Elite 4X Ice Machine Here, Questions regarding installation

[Willhound]

Happy that my Elite 4X Ice Machine showed up today from Radioworld. Going out tomorrow to try it out.
I'm a tad concerned that it looks like the unit just sits on the cradle, there's no screws or anything to hold it in? Is that so you can remove the head unit easily to store it in the bag? And what do most of you do with the rubber tether on the transducer, do you just tie it off on the side of the bag or something? I have it wound around the pegs on the stand as shown in the instructions, is that good enough?

Just waiting for the battery to charge and then will use the set up instructions that Longshank posted a while back for a start.

[Elrik]

I found that twisting the rubber line like their illustration just has it come undone after a few minutes. I also found that hooking up that cord would often cause the transducer to be at an angle. I eventually got rid of the second cord and added the float and stopper directly to the transducer line. Just because Patents say Lowrance can't do it, doesn't mean that I can't!

The unit should have 3 connections. 1st one is GPS to small holder, which should be a firm click lock. Then the holder gets screwed into a base with four plastic screws, finally that base sits on the cradle that is in the bag and can be set at different heights. The click lock and screws have been quite secure on mine, and everything is pretty tight in the bag and I have not had any issues with it being tipsy at all when moving it open from hole to hole. Of course, I also have it set at the middle height, so it is never above the line of the bag. I don't know if it would get tippy if you put it on the extension pieces that are included.

[Willhound]

Thanks Elrick. Mine didn't click, just sort of sits on the plastic peg. I'll take another look though, maybe I didn't push it on far enough.

[Willhound]

Yep, that was it, I just wasn't pushing down hard enough. I also see what you mean about that tether. Will probably toss it as suggested. Still waiting for the battery to charge to play with it and finish set up.

[Elrik]

Happy to have helped, and yeah, it takes a fair amount of pressure to lock in, but that's a good thing!

First charge took overnight for me, it is a pretty slow charger. Of course, it keeps charge pretty good. 5 hours with screen on full brightness and I only needed an hour or so to charge back to full.

I originally setup a metal triangle through the transducer and attached the support cable to that, but it got bothersome and really, it just isn't needed. My biggest complaint is that the setup for securing the battery (and the strap provided) are a joke. Guaranteed that it is going to move around back there.

Two final things. 1) look online at recommendations for setting it up, so you have a baseline to start from. The auto settings are horrendous. Once fine tuned I have been very happy with it. 2) make sure you keep it unplugged from the battery after charging until you are out on the ice. The way the bag is designed it is possible for you to accidently turn it on with the bag closed. Nothing worse than getting out on the ice and finding you have no charge....

[Perchboy13]

haha yes ^^ I've done that before, go to bungee it onto the quad and when i take it off and open it up the unit is on, and im like $**t !! but im in a hut and run it at low brightness (2-3) and its fine for a few outings !! good unit !! also got the 50$ rebate off of lowrances website so price was good too !

[Slingshot]

Hey Willhound….this from another board and it works perfect for me.

First off reset it to factory settings. Run set up. When. Asked if ice fishing answer no. When asked if fishing less then 60 fow answer no. Asked if advanced fish finder user answer yes. Then goto settings change the fish finder mode to deep water. Then change frequency to 83 Then take auto sensitivity and auto depth off now turn sensitivity to 100 change range as needed put ping speed to fastest colour line to 88 noise rejection on low adjustable as needed turn. Surface clarity to off change screen view in sonar options to ice view I use split screen with aptitude scope on on zoomed side I use 2 x zoom some times 4x when all this is done go over all settings to make sure they are correct

Good luck and thanks again Ron if you browse this forum.

[npetersen]

Yeah, it needs lots of pressure to click in since I had the same problem when setting it up. I have also removed the rubber tether since it was a pain in the ***. I have also removed the two small tackle boxes and put the transduser and foam there since there is really no space to put the transduser other than stuffing it in the bag. The small boxes kept falling out anyway everytime I went to move the unit so just put them in my tackle bag.

[Wilbur007]

I used cable ties to hold the battery(s) in place. I did the same thing with the x67 and it worked well -- not shifting of the battery.
I got rid of the two tackle boxes and put in a second battery (my unit draws more power than the Elite-4; and it's a backup if someone else's battery dies). I bought the cover after it was bumped and powered on as others have said.
#1 Photo - Front view

[Wilbur007]

Photo 2 -- Side view.

[Elrik]

Heh, yeah, i also found the tackle boxes useless and took them out to give proper space for the transducer and float! Lift that puppy up while open near a hole and chances are the top box is going to slide out and down the hole.


Good idea with the zip ties Wilbur, i just may do that as well. Thanks for sharing!

[npetersen]

I didn't have a problem with the battery securing with what they supplied but the cable ties are definitely a good idea.

[Willhound]

All good pointers, thanks all.
The folks at Radioworld also supplied a tip sheet on set-up that is very similar to what was posted by Slingshot, and also by Longshank in an earlier thread. All set up and ready for tomorrow. Hopefully I can now see what I'm doing, or not doing, to finally get a trout through the ice.

[Rainman6]

I also have the Elite 4x and it does take a bit of getting use to. I finally got mine set up for deeper water use but have left the setting to shallow water. I talked with the Lowrance rep at the Sportsman show and he said that Lowrance recognizes 500 feet and more as deep water...not our 100 feet in Simcoe. I was out yesterday with some major adjustments to my settings and was having no difficulty marking average size rigs. I do find that you need to be "a Loner" on the water as other machines interfere greatly with the 4x...as you increase the noise rejection the more choppy the tracking of the jig.

If you have any more questions I can try to be of some help...but I am just learning this machine too!

[Hillbilly]

So your saying you keep yours set up using shallow water?