New Vexilar Fl- X28

[muskie hunter]

I was talking to some people and heard a rumor that vexilar is making a new unit the Fl-X28 which is supposlbly going to be a digital flasher with new technology and I was just wondering if they actually are going to make a new unit and will it be able to be used on a vexilar double vision or will it be a cammera flasher combo in one like the Marcum LX 9

[brian6715]

Nothing like being two years late to the party! They are no longer an innovative company, but I hope this works for them so the market stays competitive and benefits the consumer

[Jim Uran]

Whats so beneficial about the LX-9???

If it isnt broke dont try to fix it lol. Ive also heard rumors of a 28, whatever it is its an improvement on an already great line of products! Vexilar has been around for quite a long time and whatever they come out with always is functional without unnecessary bells and whistles IMO... Cant wait to see what comes out next year!

[brian6715]

Unnecessary bells and whistles like tackle boxes built in, external charging posts, flexible lights hanging off the front, rod-holders built in, a dimming option at night, low power mode, or a tri-beam transducer?

Vexilar people really shouldn't knock unnecessary bells and whistles... and every flasher unit out there is very functional. I personally don't care what comes out next year, or in the next 10 years, because my current unit is incredible and miles ahead of my old FL-18.

Whatever comes out, I hope they price it competitively and it becomes a hit.

[fisherman-andy]

Unnecessary bells and whistles like tackle boxes built in, external charging posts, flexible lights hanging off the front, rod-holders built in, a dimming option at night, low power mode, or a tri-beam transducer?

Vexilar people really shouldn't knock unnecessary bells and whistles... and every flasher unit out there is very functional. I personally don't care what comes out next year, or in the next 10 years, because my current unit is incredible and miles ahead of my old FL-18.

Whatever comes out, I hope they price it competitively and it becomes a hit.

Well said. I understand Vexilar being a sponsor on this board, but recommendations of other great products like the LX9 is excused? You know its good, nuff said.

Aside, im sure we all welcome the addition of new technology and gadgets. Im curious to see what Vexilar has to offer as far as a digital flasher. One cant help not making a comparison to the competition already on the market.

[leech~~]

I heard that for the FL-X28 they were going to go back to the basics and dumb it down for the people that don't like to many bells and whistles!

[muskie hunter]

I hope that this sonar will be better than than LX9 LX6,and LX7 with more inovatitive features than the marcum units like it would be cool if if was a cammera, and sonar model with GPS, and takle boxes and the unessary features of the vexilar's.

[Rod Woten]

Unnecessary bells and whistles like tackle boxes built in...rod-holders built in, a dimming option at night, low power mode, or a tri-beam transducer?

One man's bells and whisltes are another man's treasures!!!

The rod holders and tackle box are an essential part of my run-n-gun technique. With my favorite plastics loaded in the tackle box, a rod rigged with a "search" lure in 1 rod holder and a rod rigged with a "finesse" lure in the other rod holder, I can carry everything I need to run-n-gun in one hand and my auger in the other hand. Rod holders and tackle boxes may seem unnecessary to someone who is using new technolgy to fish the old-fasioned way (sit in the same spot all day), but they definitely have their value to anyone that fishes the modern way.

The dimming option is a Godsend for preserving my low light vision. It also means no more driving home after an evening of crappie fishing and still seeing the flashing colors, or seeing them when I close my eyes to sleep. The low power mode is dynammite for finding fish in heavy weeds or brush, and I've fished in too many tournaments to count where being able to fish with a wide beam and a narrow beam made the difference between a limit or a skunk.

-Rod

[muskie hunter]

Can an of the Ice team pro's or vexilar pros tell us about this unit. And if they used it how good does it work?

[bbfenatic1582813981]

From what I gather (but I could be wrong) it is a beefed up FL-22 with some added features many will like, is not a digital unit per se, but does have a digital depth readout much like a Humminbird. I am pretty excited to see it in person, was going to upgrade my Showdown to an LX-7 with recent deals I have seen but am going to wait and see if this new FL-28 will fit my needs better.

