Vexilar Proview vs. TriBeam???

guywhofishes · Sep 10, 2015

The points toward the end of this long video makes no sense to me. The only way to adjust the Probeam's cone angle is to adjust the gain?.... but you should always fish with just enough gain to "green your bait". Well that means you can't have your cake and eat it too.

My standard and dual beam's have always worked great and I fully understand transducers, beam angles, etc. so it's not that I don't understand the process - what I don't understand is the logic behind the ProBeam.

What doesn't make any sense is that with the ProBeam you are stuck with the angle and gain lock-stepped together - not able to adjust either independently.

This makes zero sense to me. Why is that a good thing?

He also claims toward the end that TriBeam is "simpler" and the ProBeam allows the maximum flexibility for those that like to tweak buttons. Say WHAT? :;:huh

Am I misunderstanding what he's trying to say?

Captain Ahab · Sep 10, 2015

I've watched that video before and I find it as clear as mud. I would think you would want the cone angle wide on no or low gain and narrow on high gain for deep water. Tom Zenenko needs to do less crack.

guywhofishes · Sep 10, 2015

I'd get a tri-beam to try but it seems monstrous (wouldn't fit in my molded case)

Wish they still made dual beams.

Enslow · Sep 10, 2015

I couldnt finish watching. It is shocking how horrid his videos are. He will drive guys away from vexilar.

lunkerslayer · Sep 10, 2015

There was a gentleman on FBO that had a tri beam with what looked like a pro view ducer. Does anyone see the picture to?
http://www.fishingbuddy.com/new-transducer

Here's the link

Kickemup · Sep 10, 2015

I have a tri beam on my 22 and like it. The ducer is a little lare tho.

Fisherman25 · Sep 10, 2015

I've worked around ultrasonics for over a decade, and how he explains the proview makes absolutely no sense, nor does it operate how he explains it IMO. I've used the proview for two seasons now, and I'm not sold. If your fishing 10-20 foot of water, it performs fine. If your shallower or deeper, I don't like it. I seen they put Tri beams back on the market even though last year they said they were going to quit making them since the proview makes them worthless. They must be eating those words. If someone asks me, I will push them the route of the Tri beam every time.

guywhofishes · Sep 10, 2015

lunkerslayer said:
There was a gentleman on FBO that had a tri beam with what looked like a pro view ducer. Does anyone see the picture to?
http://www.fishingbuddy.com/new-transducer

Here's the link

well what the heck??? I thought tri-beam has three crystals in an array and you select one with the switch - and the Pro has one big crystal and the "cone" is adjusted using gain knob.

So how on earth do they make a Pro (single large crystal) with a switch in three positions??? Those switches simply control gain instead of switching to physically separate crystals?

ARRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!

lunkerslayer · Sep 10, 2015

guywhofishes said:
well what the heck??? I thought tri-beam has three crystals in an array and you select one with the switch - and the Pro has one big crystal and the "cone" is adjusted using gain knob.

So how on earth do they make a Pro (single large crystal) with a switch in three positions??? Those switches simply control gain instead of switching to physically separate crystals?

ARRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!

Let's wait for Johnr to chime in, I am pretty sure he has the answer or if not we can buy a Yeti cooler, raccoon, and valve stem tool.

guywhofishes · Sep 10, 2015

For those of you who are color-blind or know an ice fisherman who is, Vexilar converts most of their units to a blue/purple/red color scheme for $60. Pretty neat.

http://www.vexilar.com/blog/2014/12/29/blue-light-conversion

MuskyManiac · Sep 10, 2015

Even with the old Vexilars and single beam transducers you could "widen the cone" angle by cranking the gain, meaning you could see more off to the side than when your gain was set a minimal. There would be a ton of interference, but you could see a wider circle. I think what the new Vex does with proview is the same, except they made some software adjustments that keep the interference and the size of your returns to be the same size regardless of the amount of gain.

