LX7 Question

[icefitchin]

Hey guys, need your help :

I finally got to use my new LX7 today for the first time. I was fishing in 38 feet of water for gills / crappies. After a several minutes of getting the unit "dialed in" i was starting to get frustrated. When i set the sensitivity setting to 5 i couldn't see my jig, or anything for that matter. When i bumped the sensitivity up to 6, the screen was extremely cluttered in yellow, and was hardly able to pick up my jig in the clutter. I was using a #12 Marmooska tungsten jig on the 8 degree cone. I tried messing with the ping rate, target adjust, tried the 20 degree cone, and just couldn't get a clear picture to show on the flasher.

Any ideas what i might be doing wrong, or is anyone else having this problem? Ive heard of guys having to reset their unit... not sure if that would make a difference. I like the size and display interface, but have a pretty non positive first impression of the unit after today. Im hoping someone can turn that around for me.

Thanks

[Esox_Magnum]

I run mine on 5 for sensitivity, 0 on target id, the multi color palet with the black background, I have no issues seeing a 2.5 or 3mm Fiska in 18' without any screen clutter not sure what my ping rates at...

[Hardyboy]

I run mine on 5 for sensitivity, 0 on target id, the multi color palet with the black background, I have no issues seeing a 2.5 or 3mm Fiska in 18' without any screen clutter not sure what my ping rates at...

+1 with Esox and i am using stock ping rate at 1

Recommend resetting your unit to stock values make sure your target id is zero.

[PerchJerker]

My LX-7 has the 1st version of the software, think there is a 2nd version on the units being made now, but the update to version 2 is not available to the general public yet. Anyway, it may be different for your LX-7 depending on the version of the software you have.

I've been running sensitivity 5 or 6 and target id of 1-3. Mostly using the 6 color palette and the wide beam, and I'm pretty sure I have mine set to summer mode instead of ice mode (it seems to show a clearer picture that way). If you're in ice mode I'd try switching to summer mode).

Ping rate will have no effect on the clutter -- ping rate is really the scroll speed on the traditional open water graph display.

I used my LX-7 2 or 3 times before I got very comfortable or happy with it, since then I am absolutely loving it. Looking forward to getting the software updated in mine whenever it is available. The last time I had it out we were using the LX-7 in one hole and an Ice 45 in the other hole. I was tempted to leave the Ice 45 behind when we left .... I'm predicting there will be an "almost new, used very little" Ice 45 up for sale before the end of the season.

[CaptainMusky]

My LX-7 has the 1st version of the software, think there is a 2nd Ping rate will have no effect on the clutter -- ping rate is really the scroll speed on the traditional open water graph display.

I dont have an LX7, but I can tell you that ping rate absoutely does have an impact on screen clutter on my HDS. The higher the rate and not moving (which would be the case with ice fishing) the signal bounces off itself. Unless Marcum is calling ping rate something different than what lowrance does, I think decreasing ping rate would definitely improve clutter because it made a huge difference on my HDS.

[icefitchin]

As far as adjusting the ping rate, I only did that just to see if it made a difference. I started at 1 and just tried 2-4. From what guys are saying on here, that shouldn't make a difference. I'm going out again tonight to tinker with it more. I'd really like to get this unit figured out before my trip up to URL.

[PerchJerker]

I dont have an LX7, but I can tell you that ping rate absoutely does have an impact on screen clutter on my HDS.

Marcum is calling ping rate something other than what Lowrance calls ping rate. According to the tech guys at Marcum the ping rate on the LX-7 is really scroll speed --- so it has no impact on things like screen clutter or interference rejection.

And just to reiterate, changing your LX-7 from Ice Mode to Open Water Mode, or vice versa, might bring the display more in line with what you like to see.

[CaptainMusky]

Marcum is calling ping rate something other than what Lowrance calls ping rate. According to the tech guys at Marcum the ping rate on the LX-7 is really scroll speed --- so it has no impact on things like screen clutter or interference rejection.

Makes sense if its scroll speed. What I read on the LX7 manual they said its "rate of signal return" which would in fact correlate to what I was used to on the Lowrance units. They suggested lowering the Ping rate in shallow water and using higher values in deeper water for better performance.

That's the thing with any new model, so many features it takes a while to figure out what does what. I havent touched the surface on my HDS yet and its overwhelming at times. The LX7 looks awesome hopefully the guys that have them get these settings figured out before too much frustration.

[PerchJerker]

Interesting. I haven't read the manual (it wasn't available when I started using my LX-7). But when talking to the tech guy and being told the ping rate was really just scroll speed I thought it sounded odd so I questioned him on it but he insisted he was correct.

I haven't played around at all with ping speed on my LX-7 but I'll give it a try and see if I notice anything from it. Thanks for the info.

[fishwater]

I'm pretty sure I have mine set to summer mode instead of ice mode (it seems to show a clearer picture that way). If you're in ice mode I'd try switching to summer mode).

I'm kinda surprised at hearing this Dave. With my unit in open water mode, the screen appeared delayed and sluggish? I'll have to look into it again, with all the adjustments available it might have been something else that I messed with causing that.

[CaptainMusky]

Interesting. I haven't read the manual (it wasn't available when I started using my LX-7). But when talking to the tech guy and being told the ping rate was really just scroll speed I thought it sounded odd so I questioned him on it but he insisted he was correct.

I haven't played around at all with ping speed on my LX-7 but I'll give it a try and see if I notice anything from it. Thanks for the info.

Yeah, the manual is on Marcum's site. Take a peek and see if anything there clears this up. I will admit though, I read through it trying to see some guidance for the OP here and it wasnt real detailed so the expertise of someone who has really used it alot would help.

Perhaps getting ahold of one of the guys from InDepth Outdoors or some other person who uses them a lot could help.

[Hardyboy]

My LX-7 has the 1st version of the software, think there is a 2nd version on the units being made now, but the update to version 2 is not available to the general public yet. Anyway, it may be different for your LX-7 depending on the version of the software you have.

I've been running sensitivity 5 or 6 and target id of 1-3. Mostly using the 6 color palette and the wide beam, and I'm pretty sure I have mine set to summer mode instead of ice mode (it seems to show a clearer picture that way). If you're in ice mode I'd try switching to summer mode).

Ping rate will have no effect on the clutter -- ping rate is really the scroll speed on the traditional open water graph display.

I used my LX-7 2 or 3 times before I got very comfortable or happy with it, since then I am absolutely loving it. Looking forward to getting the software updated in mine whenever it is available. The last time I had it out we were using the LX-7 in one hole and an Ice 45 in the other hole. I was tempted to leave the Ice 45 behind when we left .... I'm predicting there will be an "almost new, used very little" Ice 45 up for sale before the end of the season.

Do you know what the version numbers are to know if we have the first or second version?

[stumper]

versions are 1.1 and 1.2 to see what you have, set your unit to simulator mode and the version will show in the pop-up window.