Smartcast Sonar Gadgets. Any good?

Has anyone bought one? Are they any good and which of the models if any are
worth it?
Not thinking of buying one, as I think they defeat skill and experience, but
interested to see what advantage they may give others.
Thanks to anyone answering.

I must admit, they do look like interesting. I have never tried one, but
would like to know from anyone who has done.

The wrist watch version seems quite affordable, and would be easier that
using a marker rod to plumb the lake.

As for defeating the skill, doesn't all fishing tackle?

http://www.humminbird.com/default.asp?ID=2 in case anyone is wondering what
the products are.




"4star" wrote in message
...
Has anyone bought one? Are they any good and which of the models if any
are
worth it?
Not thinking of buying one, as I think they defeat skill and experience,
but
interested to see what advantage they may give others.
Thanks to anyone answering.

Please tell how they defeat skill?

Does the Method or using PVA bags defeat skill?

It is a useful tool to help you catch more fish

or is it you can't afford one!!


PS They are ok, not a fish finder as everyone says
It helps you plan your attack

They are a bit of a gimmick I'm afraid.
They have three drawbacks.
1) The range is very poor - about 30 yards. Some have quoted the wrist mount one having a range
less than a rods length !
2) There is no bottom distinction (grey line) function.
3) They have an angle of view of 90 degrees, so in ten foot depth of water, a fish or feature
showing up on the screen could be anywhere in a ten foot radius of the device - not exactly
smart.

Most of the recent press coverage was a marketing campaign to increase sales, but it backfired
and most of the quality press rubbished it.
I think the consensus is that many will buy one, use it once, stick in the bottom of their
tackle box, forget it and get on with fishing.
CB


"4star" wrote in message
...
Has anyone bought one? Are they any good and which of the models if any are
worth it?
Not thinking of buying one, as I think they defeat skill and experience, but
interested to see what advantage they may give others.
Thanks to anyone answering.

cb wrote:

Most of the recent press coverage was a marketing campaign to increase
sales, but it backfired
and most of the quality press rubbished it.
I think the consensus is that many will buy one, use it once, stick in the
bottom of their
tackle box, forget it and get on with fishing.

So the marketing will succeed then.


--
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way

Baal

http://www.helden.co.uk
"cb" wrote in message
...
They are a bit of a gimmick I'm afraid.
They have three drawbacks.
1) The range is very poor - about 30 yards. Some have quoted the wrist
mount one having a range
less than a rods length !
2) There is no bottom distinction (grey line) function.
3) They have an angle of view of 90 degrees, so in ten foot depth of
water, a fish or feature
showing up on the screen could be anywhere in a ten foot radius of the
device - not exactly
smart.

Most of the recent press coverage was a marketing campaign to increase
sales, but it backfired
and most of the quality press rubbished it.
I think the consensus is that many will buy one, use it once, stick in the
bottom of their
tackle box, forget it and get on with fishing.
CB


"4star" wrote in message
...
Has anyone bought one? Are they any good and which of the models if any
are
worth it?
Not thinking of buying one, as I think they defeat skill and experience,
but
interested to see what advantage they may give others.
Thanks to anyone answering.

Marketing rarely fails, but good marketing is rare.
CB
"Baal" wrote in message
...
cb wrote:

Most of the recent press coverage was a marketing campaign to increase
sales, but it backfired
and most of the quality press rubbished it.
I think the consensus is that many will buy one, use it once, stick in the
bottom of their
tackle box, forget it and get on with fishing.

So the marketing will succeed then.


--
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way

Baal

http://www.helden.co.uk
"cb" wrote in message
...
They are a bit of a gimmick I'm afraid.
They have three drawbacks.
1) The range is very poor - about 30 yards. Some have quoted the wrist
mount one having a range
less than a rods length !
2) There is no bottom distinction (grey line) function.
3) They have an angle of view of 90 degrees, so in ten foot depth of
water, a fish or feature
showing up on the screen could be anywhere in a ten foot radius of the
device - not exactly
smart.

Most of the recent press coverage was a marketing campaign to increase
sales, but it backfired
and most of the quality press rubbished it.
I think the consensus is that many will buy one, use it once, stick in the
bottom of their
tackle box, forget it and get on with fishing.
CB


"4star" wrote in message
...
Has anyone bought one? Are they any good and which of the models if any
are
worth it?
Not thinking of buying one, as I think they defeat skill and experience,
but
interested to see what advantage they may give others.
Thanks to anyone answering.

Try this link:-
http://www.fishingwarehouse.co.uk/ub...b=5&o=&fpart=1

There is another good link for mods further in the thread, and some valid
points.

