FL-18 problems?

[Guest]

I just bought the FL-18 and found some ice tonight to try it out. I was very excited to give it a whirl beings I have have the old fl-8 for over 8 years. Well I think that I got a lemon. It works great but the only problem that I am having is that the AZ mode doesn't seem to be working right? It would be working great and than out of the blue it would decide to move the bottom to the 2 foot mark if you know what I mean by that. I could still see my jig normally but the bottom was at the 2 foot line instead of 0 like it should be. If I turned off the vex. and than turned it back on it would work good again sometimes. What is the deal with this I fished in all diff. depths and had the same thing happen. Any ideas or comments would be appreciated I hope that you understand what I mean. I think that I am going to return it and get a diff. one tomorrow.

[Piker]

That problem could also be scales falling off, or perhaps bubbles. I've noticed it too. Maybe swirling water. I am not really sure. I've pretty much experienced every issue raised here, so I can relate. I don't consider my unit to be a lemon though. I have had to bottom go to one foot or two but, I eperienced that less or not at all, after I took to the practice of switching to normal mode when moving holes or pulling the transducer out of the water. Then when it's settled, I go back to AZ. I have had those green lines go up like some had mentioned. So of my theories may be the cause of that. For that bottom deal, I found that a lot of times when I thought the bottom was moving up it was actually a fish hugging tight. I started with that being a thoery, so then I'd try and "pull" the fish up off the bottome. So once I got the transducer set in the hole in normal mode, switched it to AZ. Whenever the bottom would seem to move up. I'd treat it like a fish and it seems that it always was. The biggest problem I've had is with another FL-18 near by. The IR setting would take some doing to get where they'd both work and then after sitting for a while it would just randomly start to go out of whack again without anyone changing it. Just thought I'd share an experience. Thanks

[Guest]

BLACKJACK - what you were seeing is Daffnia or Zoo Plankton. They're little bugs that come out of the bottom at night. They're extremely small, some units can see them and some not. There's a good artical in In-Fish (Dec I think) about it.

wax worm and Seabass77 are seeing tiny air bubbles and/or currents produced by a ripid motion under water.

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I have a tip for you all to try. Next time your '18 is in a "glitchy" mood, try switching the mode back to Normal, then the range all the way to x10, then switch back to AZ. It seems to help. Although the Normal side of the view will be pretty squished, the zoom side should show the full six feet.

More to come...

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks Vextech. I was wondering whether the unit was 'too' powerful and was picking up baitfish or something else. I'm already anxious to get back out and experiment with the FL18 but work has been too **** busy....

[Guest]

I just want to add that I picked up my first unit and the second is on the way. I now have 16 hours on the new one and not a problem! IT IS THE BEST!!!ScottS

[Havin' Fun]

The only time I noticed my bottom jumping up, was when I had a ton of fish on the bottom and the locator thought it was bottom. What a sweat machine. Buddy who has a fl8 really likes the bright colors. I really notice that too after using his.

[Guest]

Hey all, here's a glitch update.

We have found the problem. We can even duplicate it repeatedly in our shop. It definitely is a situational problem with bottom content and/or targets in the area. The glitch will only occur under certain conditions. We have come up with a solution which is being tested now. If everything goes well we should have a final fix soon. Then, once our service department tools up, we'll be ready to take care of everyone.

Anyone who has seen the glitch should contact us to get on the fix list.

Email [email protected] or call 952-884-5291

More to come...

[Guest]

Now thats great service. Keep up the good work! Try getting that from hummingbird..Vextech: are the blue lights going to be avalible for us color blind folks for the 18? I see red and yellow but cant see orange.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/

[This message has been edited by D-man (edited 01-25-2002).]

[Guest]

D-man - The Blue Light Conversion probably won't be available for the '18s until sometime this summer. The display in the FL-18 is much brighter than the FL-8s. We'll need some time to find a blue LED that will work well.

