Vexilar vs. Zercom

[jnpcook]

I have been thinking about getting a flasher for ice fishing this year. Has anyone used both a zercom and also a vexilar? I would like to know what the differences in operation may be. Do the ways you read the bars differ between the two? I am looking between a vexilar fl-8 or a zercom colorpoint. I am trying to find something on the more inexpensive side so I will probably pass on the fl-18 for now.

I am looking for a used unit at a decent price if anyone knows of one please let me know.

Thanks,

John

[Mike]

John,

Are you looking for a used flasher? I have a ColorPoint, and it's nice. However, they were known to have problems with the early units, and they don't have an IR feature. A used vex wins in IMO.

Mike

[jnpcook]

Yes, I am looking for a used unit.

Prefer a vexilar but would consider a colorpoint if the the price is right.

Have you noticed any problems with yours? Was yours one of the later models or one of the earlier ones that you mentioned had problems?

I am still interested in knowing if there are differences in how your read the lines, etc? Is one easier to read than the other (i.e. vexilar vs. zercom).

Thanks,

John

[Mike]

I've never had any trouble with mine, except for interference issues around other flashers. Usually my buddy can hit the IR on his vex a few times to cancel it out on mine. But, if there are a lot of people using flashers around you, there's not much you can do.

The two units are very similar to use. The CP uses yellow, orange, and red, where the vex uses green, orange, and red. I think the CP has a crisper display than the older vexilars.

Vexilar is still around for service issues, Zercom is pretty much defunct. Don't know if Hummingbird will service them anymore or not. I'm happy with my CP, and if you can pick one up cheap, go for it. I do think you'd be better off looking for a vex though. I'm trying to convince myself I "need" the zoom feature on the FL-18. LOL;)

Mike

[WALLEYE MIKE]

John, go with the Fl-18 even if it is extra bucks. You will regret it later.

[wolfgang510]

I'm considering a vexilar vs other flashers as well. I read some descriptions and for vexilar it says it uses 400 watts power and the other zercom i think uses 1500. Does this affect performance, battery life etc? Anyone have info on the pluses and minuses of the different flashers or know a good website to check? Thanks.

[9mmruger1]

John, go for the fl-19. You will not be dissatisfied. The zoom feature is definately worth the investment, and will provide years of enjoyment to come.

I love mine, and makes deepwater fishing a breeze.

[wolfgang510]

I guess the other flasher I was talking about is made by Marcum. Just wondering if anyone has any info on all the different flashers or know's a place where I can read up on um.

[higherpowered]

Marcum you refer to is actually the Zercom ColorPoint. Some of the Specs are:
600 watts of power, peak to peak which allows 1.5 inch target separation with a display update rate of 40 cycles per second. They have now been bought by Humminbird so I'm not sure about repair/warranty issues.

[Handlining Rules]

FL 18 hands down...i bit the bullet and spent the extra $$$...happy i did....would be lost without the split screen

[StreamAddict]

Excuse my ignorance and curiousty as I am NEW to ice fishing...

What is a Flasher???:confused:

Went ice fishing for the first time last night with a buddy... I must have sounded like a fool , I giggled with glee the entire time, It was SO COOL!

We kept warm with a heater in his humblr but adequate shanty and even caught a few crappie!

I can hardly wait to go again.

[jnpcook]

Stream Addict:

Check out this link for what the flasher is

http://www.marcumcustomerservice.com/

Click on show demo under the LX-3. It will give a good idea of what it looks like and in action.

It is basically a real time display that has enough sensitivity to show your teardrop jig as well as the fish around you.

John

[WALLEYE MIKE]

John, I got the video with mine. If you want to view it before making up your mind on what to get, let me know.

Just watched that demo. Like the Fl-18 better.

[jnpcook]

Thanks Mike. Yeah, if you aren't planning on watching it right now, then I wouldn't mind checking out the video to get an idea of what the FL-18 offers.

John

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Just let me know when you want it. Come on by and pick it up.

[Can't Touch This]

we have a zercom, i will have to check. But, it has been great for us. We enver ran out of battery, even after using it for a whole day, or 2 days. The only complaint i have is thaton the surface, it shows a big shade of red/orange, you can't tell if there is fish....it gets confusing.

[Sailor]

This will be the third season on my FL-18. With the possible exception of getting married (she's looking over my sholder!) it was probably my smartest move. I 'm going to upgrade to the Ultra Pack box from my present Pro Pack as the extra features are worth the expense. The difference between
the FL-18 and the FL-8 are also easily worth the bucks.


















f

[StreamAddict]

Thanks for indulging my curiosity...Excellent toy!

Big bucks though!

[Mike]

Marcum you refer to is actually the Zercom ColorPoint.

Nope. Hummingbird bought Zercom. MarCum is a new company.

Mike

[Jeff_03]

"Nope. Hummingbird bought Zercom. MarCum is a new company."

Nope, http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/IF2708_sonar_wars/

[Mike]

From your article:

"MarCum reacquired rights to this technology from Zercom in early 2002"

Sounds like a new company to me.

[Jeff_03]

regardless, the point was that the Marcum is the old color point... The point in the link (the way I am reading it) is that the color point technology (which was engineered by Marcum) has been reintroduced into the Marcum Lx units... Regardless of name, the technologies are the same with some dust blown off...

