I Hate My Sonar!!!!

[Fishinguy40]

I have a Lowrance 522C. Bought it 5 years ago. I love the GPS and map features but hate the sonar! I have followed the issues on here over the years about Lowrance and the issues of losing bottom in shallow weedy water. I've had this issue over they years with my unit. I've downloaded the updates and it helped some but I'm at the point where I think I need a new transducer. I had the boat for a week on a lake where we got a cabin and I had lots of problems with the sonar. It couldn't even read outside the weed line in 20 - 30 feet of water sometimes and I noticed that the sensitivity (in auto) was 100%. I checked and the transducer was clean.

Anyhow, I have heard people on here recommend a certain brand of transducer that they felt was reliable. Though I don't remember the name and there are way too many threads complaining about Lowrance to try and search for it. If I'm going to buy a new transducer, I would like to get one that has a good rep. So what do you guys recommend?

[gregg52]

I have a 520c. I had a transducer put on it and solved the problem

[gofishingtom]

go to blue---heron--marine--- dot com and look up lowrance transducers and scroll down and find the simrad p66 its like 129$ and worth the money..u'll be very happy with this unit..me and 3 of my buddies have bought and used this transducer its not even comparable to what lowrance has to offer for 79.99$ hope this helps out

[Scupper]

Hi gofishingtom.

I don't want to hi-jack this thread but could you or any others who have experience or information point out the over riding comparable factors of this mentioned transducer > (Simrad p66).

I did look it up and found the information to be somewhat vague. Possibly, and more then likely, my ineptness to understand has come into play here...

In all serious, thanks.

Scott

[Cicada]

I've had mine for five years and it will need its third transducer. I spent over $800.00 for it and they can't get me a reliable transducer. B as in B, S as in S.

[minneman]

Airmar P66 solved my issues

[gofishingtom]

scupper... i dont understand ur problem viewing the web sight tells u everything u need to know about the transducer..it is made for lowrance units with the blue connector... and also comes with 50 or 200 khz so u dont get that with the regular lowrance transducer u just get more problems with there transducer...this company is in the business of just making ducers so they know what there doing...all i can say is once i got this transducer and installed it all my problems were solved...minneman has it right AIRMAR is the company that makes them

[corncob]

I had the same type of problems with a Lowrance unit, and , bought a Hummingbird......M y question is why on earth would Lowrance not supply acceptable transducers?

[Fishinguy40]

Well I just ordered the AIRMAR P66. I sure hope it solves my problems. I googled it and read lots of reviews and they were all positive. I can't wait to get it and try it!

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Let us know how you turn out!!

Hope it is good news!!

[delcecchi]

It has been reported that the newer Lowrance transducers with the 5 pins are more reliable than the old ones with 7 pins. Also, it has been suggested that not letting them freeze is a good idea.

I guess I will find out. The new transducer I bought this spring, the third or 4th one but who's counting, has 5 pins and is now sitting down with my fishing stuff in basement.

[Scupper]

gofishingtom,

I didn't have a problem viewing the recommended web page or the information there by provided. My literacy and intelligence unfortunately does have it's limit's.

Possibly my question as to comparison of the p66 vs Lowrance is answered in this post and I just can't see or understand the conveyance of such.

I'm assuming it has something to do with shallow water readings...I sure hate to assume.

None the less, I'm delighted in knowing that all your problems were solved with the installation of your after market transducer.

Thanks again and best wishes...

Scott

[CaptainMusky]

I have had issues with detecting VERY dense weed cover with my perfectly functioning transducer. It would just show bottom. The trouble is with sensitivity adjustment. I have to pay close attention to it and also be in the 200mHz setting for it to work as I expect.

You can also find volumes of information from "Doc Sonar" aka Doc Samson. He talks about this very same thing in a recent blog. Can be found easily with a few searches.

