Vexilar Sonarphone T-Pod

[DTro]

This little thing is pretty impressive! Anyone else try one out yet?

[Kettle]

Pretty neat unit, wish I had something like that growing up with all the shore fishing I did on the rum river. Thanks for the video!

Kettle

[fisherman-andy]

Pretty neat unit, wish I had something like that growing up with all the shore fishing I did on the rum river. Thanks for the video!

Kettle

They did. Its called the Humminbird Smart Cast which has been around for a while. Look it up its nothing new. The only thing different here is Vex has adapted a similar technology to a smartphone or tablet instead. The downside is battery run time on phones and tablets.

[Scott O.]

I used the Humminbird Smartcast when it came out. While it was useful when used, it also had a tendency to not work as it should have. Many times, I would get the temp., but no sonar reading. It was slightly frustrating, but it was new then. I hope that Vexilar has upped the tech a bit and it is reliable. Plus the color screen would be a huge improvement over the Smartcast.

[DTro]

Totally different technogies...

[CoreyS]

What Sonar Phone has:

1 - It's Wi-Fi, not blue tooth or radio transmitted

2 - The SP200 comes with a USB power plug adaptor so you may run your tablet as long as your boat motor lasts. Just like other electronics used in the boat.

3 - Real sonar with optimal resolution in color with the use of your smart device.

4 - Multiple people may view the signal at the same time

5 - Battery life on phones will last as normal everyday operation. Your phone or smart device is a passive receiver. The T-pod or T-box is the device that transmits the Wi-Fi signal.

6 - Many applications.

As you can see from this video and others that have been done, the resolution and quality is quite impressive.

[delcecchi]

Just one tiny correction. WiFi is transmitted using radio waves just like blue tooth and Tom Bernard.

[fisherman-andy]

Just one tiny correction. WiFi is transmitted using radio waves just like blue tooth and Tom Bernard.

X2.

I dont view things ported over to a smart device as ground breaking. Although its step in the right direction. There is little concept difference using it on a portable lcd screen vs a smartphone or tablet screen aside eye candy. After all its a fish depth finder.

On such a device, I am interested in the features, portability & battery run time. If I wanted to plug it to power I would use an actual real sonar device instead, it wont replace my electronics on the boat. Portability plays a big part and being that I have used the Humminbird smartcast in the past I see this at best used as a scouting device during shore fishing or on a canoe. Yes others opinion may differ as far as uses, but to me its just another gadget to play with that I soon forget or get over with about after some use. I felt the same way about the smartcast too.

I like to see Vex adapt this for ice fishing, it may be great for run and gun scouting tactics on the hardwater.

[bobbymalone]

Thing looks cool, especially for the shore fisherman. I haven't seen what sort of range you can expect.

I like the neon green color for high visibility, but it's weird they didn't go with blaze or chartreuse rather than the exact same color as the bird smartcast thing. That was the first thing I noticed.

Anybody else up late staring at the moon? LOL

[CoreyS]

Yes, you are correct!

[BoxMN]

I watched a buddy use it in the ice shack this past winter. While the concept is cool, and the cost is low, it isn't there yet, IMO. It did show the depth, that is about it. I found it slow, grainy, chunky. I am sure it will improve, and hope it does. Glad I didn't fork over the $.

[Matt Johnson]

While I'm not currently an expert on the new SonarPhone by any means, I do know for certain they you are definitely not comparing apples-to-apples when looking at the SonarPhone versus the Humminbird Smartcast. Two completely different products, not even on the same level in regards to performance and use. The Humminbird Smartcast was definitely ahead of its time, but that system was nothing short of a headache. I worked in a retail setting while that Humminbird product was on the market and it was a nightmare. Now, fast-forward to the SonarPhone--and the advancements made to release an actual working product--and you have yourself something totally different. They are not even on the same page in my opinion. The SonarPhone is not a copy of the Smartcast system, not even close.

