PRACTITIONER 6M TOP sales of winter echo sounders for fishing

On fishing forums you can read a variety of reviews about domestic Praktik echo sounders. The axiom “how many people - so many opinions” has not been canceled, and it has the most direct relation to the Internet. However, in all this polyphony there is something in common. We invite you to dive into the topic and understand why echo sounders from a Russian manufacturer are most often praised and criticized for.

Of course, the very existence of competitive high-tech production in our country is a source of pride for some consumers. has been on the market for more than 15 years – a respectable age by today’s standards. And even skeptics will have to admit that without stable demand for products such longevity is impossible.

In general, these simple arguments are already an argument in favor of taking a closer look at the Praktik echo sounders. However, for a rational consumer they are not enough. You can buy based solely on what others are buying, but there is one important caveat. Fishing itself can be different. Some people prefer to fish in winter, while others prefer to fish in summer. One has a boat, and the other sits on the shore. Both the geography of fishing and the season matter. Not all echo sounders effectively track fish at depth, and not all are able to work adequately in the cold. Therefore, below we will try to answer the question of how exactly Praktik fish finders differ from their competitors.

Review of the main models of Praktik echo sounders

If we talk about the advantages of Russian echo sounders, then most often amateur fishermen describe them in the following terms: “durable and frost-resistant”, “optimal device in terms of price and quality ratio”, “excellent solution for winter fishing”, “quite accurate measurement”, “ good for beginners." Here we present the most common positive epithets in relation to the brand as a whole. But in order to see a more objective picture, we should at least briefly examine the specific models available on sale today.

Today, the main product range of the Praktik brand includes the following echo sounders (the main distinctive characteristics are given in brackets):

• Practitioner 6S (wired single beam with soldered wire, echolocation depth – 0.5-25 meters, beam angle – 40 degrees).
• Practitioner 6M (wired single beam with plug-in wire, echolocation depth - 0.5-25 meters, beam angle 40 degrees).
• Practitioner 6PLUS (new for 2021, wired dual-beam, color screen, echolocation depth - 0.5-50 meters, first beam angle - 30 degrees, second beam angle - 12 degrees).
• Practitioner 7 Wi-Fi (wireless single-beam, echolocation depth - 0.5-25 meters, beam angle - 35 degrees).
• Practitioner 7 BWF (wireless single-beam Practitioner 7 Wi-Fi + BWF unit, echolocation depth – 0.5-50 meters, beam angle – 35 degrees).
• Practitioner 7 BWF Universal (wireless single-beam Practitioner 7 Wi-Fi + BWF unit + wired sensor, echolocation depth – 0.5-50 meters, beam angle – 35 degrees).

The list lists the fish finders in ascending order of cost.

Specifications

You need to start with the fact that the device, like all expensive echo sounders for fishing, has a housing that is protected from moisture and shock. Accordingly, accidental impacts, falls from a height and exposure to a humid environment will not cause any harm to the equipment. In their reviews, all owners note the convenient power supply of the device, because the user can install both rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries. By the way, the echo sounder does not consume so much, because the manufacturer has equipped it with an economical monochrome display with a resolution of 64x128 dpi.

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

Analysis of key characteristics of Praktik echo sounders

From the main parameters given in brackets it follows that most of them are single-beam , one model is double-beam. This means that Praktik echo sounders can provide a sufficient picture to solve private fishing problems - for example, scanning the presence of fish under a hole or scanning the bottom topography under a boat.

Five of the six main Praktik models currently have an operating signal frequency of 250 kHz.

The operating frequency of the echo sounder is the number of pulses sent by the sensor per second, which affects the purity and clarity of the picture. For amateur echo sounders, the most common frequency range is from 50 to 200 kHz. Sometimes modern devices use other frequencies to more effectively solve specific problems. For example, the 800 kHz indicator is good for fast searching at high speeds, but not at significant depths, and the 455 kHz indicator, compared to the previous one, scans deeper, but is inferior in drawing details. Thus, the declared frequency of the Praktik echo sounders is a kind of compromise.

By the way, in the two-beam model Practice 6PLUS, the wide beam operates at a frequency of 250 kHz, and the narrow one – 600 kHz, which makes the echo sounder even more practical.

According to information from earlier series (6S, 6M, 7 Wi-Fi) they scan the water column at a depth of 0.5 to 25 meters, later ones (6PLUS, 7 BWF, 7 BWF Universal) - at a depth of 0.5 to 50 meters. It is clear that we are talking here about limiting indicators. The majority of fishermen themselves write that truly high-quality pictures can be achieved at a depth of 2 meters. Ideal conditions for using Praktik echo sounders are depths from 2 to 15 meters with a relatively flat, flat bottom. Under these conditions, the device realizes itself 100%.

A little about the types of fishing. Please note that corded models 6S, 6M and 6PLUS are not suitable for shore fishing . The reason is obvious - the wired sensor is attached to a cable only 2 meters long. This is quite enough for echolocation at a depth of up to 50 meters, but problems arise with moving such a sensor along the surface of the water. Another thing is fishing from a boat and especially winter fishing . Wired echo sounders come in handy here. In turn, wireless models 7 Wi-Fi and 7 BWF are good for fishing from the shore. The beacon sensor here is not limited by the cable length. Using a thick fishing line, you can cast it at a distance of up to 80 meters from you - and on the display you will see a high-quality picture describing the situation: depth, bottom density, relief, presence of fish, water temperature, etc.