Enslow · Sep 10, 2015

guywhofishes said:
For those of you who are color-blind or know an ice fisherman who is, Vexilar converts most of their units to a blue/purple/red color scheme for $60. Pretty neat.

http://www.vexilar.com/blog/2014/12/29/blue-light-conversion

The color blind kit is cool. I have a fishinbud who is color blind and has that conversion on his 18 and 28. Really helps he says.

Fisherman25 · Sep 10, 2015

MuskyManiac said:
Even with the old Vexilars and single beam transducers you could "widen the cone" angle by cranking the gain, meaning you could see more off to the side than when your gain was set a minimal. There would be a ton of interference, but you could see a wider circle. I think what the new Vex does with proview is the same, except they made some software adjustments that keep the interference and the size of your returns to be the same size regardless of the amount of gain.

That is the claim, but it just isn't true. If your in 7 fow and want to widen your cone, you crank the gain and all you see is clutter. The only option then is to go to the low power mode and you can widen it that way, but then you are running over half gain just to see you bait at times. It's not great....

3Roosters · Sep 10, 2015

You are right guywhofishes..If the gentleman in the video had to explain sex ed to kids we would be in trouble!:::. I have the tri beam on my FL20 which I love. Had it about 3 seasons now. For me anyway..i GENERALLY use the middle switch position...12 degree I believe. 8 degree does a fairly nice job with a narrower cone when other locators are near by.

guywhofishes · Sep 10, 2015

Yep - it appears that my fears are realized - the Pro is, in fact, built a$$ backwards (and after a winter's use and all your feedback it appears it is).

Normally when a guy fishes deep (30-40) he wants narrow cone (to avoid "seeing" fish that are not truly close to your lure AND to avoid your neighbor's lure, etc.). At the same time you usually will need to gain-up... to respond to the deeper lure (because it is relatively "smaller" with respect to the cone area being sensed). But the Pro does the opposite - it widens the cone when you turn up gain to see that "smaller" target lure.

Alternatively, when shallow you set gain WAY DOWN and normally would want a wide cone (if not in weeds) because a wide cone captures what is just a few feet away from your lure - max. And your lure makes up a pretty big part of your cone so it reflects a nice big signal. But the Pro does the opposite and narrows itself under low gain- like it or not.

;:;banghead

SDMF · Sep 10, 2015

I wonder how one of the 360 view transducers would work for ice fishing?

What I really wonder is how far away it could be used as untenable interference producing 'Sconi repellant in a 30'+ perch hole?

3Roosters · Sep 10, 2015

SDMF said:
I wonder how one of the 360 view transducers would work for ice fishing?

What I really wonder is how far away it could be used as untenable interference producing 'Sconi repellant in a 30'+ perch hole?

haha..not sure about 'sconi repellant but I bought one of these cfish units for the better half for Christmas last year(I know..what a guy!) Jury is still out...in stained water it sucks..otherwise...not too bad. Would I buy again?? probably, as you can never have too much stuff!!
http://cfish.com/underwater_fishing_camera_viewer_R1.html

SDMF · Sep 10, 2015

3R, not a camera, 360 HD imaging for a fish finder:

johnr · Sep 10, 2015

Just a bunch more new fancy shit I cant understand to waste some cash on.

I just figured out my VHS player and now you cant even get videos for it anymore...

In all honesty while my buddy is effing around with his $5000 in fishing electronics I am already icing wally's.
Sometimes the simple life is the most rewarding.
I have shot many a yote prior to scents, e-calls, and high tech camo. Fathered a slew of kids without loading em up on ADHD medicine, and can start a campfire without colored scented fire starting logs... haha crazy high tech bastages

ice head · Sep 10, 2015

I love the pro ducer, had the tri beam on my 22nd ended
up falling out of the pickup and broke. Bought the pro view to replace it and couldn't be happier.

Vexilar Proview vs. TriBeam???

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