I need to spend more time with the SonarPhone, I will be the first to admit that, but I've played with it enough to know it has solid traction as something important that the fishing industry needs. The application of the SonarPhone is not just for shore anglers, I see major benefit to those who plan to use one in their boat as well. I plan to rig one on my boat and will have many opportunities to report my findings throughout this open water season. I will hard-mount mine through the Permanent mount system (transom transducer mount). I also plan on having my guide clients tap into the system from their personal smartphones so they can see (and better understand and learn) the structure we are fishing. A huge opportunity to help educate others in your boat in my opinion. I'm a big fan of seminars in my boat

I can completely understand why some people are skeptic. New technology, especially something like this, can take some time to catch on. I would just encourage everyone to keep an open mind until you actually get a chance to use it in the appropriate setting. It is designed for open water use, so testing through an ice hole is not the best test. I'll be anxious to hear what people say after they get a chance to use it on open water... I will share my results as well...

[DTro]

I challenge anyone who has used the smartcast to use this Sonarphone and say it isn’t leaps and bounds above it,  On the surface the comparison is understandable, but after you use it the comparison is ridiculous.   You have so many more user controls and options with the phone/tablet that its not even on the same page as the smartcast.  You have zoom,  gain adjustment, brightness, background color, etc.  not to mention the color display and much higher resolution.

 

Here is a screenshot I took using all defaults on my first time out:

 

 

 

I plan on taking this up sturgeon fishing and will fan cast our anchor spot to really get a good feel as to where I want to put my bait.  Will it make a difference?  Maybe, maybe not.   

 

Think about how easy this thing would be to pack for the BWCA

[DTro]

I came across this guy that has a pretty good idea. Heck with casting, just drag it around with an RC Tug

[delcecchi]

A 10 inch tablet with wifi and gps is like 400 bucks. Add a $129 wifi connected transducer and a waterproof case and you are still at like $600. An HDS10 is north of 2 grand. Humminbird in the same ballpark.

What is wrong with this picture?

[DTro]

Well, side and down imaging for one.

I don't think this was made to compete with the SI's and the HD's, however...

A cheap tablet and the T-Box will make a great inexpensive finder. Most people already have the tablet.

[CAMAN]

A 10 inch tablet with wifi and gps is like 400 bucks. Add a $129 wifi connected transducer and a waterproof case and you are still at like $600. An HDS10 is north of 2 grand. Humminbird in the same ballpark.

What is wrong with this picture?

Apples to oranges with the HDS10. The Sonarphone doesn't have side scan or down scan capabilities which adds $800-$1000. But comparing to a an HDS7 with no scanning capabilities, add on the otterbox to protect it and is only about 150-200 less. The sonar phone has its place for some, just probably not for me.

Also in any type of choppy weather that little floating transducer is going to get rocked around a bunch, and totally screw up the readings.

[DTro]

Also in any type of choppy weather that little floating transducer is going to get rocked around a bunch, and totally screw up the readings.

That's what the T-Box is for.

[CAMAN]

That's what the T-Box is for.

See that's what I get for scanning this thread way too fast, didn't even see that, just the little green guy.

[bobbymalone]

 

Think about how easy this thing would be to pack for the BWCA

Bring your USB power pack too.

Or three or four of them for the weekend.

[amateurfishing]

while I originally thought this would be a great game changer and was gonna get one immediately, I just don't see it happening except for shore fishing or dock fishing. I get Matt Johnsons situation with letting someone see first hand on their phone but personally I don't buy my smart phone for daily uses with water situations. I can understand using navionics, gps, & other apps occasionally but just don't see the long term greater good, with most having the real deal fish finders already on boats and great waterproof devices like aqua vu micros that are also waterproof, im more inclined to keep my phone for more important matters, BUT if you had an old one laying around, THAT may be an interested thought.

[delcecchi]

Use a tablet, not a phone. who wants a tiny phone screen?

[amateurfishing]

Use a tablet, not a phone. who wants a tiny phone screen?

personally...........no thx

[DTro]

I've upgraded my phone from that 4.3" screen on that Droid in the original video to a 5.1". It made the experience even better.

I had it out on the river this weekend and in a few places I fan casted from our anchored position. It was pretty cool to find where the submerged snags were and also let it swirl around in eddies to find exactly where the breaks started.

Could also find pockets of slightly warmer water which is important this time of year.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I gave it a try two weeks ago on a river. Worked well. Borrowed one from a coworker. I'll be getting one this summer before my daughter arrives. This will be fun for her to launch off my brother's dock so we can see if there are any fish around.

It'll never get used in my boat...Often anyway. But looks like a neat tool for dock fishing/shore fishing to just do a quick scan of the area and then start fishing.