[Guest]

Ok, I did notice the "bottom jumping" in the AZ mode that others are talking about. It would happen when a lot of fish were on the bottom. If the bottom was full of fish it would jump up all of a sudden. I just swiched it out of AZ and then turned it off and back on. Not a big deal but I can now say I know what you guys are talking about. But, I also bought a second unit now so you know it isn't to bad.ScottS

[Ret-ro]

I have also experienced the AZ jump. I was on a 31' mud flat on winnie this weekend and experienced the bottom jumping from 0 to the 3 foot mark with no bumping. I had not seen it that drastic before in similar depths that were more solid. However, the AZ worked great on the 22 ft bar. Landed a 25" eye that stared at me and my buddies lines for 10 minutes before I got it to bite. We were side by side in his new Otter Magnum and he was using a 00 FL8. No problems with the Normal or LP reg modes. Sending in my message as requested. Thanks for the updates vextech.
Fish ONnnnnnnn!

[Guest]

I have just recently upgraded to the fl-18 over the fl-8 and have used it about five times, I have not had any problems with it, it is great. I think vexilar is a first class company, you cant go wrong with these guys. Just my 2 cents worth......fish on.

[Raven]

Was up on LOW yesterday and noticed another "glitch" in my FL-18. When I would drop the jig, I would see a green line that would follow my jig down. If I raised the jig, the green wouldn't follow. Had a real time with it until I figured out - it was the little bead that I use on the line when using a slip bobber. It would slowly drop down the line until it hit the jig I still had some trouble with the real glitch, and am really glad to hear from VEXTECH that they have been able to figure out a fix. I think this FL-18 is fantastic.

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Just got my FL18 today. I wanted to take a second to think VexTech and everyone on this forum for this type of talk and such so we can all work through these kinds of things.
I am SO happy that I found this site!
Happy fishing!

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Born to Fish, Forced to Work!

[red bricks]

I bought my Fl-18 last Thursday. Used it Fri. night. It was very frustrating because it was 10 below and I was using the Vex for the first time. I turned it on and the screen was full of little green lines. Nothing seemed to work. To add to the frustration I dropped my flashlight down the hole!! Next day I went back to the same hole. The Vex worked fine. I must have been seeing all of those little insects. I did experience the bottom moving up in AZ mode. Sometimes it would move up 1ft sometimes 3ft and even 4ft. I would'nt touch anything and it would go on its own. I was fishing in 32 ft of water. I tried for trout the next day and fished in 60 ft of water and the unit worked great. I love the unit but wish the AZ worked better. I will email VEX.

[red bricks]

I spoke with a fella at Vexilar yesterday. He said the AZ problem has something to do with softer lake bottoms and feedback. They are working on a software update and should have it in a couple of weeks. They will update your FL-18 for free and the turn around should be about a day. They might be able to do it while you wait.

[Guest]

We are now ready to update most of the FL-18 units. At this time, we can only update serial numbers 187400 and under. These units can be flash programmed with the new version of software. Serial numbers above 187400 will need to have a chip replaced. These chips are being manufactured now. The serial number can be found on the back of the FL-18 unit located below the transducer and power connections.

If the serial number of your FL-18 is 187400 or under, you can send in your unit at any time.

Bring it or send it to:

Vexilar, Inc. Attn. FL-18 UPDATE
200 W 88th St. #10
Minneapolis, MN 55420-2752

When you send the unit in, please include a short note inside the box including your name, return address, and telephone or email. All you will need to send is the main "head" portion of the system. Although we will attempt to keep the service time to a minimum by making all FL-18 updates a priority, you are welcome to wait for a more convenient time for you to send your unit in.

Another notice will be posted when the chips for units above 187400 are available. This should be very soon.

[jigjigsk]

has anyone gotten the new software update yet? and if so how is the unit working after the update?

[This message has been edited by jigjigsk (edited 02-17-2002).]

[Guest]

Well, I had my unit updated last Tuesday and took in up to Mille Lacs this weekend. The results? 10 times worse I hate to say! 90% of the time the unit would not read the bottom correctly on the AZ side. Just like the others it would show the bottom any where's for 1ft to 3ft up from where it should. I'll have to say I really like the FL-18 but just like most other electronic devices or software devices the bugs need to be worked out. I was a really disapointed!
From the moment I turned the unit on it was not working like it should.

[Guest]

vextech, I bought an FL-18 that has a serial # below 187400 and have fished with it at least 15 times but have not had any of the problems in the AZ mode that others are talking about. Should I still send it in for the updated software even though mines working fine?

