and use.

If you like hole hopping choose the Humminbird. Sensitivity and crisp clarity of the screen choose the LX5. And of course the Vex22 if you fish mostly shallow lakes with its tri beam.

For me the overall with have to be an LX5. But to each their own.

[Esox_Magnum]

I don't ever notice the noise when we have 2 LX-5's in the shack, but add my buddys FL-20 and it gets annoying...My radio is next to me and I can hear his Vex from the other corner of the shack...Radio is always a little louder when he comes along...1 of many reasons I went away from Vex and to a Marcum was the noise...

[Boker001]

I think mine is the 797 SI combo. When you look at Humminbirds HSOforum the XI 9 20 ice ducer doesn't list my head unit as being compatible but I called them and they said it would work. I ordered it and it works great. Might not hurt to call and find out. It's actually only $94.99 and less on A mazon.

[amateurfishing]

i just hooked up my 597 ci hd for ice fishing with ducer, extra power cable, & carry pack, someone on here in previous post recommended me checking out amazon so i did...got it all for 40% off HB HSOforum list price plus free ups shipping & no tax.