Echo-sounders "Practitioner ER-6 Pro": reviews, features, instruction

The only type of active recreation that you can devote all your time is fishing. It does not depend on the season, weather and time of day, so it is not surprising that fishing gear and additional equipment is in great demand and actively discussed in the media. And if everything is clear with the rigging (for each type of fishing its method and tool), then with the equipment, things are more complicated. The subject of this article are echo sounders "Practitioner ER-6 Pro". The reviews of professionals and amateurs will allow the reader to get to know the device better, without which it is simply impossible to imagine real fishing in the 21st century. The review of the model, technical characteristics and functionality of the device will help all fishermen to determine the best echosounder in the market.

Arranging the points

Naturally, the reader will ask why it is the "Practitioner"? After all, this market is just full of other, no less interesting brands, each of which promises the buyer an interesting and very useful functionality. It's pretty simple - when choosing equipment, many beginners prefer to purchase inexpensive echo sounders. After all, if you refuse to use the sonar, any buyer will not be so hurt to lose finances due to a wrong transaction.

The second, also an important criterion, is the country of origin. The official manufacturer - the Russian company LLC "Practitioner-NC" - certainly knows not only in fishing, but also in the weather conditions, which have to catch Russian anglers. It is unlikely that there is a device in the budget class that can work in the temperature range from 20 degrees below zero to 40 degrees, not to mention worthy functionality.

Specifications

You need to start with the fact that the device, like all expensive echo sounders for fishing, has a body protected from moisture and shock. Accordingly, accidental shocks, falls from a height and getting into a moist environment will not cause any harm to the technician. In their reviews, all owners note the convenient power of the device, because the user can install both batteries and disposable batteries. By the way, the echo sounder does not consume much, because the manufacturer provided it with an economical monochrome display with a resolution of 64x128 dots per inch.

The device is equipped with only one scanning beam, which operates at an angle of 40 degrees, the maximum depth of the sonar is 25 meters. True, there is a minimum depth with which it is recommended to measure, it is half a meter. Black-and-white screen has only two shades (gradations), but this is quite enough to deal with the image in the picture.

Fishing Performance

The depth meter "Practitioner ER-6 Pro", whose price does not exceed 5000 rubles, is more interesting for fishermen than other characteristics. It's about the process of scanning, identifying objects and transferring images to the device's display. Firstly, the technique perfectly copes with the construction of the bottom landscape - the construction of a graphic image is quite acceptable. The second advantage is the definition of moving objects between the sensor and the bottom. Yes, the budget representative shows the fish, both lonely floating, and a shoal of small fishes.

The device, like all echo sounders for fishing, has a built-in speaker, and therefore is able to notify the owner about some significant changes at the bottom of the reservoir (the functionality related to sensitivity is fully customizable by the user). Monochrome screen is equipped with adjustable backlighting, which allows using the sounder without problems in the evening and at night. The device has a built- in air temperature sensor - a small thing, but nice.

Absence of headache

A nice bonus, which has the echo-sounder "Practitioner ER-6 Pro" - instruction. It is written by people for anglers. Judging by the numerous reviews of the owners, it is really easy to understand. This is very difficult to believe, given that the device is controlled by only two buttons. When you first turn on the user is invited to see a demonstration of the health of the gadget. It is produced without water, but the indication on the screen is quite understandable. Next, choose one of the modes: "Fish ID", "Pro", "Depth gauge" or "Flasher", each of which is briefly described in the manual.

Having determined the mode, the user can familiarize himself in detail with the functionality of the selected setting. The instruction is accompanied by pictures that show the owner even an on-screen display with a detailed description. Additional functionality of the device, which fishermen call "multimedia", can be found at the end of the user's manual, it is described briefly, but in an accessible language.

Little oddities from the manufacturer

Quite strange are the echo sounders "Practitioner ER-6 Pro" reviews on the sensor work. In the manual, it is written in black and white that the sonar works only in a humid environment, but nothing has been said about carrying it out of the boat (for example, placing it on a transom, as it is done with other manufacturers). This, apparently, by default should be clear to the owner. But folk craftsmen made a breakthrough in the field of electronics - they invented to leave the sensor in a boat, plentifully filling it with water, or placing it in a cellophane bag with the same liquid.

What gives the owner such a decision? The sensor, like the echo sounder itself, will never be lost - it will always be either in a boat or on an ice floe, if it is a question of winter fishing (the focus is placed in the liquid and works in winter). Accuracy - it is no different from immersing the sensor in water, that is, the signal passes perfectly through the bottom or ice.