John,
I have a Color Point and an FL-8... They both "view" the same other than colors which was already stated. They both work very well and I have had no problems with either. I like the zercom better as it has better target seperation but, it can not block out interferance. I use the fl8 when fishing crowded lakes. The zecom also gets more screen jump when the battery gets extremely low (after 3 days fishing without charge..DOH!)...

The fl-18 or the lx-3 units are better units if you actually need it, or if you think you need to increase you price per pound of fish :D

Good luck, any of them will make you wonder what took you so long to get one!

[Mike]

We must both be really bored at work today to be argueing over this! LOL:) :)

Regardless of name, the technologies are the same with some dust blown off...

From what I've been reading on various forums over the last couple of winters, this isn't the case.

Mike

[Jeff_03]

He||, I am too bored to argue... :D

I guess everybody has different views and opinions...

Either way John, get a flasher, any flasher <insert auctioneer here> and you won't regret it.

[mickdrosco]

Well, just to make a lot of friends.... I have my gear in the truck and I'm fifteen minutes away from leaving work, going out and seeing if my fl-8 can get me into the same gills I found yesterday... Eat your hearts out: I will contemplate the finer points of Marcum vs. Vexilar from the vantage point of a seat on the ice...

[Garret]

jnpcook,

Your PM box is full. My computer took a crap last week so i might not be able to use it again until after the holidays. I'll try to send you a PM this morning. If you don't get it, maybe I'll just see you on the water.

Have a great holiday season everyone!

Peace,

G-MAN

[jnpcook]

With these type of units if you are fishing two people in a shanty and only one has a flasher, can you read both jigs on the one flasher or do both people need their own flasher to be able to see their jig?

Also is intereference between the two flashers in one shanty noticeable or does the interference rejection feature work when they are this close?

Thanks,

John

[WALLEYE MIKE]

John, you can read both lures at once one only one unit.
Sometimes I'll have a splitshot on and can read both the lure and splitshot.

[sfw1960]

Originally posted by Mike
<<I've never had any trouble with mine, except for interference issues around other flashers. Usually my buddy can hit the IR on his vex a few times to cancel it out on mine. But, if there are a lot of people using flashers around you, there's not much you can do. >>
Mike
Heya Mike !!!
I just fire up 4KW of power in the middle of the pack & watch those guys get PO'd that all they see is red & orange ALL the way around the dial !!!!
While I fish interference FREE!!!
You think I'm kiddin' don't ya??
Bring yours by sometime !!
http://www.vexilar.com/help/tips/images/tip018-01.gif
LMAO !! LMAO!! LMAO!!!!
On a more serious note....
I'd *probably*choose the LX3 Marcum myself because of the fact it puts out 1500 watts of power , and although I really like the color scheme of the Vexilar better - it only puts out 400 watts. More power equals crisper sonar pings , and with it ~ better ability to reject unwanted interference as well as superior target seperation.

If you do consider the Vexilar:
____________________________
Originally posted by WALLEYE MIKE
John, go with the Fl-18 even if it is extra bucks. You will regret it later.
WM is absolutely correct - the zoom feature is WHY I run my hi-res LCD , I can dechiper signals in one color fine and 1280 lines of resolution (4X zoom) give great target seperation will clean echoes coming off a 4000 watt ping.
The FL18 and Marcum LX3 were born in an answer to the enhanced resolution that an LCD can offer - same reason there are color LCDs now too... ;)
ZOOM is an absolute necessity for anyone who uses sonar nowadays!
http://www.marcumcustomerservice.com/cs/faqs.htm#lx3_diff
Why does the LX-3 use 1500 watts of power?
Higher receiver senstivity equates to higher interference potential .
:p

[MichiganMike5]

JNP,
I have the FL-18 with a dual angle Ice-ducer and highly recommend it.
Some things to keep in mind when using a flasher to target multiple baits with one unit are... Similar sized baits are easier to seperate. (ie. an 1/8oz. jig will require a much higher gain setting than a 3/4oz. Jiggigin Rap.) like sized baits allow for easier gain adjustment.
All baits must be within the cone angle. This is typically not a problem unless you are in shallow water (<15') and trying to cover the entire water column with a narrow angle cone. A bait 2-4' down may not be deep enough to reach the side of the cone.
The FL-18 has 10 selectable levels of IR and can be used right next to another unit without any problems.

Good Luck with your search. Most who have tried a good flasher know their value and wouldn't hit the ice w/o one.

Tight Lines,
Mike

[wolfgang510]

I went to Vexilar's website and they had some great info. They explain how they have 400watts power and very high sensitivity compared to others with 1500watts but lower sensitivy of reciever. They also explain many other things and I'm sure the complexities of each companies unit are much greater than I originally thought.

[sfw1960]

I forgot -
Here's a less expensive option , that would require a bit of rigging...
http://www.thornebros.com/winter/electronics/electronics_vexilar/FL-10.html
$259 w/ 2 yr wtty. !!
FL10
http://www.thornebros.com/winter/electronics/electronics_vexilar/images_vexilar/fl10_floating.gif
It has 1" target separation , and with a bit of plywood would turn that "in-dash" into almost a FL8 ! (no zoom) :D