<POLL> Fishfinder/GPS Brands & Desired Features

In addition to your vote, feel free to share your thoughts on the following:
What FEATURES do you most like/not like in your current unit (state what unit that is, please)
   Example:  I prefer the 5" screen size .... I really like the ease of marking waypoints ... My screen resolution is awesome ... I like how the unit sips power & can go all day on a 9ah battery.  You get the idea!


Thinking AHEAD, feel free to share your thoughts on the following (not brand specific).  Be creative, but realistic.  These are realistic additions that would enhance your fishing through new innovations to the Fishfinder/GPS & handheld VHF marketplace.  If your thoughts work in conjunction with a new feature that needs to be added to a kayak, add that thought in here too.

What FEATURES would you like to see added in the future?
     If you state "Bluetooth" be specific like "I want my unit to work with the Bluetooth on my vhf or phone to....."

What ACCESSORIES would you like to see available in the future?
     Example:  Waterproof, kayak-ready battery pack.

Pertaining to your favorite/least favorite KAYAK SHOP:
     What do you like/dislike about it?
     What's missing or what would you like to see added to your local shop?
          Examples:  Demo's, Events, Rigging Facilities, Electronics Displayed, Produce Selection, Availability of kayaks/products (stock levels), Fishing Equipment, etc...

   Thanks for all your input!  Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions or comments you don't want to share with others.

Bill

Features I like are generally the Price of the units, the reliability of the units, and the ease of use.  Bluetooth would be great for offloading GPS data without having to rely on a memory card to do the transfer. Easy importing into a mapping software would be nice to have as well. Also, having a BT headset would be fun too.  Additional waterproofing for the 4 series would be nice, especially the SD card slot.

Features I like are generally the Price of the units, the reliability of the units, and the ease of use.  Bluetooth would be great for offloading GPS data without having to rely on a memory card to do the transfer. Easy importing into a mapping software would be nice to have as well. Also, having a BT headset would be fun too.  Additional waterproofing for the 4 series would be nice, especially the SD card slot.

Great brand & non-brand specific feedback Al ... Thank you! 

& I can outlast my friends unit.

I just want to hear the funny comments for this.  LOL.

Sorry Bill, couldn't help myself.

& I can outlast my friends unit.

I just want to hear the funny comments for this.  LOL.

Sorry Bill, couldn't help myself.

Ok, I fixed it!  Thanks for thinking outside the box    I get excited amount thins stuff & start thinking two or three thoughts ahead of my typing & stuff happens that was far from what I was thinking.  Fingers & brain don't always mesh. 

As for the real question, I have a Humminbird Matrix 17 from circa 2006.  With such an old FF, it's obvious that it isn't a crucial piece of equipment for me.  When I upgrade the yak, I'll upgrade the FF.

I do agree with Al's points.

It would be nice to see the ducers getting more compact.

If there was any way to make a wireless transducer too, that would be pretty sweet!

First and foremost....Reliability and ease of use. All the new bells and whistles are great on the new FF's. We have both the new Dragonfly and Elite 5 Chirp models, but to be honest I may go back to my H365i for it's simplicity and being bomb proof so far. Maybe I haven't put enough time on the new FF's to get the hang of them but my H   365i is all I really need in a FF. Really all I need is to see basic structure, depth, bait, and an easy to use gps.

ps, Your poll doesn't accept multiple answers

Thanks for correcting...I tagged four different FF manufactures and one really dependable compass...

Yes, Wireless was one of the items I had on my list.

   A little history here:

   Why am I asking these questions?  I have a unique opportunity to provide some feedback to some industry "decision makers".  Some are & some are not affiliated with particular brands.  Some of these individuals are rooted in electronics, some in kayak manufacturing & others in the industry (general).  They are looking at the growth of the sport, how to continue to grow the sport, what needs within the sport are/are not being currently met, so on & so forth.  Our group has not gone unseen in the industry!  I am not out to provide my personal perspective to them HENCE reaching out to everyone here to provide THEIR OWN perspective.  I will bring it all together in one presentation for them come late July.  Again, this is merely our local flavor on these questions and I'm sure we would get different answers from different fishing markets but most will be the same.  What I do LOVE about this is the amount of attention OUR group is getting within the industry & this will only heighten it, I feel!

   I  sat down last night & jotted down a few pages worth of ideas to the 50+ subjects that they want to discuss ... I'm only tagging the group for a tiny few of the subjects mostly because the others don't pertain to you, me or the next guy ... that's the bean counter stuff that detracts from the sport.  I'll tag in with some of my ideas every now & then but I'm way more interested in your thoughts on all this!  Don't expect huge changes in the industry overnight but these people are looking 1-3 years out for new innovations, new kayak designs, etc...

   Thanks again EVERYONE!

Bill

First and foremost....Reliability and ease of use. All the new bells and whistles are great on the new FF's. We have both the new Dragonfly and Elite 5 Chirp models, but to be honest I may go back to my H365i for it's simplicity and being bomb proof so far. Maybe I haven't put enough time on the new FF's to get the hang of them but my H   365i is all I really need in a FF. Really all I need is to see basic structure, depth, bait, and an easy to use gps.

ps, Your poll doesn't accept multiple answers

Let me update the poll to accept.  I thought I clicked that one.

   In regards to simplicity ... I'm TOTALLY on board with you in this topic.  Back to the basics.  Make it work, make it easy & make it last.

Current feature by far would be Insight Genesis for Lowrance. So many anglers don't take advantage of this free option... haha I do but most anglers wont tell you they do! Hint!

I'd like to see a built in li-ion battery and VHF radio with built in bluetooth wireless receiver/mic.

This just added to first post:

Pertaining to your favorite/least favorite KAYAK SHOP:
     What do you like/dislike about it?
     What's missing or what would you like to see added to your local shop?
          Examples:  Demo's, Events, Rigging Facilities, Electronics Displayed, Produce Selection, Availability of kayaks/products (stock levels), Fishing Equipment, etc...

its a good thing elkhornsun was banned....twice, this seems right up his alley 

its a good thing elkhornsun was banned....twice, this seems right up his alley 

Oh no you didn't .... oh YES you did!