Got my Raymarine Dragonfly

Came Thursday and did a quick install. Only got out for an hour Friday to check it out.

Down image looks good and better than my Humminbird.

2d I am still playing with a bit. Alot of junk on the screen.

Here are a few screen shots. Nothing real interesting in my lake and I did not find any fish to mark.

I will get more this weekend. I will try faster boat speed too.

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps0e46e21e.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps651c0f80.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psf9050b28.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps26c1b2f4.jpg

That is going to be interesting to see how it does once you get it dialed in. Looks like from what I could find to read it should give you some really clear pictures of structure.

Looks like 3 fish in the first image. Could be wrong.

I think Dragonfly will turn out to be a real contender in the "down vision" sector of sonar market...

Ease of use is going to be a big selling point for these units...

Keep posting MonteSS...

Rickie

Really not much to adjust on it. Sensitivity and a filter.

Sensitivity on manual. Filter on auto
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps753409cf.jpg
First half of the screen is manual sensitivity and second half is auto
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps737eba79.jpg
Auto sensitivity and faster boat speed. Pretty much unusable.
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa3e11287.jpg
Still dont like 2d and dont have confidence in what I am seeing. Could not find any fish to mark in the pond.
When changing from one view to another the screen refreshes and you cant see any history. In other words if I am on 2d and want to switch to Di to clarify if what I am seeing is brush or fish, the Di screen is clear and only scrolls new data. This is a BIG problem.
Also on auto range it changes depth kind if funny and looses some data (blank spots)
Not sure if updates will be available or if it is what it is.

On my H/B 798, I can switch back and forth between screens viewing the same bottom. Sounds like you are saying once you switch between DI and 2D, it loses the previous bottom and starts recording new bottom? How about if you switch back to the first screen, does it show the old data or start anew again?

Correct and that is a big downside.

...Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MonteSS

Correct and that is a big downside.

...Bill

---

I'm sure it is. I often switch back and forth to get a better idea of what I'm seeing. If the original screen is lost at the switch, there's no way to compare images. Up until this point I was very interested in one, now I'm not so sure.

Are these cheaper than a Hummer or Lowrance??? Can you not split screen??

Ya Shell. I have a HB 898c si that I mainly use on 2d. I switch to Di if I want to clarify a blob. Si on the HB is so dark and glare that it is barely useable in the sun.

I thought the Dragonfly would replace the HB but I guess not.

I just ordered a new Lowrance HDS 8 gen2 bundled with a new Lss1 + insite maps for $1800 with free shipping. I tired of playing around.

...Bill

The base model is $649.

Di on the Dragonfly is better than Lowrance Elite 7 from what I have seen and HB Di stinks.

As stricty a Di unit I think it is decent. But no use to me with bad 2d, auto depth change probs, and no history between screens.

...Bill

MontSS,
Whats your current opinion on the Dragonfly?
I'm interested in a di 2d. up front.
Is yours mounted on the transom?
Hind sight, would you prefer something else?
thanks

I dont care for it and am going to sell it. Yes its on the transom. The Di is decent enough. I think the Elite 7 might be a better unit but have no experience with that.
Goin back to my old B&W Lowlance x96 at the console and the HDS8 up front

...Bill

Monte...do you have more pix from the Dragonfly DI you can share with us...

Brett has an interesting idea of running a Dragonfly on constant DI and then using a separate unit for SI/2d/GPS...

Rickie

Here is a direct comparison between the Dragonfly and HDS8 gen2 with LSS1

Di is not bad. Not sure why the bottom of the trees do not show.

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psfb6cad43.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps3369c5da.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps05b2261c.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps828fa0bf.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps9584b5bf.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps024c1fef.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps06057cf6.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps7aed5190.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa876d30f.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps797edb42.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psda54ab01.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa74637bf.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psb7beb6d5.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psba67b89c.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4f98ae4e.jpg
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...psbad84b29.jpg

....Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MonteSS

Di is not bad. Not sure why the bottom of the trees do not show.