[Guest]

bic23 - This was expected in some situations. Here's what's happening. The bottom you are over is very soft on top with a very hard layer underneath. If you look at the bottom signal on the normal half of the display, you will see that you have a very broken looking bottom signal. The strongest band of red is not the leading edge of the signal, but some distance into it. The FL-18 looks at the bottom and tries to determine where the surface of it is. The AZ is designed to lock the bottom position at the strongest point of the bottom signal. In 99+ percent of the cases, this would be correct. However, in this unusual situation, it is not.

With version 2 of the FL-18 software, the AZ will never reset the bottom position. This completely solves the glitch. However, if you set up over a spot like the one here, the bottom on the AZ will never line up correctly. Here's how to fool the AZ to make the bottom line up correctly: With the FL-18 set to NORMAL, drop the Ice-Ducer way down into the hole. Now switch the unit to AZ. Then, raise the transducer up. You will see the bottom on the AZ moving downward. When the bottom lines up with the zero, set your stopper to this level.

It would be easy to say "well just have it always lock on the beginning of the bottom signal". This would be great, provided there were never any fish near the bottom when you switched to AZ. If there were, it could lock on the fish. This would result in a more serious failure that would surely prompt an angry phone call or email. The new version of software has been extensively tested in these types of soft over hard bottom situations. It is working very well.

[Guest]

Vextech,

Is the version I just had loaded last week Tuesday Version 2 or a later Version 1?

[Guest]

Yes, version 1 was updated to version 2.

[Raven]

VexTech -
The only problem I see with trying to fool the unit, like you suggested, is that the transducer could be hanging below the bottom level of the ice. This really causes a lot of problems when trying to land a fish. Also, any feedback on the folks who say the unit is worse since they had it worked on? I have been holding off until I am sure things are going to settle down I do love this FL-18.

Thanks

[Guest]

Not true Raven. If you switch the unit to AZ and the real bottom shows up at, say, the 3 foot level, just drop the transducer down into the hole 3 1/2 feet. When you raise it up so the bottom lines up with zero, your transducer will be only 6 inches under the water line.

Another trick is to crank up the gain to maximum before you switch it to AZ. Then lower the gain back to your preferred level after the AZ locks on the bottom. The idea is to make the bottom signal a solid band of red before you switch to Auto Zoom.

Remember, fishing spots where the bottom will not line up correctly when you first switch on the AZ will be rare. The bottom makeup that is necessary for this to happen is very unusual.

[Guest]

Vextech: Do you see any problems with the bottom lock feature for open water?

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/

[Raven]

Thanks VexTech. Appreciate the come back. I will give it a try next time it does that. It is your working with us guys that makes it great having a Vexilar. Every one that I have run into that has looked at this FL-18 has said they want one.

[Guest]

What if i buy a Fl-18 this comming up fall will the problem be fixed on it or will i have to send it in to get the problem fixed?

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~~Fish Stunner~~

[Guest]

TO ALL - We now have the chips in to fix all of the FL-18s above serial number 187400.

Send it or bring it to:

Vexilar, Inc. Attn. FL-18 UPDATE
200 W 88th St. #10
Minneapolis, MN 55420-2752

When you send the unit in, please include a short note inside the box including your name, return address, and telephone or email. All you will need to send is the main "head" portion of the system. Although we will attempt to keep the service time to a minimum by making all FL-18 updates a priority, you are welcome to wait for a more convenient time for you to send your unit in.

D-man - No. Unlike the Auto Zoom, Bottom Lock is not new technology. It is currently used in many higher end LCD graph units.

Raven - My pleasure

fishstunner - All FL-18s that come out of production from now on will have the version 2 software. However, there is always a chance a retailer will have a unit left over from this year that never got updated. I'll find out what serial number the version 2 units start at and let everyone know.

[Guest]

This morning I was able to make it out to Lake Phalen and try out my
FL-18 on a hard bottom lake, the unit worked Flawlessly! It’s definitely an
Improvement over version 1. I tried to make the thing fail but I was not able
Too! I’m keeping my unit even though on the soft bottom lakes it’ll take
A little more work. Nice Job!

[Guest]

bump