new vex

[koonie]

I've heard, in order to keep up with Marcum, Vexilar is coming out with two new units for the next hardwater season. Has anyone got any info on these new Vexilar's.

[Mr. Pike1]

I hope that is true. I have been a vex guy forever and felt the FL-18 was supior to the intial Marcum that entered the market. However, after using the Lx-5 I think this unit has exceeded Vex in technology. I would be very very interested to see an upgraded Vex hit the market next year.

[PierBridge]

How and why has Marcum passed Vexilar in technology?

What makes Marcum better.

[riverrat56]

More power, better display, better seperation, better interferance rejection, nice handy softpack, cheaper for what you get, look at LX-3 vs FL-18, to get a fully outfitted fl-18 last year was around 480, LX-3 was 400, that was last year when I was shopping for them, now I have been seeing 3's for around 300. Another thing that I look at with a Marcum you get everything right away, no special add ons like with a vex. Another benefit is the wider cone angle that the Marcum offers, allows you to pick up fish farther away.

just my thoughts on the topic at least.....man do I love my LX-3

[Ralph Wiggum]

I had heard they were coming out with a FL-28, but that's all I've heard.

[panski master]

I was told by Dave Genz vex is coming out with a fl 12 and a fl 20. He didn't know anything about them yet but he said they will be out by next season. Keith

[bturck]

I just purchased from Cabellas a flasher unit that is made by Marcum with the Cabellas name on it for 243.00. I have a Vex Fl18 and have always liked it. When I looked at this new unit, which also has the zoom feature, I noticed that peak to peak power is 600 watts, as the Fl18 is 400. The readout is very clear and has worked great the two times I've used it. I cannot say anything bad about Vex, however as a price point the Cabellas is a good deal. Bill

[nytelyter]

i tought the lx3tc was 1500w and the lx5 was 2000w is the cabelas model a lesser wattage?

[Mr. Pike1]

Well if they do come out with a new Vex and I like what I see I will have a nice FL-18 pro pack on the site for sale next year

[Skunked-Rookie]

Quote:

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now I have been seeing 3's for around 300.

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Where did you see that? I'd pick one up right now if I could find one for that price.

[CNY Tim]

As far as new product for Vexilar it will undoubtably be unveiled in July at the Las Vegas ICAAST show. I heard that Nature Vision will have a flasher for next season too but it's pretty much all speculation til July.

The FL-18 was no LX-3, it isn't even close. And the LX-5 is a different animal all together, it flat out kicks Vexilar butt.

What I'm anxious to see from Vexilar is there reengineering of there receiver in regards to incorporating more power to keep up with MarCum because they just about tapped out all they can at 400 watts. It's all in the receiver and MarCum's had the best one for the last few years. We shall see... The LX-5 is king right now and I would bet that MarCum is not resting on there laurels either not that you could ever top the LX-5 but you never know. Should be interesting fodder for sonar wars this fall. I know I'm game.

Cabela's VXR and Gander GSX - 600 watts

LX-2 - 1000 watts

LX-3 and TC both are 1500 watts

LX-5 - 2000 watts

FL-18 - 400 watts

What makes me laugh about the whole thing is how many Vexilar loyalist told me that Vexilar doesn't need anymore power to compete with MarCum.. Can't wait for those guys to eat there words because I guaranteed they would have to increase power to get the performance that MarCum has already achieved.

[Gotem]

Man I like reading your posts.......

[DCON]

[Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[SomethingFishy*]

with upgrades? Thats not the same thing, you can get those in the $250 range

[CNY Tim]

Fishingprostore has the LX-3 with TC upgrade for $299.95 free shipping and 1 year factory warranty, while supplies last.

[Giant_Jackpot]

I have always wondered about the power ratings on depth finders. Some seem to have way more power than others. I run a Si-Tex LCS200 on my boat (must be at least 10 years old now) and it has a lot less power than some of the newer Lowrances and others but yet it does just as good at target separation as anything I’ve seen. (With that being said I am thinking about upgrading to color Lowrance just for the fun of it).

Anyway, with the power question on my mind, I did a quick Google search using “power comparison for depth finder” as the search criteria. I got back a page from Cannon Downriggers that has a top 10 ten list on questions about fish finders and this is what they had to say about the power question:

“The output power of a fish finder's transmitter is stated in watts RMS or in watts peak-to-peak (P-P). The two terms represent different ways to advertise output power, and all you need to know to compare units that advertise different ratings is that P-P equals watts RMS times 8. Power's importance is based on the perception that more power always produces a better echo. In reality, it is the combination of the unit's power and receiver sophistication that determines the unit's ability to find a fish and display an accurate image.”

