This is the Unit I use on the ice .This will be my 3rd season with it .My flasher unit, pictured here ,  is a Humingbird  ICE-35 Tri-color ,costs $300.00.Very useful for ice fishing as it saves me energy by preventing me from cutting unproductive holes and giving up a fish hole too quickly. It tells me if there are fish there or not .Fish show up as moving targets either coming in from the side of the transducer cone or coming up off bottom and the color yellow and Green show that .If it's your lure it will show up  and you can see the dropping green line representing your offering. The unit is very sensitive and even shows a small barrel swivel or tiny ice fly. You are way more mechanical minded than I am and think you would be better than me at using it after one try . The trick is to adjust the sensitivity so it shows a clear reading of bottom and your lure .Hard bottom is a wide red mark and wide yellow or green is softer bottom . Quick flashing moving targets are active fish ,that's exciting to see .Fish moving slower show as a slowly moving line and not much flashing .Using this unit help me quickly find the zone to put and work my bait at . I learned to use it first watching a you tube video ,then reading sections of the manual from the hummingbird site and finally getting out on the ice and seeing fish rise to my lure and catching them . Its my second ice season with this unit . Hummingbird ICE 35 .Goes for a bout 300 bucks and has a simulator mode that helps you learn about the unit before getting out on the ice . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqBwC_w71dA

This video doesn't answer the question I have :What's the Middle input on the back of the Unit for ? Leo may have taken a stab at an answer before but I cant recall. The left input is for battery and the Right input is for the Transducer .

John I even look in the owners manual and didn't see anything. One is for the transducer and the other power now a clue what the third slot is for.

I hear ya Dick ,watched two you tube videos and one guy says he has no clue the other guy didn't mention it .There must be some sort of option add on ya have to pay extra for but curious that you and I cant find any info on the quizzical middle plug in a 40 page manual !

John, the 3rd slot is for optional device chaining. Imagine this if you will:

You got your flasher. Your flasher can connect to an optional weather monitoring group. It can also connect to your PC/Laptop. I can also connect itself in a daisy chain to a hub, then to various other devices such as GPS receiver, other fishfinders, or even map compilers..In other words, the 3rd port is your data port.

Thanks Leo , still a puzzle why it wasn't mentioned in the manual( perhaps I missed it )  but you are the man !

Why? Because most product designed to be stationary is not too popular in the upgrades-purchases department. So, why bother trying to explain much to the populus. It's a conspiracy theory thing :-D

But in seriousness, these kind of thing only confuses people more, and create more workload for customer services. Detail for that simply being left out. By the way, your model may have the port, but not necessary a functional port. It's just there to accommodate the more high end unit's design as part of the Flasher's series.

A simple " don't worry about that middle port " ,in the manual would have been nice .LOL Thanks again Leo!

There you go our guru knows all we are so glad to have an electronics genius amongst us.

LOL!

No guru here Dick. Just fiddling around with too much electronics. I have no life..

You truly have a life and home here at BBG.

And I thank all BBG's family members for that. Now, to find a way to soak my lines through the monitors from all the posting..hm..

Dick is  right Leo! You too Dick! Both of you are a pleasure to know here and very helpful!

not to mention;; Leo has helped a lot of us on our computers!!  ESPECIALLY ME!!!   thanks Leo!!

Are you guys talking about the same guy? I'm just a lazy caveman, trying to understand life. I'mean a prince of insanity, and a king of improbability.

   Understanding  2D sonar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSMvq6QrjOs&feature=youtu.be

so much information can be displayed on these units  wasn't long ago  a depth finder  was a marked stick!!

MAXIMIZING YOUR ELECTRONICS

https://www.facebook.com/events/784743064941289/?ref_notif_type=pla...

Ice fishing electronics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npMehhwgoRw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TZ5QaA2z7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-ZmnRxjglU

Check out what Garmin is coming out with:

love it!!! faster and cheaper processor speeds = better fishing electronics

Hummingbird started the ball a rolling with there state of the art side finder and down imaging. Then Lawrence jumped in and made improvements now Garmin. All this competition can only make our electronics even better. Thank you for sharing Andy.

im in awe

there is no classification for this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ejwRj9t1Q

Yea Ken it's fishing electronics. I'm sure there are other electronics we will be learning and talking about as we go. Electronics encompasses a large variety of our most sophisticated equipment to help in our fishing pleasure and ease.

And how long will it be before a phone app called "Mess with Minnkota" comes out? Kinda joking as I am sure they encode some ID in case multiple people are using them at the same ramp. In real life use, I am thinking I would already have the motor vertical and have spun the prop a few times before setting the boat free like that.

That is an interesting thought though Andy you launch your boat and it starts heading away from you it would kinda send chills down your spine.

some great deals going on with Lowrance HDS systems...

http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/20827/Lowrance-HDS-High-Def-Sy...

300.00 rebate!!! visit...

http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/20829/Lowrance-HDS-7-Multifunc...

while looking for a deal on the lake insight pro mapping chip ... i came across this add...

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=778638

thinking about upgrading my Elite 4 to this

this unit creates maps and will share maps with my Elite 7 hdi

Wow I've been looking at the Hum 197c DI for my float tube now I think I'll do a little home work and check on the lawrance Elite 4. Thanks for the post

Ken can I call you if so leave me a number on my friends list

sent you a pm Dick

Cleaning you sonar screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fe89SH8xmc

Here is the layout if this can help. All be done with the jon boat and a electric trolling motor.

Thanks Ken for all your help.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sideimaging/10156558235705296/?noti...

Understanding chirp fish finders.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxqPZfieukU&feature=youtu.be

http://www.in-fisherman.com/ice-fishing/ice-fishing-sonars/

Thanks John for the info. I bought the vexilar 12 about 6 or 7 years ago so when I was retired Id have it. Unfortunately haven't got to use it yet with my circumstances here at home but it's there if and when it becomes possible.

Your welcome Dick . I  THINK THIS YEAR WILL BE MY 4TH YEAR WITH THE ICE -35 FLASHER MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE .I really like it !

OK;;  WHAT IS A GOOD WAY;; TO CLEAN A DEPTH FINDER SCREEN ??  IVE GOT HARDEN WATER SPOTS ON MINE (( I KIND OF FORGOT TO CLEAN THE SCREEN LAST TIME OUT;; ITS GONING TO BE FUN NOW TRYING TO GET IT CLEANED UP  !!

Carl -I'll take a guess that a solution of 1/4 Iso propyl Alcohol and 3/4 filtered Water would do the trick.It's what is used to clean Vinyl recordings.

Lowrance recomends a solution of Dawn and a micro fibre wipe... i use window cleaner with vinegar and a micro fibre clothe and clean similar to this video...

Further down this thread . Dick posted a video saying Vinegar cleans screens  well .

Something similar that I use to clean my air brushes is window cleaner,/distilled water,  and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. Cleans my airbrushes and no spots. I do have a mixing formula if your interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fe89SH8xmc