....Bill

---

I think this is just because of low sensitivity settings. One can see that the very first (39ft) and the very last screenshots (17ft) are identical, but on the middle screenshots some details on bottom structure and bushes between trees can hardly be seen. I think just to add sensitivity and everything will be the same. To me, bottom structure looks a bit better on all Dragonfly screens.

Dragonfly on order, will sell hds 7 touch,

Comparing a $700 Dragonfly unit to a $2000 HDS system? Dragonfly did pretty well I think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DJs Marine

Comparing a $700 Dragonfly unit to a $2000 HDS system? Dragonfly did pretty well I think.

---

As I said the Di is good.

The 2d is the big dissapointment.

One of the BIG probs is that I like to use 2d on full screen and then when I see a "blob" switch to Di for clarification. When you do this the screen refreshes and you cant see the history.

....Bill

I plan on using it full time di

Here are some more images. I am still playing with it. Not an easy unit to understand for newbies. The 2d does not show the standard arches I am used to. The Di shows fish as tiny specs. The split screen really seams to be best to figure out what you are seeing.

A few more shots. I believe the thermocline is at about 12'. I have HDS shots to compare to these and will upload tomorrow.

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps213f7496.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps45772ad2.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4705becd.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps039f19ee.jpg

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps0e117795.jpg

....Bill

This is what I am more used to seeing.

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps355b47ab.png


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6bf34cb4.png

how good is the image over a down tree? can you see fish?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brettw

I plan on using it full time di

---

I think this is a good plan for the current version Dragonfly...

:ThumbsUp

Rickie

Monte ...

What are the beam angles and frequencies for the 2d and the DI in the Dragonfly ... ??

Rickie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rnvinc

I think this is a good plan for the current version Dragonfly...

:ThumbsUp

Rickie

---

Agreed

....Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rnvinc

Monte ...

What are the beam angles and frequencies for the 2d and the DI in the Dragonfly ... ??

Rickie

---

Not sure. It uses the "chirp"

....Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MonteSS

Not sure. It uses the "chirp"

....Bill

---

I have been reading on the topic of CHIRP...(most of it is way over my head)...

I do understand that CHIRP uses a "frequency range" instead of a "tone pulse" that most sonar utilizes...

I did find possible frequency ranges and beam angles here...
RAYMARINE Announces DragonFly - Moderated Discussion Areas

The SONAR is said to have chirp technology. The device employs two ranges of frequencies. A range of 320-kHz to 380-kHz is used, as well as a range from 170-kHz to 230-kHz. The SONAR signals are conducted via a new Raymarine transducer, the CPT-60. The transducer is said to have dual characteristics. The higher frequency transducer is described as providing a "fan beam" of dimensions 1.4-degrees by 60-degrees. The lower frequency transducer is said to provide a conical beam of 25-degrees. In combination the two signals, the two transducers, and the chirp signal processing are said to deliver a clear, life-like image of the bottom and its structure. Raymarine refers to these features as ClearPulse and DownVision.

Further down in that same thread ... It seems that NAVICO has filed patent infringement against RAYMARINE for the introduction of Dragonfly...(sounds ghostly familiar to another patent infringement case not that long ago of HB filing against NAVICO... Interesting...)

I'll be watching that thread...

Rickie

the fact that it's a wide beam may be why the fish appear as specks, DI I'm talking about
in 20' of water a 60 degree beam would be scanning how much bottom ?

I was beginning to become interested in the dragofly up until you started giving all of its bad points then I lost interest REAL FAST. I'll keep looking since this will be m first unit.

FISH ON:fish

I really want/wanted this unit to work out. It looked like everything I wanted. I have tried to make it work as advertised. I really think the unit was designed for and would be better in salt. Possibly some things could be improved with a software update. I have no idea if they are working on that. The Elite 7 and HB 5xx are their main competition. Not sure they are any better. Not much other discussion or screenshots of the Dragonfly except for the salt forums and they seem to like it.

Here is a link to other reviews and pics in fresh water if it is allowed. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fis.../#entry1327614

Just being honest with my experience with it...Bill

thanks, I scared my experience will be exactly the same

MonteSS

I dumped the Dragonfly idea and just getting a Low 9 touch, I don't want to experiment.

;)

....Bill

selling EVERYTHING !!