Vexilar SonarPhone and FishPhone

[Bardic]

OK, I just ran across this today and as a tech person it's something I've been looking for for a while.

The SonarPhone, that sends the fish finder information to your cell phone or pad.

The FishPhone, that lets you use your phone or pad as the screen for an underwater camera. It also has video out to go to a standard TV/monitor. Originally I just wanted one with video out so I could use TV glasses, but the phone is pretty handy too.

At least for me, why pay for a viewing screen that is small and expensive when I have so many sitting around not getting used anyways. The closest I've seen was a hack someone did for old windows mobile devices, and a newer one where you were locked into using their tiny screens, like the fish finder watch.

The quality doesn't look as good as some other fish finders and cameras, but for the price it's a pretty good start, and it sounds like they can be hooked into some better transducers and maybe cameras for people who want to upgrade. Now for some other companies to follow suit and get some competition going.

SonarPhone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=panrngOVZ0Q

FishPhone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMxfT7-O3Mc
[signature]

[StacyR]

I've been keeping an eye on these for awhile. The SonarPhone comes in three different configurations. The casting version is out, but I haven't seen any reviews yet. There's also a portable and traditional boat mount version. Down imaging only, but I've tried the app on my phone and the resolution is superb. Much better than the low-res Fishin' Buddy. I already have a waterproof case for my phone. Waiting on the portable SonarPhone so I can mount it on an inflatable pontoon.

I'll definitely be picking one up if the reviews are positive.
[signature]

[hooknhunter]

Cool idea, IMHO. I thought of it 2 years ago but don't have the knowledge or resources to pursue such a thing. I'm glad to see it is available.
[signature]

[Bardic]

You could use a GoPro with the wifi turned on to do something very similar with better quality, but I just checked out a video on youtube and the delay is much bigger than this one. Plus $300-400 for the GoPro, although you can use it a lot more places.
[signature]

[curt69]

When I am out in the sun I can hardly see my screen on my phone or my tablet . I think it would work good in a shanty .
[signature]

[Fishit]

There are a couple reviews on Amazon for it. I had never heard of this before but it looks like a cool idea, for the price I am considering purchasing one...
[signature]

[Bardic]

That's why my first thought was something like Google Glass or these:

<img src="http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/aa/7c/elec_AccessoriesVideo_HeadsetsSonySony_Glasstron-resized200.gif" height="300" width="300">


52 virtual inches of fishing goodness. Throw on a hat to block the sun and you are set. Although I'd go with some of the newer ones with better resolution, smaller, and lighter.
[signature]

[MULLIGANN]

Hey,
I own a vexilar sonar phone...what kind of glasses are shown in that photo?
Between the Vexilar Sonar, the camera, and jigging I figure.....Why not just add another device? It is pretty funny. I have some good video posted on my facebook page the fishing supply company or donkey rods.
I like my camera but as cold as it has been my battery life for the iphone and ipad is not great....thus another couple pounds of charging devices.
[signature]

[Bardic]

Those are Sony Glasstron glasses. They came out about 2001 and my brother bought some with his Mariott points. Not bad, the picture quality was always a little low at 320x240 pixels, couldn't really read text on most xbox games, but they were a lot of fun. Most of the new ones in the $150 range have the same resolution, not bad for watching the fish. Some will only work on the FishPhone camera because it has a video out port (and you wouldn't need a smartphone), but some come with cables to attach to iphone/ipad and could be used with sonarphone too.

There are some newer ones out by Vuzix for $500 that have a resolution of 852 x 480 but won't use the video out, only HDMI, so you would have to have an apple or android device with mini or micro HDMI out, but it would work with both sonarphone and fishphone.

http://www.vuzix.com/consumer/products_wrap_1200dx/


<img src="http://www.vuzix.com/wp-content/uploads/consumer/_images/Wrap%201200DX-with-icons.jpg">

Of course we can always hope the prices come down on google glass and other android based glasses so we can use video glasses without any cables at all.
[signature]