looking for some solid info about these two side by side for ice fishing. i have done alot of research online and am getting mixed feedback. i have a normal boat style transducer and they offer a iceducer for my fish finder. i don't wanna waste my money if there is not anything to gain.
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Both will do the job.
An ice transducer is a little more ice friendly when you need to pull it in and out of the ice hole but a boat transducer that is attached to pvc pipe will do the job.
If you are going to buy a second transducer for ice fishing, get one made for ice fishing.
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the only real difference between the two is that the ice ducer has a piece of foam on it to float it in the hole. So get a wacky noodle at the toy store, cut a piece off and put it on the cord of your regular ducer so that it floats in the hole. You can also do the PVC thing, but the wacky noodle is easier !!
Another tip, I always like to drill holes in a star pattern with one in the middle so I can put my ducer in that one and still see my lure and stuff in the perimeter ones !!
thanks, thats exactly What i was wanting to hear.
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Many years ago I read an article in Field and Stream about this. They talked about a couple technical differences that can affect performance, but the biggest one is below.
Some transducers use lead zirconate crystals which have been known to break or crack during cold-weather use. It goes without saying that they don't perform as well afterwards. I guess this type of crystal has interference and sensitivity advantages over other types.
Transducers specifically designed for ice fishing are generally made with barium titanate crystals, which are much more resistant to the cold.
Bottom line, I think it's mostly an issue of durability.
My Vex FL-20 with the Tri-Beam ducer has a barium titanate crystal and my Lowrance X135 on my boat uses a lead zirconate. I can't advise you on any other models.
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