Flasher interference

[keithdterry]

If you use Marcum flasher in one hole and another guy uses a Vexilar flasher in the hole next to it, can you push the IR button and reduce/eliminate the interference of the other flasher?  Does it matter that they are two different brands?  And yes I know this is probably a dumb question, but I would rather find out before spending a couple hundred bucks.  Thanks.

[icetechy]

Keith I have read of guys fishing both brands in a fish house and not having any problems.
Bottom content and transducer placement play into this as well Anytime you have overlapping return signals your going to get some interfernce unless fishing shallow water.  The deeper you go the worse it get's but through some manipulation of transducer, gain adjustment and interference rejection you should be able to minimize the interference enough to fish comfortably.

[Norman Schrader]

Both the Marcum and the Vexilar operate on the same frequency (200KHz) which means they will interfere with each other.  It is like when you have a CB radio tuned to channel 19 and 2 other stations are transmitting on channel 19 at the same time.  You can reduce interference somewhat by adjusting the width of the transmitted pulse (which is what the IR circuits usually do) or cutting the power down (which is a feature on some of the more expensive units) or using a narrower cone transducer (8 degree instead of 20 degree).  Eliminating the interference though is tough without moving away from the other unit far enought to be out of it's cone angle.  I hope this wasn't too technical an explanation.  No matter what you do though will be a trade-off in performance other than getting further away.
Good luck.
Norm

[A- bomb]

have a fl-20 and fished with an 8 and 18 and 2 marcums and a zercom  all was good at my hole   probably 30 ft radius.