fish finder / sounder

[Genelie]

Okay this is for the smart boys out there....I have a general idea...just need clarification. I know a standard fish finder has it's transducer for sending signals down and picking up bottom structures and possible fish. So I hear about sounders..these are small black boxes..are they a separate devise for the same purpose, or a enhancer??????

[mainah]

You'll hear the term "sounder" used interchangeably with fish finder and sonar in most instances. The "sounder" portion of GPS/Fish Finder combo units is that portion of the unit that translates the transducer signal into useful screen content, rather like a TV that has built in tuner. So you'll see advertisements that say they are GPS/Sounder or GPS/FF combinations, pretty much the same thing. The components are the same regardless of the emphasis placed on the various items, fish, structure, bottom detected.

The black box sounder is an add-on, rather like a cable box when your TV does not not have its own digital tuner, that provides translation, like in the combo boxes, of transducer signal to a compatible display. Or it can act as a hub to provide signal from the transducer to all the compatible displays in a network on a boat like those supported by Lowrance, Garmin, Raymarine etc.

[Genelie]

I knew someone here could tell me that....thanks again...

[MolarBoater]

Always look real hard at network "bundles". They are usually much cheaper than buying all the componants separately.

[Genelie]

Originally Posted by MolarBoater

Always look real hard at network "bundles". They are usually much cheaper than buying all the componants separately.

At the time I was doing my electronics, I was doing one by one, due to the fact i could not afford a the multi purpose electronics....Oh well, I was going to upgrade my gps anyway......so Randy's 1724 looks very promising....

[NCangler]

It looks like Furuno has just added another option for the Navnet2 system. Sirrus Satellite Weather. That will be cool.