Hi all

I have had one of these for about 6 months, which I bought in the US for $90
(£60). The model I have has
the green sensor and the wrist watch. It works very well, I have used it to
distances of 15yds with no problems,
in fact I have not yet found it's limit. The way it works is that you cast
it in (avoiding any trees etc or you will be
diving in to retrieve the sensor) then you can see the depth of the water
and any fish that happen to be there, it
does not seem to discriminate the size of the fish. You can then slowly
retrieve it whilst monitoring the watch. You
will see the depth change, revealing any trenches, and fish come and go.

Any good? for £60 I think it is worth the money. If you have problems
reading swims or you go to a lot of different
venues then it can assist in locating the fish and help teach you how to
read waters more efficiently. You still have to
catch the little buggers, but for novices it is a real boon.

The downsides, it does not look as if you can change the batteries in the
sensor. There is only two versions of the
sensor which have a locked frequency, so you will get interference if a
number of people use them at the same time
at a venue. It will probable be more expensive in rip-off Britain. The US
sensors are green and the UK one's are blue
as they use a different frequency.

That's my 1.34675 pence worth.

GT

"Simondo" wrote in message
...
Try this link:-

http://www.fishingwarehouse.co.uk/ub...b=5&o=&fpart=1

There is another good link for mods further in the thread, and some valid
points.

Rip Off Britain? How much did you spend on The Gulf War?

I reckon we got a bargain, in comparison!

--
I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way

Baal

http://www.helden.co.uk
"Gary Tomlin" wrote in message
...
Hi all

I have had one of these for about 6 months, which I bought in the US for
$90
(£60). The model I have has
the green sensor and the wrist watch. It works very well, I have used it
to
distances of 15yds with no problems,
in fact I have not yet found it's limit. The way it works is that you
cast
it in (avoiding any trees etc or you will be
diving in to retrieve the sensor) then you can see the depth of the water
and any fish that happen to be there, it
does not seem to discriminate the size of the fish. You can then slowly
retrieve it whilst monitoring the watch. You
will see the depth change, revealing any trenches, and fish come and go.

Any good? for £60 I think it is worth the money. If you have problems
reading swims or you go to a lot of different
venues then it can assist in locating the fish and help teach you how to
read waters more efficiently. You still have to
catch the little buggers, but for novices it is a real boon.

The downsides, it does not look as if you can change the batteries in the
sensor. There is only two versions of the
sensor which have a locked frequency, so you will get interference if a
number of people use them at the same time
at a venue. It will probable be more expensive in rip-off Britain. The US
sensors are green and the UK one's are blue
as they use a different frequency.

That's my 1.34675 pence worth.

GT

"Simondo" wrote in message
...
Try this link:-


http://www.fishingwarehouse.co.uk/ub...b=5&o=&fpart=1

There is another good link for mods further in the thread, and some
valid
points.

You are dead right about 'Rip Off Britain'.
This gadget is now about $80 in the States and just over £100 in the UK.
The importers claim that the US Model (Green Sensor) works on an illegal
frequency which interferes with UK Emergency Services. They urge us to buy
the UK/European Spec Model (Orange Sensor). If you check the manufacturers
website and get the technical details you will find that both operate on
exactly the same frequency band (115Khz) which is no where near the
Emergency Services who use UHF anyway.
The bottom line is :
This is a great gadget especially for those fishing a new place and do not
have knowledge of swims/depths etc.
Import one from the US for a total of £60 or pay thru the nose in the UK as
usual - Take your pick
regs MH
"Gary Tomlin" wrote in message
...
Hi all

I have had one of these for about 6 months, which I bought in the US for
$90
(£60). The model I have has
the green sensor and the wrist watch. It works very well, I have used it
to
distances of 15yds with no problems,
in fact I have not yet found it's limit. The way it works is that you
cast
it in (avoiding any trees etc or you will be
diving in to retrieve the sensor) then you can see the depth of the water
and any fish that happen to be there, it
does not seem to discriminate the size of the fish. You can then slowly
retrieve it whilst monitoring the watch. You
will see the depth change, revealing any trenches, and fish come and go.

Any good? for £60 I think it is worth the money. If you have problems
reading swims or you go to a lot of different
venues then it can assist in locating the fish and help teach you how to
read waters more efficiently. You still have to
catch the little buggers, but for novices it is a real boon.

The downsides, it does not look as if you can change the batteries in the
sensor. There is only two versions of the
sensor which have a locked frequency, so you will get interference if a
number of people use them at the same time
at a venue. It will probable be more expensive in rip-off Britain. The US
sensors are green and the UK one's are blue
as they use a different frequency.

That's my 1.34675 pence worth.

GT

"Simondo" wrote in message
...
Try this link:-


http://www.fishingwarehouse.co.uk/ub...&Board=UBB17&N
umber=207105&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

There is another good link for mods further in the thread, and some
valid
points.