SONARPHONE WiFi Technology Changes the Game

[Rick]

Minneapolis, MN - Vexilar, a marine electronics company for over 50 years is now poised to make a shocking leap forward in marine sonar with the launch of their newest project:

SONARPHONE

As the name implies, SONARPHONE turns your smart phone or tablet into a fully functional sonar system that will rival any high end sonar on the market today. Using Patented WiFi signal technology to transmit to smart phones or tablets. You don’t need cell phone coverage to use it, the SONARPHONE will work anywhere in the world. The SONARPHONE creates its own WiFi hotspot and you can share your signal with as many people as you wish, the software App is downloaded for free from the App store and works with both Android and IOS systems.

“Please don’t compare this technology to radio frequency or Blue Tooth sonar technology. These are just fun “toys” and cannot be used by serious fisherman or boaters, as they are limited to sending small amounts of data with 1/10 the range of the SONARPHONE.” Stated Tom Zenanko, Project Manager from Vexilar. “To be clear, this is not a WiFi repeater that requires you buy a fully functional sonar system and then sends just an image of the display for you to watch on your tablet.

SONARPHONE is a stand alone, fully functional, touch screen, high definition sonar system that will rival any sonar display on the market at a fraction of the price…. In the sonar world, little has changed in the last 30 years. The type of display offered by sonar companies has been the driving force in price.

For sure the big names in Sonar will not want to hear about SONARPHONE since they are married to their own types of display technology. Current sonar system displays are ten years behind the display technology used every day at home and at work. The type of sonar display you have greatly controls the price you pay, and if you want the newest touch screen sonar systems, better be ready to spend a fortune… Since most people on the planet already own a smart phone or touch screen tablet, you can now turn it into a truly high definition sonar system starting as low as $149.99.”

SONARPHONE will be offering limited world-wide distribution in 17 languages in 2014 and is available in three different configurations: The T-POD, a completely portable floating WiFi transmitter that can be cast from shore or pulled behind your canoe.

The T-BOX options that come in either a portable system with a carry case to hold the battery and suction cup mount to put on your boat. Then you have the more permanent version that mounts in your boat and uses your on board, 12 volt battery for unlimited run time. All SONARPHONES come with a neoprene arm band so you will have easy and safe access to your phone display at all times.

[BartmanMN]

[CaptainMusky]

This is interesting. Though I dont personally see using my phone as a benefit because its so small, but a tablet would be pretty slick.

When they say "fully functional" I wonder how many features they are really talking about. I mean, are you able to adjust sensitivity, scroll/ping speed, palettes, etc? Turn that annoying fishID off, etc?

[BartmanMN]

If you had the ability to size your app windows manually, this would be really nice. You could run your Navionics app on one side of the ipad on this Sonar on the other.

[DTro]

I've been saying this for a few years now and YES one of the big companies finally is making a run at it. This WILL be a game changer and I bet you will be seeing a lot of tablets out on the ice. Especially in those mobile homes we call fish houses. It might not be felt instantly, but I bet in 5 years from now it will be commonplace. Just think about how convenient it would be to throw the transducer ball and phone in your pocket.

The software portion of it will be very interesting. Shared among devices? How funny would it be to see all your neighbors wifi devices and pull up their image to see if they have fish under them.

[DTro]

Of course the biggest unknown especially in an ice fishing application is how much latency (lag) there will be.

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow - awesome.

I'm glad that I held off on getting that new sonar for my boat. I was planning to wait until next year but might just hold off for another two and buy an ipad instead.

[Kyhl]

Yeah, I don't see being interested as a phone app. Way to small, even the new big Samsung's. An 11" tablet sounds awesome though.

[luckydog25]

I hope this comes out sooner than later, it was only a matter of time. I can't wait!! I think my phone will be fine for winter, unless in a sleeper shack. I hope they are developing ram mounts for ipads in the boat.

[Ufatz]

Huh?

[Superduty]

I have seen guys using Ipads mounted on dashes of boats. I think it would be handy to have googleearth on a tablet display with real time position.

[luckydog25]

I reread my post and assume you are questioning that I wouldn't use my phone in a sleeper shack. What I meant was I would feel much more comfortable using an ipad or tablet in a sleeper and my phone in the portable. Maybe you were saying "Huh?" to another comment.

