Is Down Scan Imaging (DSI) worth the extra $?

[Artie]

Directly under my bum..... this is the wet mount set up (I used a bottomless cliptop box siliconed to the hull), I dont have pics of the silicone job...same spot....

[indiedog]

Directly under my bum..... this is the wet mount set up... I dont have pics of the silicone job...same spot...

I was asking where your comments came from! Not sure if this is the right answer. Sounds interesting though!

[Artie]

Oops...well, that has been said before....... right here....

[BIGKEV]

I tried to mount in this position in the new evo by stealing Arties idea with the container but failed. Possibly due to the fact that I have read that there is extra glassing in this location on the Stealths so followed the advise offered by Des and cut a hole in the side wall of my rod chute (trimmed by a round hatch - Thanks Brad ) I used the piece of eva foam as I couldn't fit the container into this section and add a small amount of water to the well I cut out that the transducer fits very snuggly into. It now works a treat. Once I have accrued a few more hours on the water and I am completely happy with everything I've set up, I'll do a separate post to show it off.

Whilst the imaging is ridiculously good compared to my old X52, my dilema however was the glare on the screen on the particular morning of the test. Earlier in the morning I'm sure I brought up a 'contrast' setting which may have helped with the glare, but I couldn't find it in the menu again when I was looking for it later. Also my polarised sunnies made it tough to read the screen too and I had to continually lift them up to see it all clearly. These aren't really criticsms of the unit, just my experience, and I'm sure I will work out how to get around these relatively minor issues.

Kev

[spork]

BIGKEV - without checking the manual or plugging mine into the battery, I think the brightness is adjusted with the L and R arrows without accessing the menu screen IIRC.

[indiedog]

Oops...well, that has been said before....... right here....

Thanks Artie, that entire conversation happened while I was down in Tassie so missed it unfortunately or it may have saved me a bit of time.

Kev, good to hear the standard wet mount does the trick. Also very worth hearing your feedback on the readability of the screen. I've heard many times that the colour screens are much easier to read in the sun than the grey scales, it would indeed be a pain to have to remove the sunnies whenever looking at the screen if that's necessary. The Mark 5x DSI is/was another contender with a bigger screen but in 16 level grey scale. The 16 level supposedly is much better for detail and readability than the 4 level grey scale.

Any way we can convince Lowrance to donate a bunch of sounders for in depth comparison and reviews by yak fishos??

[scater]

Brightness on mine is controlled by pressing (but not holding down) the power button. Left and right control the trackback feature.

[BIGKEV]

Thanks guys, that's why I couldn't find it, I was looking through the menu system. Will try the other buttons next time. I'm certain it is something that can be easily rectified.

I went the Mark 5 dsi, just the sounder unit, not the combined GPS/Sounder. Bought on ebay, it was very well priced when compared to Aussie RRP's.

[idolz]

Check out the external mount I did on a ELITE 4 DSI on my yak,,, on a post in electronics section

[indiedog]

Check out the external mount I did on a ELITE 4 DSI on my yak,,, on a post in electronics section

Saw that idolz, bit difficult to do on a Stealth though with no scuppers or convenient recessed areas on the hull. I think the beach would take care of it pretty quickly too if glued on the outside. So it's an inside job or totally removable. I may actually have a think about a removable method where it hangs over the side and see if it's viable. That would certainly remove any question of interference from the hull etc.

[indiedog]

So I bit the bullet and ordered a DSI unit. Not the one I thought I'd buy though as I went for the Mark 5x DSI. In looking at the colour shots of the Elite DSI units (especially on the video BigKev put up where the display is put onto greyscale at one point) it really didn't look like the colour offered any great bonus over the 16 level greyscale. The main factor in the displays seems to be contrast between colours and not representation of anything in particular by a specific colour. I have heard the greyscale screens are harder to read in the sun than colour and I'll have to see how it performs.

The Mark 5x DSI won out due to the significantly bigger screen (480x480 vs 320x240 for the Elite 4x), stronger output (4000w vs 2800 for the Elite 4x DSI), and the price of $300 delivered (from USA). I could have gotten the Elite 5x DSI for around $420 delivered (thanks Kev for the tip) but didn't think the colour was worth it based on above. Also bought it from a seller on Ebay I've bought a fair bit of stuff through before.

Hopefully I'll receive it soon and will let you know how it all goes. Cheers for the assistance, Indie.

[Artie]

Arches aren't like a fish symbol, where the manufacturer adds them in to display a sounded fish. They're the return that sonar picks up when it hits a swim bladder.

yas mate, we know..

Doesn't sound like you do but never mind. You will see arches with the dsi technology, we had queenies stacked up under the boat the other day and there were full and partial arches everywhere.

Just thought I would follow this up once more, it seems some guys are a bit confused about the DSI fish display abilities, so I asked Lowrance direct and below is there reply. Does the DSI show std fish arches?

"Hi Rob,

The DSI is not capable of displaying fish arches in the traditional way, instead, fish are often seen more like blobs or streaks, sometimes they can be seen as quite realistic looking fish but it really depends on the speed of the vessel, the best images are generated when traveling between 2 and 8 knots.

Regards

PAUL GODFREY | TECHNICAL SUPPORT | NAVICO ASIA PACIFIC"

[Artie]

Earlier in the morning I'm sure I brought up a 'contrast' setting which may have helped with the glare, but I couldn't find it in the menu again when I was looking for it later. Also my polarised sunnies made it tough to read the screen too and I had to continually lift them up to see it all clearly.Kev

Gday mate, the contrast setting is here..

Press menu once, the screen defaults to Adjust (heading which is highlite), then press enter, now the Contrast box will pop up, I have mine set pretty high most days (80+), I adjust my settings pretty often as each day is different I find. I also have to take my glasses off to read the screen at times, so its not just you... combination of polarised lenses and ........ getting older.......

As someone said, hitting the on/off button quickly allows you to adjust the brightness (1 to 10), I use 10 in full light and down for low or night use.

Someone also mention pressing the + or - buttons, this (when done on its own) gives you screen enlargment, once for 2X, twice for 4X and three for 8X (from memory), you can also get screen enlargment with split screen by pressing the 'page' button which shows half screen magnified (2X???) and the other half is the same pic but no magnification.