[Jim Uran]

Unnecessary bells and whistles like tackle boxes built in, external charging posts, flexible lights hanging off the front, rod-holders built in, a dimming option at night, low power mode, or a tri-beam transducer?

Vexilar people really shouldn't knock unnecessary bells and whistles... and every flasher unit out there is very functional. I personally don't care what comes out next year, or in the next 10 years, because my current unit is incredible and miles ahead of my old FL-18.

Whatever comes out, I hope they price it competitively and it becomes a hit.

I see you are a Marcum guy, it doesn't do you any good to try and rip down the competition. My Vexilar has put a TON of fish on the ice

Good try at ridiculing me!!

[fisherman-andy]

Unnecessary bells and whistles like tackle boxes built in, external charging posts, flexible lights hanging off the front, rod-holders built in, a dimming option at night, low power mode, or a tri-beam transducer?

Vexilar people really shouldn't knock unnecessary bells and whistles... and every flasher unit out there is very functional. I personally don't care what comes out next year, or in the next 10 years, because my current unit is incredible and miles ahead of my old FL-18.

Whatever comes out, I hope they price it competitively and it becomes a hit.

[brian6715]

No I wasn't trying to ridicule at all, I just had to say something about the unnecessary features comment... I just found it funny, because Vexilar is king of the unnecessary features.

I have no doubt yours has put fish on the ice, they all do, and they all do about the same. You just have to expect some criticism when you are critical of the competition... and that is what drives the market and improves the products. I hope the FL-X28 helps Vexilar catch up with the current technology.

I do not believe a tri-beam transducer was the difference between a skunk and an awesome day though; if that was the case then you don't know what your doing on the ice.

[brian6715]

I see you are a Marcum guy, it doesn't do you any good to try and rip down the competition.

Then what good does it do for Vexilar guys when they rip down the competition?

[Rod Woten]

I do not believe a tri-beam transducer was the difference between a skunk and an awesome day though;

[brian6715]

I understand the advantages, I fish the Duluth Harbor and if you are on the channel edge you need a narrow beam. My point was, would an LX-7 not be able to do this? It has an 8 degree cone, which would be even tighter than the Vex's, correct? I have no doubt a dual cone is an awesome and useful feature, I just can't figure out why anyone would want a tri-beam transducer; especially with how many issues Vex had with them. To me, tri-beam is an unnecessary feature, if in fact what we are doing is a fair comparison of unnecessary features.

[DTro]

Well this is a first! 

 

Flasher wars before the open water season even starts.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing new products from Vexilar.  They are a very reputable company who stand behind their products.  Anything new from them means good things to the ice fishing world.

 

A product that revolutionizes fishing comes along once every 25 years or more and even then it’s a progressive thing that will change things over time and not over night.  Face it, even if you consider the LX9 current cutting edge ice technology, it barely changed the way anyone fishes through the ice.

 

I’d have to say right now the biggest game changer is a smartphone in every pocket.   Eventually we won’t even need a flasher, just a floating wireless transducer (they are out there already)

[fisherman-andy]

I see you are a Marcum guy, it doesn't do you any good to try and rip down the competition.

[fisherman-andy]

 

I’d have to say right now the biggest game changer is a smartphone in every pocket.   Eventually we won’t even need a flasher, just a floating wireless transducer (they are out there already)

Im not sure if I want to start carrying a 8lb battery iphone on a rectangular 4" flasher screen yet Dtro. Nor a tablet. Doesnt seem feasible at this point. That would be like getting Marcum or Vexilar to abandon their platforms for a mobile device ruled by technology conglomerates.

[brian6715]

The smartphone flasher will be the next game changer, unless someone can figure out how to make side/down imaging work on an ice unit first. The current cell phone batteries couldn't take it, but there have been some amazing advances in new battery technology over the last couple weeks; hopefully that new technology hits that market within 5 years.