A bit about winter fishing

Among the advantages is the fact that the cable between the device and the sensor does not freeze in the frost, as often happens with competitors - the echo sounders like Garmin and Lowrance are "sick" in the 20-degree frost. Accordingly, you can not be afraid of the owner that he accidentally can crush the cable by stepping on him with his foot. The sounder is able to show not only the depth, depressions and elevations on the bottom of the reservoir, but also to demonstrate the fish. This, of course, is a plus for any angler who does not want to waste time.

But further, judging by the numerous reviews of the owners, shortcomings begin. In the cold air, the echo sounder freezes and turns off, respectively, it is necessary to warm the body of the device manually or permanently to hide in the pocket for warming. The second disadvantage is the operation of sonar in cold water - the sensor refuses to perform an accurate scan if the water depth is less than five meters (the error is colossal, not to mention the artifacts that the echo sounder can "come up with").

In pursuit of fish schools

If everything is clear with a large predator - after determining the pit and the presence of fish, there is no doubt that the production is somewhere nearby, then with flocks of small fish there are some problems. However, it is not worth blaming the echosounder "Practitioner ER-6 Pro". Reviews of the owners claim that the problem is more hidden in the human factor. Having determined a large jamb, the fisherman immediately throws tackle, while forgetting about the sonar. Firstly, fish tend to move, and secondly, the echo sounder has a small scanning angle. Accordingly, the sensor could fix the "tail" of a flock of fish or exaggerate the number of several small fish. Professionals recommend performing an additional scan to make sure that the shoal of fish is standing still.

Hidden features

What the user does not meet in the instruction is a detailed description of the approach of the fish to the bait, and in fact the echosounder sensor is capable of this. In the process of exploitation the fisherman will certainly notice such an interesting functional, but it is better to get acquainted with it in advance. In their responses, many owners of the device "Practitioner" recommend to perform a series of tests, namely, to throw a large object in one place (with the size of a fish) to the bottom of the reservoir, after which to place a pair of meters of equipment that should not touch the bottom.

Then the matter of technology - the object rises from the bottom and pulls up to the tackle. Observe the changes on the echosounder is not only interesting, but also very informative. Let the rigging and not visible on the display, but the moving and depth-altering large object is very clearly fixed by the sensor, which joyfully warns the user with a sound signal about a large fish.

Problems and solutions

In our device "Practitioner ER-6 Pro", the breakdowns are more household. Accordingly, repair professional echosounders anglers recommend to produce their own hands, without wasting time on trips to service centers. Thus, the permanent disconnection of the device during long operation in most cases is connected with the battery compartment. The springs holding the battery have a low stiffness, respectively, which often leads to disconnection of the contact during operation. By the way, this spring has the property also to be oxidized, so the owner is recommended to clean contacts once per half a year.

The sensor itself has a plastic container, so it is not recommended to warm it up with a burner in the winter from ice. The body of the sensor, although it has protection, but still deformable in the process of improper operation. Any damage passes the water inside and quickly disables the electronics. This problem is solved only by purchasing a new sonar.

Feedback

Echosounders "Practitioner ER-6 Pro" reviews users in the media do not regret - describe the small defects of manufacturers with a great predilection. First of all, they got control buttons, they are really very tight, it takes a lot of effort to push them. It is clear that the technologists have tried to make a solid device, but that's not all fishermen have heroic power. And if we talk about the buttons, then obviously there is not enough third, because it is somehow inconvenient to make a choice of functions around the circle with a single button (the second one is analogous to "Enter").

Many users complain about the lack of memory - the best echo sounder in the budget class is deprived of the demanded functionality. You can understand them, because it is extremely inconvenient to constantly make measurements for determining the relief of the bottom on a single reservoir. However, here there is a question with the binding to the coordinates, because the device does not have navigation, accordingly, there are only two solutions here: to buy an expensive echo sounder or to create your own pilot chart and apply measurement data to it.

Finally

Quite an interesting product was obtained from Russian masters. Affordable price, great functionality, clear instruction, worthy technical characteristics - the entire list of requirements of any fisherman who needs a good helper on the pond. Even small defects of the manufacturer do not spoil the general idea of the device, because most of the problems are eliminated on the spot, and the echo-sounders are repaired with their own hands, without wasting their valuable time, which can be spent with the benefit of fishing.