As our Facebook following continues to grow, we’ve been getting more messages from customers asking questions about how to use certain features of the iBobber. As the saying goes, if you have a question, chances are someone else has the same question. So for this week's blog, we're compiling your most frequently asked questions and answers about the iBobber - just in time for summer fishing!
Q: Why won’t the iBobber connect to the Bluetooth on my tablet/smartphone?
A: Make sure your tablet or smartphone is running Bluetooth 4.0. The iBobber runs using Bluetooth Smart Technology and requires Bluetooth 4.0. Because this is the most advanced version of Bluetooth currently on the market, some older tablets and smartphones have not upgraded from Bluetooth 2.0 or 3.0.
Q: My iBobber picks up fish in a friend’s swimming pool and shows 15-inch fish in 3 inches of water on a river. Clearly there are no fish in either place, so what gives?
A: We actually published a blog on this exact subject a few months ago. Any type of sonar on a fish finder has a required minimum distance to work effectively, but to understand why, we need to look at the animal kingdom. Check out this excerpt from our earlier blog:
“Anyone who has watched a nature documentary on dolphins has probably heard their sonar, or echolocation. If you look closely at an Amazon River Dolphin, their eyes are so small that they’re essentially blind, so they rely on echolocation to navigate the murky river waters and locate prey.
Bat sonar can travel up to 17 m, but in water, dolphin sonar can reach farther, anywhere from 5-200 m, or 16-656 ft. However, the take-home message is that sonar requires a certain amount of distance to work. The iBobber works best in water depths of at least 4 feet. Otherwise, the sound waves will bounce back too quickly to provide accurate readings of the waterbed or the presence of fish. In addition, if the bottom of the swimming pool is curved, the sonar can bounce back and forth from one side to the other and confuse the iBobber or any other fish finder.”
Q: My iBobber won’t turn on when it’s in the water, and I charged it last week. Is it broken?
A: Take a close look at your iBobber, and you’ll notice that it doesn’t have an on/off switch. The iBobber is technically always on but simply in hibernation mode outside of water. Since the processor is always on, the iBobber is constantly searching for contact with water. We currently have the longest lasting battery on the market for mobile fish finders, and a full charge lasts about 7-10 days. Make sure to charge your iBobber for at least 30 minutes before you go fishing, along with your smartphone.
Q: How strong is the tie point on the iBobber? How far can you cast it safely?
A: We’ve reinforced the anchors on the iBobber with metal rings. A lot of bass anglers use 15-lb line and can cast up to 60-80 feet. You should be fine for most casting applications as long as the iBobber lands on water instead of rocks.
Q: Can I tow the iBobber behind my kayak while trolling for trout on the local lakes and have the iPhone/iPad watch the depth, contours, and fish locations?
A: It is totally possible to tow the iBobber for kayak fishing (See the proof above), but the sonar display will lag a few seconds behind even your slowest paddling speed. Try a start-stop approach for the best results: paddle a few feet, remain stationary, and refresh the sonar display on the iPhone/iPad. If you have two rods on your kayak, use one for trolling the iBobber and a second with the lure for fishing.
Q: When connected to the iBobber, if you press the Sonar button twice it comes up with what looks like a temperature screen. What is this?
A: It’s actually not a temperature screen but a basic raw sonar display. We added the raw sonar interface to appeal to more experienced anglers and those looking for a display similar to more expensive boat-mounted fish finders. Check this helpful link for how to read and understand the amplitude interface: http://fishfinderselect.com/how-to-read-a-fish-finder-screen/
And there you have it! If you had a question, we hope this blog answered it. But if not, no worries! Send us a PM on Facebook or email us at info@reelsonar.com, and feel free to include a screenshot or photo of the issue you're experiencing. We'll get the issue solved and get you back on the water fishing!