So, based on this, it does not seem you necessarily need to have more power to offer a good unit.

[Rick]

You are correct Jackpot.

But you do need more power and a more sophisticated receiver to get a BETTER purely sonar unit.

[rms]

What specifically do you think you are seeing on a Marcum that I can't see on my Vex? Do you think that I'm missing fish in 50' of water (or less) with the lower power of the FL-18? I rarely turn the gain on Vex over 2--even if I'm fishing in 35' of water with a small jig.

[Ralph Wiggum]

From what I understand, your unit always puts out the same amount of power. Turning up the gain just adjusts the sensitivity with which the unit picks up the return signal.

[Chad Halvorson]

It's not worth arguing RMS, trust me!

[CNY Tim]

Being one that has owned both Vexilar and MarCum... First is target separation, second is the isolation of multiple targets and the most amazing thing is the LX-5's ability in heavy weeds my FL-18 couldn't touch it. Then there's zoom versatility and performance, MarCum's got it, Vexilar does not. I know someone who's had 4 Vexes with dual beam ducers and only 1 out of the 4 he had actually worked correctly. It's not about what your seeing it's about what you are missing American ingenuity hard at work at MarCum produced the finest flasher I have ever seen in the LX-5. Most if all will agree that have used both.

[Hotspotter]

RMS:

Most likely you're not missing fish with your Vex in 50 FOW.

What you might be missing however is:

-multiple fish vs. one "hot-blob"

-separation between your bait and multiple fish

-thus, ability to determine mood and agressiveness as well

-thus, ability to fine-tune your presentation as well

Regarding power trumping all, I don't think it does. As CNY and Rick stated, the power along with the best receiver in the market makes the difference. The combination of the two is what takes the cake.

Joel

[CNY Tim]

MMMMMMMmmmmm cake

[augernaut]

Well, let's just keep this vex vs. marcum debate going, shall we? After all, it has never been discussed before :-)

Here's my take on it. Marcum's receiver and transducer are better matched - that's why they don't need a Low Power mode like the FL-18 does. The simple fact is that the Marcum's gain control is better matched to it's power output, allowing much more variability in signal being received back into the unit. Bottom line is better shallow water performance. I have MUCH better luck discerning my jig and fish in shallow (under 8 FOW) weeds with my LX-3 than I ever did with my FL-18. In addition, others have referred to The Blob on the FL-18 when you have multiple fish on the screen at approx. the same depth. The LX-3, with it's finer display and crisper target definition, shows these individual fish much more clearly. I have an old LX-3, not even True Color (yet) - and it is clearly, totally, and completely superior in every way to the FL-18. I took me about 10 minutes to figure this out, and I sold my 3 year old FL-18 as soon as I could. At this point, the lowest line Marcum - the LX-2, is technologically superior to the FL-18. I hope Vex comes out with something better than another new plastic case to strap their old tech to. Clearly, they were attempting to wait out Marcum and hoped they would go under - a much overdue Vex upgrade will simply signal that Marcum is definitely the leader, and Vex is attempting to catch up. I sure hope the sonar wars continue, because all us fishermen benefit!!

BTW - I am in no way affiliated with FM, Marcum, or anybody else. I'm just some dude from Wisconsin who loves to ice fish and loves to have good equipment :-)

[ChuckN]

Well said augernaut, and I have observed the exact same. I won't even repeat.

I think you would really, really like the color upgrade. I went from the LX-3 (not tc) to the LX-5 and it was worth every single penny.

[dougger222]

If I didn't own three Vexilars I'd have an excuse to buy a LX5!!!

Had a Color Point for a couple winters and the first day I used it the plastic on the knobs broke off and the interference was horrible with a Vexilar in the proximity. But even the target separation on the Zercom was better than the FL8's.

Of the 3 Vex's owned one is a FL18 Ultra Pack, FL8SLT Ultra Pack dual beam and the other is a FL8 Genz pack. They show fish off the bottom and suspended fish, which is good enough I guess. Actually when I fish I use the FL8SLT 75% of the time.

Perhaps next year I'll trade a couple in a LX5 or wait and see what Vexilar will have to offer.

What should we expect for prices on the "FL20" $600!!!

How many guys have seen FL10's? Saw a picture of one in a Vexilar advertisement in a Crappie magazine the other day.