In general, in the assortment of the Russian manufacturer you can find devices for all types of fishing. Particularly noteworthy in this sense is the model Practitioner 7 BWF Universal , which includes both a wireless beacon and a wired sensor.

For clarity, let’s compare the characteristics of different echo sounders in the table. To the comparison characteristics already listed, we will add such as the weight of the echo sounder, operating temperature, type of power supply, type of display, the ability to record maps of depths and interesting places, etc.

Comparison of Praktik echo sounder models

What additional conclusions can be drawn from the table?

Firstly, all models of Praktik echo sounders are frost-resistant . And this is one of the most important advantages of the brand. Even at a temperature of minus 15-20 degrees, i.e. in the conditions of a real Russian winter, the devices continue to work correctly.

Secondly, almost all models (except Practice 7 Wi-Fi) are equipped with their own display . To some this may seem unnecessary. Like, now most echo sounders easily connect to a smartphone or tablet. In fact, even the most advanced brands of smartphones and tablets do not have the same durability and moisture resistance as the BWF unit specially designed for fishing. In addition, this unit is unsinkable, and a high-quality antenna and Wi-Fi module provide it with stable communication in any weather.

The most budget Praktik echo sounders (6S, 6M) have a black and white display with anti-glare coating. By the way, it is very convenient and understandable. More expensive models (6PLUS, 7 BWF, 7 BWF Station Wagon) are equipped with a color display with good resolution. Well, if you still want to use a smartphone, all Praktik wireless echo sounders provide this opportunity.

Thirdly, all Praktik echo sounders are characterized by moderate energy consumption . Earlier versions use AA batteries with a battery life of up to 120 hours (5 days). Later versions use a built-in battery. The battery life of the display unit depends on the connected sensor. You can work with a wired sensor for up to 20 hours without recharging, and with a wireless sensor (beacon) for up to 7 hours.

There is another important point that cannot be reflected in the table. Praktik echo sounders have always been clearer to Russian fishermen than many foreign devices, if only because of the Russian-language interface. However, there is no limit to perfection. In recent years, the manufacturer has redesigned the menu so that it becomes intuitive even without instructions.

It's time to talk about why Praktik-NC products are criticized. Some owners of Russian brand echo sounders note that the display of the BWF unit has a too small screen. It is difficult to parry such an argument, and it is not necessary. Here, as they say, it’s not for everyone. The only thing I would like to remind you in this regard is that in all wireless Praktik models, the fisherman has the ability to switch from the working display to a smartphone. So owners of smartphones with a large diagonal will automatically solve this problem for themselves.

Some reviews of Praktik echo sounders with a Wi-Fi module say that “there are freezes when establishing a connection,” “the program closes,” etc. This is not to say that this is a specific problem for this manufacturer. Rather, this is a drawback of the Wi-Fi connection itself. Any buyer should be prepared that such problems will arise from time to time. The main thing is that they do not have a systemic nature, otherwise this will already be a warranty case. By the way, the standard warranty for Praktik echo sounders is 1 year.

How does an echo sounder work?

Echo sounder Praktik 6M is a new product for Russian fishermen. The company Praktik NC LLC released it as a continuation of the series of Praktik echo sounders. With the help of Practice 6M, you can measure the depth of a reservoir, find out the bottom topography, and find sites for predatory and peaceful fish.

The Practitioner 6M works similarly to other echo sounders. When turned on, its sensor begins to emit ultrasonic waves. The signal from the sensor is reflected from the bottom surface, sunken trees, boulders, fish, algae and other water bodies and returns back. The echo sounder receives the signal, converts the received information and displays it on the screen in the form of a color image.

During factory testing of the device, it was tested in water of different densities and salinities, at low and high temperatures. Practitioner 6M shows stable results under any operating conditions.

Main conclusions about Praktik echo sounders

Russian echo sounders are a good buy for the amateur fisherman. They do not have any extraordinary qualities, but they cope with their basic functions with dignity. The ideal conditions for their use, in which echo sounders perform 100%, are depths from 2 to 15 meters with a relatively flat, flat bottom.

Frost resistance, operating frequency of the signal and viewing angle of the sensor allow us to consider devices of this brand as the most effective in winter fishing conditions. However, their functionality is also designed for fishing from a boat, and in some models - for fishing from the shore.

The Russian-language interface and intuitive menu make Praktik echo sounders especially valuable for novice fishermen.

Narrow and wide beams of the Practitioner 6 PLUS echo sounder

In order to compare the user characteristics of the wide and narrow beam of the Praktik 6+ echo sounders, we will take two identical devices and configure one for a narrow beam and the other for a wide beam.
Let's place them on clamps on both sides of the same boat and begin to synchronously go through various bottom irregularities and depth differences. Let's see how they are displayed. You can watch in this video

Below is brief information and conclusions from the video.