[ozzie]

I had to buy a new ducer and I sent the new one back after a week and they sent me another new one. Since that has been now a year and a half and it is still working perfectly and that was just the basic transducer..."knock on wood" I bought mine on line from some marine dealer in florida and used a CC that I never use...I called the company to make the payment and 2 weeks later my CC company calls and asks if I am in Germany as my CC was used to buy a $130 train ticket!!!! Needless to say I didn't call the company back when they credited me for my returned ducer and never charged me for the one the sent out!!! Good Luck

[Scupper]

I have had issues with detecting VERY dense weed cover with my perfectly functioning transducer. It would just show bottom. The trouble is with sensitivity adjustment. I have to pay close attention to it and also be in the 200mHz setting for it to work as I expect.

You can also find volumes of information from "Doc Sonar" aka Doc Samson. He talks about this very same thing in a recent blog. Can be found easily with a few searches.

Thank you CaptainMusky.

Your practical experience and explanation of said subject is well received.

Your mention of "Doc Sonar" brought up some old memory's. Some 30 years ago I was receiving care and treatment from Dr. Bruce Samson. During one of my visits for treatment, the nurse and I were exchanging small talk. The topic of fishing came up and the nurse explained that Dr. Samson was an avid walleye fisherman. I couldn't wait to see the Doctor!

After the formality's of treatment were complete, I blindsided the good Doctor with a barrage of technical fishing questions. To my surprise, he had just as many return questions.

He invited me to meet him at Mille Lacs. Unfortunately, that never happened due to my schedule at the time. Upon later returning to the clinic for continued treatment of my injury, I was crestfallen to hear that Dr. Samson had left the clinic for a position closer to his home.

I'd like to think that I was one of his earliest benefactors, physically and fish-ably...

Fishinguy40, please share the results of your findings with your new transducer. Lot's of good information is being generated from your original post. Thanks for letting me in on your topic.

Scott.

[Fishinguy40]

I will post results next week. Xducer should arrive on Thursday. I plan to install and use it this weekend.

[Fishinguy40]

OMG!! What a difference the Airmar P66 transducer makes! I put it on Thursday night and had the boat on the ST Croix on Friday. My sonar NEVER lost bottom, even when the boat was on plane at 42 MPH. I was able to read bottom in 4 feet of water or 70 feet of water. I was never able to do that with my original transducer. And the clarity! I marked more fish at different depths than I have ever saw before and we boat the ST Croix all the time.

Thanks GoTom.

[gofishingtom]

hey no problem...i know it would work for u because ive seen it over and over with my buddies that have switched..and im glad u mentioned the clarity and definition of ur screen because i forgot to mention that in my post..it's unbelievable how nice it is.but the airmar company is in the business of just makng ducers and have been around along time..a navy older gentleman turned me onto the ducer and explained that this company makes most of he sonar stuff for the navy...and the 129$ was well worth it..better then spending another 70 bucks on another worthless low. ducer..and now u can switch between 50 & 200 khz when u might be fishing shallow or really deep

[CaptainMusky]

Scupper, that is interesting the hear. I honestly had no idea that he was a practicing physician. I merely thought the moniker "Dr" came from his expansive knowledge of boating electronics.

[delcecchi]

I thought he was a dentist. Is that not correct?

[Scupper]

Thank you for sharing your experience with your new transducer.

It sure sounds like it makes a difference. For now I will stick with my factory transducer. I sure would like to see a side by side comparison.

Thanks.

[Scupper]

I only know him as a medical doctor and Doc Samson. I believe he is retired from practice.

I'm pretty sure "Doc Holiday" was a dentist but I don't think he fished...

[Borch]

I'm running a p66 on my lcx-27 and so far it's been a very good experience. Make sure if you order on you get on with the 5r mhzohm resister for the temp sensor. They come with both a 10 and a 5 and the older lowrance units, (non hds)only use the 5 mhz ohm temp sensor.

[delcecchi]

I must be mistaken then, since I don't know him at all. Just thought I read that. But memory is the second thing to go, and I forget the first one.

[Scupper]

Borch,

thanks for piping in and sharing your experience and knowledge of said transducer.

Scott

[Scupper]

Funny stuff delcecchi...