Friday, October 28, 2005

Avoid Glare with a Color LCD Screen

Most of the screens currently in the field are monochrome. Color is better in the sun.

Most of the GPS, fish finder and marine radio equipment sold are LCD monochrome. These screens are grayscale and offer good resolution. but they are poor in direct sunlight like you get in the early morning on a lake of the sea.

Color screens offer much better anti-glare protection. Of course they are also better at reducing the amount in your bank account. But for some the price is well worth it.

Don't be mistaken, a color fish finder will not show you underwater colors. The colors help separate structure and fish, hard bottom and soft bottom. And they are beneficial for that purpose.

GPS color is the same way, the color does not give you colored gradients, only colored maps. In other words it is the difference between a color map and a black and white copy.

Color screens typically have less resolution than LCD, however the new units are getting better, and of course as the resolution goes up so does the price.

If you are looking at a color GPS Fish Finder display weigh the cost, resolution and anti-glare features here. If you are looking at portable units compare them here.

How LCD's Work
Nice article on LCD screens and how they work

Topic Tags: color fish finder, color gps, fish finder, GPS Fish Finder, marine radio

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Follow Installation Instructions

Guys don't like to read the instructions. When it comes to marine products, do yourself a favor and read the directions.

A friend and I once built an elaborate window air conditioning frame out of lumber to support the A/C from the outside. Once the frame was completed we pulled the rest of the materials out of the box and found a nice steel mounting frame, bummer.

In my younger years I didn’t like to read the instructions; I don’t like to read a map. It is much more rewarding to do the installation and never have to open the installation instructions. I don’t even like to read the operator manual to my Mazda (zoom zoom).

A word to the wise, read the owners manual and installation instructions when it comes to installing marine equipment. It does not matter if it is a fish finder or a toilet.

A fish finder incorrectly installed just will not work right. A VHF antenna installed in the wrong place will just not work right, if fact, if you will read the instructions for these types of installations you can get superb performance out of a well placed radio antenna or Fish Finder Transducer.

The thing is, most of this stuff is easy to install and you can save lots of cash if you do it yourself. Below are some marine links to helpful sites on how to do it yourself.

Humminbird Manuals
Manuals for new and old fishfinders and GPS

Lowrance manual download
Manuals for new and old fishfinders and GPS

Topic Tags: fishfinder, fish finder, fishfinder transducer, marine electronics, marine equipment, marine links, transducer installation, vhf antenna