Why? Depthfinders?So Expesive?

[norm25]

What if a person did not care about down imaging, side imaging, or anything along the lines and just wanted a large screen depth finder with a gps. I don't want si or di or structure scan. I just want a depth finder with a gps big enough to read both screens for under $500. Give me 11 inches of mediocre and I will be happier than a three whateverd billy goat.

[paceman]

+1

[suncruiser234]

Not gonna happen! Like puttin a moped motor on a Harley.

[brian6715]

Not gonna happen! Like puttin a moped motor on a Harley.

This would never happen, Harley owners wouldn't like having more horsepower

[delcecchi]

It isn't going to happen because those fancy features don't really cost that much to add, and allow the units to be sold at a higher profit margin. And these units are low enough volume to not be attractive to the large consumer electronics manufacturers who could drive down the prices.

I have wondered how hard it would be to make a depth pinger that would attach to an android tablet to give it depth finder and even side scan functionality along with the mapping/gps that they already have. The tablet might well have enough processing power to do the necessary computation.

[suncruiser234]

Profit margin for who? Surely not the retailer. Not much profit on electronics.

[leech~~]

There are a few cheaper B/White units out there with GPS. None with 11"inch screen however. Maybe you can put one of those big reading magnifiers on it.

[gixxer01]

It isn't going to happen because those fancy features don't really cost that much to add, and allow the units to be sold at a higher profit margin. And these units are low enough volume to not be attractive to the large consumer electronics manufacturers who could drive down the prices.

I have wondered how hard it would be to make a depth pinger that would attach to an android tablet to give it depth finder and even side scan functionality along with the mapping/gps that they already have. The tablet might well have enough processing power to do the necessary computation.

I think you may have just made somebody a lot of money!

[Palerider77]

If I could just get a new 90hp outboard for $500.....

You can watch the classifieds on this and other sites, there are great deals to be had on used from time to time.

[Chode2235]

I would love to see a transducer with an ipod plug on it, and Humminbird and Lowrance selling different versions of their apps in the app store.

The problem is that they make way to much money on the hardware to move out of that end of the business. They would have to sell it all for less, and with all of the issues with your own hardware and connections would need to dramatically increase the customer support.

Doesn't really sound like a better business model to me.

Its a vertical consolidation of hardware and software, essentially the apple model.

The other reason prices are so high are economies of scale, they don't sell nearly as many HDSs as they do iPads, so they are unable to take advantage of the reduced unit prices that come with large quantities.

[LightningBG]

I love that you used the term "billy goat". Made my day.

[h8go4s]

The screen size is the expensive part. "11 inches of mediocre" would still cost you well over $1000 if it was available. Just look at any of the gps/sonar combo units and compare the prices as the screen size increases. Same features, big price differences.

[pooly_31]

why is the screen itself the expensive part? I haven't been tv shopping for a while i admit, but i sure hope i can get more than an 11" bigscreen for $1000!

[solbes]

Volumes are pretty low for this kind of thing, so the development costs hit pretty hard. Also this is not a TV that is hung on an inside wall, mounted without any vibration, and in a relatively controlled climate. It is meant to be used in the rain, snow, sun, heat, and in a boat that could be pounded by the waves.

If I had to guess the premium you pay for screen size is what the market bears, not what it costs. An HDS 5 has almost the same internals as an HDS 10, yet is 1/4 the price. I highly doubt the extra 1500 has much to do with the larger screen. A few hundred extra in mfg costs maybe.

I saw an ad from Big C yesterday that had a 7" color Lowrance HDS-7 for $600 after savings and rebates. Pretty good deal IMO. No down scan or side scan, but it can easily be upgraded in the future. And has a laser sharp 2D sonar that won't be beat in that price range.

[Nick Kuhn]

Even though the screen is basically a plug and play component: the bigger units ship in much lower volumes. It still costs the same amount of money to get regulatory approval on all the models: but because they ship fewer units in the larger sizes the per unit development cost is quite a bit higher. Not high enough to justify the price they charge though.

[ClownColor]

I would love to see a transducer with an ipod plug on it, and Humminbird and Lowrance selling different versions of their apps in the app store.

The problem is that they make way to much money on the hardware to move out of that end of the business. They would have to sell it all for less, and with all of the issues with your own hardware and connections would need to dramatically increase the customer support.

Doesn't really sound like a better business model to me.

Its a vertical consolidation of hardware and software, essentially the apple model.

The other reason prices are so high are economies of scale, they don't sell nearly as many HDSs as they do iPads, so they are unable to take advantage of the reduced unit prices that come with large quantities.