I am not a "Marcum" guy, but I do believe they have the best product out right now. It has just happened that when I needed another flasher that the LX-7 was the best digital option; I wasn't going to buy a non-digital flasher because that technology is on it's way out, fast. I really hope Vexilar brings something new to the game and stays competitive, they are due.

[fisherman-andy]

The smartphone flasher will be the next game changer, unless someone can figure out how to make side/down imaging work on an ice unit first. The current cell phone batteries couldn't take it, but there have been some amazing advances in new battery technology over the last couple weeks; hopefully that new technology hits that market within 5 years.

The smartphone idea may look nifty and sound cool, but unlikely to happen. Way too many obstacles and royalties. I rather have a refined product, something a smartphone cannot deliver. Its an idea that doesnt pitch well, even for profits. I however can see some sort or form or advancement of the smartphone use in the way as we already see in apps such as Navionics, yet limited.

The game changer still lies with the advancement of sonar technology and the software/hardware features capable of running it. Do you really want a smartphone ice flasher? Better start pitching the idea to Apple and Microsoft then.

[brian6715]

Do you really want a smartphone ice flasher? Better start pitching the idea to Apple and Microsoft then.

It already exists

[fisherman-andy]

It already exists

I am well aware of this product as im very tech savy and work in IT field. Heck I even have the watch fish finders that Humminbird sells. But it hardly does what I want on what I intend to use it for. There also many other hand held fish sonar products out there like on e-b-a-y that are portable. In part I see this employed as very primitive use.

However the product you mentioned isnt even available or is a refined product. It will eventually writher away and die. Try getting Marcum & Vexilar to make such a product as I said at the moment isnt feasible on such platform when they can produce their own without the headaches that are attached to smartphones. They will have limited no control over the product or hardware and be at the mercy of someone else's product line.

Imagine this scenario:

You: Hello Vexilar my fish finder isnt working on my iPhone. It keeps locking up and wont detect the bottom. Now with the iPhone software update it wont even load.

Vexilar: Please call Apple for service. We do not make the iPhone. We tested our software already on the update and it works.

You: Hello Apple my fish finder app dont work on your phone.

Apple: We dont make the software and hardware so call Vexilar.

You: But it stopped working after the your update and I loss I the data stored and waypoints.

Apple: Did you back up? If not too bad. Please restore your phone to factory and start all over.

You:

[Rod Woten]

I understand the advantages, I fish the Duluth Harbor and if you are on the channel edge you need a narrow beam. My point was, would an LX-7 not be able to do this? It has an 8 degree cone, which would be even tighter than the Vex's, correct? I have no doubt a dual cone is an awesome and useful feature, I just can't figure out why anyone would want a tri-beam transducer; especially with how many issues Vex had with them. To me, tri-beam is an unnecessary feature, if in fact what we are doing is a fair comparison of unnecessary features.

I NEVER said an LX-7 couldn't. I simply stated that a multi-beam ducer is not unnecessary. Sure the 8 degree will work great for fishing breaks and the like, but what if you have to then move to the flats for perch or the basin for crappies? That 8 degree will severely limit you in those instances....which we encounter day in and day out in tournaments. The most efficient way to eliminate massive spans of non-productive water (basin, flats, etc.) is with a WDIE BEAM! A multi-beam ducer (ANY multi-beam ducer, for that matter) lets me make that adjustment with the flip of a switch, rather than taking the time to swap out transducers. It's not even uncommon for us to make such switches during the day when we're only "fun" fishing.....bluegills at the base of breaks in the morning and chasing perch or crappies on the main lake in the afternoon.

Sure I could make a Crescent Wrench work for all my work, but wouldn't a socket or wrench of the exact size that the situation calls for the more efficient way to go???

-Rod

[muskie hunter]

I hope that this new ice fishing unit will blow Marcum,Lowance, and Hummingbird away