The "Great Debate"

[slick814]

Well, since all of the Vex & Marcum guys have thrown in their $0.25 (that's 2 cents with inflation), let me muddy the waters a bit here.

I've got one of the Lowrance M68C Ice Machines. Sonar, GPS (could use better mapping, but it works), and a flasher all built into the same unit. I absolutely love the darn thing, and after seeing Vex's & Marcum's in use, I believe that I've got a better unit in the Lowrance.

I can do anything that the flashers will do with my flasher feature, plus there is a multi-color display on the flasher. different colors for stronger signal return, hence different colors for larger fish, bottom features, etc. The sonar unit feature works great, too, and there is a feature that allows me to actually have the depth of the fish appear above the echo hook. Not to mention you can see the jig on the side of the display in Sonar mode.

It also reads through the ice, which saves me the hassle of making areas into Swiss cheese, and the intensity/sensitivity can be turned up or down to meet my needs at the time.

I'm sure that I'll get some folks telling me that the flashers are far better, either Vex OR Marcum, but I can honestly say that for the $$ I paid, I truly believe that I got much more bang for the buck than any flasher on the market today!

[Borch]

Hey slick if you're happy with it I'm not going to argue with you. I've always been a flasher guy whether it's soft or hard water. But that doesn't mean everyone has to be.

I've used both many of the different flasher units over the years. Some where the Clearwater Classic/Pro, Eagle/Hummingbird s 60 units, Clearwater rts, Lowrance greenbox, Vex fl8 & fl18 and Marcum LX3. All units worked fine, although the Vex's and Marcums just made it easier or more convient. Right now I'm waiting,(somewhat patiently) to try the Marcum lx5. I've owned Vex's for years and I've been very comfortable with them. But, I've really liked the Marcum's I've used as well. Marcum has just made more advances over the past couple of seasons which I feel gives them a slight advantage. Time will tell I guess.

[medic3]

one issue i havent heard discussed is the bottom lock feature on the fl 18. I want t0 use the flasher on my boat in the summer and the way I understand it the bottom lock on the vex will allow that. any info would be appreciated, i have a fl8 and love it just want the bottom lock.

medic3

[cold one sd]

I started with an old Ray Jeffrson sonar. I think it was a 102 model. Don't know for sure. I then went to a Lowrance green box. Next was a Micronar FL8(old). Now I have a better unit and I am happy as I can be with it. I have watched this debate for a couple of years now and I refuse to join it. But in staying with what I have said in the past about sensitivity, Compare the reception of a cheap AM FM radio to the reception of an expensive one and you will find that the difference is better reception ( sensitivity). More sensitivity, pulls the signal in better.You can put out all the power in the universe or you can use less power and better reception. I'm not knocking or praising any unit out there and I still say buy the one that pleases you and the h*ll with everyone else. Just my 2 cents.

[Matt Johnson]

I just talked with the guys from MarCum and here's the info for upgrading from the original LX-3 to the LX-3tc (TrueColor)...

Upgrade your LX3 to the new TrueColor Display...

Anglers have expressed interest in upgrading their LX-3 units to our new patent pending TrueColor Display. TrueColor is the latest from MarCum Technologies improving color separation resulting in an ultra crisp and highly visible display (even in bright sunlight). TrueColor utilizes three distinct colors red, yellow and green....no more blending targets.

We are proud to announce we have the upgrade available. Please contact MarCum Customer Service at 763-493-3748 or shoot us an email at [email protected] to request the upgrade to the new TrueColor display.

The cost to upgrade your LX3 to the new TrueColor display is $49.00

This cost includes UPS ground shipping back to you. Upgrades take just a few days to complete. Total turn time from your door to ours and back to you is 10-14 days depending on your location. To make the turn time faster on the upgrade please contact us now while the water is still soft. And as always thanks for choosing MarCum, where technology is One Step Ahead!

[CNY Tim]

What a steal if you picked up the LX-3 for $279 to $300 and now wanted the color upgrade. You got a superb deal on a great unit in the LX-3 and for $49 the true color upgrade is available to you and your still $50 to $70 under the retail price for a new LX3TC at $399, no brainer...

[augernaut]

That's what I did - picked up the LX-3 for $279 with free shipping. My FL-18 will probably be on hsolist in a week or two. I will fish the LX-3 for now, and if I decide I need it, send it in for the TC upgrade and still be way ahead of the full retail for the LX3-tc. As far as I can tell, the only difference will be the interference rejection - and that shouldn't be a big deal, in my area I rarely see another flasher within 1/2 mile of me :-)

[schweady]

Quote:

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I just talked with the guys from MarCum and here's the info for upgrading from the original LX-3 to the LX-3tc (TrueColor)...

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Big Pine Walleye and I have ours in the mail already. Marcum tech rep says we could have it back in a week.