I propused this years ago...A USB transducer. Plug in to laptop,smat phones/tablets...All you need is the software and you could have the ultimate machine...summer and winter fishing unit all in one! you could have GPS, SI, DI standard, and even a camera mounted USB as well. You'd have to have a 12v adapter plug in but you could also go external battery free for ice fishing. Also, you could browse the web, find hot spots and post on here, watch a movie when the fishing was slow...just endless!

[delcecchi]

Even though the screen is basically a plug and play component: the bigger units ship in much lower volumes. It still costs the same amount of money to get regulatory approval on all the models: but because they ship fewer units in the larger sizes the per unit development cost is quite a bit higher. Not high enough to justify the price they charge though.

Regulatory Approval? Surely you jest. So far as I know it is not required. And the screens are made in the same factory as TV, Laptop, Tablet, and Smartphone screens.

And the retailers of specialty items like this are doing fine. The margins are much higher and no discounting is allowed.

[Nick Kuhn]

Regulatory Approval? Surely you jest. So far as I know it is not required. And the screens are made in the same factory as TV, Laptop, Tablet, and Smartphone screens.

And the retailers of specialty items like this are doing fine. The margins are much higher and no discounting is allowed.

Look on the box: every electronic at the very least has a UL and FCC mark in order to be sold in the US. To be sold in other markets you also need to do additional testing for things like the CE mark, CCC mark, etc etc etc. And you need to submit every model to such testing. If it does not have that mark, it cannot legally leave the place it was manufactured.

[J2M]

Until someone creates an app where you'd just be required to supply your own screens and ducers, the electronic makers are just gonna milk this for as long as they can. I think inevitably, they're gonna forced to sell software because of technology. Someone needs to bring the future here now. Put computers on boats!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I have wondered how hard it would be to make a depth pinger that would attach to an android tablet to give it depth finder and even side scan functionality along with the mapping/gps that they already have. The tablet might well have enough processing power to do the necessary computation.

Yep, been wondering that too. Somebody will do it and I will buy it. Navionics already has the gps maps on there.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Battery power is an issue on the tablets. I know you would need to run them on a power plug. That itself wouldn't work for an iPad because the ducer would go in the same connector as the charger does.

[Valv]

This is a very interesting topic, and to me has the same explanation as why gas is getting so expensive. It's just greed.

Get any standard 15" laptop and add a USB GPS antenna, and you have 1/2 of the problem solved. Processing power ? Much better than any brand plus video processing even faster.

Transducers are same for most models (check Airmar web site), you just need the interface modified for the PC, then the software to bring all together (any programmer can write it for few thousands bucks).

At the end you will have a unit that can perform better than any current fishfinder, and you can do a whole lot more.

Another solution for a lesser price unit with features you don need is to go "outside the box". Check Furuno, Raytheon, Simrad, etc which are possibly much better units that the standard 2 brands we are used to see around here.

I fish Lake Superior, there's no way I can get side imaging at 350ft, besides I don't need it. I have a hard time (locally) finding a unit without it.

[thatoneguy]

valv - throw together a unit like you're talking about and i'll be your first customer. i'd like it by mid-April, please. I'm so glad to hear that high-end sonar/GPS units are simple and cheap to make, as that means there will be a flood of them coming on the market. that's great news for anglers everywhere.

[h8go4s]

Valv: Your remark about greed is off base. This is a pretty competitive market, with Lowrance, Humminbird and Garmin all fighting for dominance. GPS/Sonar combo units are a whole different product compared to laptops. What "standard 15" laptop" is waterproof and will stand up to the shock and vibration it would see mounted in a boat? IF you can find one it will cost more than the Humminbird, Garmin or Lowrance units. Panasonic I believe makes some hardened laptops for industrial use, but at pretty high costs.

As for Furuno, Raytheon and Simrad, those are top dollar units, not lower-priced options.

Here's Furuno's cheapest:

GP1720C/NT

7 Inch Color VGA LCD Chart Plotter with WAAS/GPS Receiver. Uses C-MapNT+ and NT Max Cartography. (Network Fish Finder can be added.)

MSRP is $2395

Raytheon's cheapest:

A50D 5" Chartplotter/Fishfinder (no preloaded charts)

Compact 5" Chartplotter/Fishfinder with VGA display, built-in WAAS compatible GPS, and HD Digital fishfinder. Charts not included.

MSRP $719.99

Simrad:

Cabela's lists this model for $2499, there may be cheaper ones but I don't feel like chasing this any longer.

Simrad NSS8 Touch Display Sonar/GPS Combo

High-brightness bonded 8" VGA display

Simple menus and icons

Touch Sensible technology

LED backlighting

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Or you could just get a decent finder and run a tablet with the Navionics app as two units. You could be running that combo right now.

Something else is screen visibility in bright sun could be a problem.