[ClownColor]

I've been saying this for a few years now and YES one of the big companies finally is making a run at it. This WILL be a game changer and I bet you will be seeing a lot of tablets out on the ice. Especially in those mobile homes we call fish houses. It might not be felt instantly, but I bet in 5 years from now it will be commonplace. Just think about how convenient it would be to throw the transducer ball and phone in your pocket.

The software portion of it will be very interesting. Shared among devices? How funny would it be to see all your neighbors wifi devices and pull up their image to see if they have fish under them.

mother of god...I remember us talking about this a few years ago. THIS IS H-U-G-E!

Imagine the possibilities...I'm waiting for my Lowrance wifi hotspot that made big news this summer to come out but haven't seen it yet.

Vexilar and Lowrance will DOMINATE if no one comes up with this stuff soon. WAY WAY to many possibilities.

[TruthWalleyes]

Going to need better batteries in these phones before any of this becomes practical.

I honestly don't see the benefit. Already have si in the boat, real time sonar and mapping on the ice... Plus the above are actually waterproof, phones-not so much

[amateurfishing]

Going to need better batteries in these phones before any of this becomes practical.

I honestly don't see the benefit. Already have si in the boat, real time sonar and mapping on the ice... Plus the above are actually waterproof, phones-not so much

+1

until smart phones become "freezer" proof or "water" proof, I just don't see it for the majority. maybe I am behind times a little but cant even comprehend taking a tablet on the boat (not only for cost but also not water proof). I only take my smart phone to keep in contact with wife and make her happy. Im sure there is a market for technology like this in smart phones but only under conditions that are room temp like larger ice houses & the like. & with (who knows how many) people already have flat screen TV's in the shack with wifi capability that may or may not be hooked up to fish camera they would be better off instantly marketing this to an audience with that type of appliance. I only take smart phone for pics and wife communication weather on ice or open water, open water it says in pocket (or box) to keep dry & on ice stays in pocket to keep from freezing. and yes smart phone batteries would need serious upgrading to be able to use them continuously for this purpose. iphones batteries are all internal and cannot just be swapped out. would u constantly have your phone plugged into charger while using this app? vex battery on bird fish finder is still a much better option for usability as well as weatherproof and vex battery will easily last 3 outings in winter b4 charge is needed. smart phone is not even close in either of those 2 categories

[Rick]

For open water this baby is a game changer. There are so many ways to use this we can only begin to scratch the surface right now.

As for waterproof phones and phones with plenty of staying power they are coming out in mass quantities these days.

[DTro]

Its all coming guys. The new Samsung Galaxy is waterproof to 1 meter, can be used with gloves and has a 2600 mAh battery. My Razr MAXX has 3300 mAh. Plenty of battery for a night on the water.

They also make some pretty decent covers for tablets as well. I'm seeing them more and more mounted in boats.

Cool stuff!

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Hook the portable transducer to an R/C boat and suddenly the shore fisherman has a whole new tool and knowledge base. Agree with DTRO give this 5 years and it will be everywhere.

[Brad B]

I hope this comes out sooner than later, it was only a matter of time. I can't wait!! I think my phone will be fine for winter, unless in a sleeper shack. I hope they are developing ram mounts for ipads in the boat.

Ram Mounts does make mounts for I pads already. go to their HSOforum and look it up. I plan to order a complete setup so I can put the I pad in the boat yet this year. as for water proof cases for I pads and I phones there is the life proof cases. they are water proof down to I believe 6 feet but they also offer a life jacket for the cases that will make them float. they are spendy but still cheaper than a new I pad or I phone. I have had my I pad on the ice late last ice season and it was nice to have the 10 inch screen to run the navionics app on. plus like was stated already having real time positioning when using google earth is amazing. I was also able to do live reports from on the lake. the future of fishing electronics is starting to unfold before our eyes. there will be many advances yet to come. one thing I forgot, get a extra base and you will be able to put the I pad in your truck or car.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Now if I could only see my iPad screen in the sun

[MikeG3Boat]

Where is this information on the web? I went to Vexilar's site and I do not see anything about this.

[DTro]

I want more details on this one. I knew it was just a matter time:

[Rick]

You can see it here:

FISHPHONE - WI FI by Vexilar - Click here for mre info..

[thatoneguy]

That will "rival any high end sonar?" I'll believe that when I see it. My guess is it will come closer to rivaling the lowest-end sonar.

[Rick]

It's a huge leap forward and many will see for themselves with their own SONARPHONE.