Vexilar Fishphone

[Wolffy]

Could someone maybe make a video of a walk through with this. I live in the sticks and dont get to bigger cities often. very interested in this but would like to see it in action even if its in someones garage. havent seen much on u tube yet

[Chad Holst]

Not sure I can agree with people that wouldn't use this product because it ties up your phone. 1st your calls still come in when using an ap. 2nd you can use a tablet, tv or any other common screened device. Lastly a 7 inch tablet costs about 50-75 bucks. Plus the cost of the fish phone set up and your still under 280 bucks for a camera that is much much better technology than the top aqua views on the market. If there is no lag, then I don't see why anyone would still buy an aqua view type camera system.

[bakwardbob]

Sadly I am going to the Dominican Republic this week... I will not be able to fish with it yet, but I should be able to do a video in my home tonight. Maybe could capture what the lag looks like.

[younggun]

Not sure I can agree with people that wouldn't use this product because it ties up your phone. 1st your calls still come in when using an ap. 2nd you can use a tablet, tv or any other common screened device. Lastly a 7 inch tablet costs about 50-75 bucks. Plus the cost of the fish phone set up and your still under 280 bucks for a camera that is much much better technology than the top aqua views on the market. If there is no lag, then I don't see why anyone would still buy an aqua view type camera system.

I would guess people would stil buy traditional ice fishing camera's because they are using them to ice fish. You can't exactly put a tablet on the ice next to a hole etc. Much less, I can't imagine cheap tablet functioning well in the cold.

IMO, this is for guys who fish in nice perms. But then why not just hookup your current camera to a tv or tablet.

[FishinFools]

Dtro, can you forward that android app to me as well?

Any word on the iOS version? Vexilar said it would be out this week, but I do not see it in the app store as of this morning.

Thank you!

[FishinFools]

I envision my son being completely entertained by this, thus allowing me to actually fish more!

Plan is to put his mini-iPad into a water proof envelope, clip a security cord (tip up line) to it and enjoy watching him catch fish that he can see!

Also, kind of cool that more than one person can watch on their own display, record snaps/vids at the same time. And, it would be fun to watch a shiner on a tip up while a pike hovers inches away waiting to strike. (with the camera set up outside of the shelter, out of the way)

It's a great concept, IMO, and I looking forward to the UPS guy coming today!

[FishinFools]

no need to send, Dtro. I found it. Still would like to know any updates regardin iOS. thx

[Chad Holst]

Younggun,

Quote:

IMO, this is for guys who fish in nice perms. But then why not just hookup your current camera to a tv or tablet.

Because the technology in even the cheapest tablet is going to be 10 x better than the most expensive ice cam on the market. It will be the difference between watching the fish on a 80's tube black and white tv vs a 2010 HD tv. Contast setting, zoom, recording, snap pictures. I think there are alot of things that people dont understand they get besides the light portablness of using a Phone/tablet/pad/.

To be honest, now that i have heard that the lag is very low, i only have 1 concern. Battery life in the cam. (not worried about the phone/tablet, thats an easy fix) if the batteries last 6 hours, and take a while to charge, it would be nice to be able to get extra batteries. However, i would guess this whole unit is sealed and the battery is only chargable, not replacable. Not a HUGE deal, but it can matter.

And a small thought. how do you turn the camera? we used to spin the thick coax sized cable, and that made the camera turn. How do you do that with thin line? maybe use 2 lines? hmmm.

[bakwardbob]

The line is still thick. Also, it has a TV out as well.

[bakwardbob]

It is now in the android app store.

[DTro]

WiFi box battery life is rated at 6 hours

[younggun]

Sirlips,

I think I'm missing something. Is the camera way better then the camera on my fish scout? If I was going to use video out of my scout to the same tablet/tv you have, I'm not understanding how the picture is going to be like an 80s black and white tv. The scout has a color camera. I'm confused and super curious as I buy way too much fishing gear and it sounds cool.

If I already have a new vex fish scout and I already have a tablet, why would I need this? Can I not run video out to a tablet/tv from my scout?

Plus the whole durability factor if you were actually using it outside in the elements. Just sounds like a mess. I know my iPhone will shut down when I'm using the Navionics App if it's too cold out.

For me it seems redundant. If I can bounce around outside from hole to hole and then go into my perm and plug the fish scout into the tv in the house, why would I want this? I mostly use a camera for picking my spots then dragging the permanent to said spot. It's just way too important to me up have gear that can stand up to the cold.

Bluetooth is cool but I don't mind having a cord from camera to screen especially if there is lag involved.

Btw, I love and have a few vexilar products. I just think I may have finally found a gadget I don't need to buy, haha!

[bakwardbob]

It is true that it is not for everyone.

Remember this runs WIFI which is much greater range. You could put this out with your tip up watch it on your tab, phone or tv. And your friends can also watch it on theirs at the same time.

It seems to be built very well. You will not need to baby this in your sled as it has no screen to crack or wreck. If you already have a phone or tab, you save money. There are no descent cameras out there that are at this price point that let you video or take picture and then upload them to any social media site.

Tech in the ice fishing world is way behind. As us under people get into it, things are going to be changing fast. Buy it if you like, but this is just the beginning...

