Hello –
I was fishing over the weekend with a Marcum LX 7 and Marcum LX 9 in the same fish house. It was so frustrating because they were causing interference with each other. I tried adjusting the cone angle, played with the IR button – everything. Why would 2 Marcum’s cause interference with each other? Frustrating!
Thanks – Chad
great question. Ever since I did the first update I have had trouble getting rid of interfearence and this last update is even worse. Does not matter what brand unit the others are using. Any help in adjustments would be graetly appreciated. To get rid of clutter from others I have to drop the gain but than can not see my presentation,
great question. Ever since I did the first update I have had trouble getting rid of interfearence and this last update is even worse. Does not matter what brand unit the others are using. Any help in adjustments would be graetly appreciated. To get rid of clutter from others I have to drop the gain but than can not see my presentation,
Yeah, I am thinking about switching back to Vexilar!!!
I am having issues with my lx6 with ANY brand unit. also on version 5.10. It is at least not as bad as my Helix 5. I have 9s on my boat and love them, but the helix 5 ice has been unfishable near any unit. The marcum is just annoying but you can still do it.
All manufacturers sometimes have issues. I have notice it can be as simple as depth or bottom composition affecting interference between two units. On Friday evening, I could not get my FLX to work right in LP mode in 23FOW with an LX5 next to me. It worked great in normal mode, but not a chance in LP. I have not experienced interference between two Marcums very often, but I have seen it on Burntside Lake.
Had the same issue with two LX7’s, not even in the same house. One screen completely clear, one cluttered. No combination of IR settings would change it.
Had to change the Gain setting on both units. I can’t remember if it was gain 1 or 2, but it seemed to help.
Yeah, I am thinking about switching back to Vexilar!!!
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Chad if I was going to change it would be back to a 5 but I am hooked on the digital displays and can not see going back to the motorized units.
Unfortunately For MarCum with the issues they have been having I will not be purchasing anything that doesn’t have a few great years of proven ability. RT9 looks like a nice unit but it’s going to need a pretty good track record before I would consider spending that much coin. and I really don’t like having the camera in the unit.
Unfortunately due to all the brand bashing, the real experts no longer care about these threads.
So here’s my less than professional theory.
No matter what unit you use, when your cones overlap, you’ll probably never remove all interference. Use the smallest cone angle for best results.
Specifically with marcum, they use a very high power sonar signal with a less sensitive transducer. Vexilar uses a low power signal with a highly sensitive transducer. This means that it is difficult for a vex to work well next to a marcum. And it could be part of the reason the marcums don’t play well next to each other either.
My recommendation is to use the narrowest cone angle or simply just share 1 unit when fishing that close together. When sharing one unit you can use a wider cone angle.
Unfortunately due to all the brand bashing, the real experts no longer care about these threads.
So here’s my less than professional theory.
No matter what unit you use, when your cones overlap, you’ll probably never remove all interference. Use the smallest cone angle for best results.
Specifically with marcum, they use a very high power sonar signal with a less sensitive transducer. Vexilar uses a low power signal with a highly sensitive transducer. This means that it is difficult for a vex to work well next to a marcum. And it could be part of the reason the marcums don’t play well next to each other either.
My recommendation is to use the narrowest cone angle or simply just share 1 unit when fishing that close together. When sharing one unit you can use a wider cone angle.
You could also try different ping speeds and sensitivity settings….
My LX6 and my 10yr old X1 have never had any issues…..
Fished with my LX6 next to my son’s LX9 multiple times and never any problems. I also fish my LX6 next to my wife’s LX5 with very few issues. Can always seem to use IR to clear things up. Maybe I have been lucky. I know my LX5 and LX6 caused problems for my son’s old Vex. double vision. I am going to buy a backup unit and I am thinking LX3 to try to avoid interference issues with my other two units when the grandkids go along. I also used to fish my old Vex8 with the LX5 and neither had interference issues???
Here are two Vex FL-8se’s side by side…can anyone find the interference?
IMG_20170116_200711.jpg
IMG_20170116_200734.jpg
Ya, you’re interfering with my elbow room. You’re in my bubble! 
No interference. Just a uncrisp fuzzy blurr 100% of the time
Marcum’s are the worst by far for interference especially with each other. Vexilar is second worst and hummingbirds have hardly any interference whatsoever maybe just a little with another hummingbird together in a small house.
Marcum’s are the worst by far for interference especially with each other
If that’s true why do I.and many others here,not have such problems?
Vexilar’s will have interference issues also. I’ve seen it (maybe not 2 vexilar next to each other, as in the picture, but other units, or 3+ vexilar a in a house…:not sure of specifics…just know I’ve seen it happen). In fact, I typically have fewer interference issues with my marcum than my buddies with vexilar in various trips. We usually have vexilar, marcum, and hummingbird all in the same vicinity.
Maybe it’s a an issue with a different type of transducer, or the digitals. But, I’ve never had an issue clearing interference with the IR feature on my lx3. I’ve found there time I’m able fish totally cleanly, while others around me can’t with different brands (hummingbird, vex).
Add another reason to my list of why not to buy anything above the handful of base models (lx1-lx5 fl8-fl18).
Kind of funny, just talked to a guide friend of mine while on the lake yesterday, who also does TV, and is sponsored by Vexilar. He gets free units every year, and gets to select them and the add-ons. For his guiding, he’ll get 28 ultra packs for the wow factor (ill leave out his exact words). For his own fishing in his free time, he never uses anything but a 12.
I was glad to know there is still another throwback out there who doesn’t get caught in the materialistic crapstorm that ice fishing has become in the last few years.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Quinn Rhoda wrote:</div>
Marcum’s are the worst by far for interference especially with each otherIf that’s true why do I.and many others here,not have such problems?
X2 Never have had a problem. Fish next to other Marcums and Vex’s all the time and not a problem. Just fished 3 days in a hard side in South Dakota with a Lx7 and a FL20 no issues
Times a thousand-
I was glad to know there is still another throwback out there who doesn’t get caught in the materialistic crapstorm that ice fishing has become in the last few years.
I have zero problems with my dad’s 9 next to my 9. But when I put the 9 next to the wife’s 6 Houston we have a problem. As mentioned above streams cross and if you fish together and if you are deeper than 15ft streams will cross and not even Stantz or Spangler can help you here. It seems a lot worse with the new 6 update in my opinion.
From my experience, the Marcum dual beam transducers are far more variable from ducer to ducer than those offered by Vexilar, especially Vex’s single beams. I’ve seen dramatic differences in Marcum units performance and noise susceptibility by simply swapping new ducer with new ducer. I feel any given units mileage can vary a lot when dealing with noise issues because of this. From my experience, many noise issues can be correct by simply re-positioning the ducer up or down an inch or two, or even rotating it by twisting the cord a bit.
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