I've bit my tongue for years, but now I'm going to say what's on everyone's mind.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why marine electronics are so expensive, but do so little, especially for the dollar.
I don't think I'm being out of line here.
Price Point
Consider an iPhone X: it's price point is a little over $1,000 and it can do way more things than any Lowrance/Humminbird/Garmin going for twice as much can.
It's absolutely mind-boggling to me.
I've done my research and have yet to find what goes into a graph that makes it so hard to manufacture, besides lack of volume.
It's certainly not more advanced. (if I'm wrong, correct me!)
Capability
If you're reading this, chances are you own a smartphone. Hell, you're probably reading this on one!
So there's no need for me to explain what a smartphone can do: anything a leading name-brand graph can.
Except for sonar. Really good sonar, that is.
But even then, it's a matter of time before Elon Musk decides to prank the recreational fishing industry with a Bluetooth-connectable transducer capable of 2D, down and side imaging sonar.
Then it's over!
Compatibility
I've been spending the last week trying to get my Humminbird recordings to render on my Macbook and Windows laptop, and it has been an absolute nightmare.
Why the hell doesn't this thing work?
And have you tried networking multiple units? It's not rocket science, and some (like the HDS) are easier than others, but how in the heck have these not become Bluetooth-compatible with each other?
I. Am. Tired. Of. Run-ning. Ca-bles.
Screen Resolution
Again, I can watch movies on my iPhone 7, I could never do that on my Helix. The Helix 7 barely renders images as well as it could.
This is because the iPhone rocks a way more advanced screen, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels
The Helix 7? 800 x 480.
That's just....sad.
Help!
Look, I am ranting, just blowing off a little steam. But this is also a cry in the wilderness, "What the heck is going on?!?"
And a part of me is hoping one of you, with more experience in the electronics industry, could reach out to me and tell me why.
Otherwise that annoying little voice in the back of my head is concocting a conspiracy theory as to why the leading name-brands are sandbagging on electronics performance.
So please, comment below!
Tight lines, y'all!
