Lowrance Mark 4 series finders

[Occy]

Following on from the recent sub $300 sounder thread I though I should raise this new release from Lowrance which hasn't yet got the attention I think it deserves.

It's the Lowrance Mark 4 range (http://www.lowrance.com.au/About/News/L ... ct-Series/), which was only released late last year. As you will see from the specs (comes in mono and colour, is IPX 7 waterproof, has a small profile and thus a small screen of 3.5") it looks the goods for small boat and yak fishing. Not withstanding the small screen resolutions are quite good, and it has something called Trackback, which apparently expands detail to 4X it's size.

But here's the killer blow; it's also a chart plotter (GPS equipped), and it has a Micro SD slot. Which means it can take all the normal maps and charts, which is nothing to be sneezed at in a sub $300 unit. Prices range from $299 for the mono unit (US price $199) to $499 ($299 in the States) for the colour model. Does anyone know anything about them?

[StevenM]

Know nothing about them

however for the price just purchased a Garmin Echo 300c Colour Sounder and at this stage say it looks the goods for 259 bucks

Has pause sonar trackback thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcDIKmIb ... re=related

[nad97]

Paul
Have a look at this thread in KFDU
http://www.kfdu.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=19950
The mark 4 series ar all mono and the elite 4 series are the colour ones like there bigger 5 series cousin
The are suposed to have all the same features as the 5 series apart from there screen size.
I was looking at getting a sounder until I but I wanted to see one of these working befor I get one so I will wait till affter the boat show and make my mind up then
There are a couple of guys on there that have them and have done some posting about them that are down your way. Maybe see if they want to go for a fish and you can see there goodies
Hope this helps

[Artie]

Ive looked into these guys quite heavily and have ordered the Elite 4X DSI. In reality a sounder is a sounder, they show bottom and the occasional fish, mostly, but it appears that now there IS a difference....

Ive gone this way for a couple of reasons, scroll back is important but DSI is the main one...Down Scan Imaging gives amazing detail of the structure under your boat, I have a Garmin in the stink, I may replace it if this thing lives up to the hype... its on its way by Aus Post but... (always a 'but'), Im in Griffith and right now (Tuesday night) we are cut off and aussie post cant get through... hope it arrives before the weekend as i'm due to work in Batemans Bay next week, i'd hate to have to go without it...

Has all the features you would expect but you get it all for under $300, the pic below is a screenshot and the detail is amazing, bridge pylons, a tree and fish all over it....sorry, you have to click on the pic to view.... IT challenged....

DSI.pdf

(144.79 KiB) Downloaded 146 times

[Artie]

Mine arrived this orning, already installed..

Lowrance recommend NOT using shoot through with the DSI, it apparently degrades the signal, so I mounted my transducer externally. Gotta trim the bolts yet.

Everything they say about DSI is true...while on power up, my puppy was laying on the floor below the hull, heres a screen shot of the clarity.....

[Occy]

Hopefully the comment about in hull installation is just that, and like most other sounders it makes absolutely no difference to performance. Not that an outside install is really a problem anyway, as that's what rudders are for isn't it? Cavedish had his mounted there, and it worked a treat.

[Artie]

Hopefully the comment about in hull installation is just that,

I have no idea what that means ( but thats nothing unusual ), I was simply following the recommendations in the Lowrance instal manual.

[Occy]

I was just talking to the Lowrance guy at the boat show, and saw a demo of this nifty little unit. The screen is small (tiny in fact when compared side by side with some of the other all singing dancing sounders on display. But I must I was really impressed by the clarity and detail of the screen. Apparently the LED backlighting really makes a difference here. I was equally impressed by ease of use too, with chart plotting and track back options being available at the push of a button or two. Being able to log a mark (even one you have just missed) with one finger will prove very handy on a yak I reckon.

So now to the really good news. They currently have it as a show special at $249 (which unfortunately ends at close of the show this afternoon), but luckily I managed to wrangle a special deal for AKFF'ers (thanks Nick). That price will be honoured for the next week, so if anyone wants one send me a PM I can let you know how to avail yourself of the deal. But remember it's only for a week from today, and it's only available to personal shoppers in Sydney.Considering that includes Lowrance Australias new 5 year replacement warranty I reckon that's a bargain, so I'm picking mine up next week.

PS: this model definitely has no problems shooting through the hull, unlike the DSI apparently.

[patwah]

Which model is on special Occy?

is it the comp GPS/sounder model?

[Artie]

PS: this model definitely has no problems shooting through the hull, unlike the DSI apparently.

Gay mate, Ive now done the shoot through and the thing (DSI) handles it fine, no issue.

[patwah]

PS: this model definitely has no problems shooting through the hull, unlike the DSI apparently.

Gay mate, Ive now done the shoot through and the thing (DSI) handles it fine, no issue.

What did you call Occy?

He'll get you

[Artie]

oops...bugga.... I guess its out now.....

[Occy]

I resemble that, erh I mean resent that Artie. Not that there's anything wrong with that mind you. Bastard.

Yeh Patwah, there seemed to be show specials on most of their stuff mate. Lowrance have so many models in the market at the moment they seem to be reducing prices all over the place. And speccing and pricing of their new models is very keen indeed.

I was mainly impressed by the small footprint of the Mark/Elite 4's, being an ideal size for a yak IMHO. The Mark/Elite 5's looked just a tad too big for my liking, although I'm sure they are superb units. Whilst leaning toward colour, after seeing the mono Mark 4 in action (incredible clarity and brightness probably due to the LED backlighting) I had second thoughts. The ease of operation (compared to my old Navman) along with the added benefits of dual frequency, chart plotter/GPS, upgradeable maps via micro SD, track back capability, and of course the price (I am after all a bit of a cheapskate ) made it a no brainer for me. Check out http://bcove.me/xdsvhdkm to see what I mean.

Interestingly the Lowrance guy said they are identical units under the bonnet, except for the screens, with exactly the same bits and bobs, and software. But apparently the Mark 4 is actually quite a bit quicker because it doesn't have to render the data in colour, which sealed it for me. Sorry I can't tell you what the deal on the Elite 4 was, but from memory the retail difference is only about $100. If you want one let me know, and I'm sure I could get you some sort of deal.

PS: I'm not working for Lowrance, but I should be don't you reckon. Ya there Nick?

EDIT: Picked it up today, and just turned it on out in the garage with the lights out. I won't need anything else for night time fishing as this baby it's sooooo bright I could use it as a search light.

[idolz]

DONT BUY A MARK 4.... i had a mark 4 pro... it was useless.... it showed the depth only i never seen a fish on the bloody thing,,,, i have an elite 4 DSI and it is much better by a mile....... Not 100 per cent but its 100 per cent better than the mark 4 IMO