[DTro]

Just a clarification.  I’ve been informed that the unit is speced for 6hrs, but testing has shown a minimum of 12hrs and closer to 20.  Mostly depending on temperature I’m sure.

 

 

I understand people not seeing the big deal here and asking why they would need it,  and really who “needs” a lot of this stuff we have.  But, the ability for multiple users to sign in and be able to remotely monitor is cool technology.     There are some pretty neat uses you could do with this thing and some of them have nothing to do with the camera being in the water.    On a fishing trip and worried about all your gear in your truck when you stop to eat?  Flip the camera on and monitor your gear via your phone at your table. Set it up next to your tip up….who needs flags anymore?

 

 

I think it’s a glimpse into the future for sure

[TruthWalleyes]

It's possible i'll get this in the spring for fishing small rivers or lakes from shore. That might be worth it. Just to cast out from my brothers dock.

I downloaded the app since it's free just to check it out...

6hrs run time makes it useless to me as that is the minimum ice time for this guy, but good to hear testing results are higher. It could pose as a neat tool, but i'm just not interested enough at this point to purchase it as a summer sonar that will get used 2-4 times a year when i'm not in my boat.

[Chad Holst]

Younggun, you are correct, if you have a colored camera and you have the hook up in your house for the camera to TV, you are set. The tech portion is both in the Screen and the camera they use. But MOSTLY its in the display.

I doubt you will see a huge difference in a perm house, running your aqua view color camera to your TV. I think were you will see the huge jump is from the small viewers with terrible picture quality that come with these units to the new tech we have in our personal devices and the TV's.

Shoot, if your a savy shopper, you can pick up a 32" LED HDTV for a $100 durring the holiday sales. Add that monster to a underwater camera system for under $180 and you have a pretty cool set up. When you want to hole hop with it...use your phone. lets be honest, most hole hoppers DONT use a camera anyway. Infact, besides to see what exactly that mark is that wont bite, when was the last time you used a camera OUTSIDE a fish house or portable? Me either..lol. Add the fact that you can share the video image to several peoples devices at one time, that its cheaper and that it fits in your pocket, next to the phone you may use with it.

I like the part about recording it right on your Ipad or Iphone. I know you can also record, if you ran the aqua views through a recording sytem of some sort on your tv/vcr/dvd/dvr...blah blah blah...but ive never seen anyone actually do it. I see losts of underwatr youtube videos coming our way.

Whats funny, i was talking with my buddy about this very thing about a year ago, when he got his go pro. i told him we should get some braided Dacron and tie it to the camera to use it as a fish cam. the go pro has the same set up...you can watch it on via the wifi connection to multiple devices. HOWEVER the issue was the go pro lags quite a bit between the camera and the ipad/phone. But, thats basically what they created here, minus the lag. and minus the $500 price tag.

[DTro]

WiFi doesn't work under water

[bakwardbob]

Good thing the WIFI is not "in" the water...lol

[aanderud]

Good thing the WIFI is not "in" the water...lol

It would be "in" the water in the stated example of a gopro underwater.

[Chad Holst]

Ok, so im confussed, then how does the fishphone send wifi out? There isnt a cord going up to the top, that has the wifi going through it, is there? I though you use your own cord, rope, line, wire to lower it down. So there is a cable of sorts going up to the surface and then that has a box that sends the wifi? I didnt see this anywhere. bluetooth signal doesnt go through water? i did not know that.

[younggun]

Sirlips,

I guess it all depends on how you fish. I personally use my scout all the time outside of the house. I'll get to the structure and drill twenty holes, then walk around with the fish scout and find the best bottom (rocks, sand etc.). Then I'll set up my perm or portable and start fishing with my flasher. I rarely use the camera when I'm fishing.

I'm just imagining myself out there with my iPad trying to move from hole to hole trying to find where I want to set up. Wet hands from bringing the camera up and down several times. Touching the touch screen with wet hands and it not responding. I'd be cussing a lot. Haha. I understand you could use your phone for hole hoping and your tablet for in the shack but I'd be nervous about dropping it into one of the holes. I use my phone for navionics but as soon as I get to my spot, the phone goes into my pocket before the auger gets fired up.

Would be cool for watching the tip up but then I'd be worried about it getting stuck in the ice.

Can't wait to hear real life reviews from the lake!

[outdoors247]

Quote:

Ok, so im confussed, then how does the fishphone send wifi out? There isnt a cord going up to the top, that has the wifi going through it, is there? I though you use your own cord, rope, line, wire to lower it down. So there is a cable of sorts going up to the surface and then that has a box that sends the wifi? I didnt see this anywhere. bluetooth signal doesnt go through water? i did not know that.

The camera is typical of any other ones on the market as it has the camera head which is attached to a cable that runs to the surface. In most cameras the cable leads to a display, where as the fishphone plugs into the wifi receiver and then you access the video through wifi on your iphone, ipad, ect.... The wifi box sits on the top side of the ice.

[DTro]

Yes, ^^^^ this

The only difference from a standard underwater camera is a little black box replaces the display. That black box sends out the wifi signal and houses the battery.

oh and as stated before its not bluetooth, its WIFI. Pretty big difference.

[bakwardbob]

Hope this link works... I am not good with video I guess... Sorry.

[DTro]

Thanks for the video.

The lag (or lack thereof) is similar to what I seen at the show.