Hard choice

[Anonymous]

I want to replace my fishfinder (Lowrance HDS 5x Gen1) with a Furuno, and I am very much in doubt (probably I am not the only one) between:
- FCV627: it costs more than the others, even if the product looks more up to date for technology (that’s not a key point for me)
- GP1670 (or 1870): they cost less (I do not need the GPS functions), it seems to me that, as fishfinders, they can give to me the same results as FCV627, and that they have a more simple and functional navigation in the Menu Tree. For almost the same cost, I could choose the 1870 that has a larger screen than the 627.
I mainly go fishing for trolling and jigging, in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Tuscany, Elba Island area), at depths ranging from 3 to 120 meters; my general requirements are:
- I don’t care of functions such as DownVision / SideVision or Bottom Discrimination: I know fairly well the areas where I go fishing and their seabeds
- transducer power of at least 600 watts
- I would use both frequencies simultaneously in two windows of the monitor.
Any comment or suggestion is appreciated, particularly with regard to the choice of the best transducer (to be installed on the transom) for the device.
Thank you.

PS: BTW, can someone give me suggestions for the choice of a good filter for electrical interferences I already experiment on my eco

 

[Melville]

NikonVec-
There is no right or wrong answer, just opinions. For your uses I would recommend the FCV627. Since all you need is a fishfinder this unit will serve you best of all.
First off it is a portrait display. This will give you an easier to read picture of the water column. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, all the controls you need are accessible by dedicated knobs and buttons on the front of the unit. There is very little need to fumble through a menu operation. If you are not going to flush mount it even the adjustable bracket becomes an advantage.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the quick reply and the suggestion: I will go with the FCV627.
What transducer (600 watts and transom mount) is the best choice to match the 627 ? I have read a lot of discussions about different types and I want to be sure I am going to get the right one.
About the filter, to day I went out fishing, and I suffered a lot of electrical interferences: can you tell me what I can do?
Again, thank you very much.

 

[Anonymous]

i have found differrent online web sites offering the 627 with different transducers.
From Furuno ThecInfo web page, I think that the 525STID-PWD should be the right one.
Do you agree ?
Thanks.

 

[Melville]

Yes, that is the transducer I'd recommend if you are needing a transom mount.

Do you see interference while sitting at the dock and bringing up your engine RPM?

 

[Anonymous]

Next time out, I will test that condition and I'll let you know.
Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Melville,
I have 4 jpeg I have taken this morning to send to you: how can I attach them ?
Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I send you 3 screenshots of my echo I have taken yesterday morning at sea.
In the first, the green bar from the surface to the bottom corresponds to the time when I turned on the auxiliary engine that I use for trolling (8 HP, single cylinder, 4-stroke): the green bar appears every time I turn on this engine. With the main engine (Evinrude ETEC) never appears.
I've taken the other 2 screen shots during the trolling session.
I am not much interested in solving the problem for this fish finder (I reduce the sensitivity, acceptable), but, if all this is generated by the auxiliary engine, the problem may also occur with the 627, which I would avoid.
Is the “Interference” function (Furuno Manual, 1.11) enough to manage this phenomenon ?
I have not taken the shots at the dock: too shallow water (2 feet)
Thank you for any comments or suggestions.

 

[Snips]

NikonVec,
It is hard to say for sure. My best guess is that since both sounders use 50/200Khz that the 627 would also pick up that engine noise also. The 627's IR control was designed to suppress patterns but engine noise/hash doesn't fall into that category. 627's IR control maybe able to eliminate quite a bit but not all it.

Snips

 

[Anonymous]

Snips,
thank you for the quick reply.
Can you please suggest me, if there is, what can I buy (I don't even know where) a filter that could best prevent the new eco from this noise.
As for the transducer, I have read several times, also in this forum, that the 627 is coupled with a "P66" transducer.
Is this a different code for the one that Melville suggested me ? I don't need speed or temperature from the new transducer.
Thanks.

 

[Melville]

Any 10-pin transom mount transducer will work for you. Our parts numbers are different, but the 525-5PWD has no speed or temperature.
The interference from your kicker motor will be hard to control, but you can try ferrite beads on power lines and run your transducer cable as far from that motor as possible.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

NikonVec

 

[Anonymous]

Melville,
I have checked on my boat and I might have difficulties to wire the ducer cable away enough from the motor's wires that connect it to the battery, but with the new eco I will try.
Could you please give me small details of what you mean for "ferrite beads" ?.
Thank you.

NikonVec

 

[Melville]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite

You can Google and find a number of them available.

 

[Anonymous]

Melville,
I have installed a ferrite bead on the positive wire of the engine for trolling, and tested everything today during a 5 hours trolling session.
Much better than before, as you can see from the attached picture.
The impedance of the bead should be the following:
14 Ohms at 200kHz - 66 at 1MHz - 110 at 5MHZ.
I think I will try different beads and I will let you know if there will be different results.
Thanks.

NikonVec