Pro-View ice-ducer question

[flipper]

I am debating on whether to purchase a pro view ice-ducer or a regular 12 degree ice-ducer for my fl-18. I currently have the 19 degree ice-ducer on it.

What I am having a hard time understanding is this:

Normally a person would want the wider cone angle in shallow water and usually you would have the gain set low when you are fishing shallow water. If I understand the workings of the pro view correctly you turn the gain higher in the shallow water to make your cone larger. Something about this isn't making sense to me.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Whoaru99]

The unit always transmits at max power. The gain setting basically controls how much of the return signal gets back into sonar. With low gain only the stronger signals more directly below (narrower cone angle) returning to the transducer get back into the sonar. As you increase the gain, returns from further out in the transducer cone can get into the sonar so, increasing the gain essentially increases the effective cone angle.

I think the actual phenomena at play is the lobing characteristics of the Pro View transducer. Since it's a larger crystal it has more lobing. With low gain these lobes don't produce enough return to factor into what you see on the display. Only returns from within the primary cone angle are strong enough to make a solid return. When you increase the gain, the weaker signals returned by the transducers lobes also show on the display, effectively widening the cone angle.

[Brad B]

here check out these videos from Vexilar and Matt Johnson Outdoors. the first one explains transducers in depth.

(the first one is long but informative)

[Lawrence Luoma]

In simpler terms just get the Pro-View you won't regret it!!

[flipper]

I am use to keeping my sensitivity low so I can actually tell if a waxworm is no longer on my hook. Would I lose this ability with the pro view when turning the sensitivity up to widen the cone angle?

[Lawrence Luoma]

I use this rule of thumb for a Pro-View. 20' and less I run in low power so I can only see a green line. Your gain will then be at about 1.5-2. 20' and greater I run in normal. Gain then should only have to be on 0-1. Running it this way one allows you to only see a green line there reading the fish better when they are on your bait. Also, it literally cuts out all interference.

Only time you need to crank up the sensitivity is while looking for fish. The secondary cone still works in low power.

Anyone want to view a Pro-View transducer on the ice come to the UPL weigh-in this Sunday on East Rush Lake at 2pm. The weigh in will be at Flickabirds stage but just come to the weigh-in introduce your self. I'll be glad to head back onto the lake after.

[Genofish]

+1, this is how I use the pro view my self. It is amazing how I can see if the bait is off the hook

[Whoaru99]

In simpler terms just get the Pro-View you won't regret it!!

Hehehe...simple is good. The original transducer on my old Vex was getting weak (or what ever happens to them). Tried a friend's regular transducer and my Vex worked better so that confirmed to me my tranducer is weak.

Rather than replace like with like, I ordered the Pro View. Hopefully it'll arrive today.

Update: It did arrive today. Next day isn't bad for using the free standard delivery that said 5-7 days. OTOH, it only had to go a couple hundred miles.

[V-12 Merlin]

Good videos, Brad B - thanks for posting those links.