Fish Finders 2024
dougie511 reply :
Okay so the other day i was at scheels and i was just scoping out fish finders because i know i need to purchase one here pretty soon! The associate was really pushing a hummingbird unit 598 or something along those lines i know it was like 800 dollars and had side scan, down imaging, and gps. It was on sale for 600 and he said it was the last unit they had in stock so i would have gotten the display model for possibly 10-20% off im not really sure but what he was saying is that they are selling off most of certain units because they are goin to be discontinued and a new model will replace it and that i wont be able to buy the old or new model for that sale price! How much truth is there to them replacing it with a different model because ive been kind of kicking myself for not possibly picking it up and not only that but i feel like lowrance makes a little better product but i also dont know much about fish finders so some help in that area would be great to of what you like and dislike about the two different makes! He was really pushing the hummingbird unit on me though saying it will be the best for my money and really trying to get me to buy it which is his job so thats why i kind of want to get some more info on them! thank you!
Smokinal reply :
I just upgraded both of my units and went with HB. I have a 798si on the console and a 597ci di on the bow. I, too, don't know too much about the different models/brands but I believe with the Lowrance, to get side imaging, you must purchase an additional piece. Where with HB, it's all internal in one unit. And as many will say, buy as much as you can the first time.
slonezp reply :
Humminbird has 4 new lines of fish finders coming out. the "6" series, the "9" series for lack of a better name, the ONIX series, and the ION series. There are closeout prices on the discontinued units. You can find some real good deals online.
Wayne P. reply :
The 500 and 700 series are being discontinued and replaced by the 600 series. There will be one 700 series kept. 718.
The 800, 900, and 1100 series are being updated and will be the same as the 2013 models but with a faster processor.Those models will have a "9" at the end of the model number-- 899, 999, 1199, etc
The two new models for the 2014 model year are designed for the bluewater market. Those are the ONIX and ION.
They have a couple of size displays in each model.
As far as the 598ci HD SI Combo, that is a better unit than its replacement, the 698ci HD SI. The new model has a narrower display which is what you do not want with a Side Imaging unit.
The equivelent 798ci HD SI is the best in that screen size since it has the same size display as the 598 but has the additional capability of connectivity to other units to share data and accessories, has three quick view buttons, and dual card readers.
slonezp reply :
As far as likes/dislikes, it's a the same as a Ford vs Chevy debate. I've only run 1 Lowrance unit and it was a basic black and white. It worked flawlessly for 10 years before I sold the boat. I ran 2 birds on that boat also without issue 1 being a SI unit and the other a Matrix unit. I've got Birds on my current boat. I chose them over the Lowrance primarily for ease of use. The customer service is good, and after the warranty expires, they continue to service the units for a fixed rate. Lowrance on the otherhand, if they deem an older unit has outdated technology, they do not repair them and only offer a credit towards buying a new graph. The warranty on the Birds is 1 year for the units up thru the 700 series and 2 years for the 800 series and up.
BadBassWV reply :
You can still pickup a 598ci si di for around $525.00 Shipped. If You trust the guys one Ebay. I just got one seems everything is fine with it, new in the box and everything was there. There are alot of honest dealers on ebay.
WRB reply :
Fish finders today are more than depth sounding sonar units, they provide GPS location, way points and navigation maps, plus they can offer side scanning or 360 scanning depending on how much money you are willing to spend.
Your first priority is being honest with yourself and determine how you fish, then what your needs are for the sonar unit. Whatever you choose, try to get on the water demonstration, in store similators are designed to sell units. You are going to spend a lot of fishing time learning how to use a sonar unit.
Last years big change was touch screens, the units stayed nearly the same in regards to performance. Both Lowrance and Hummingbird are discounting the manual key operating systems for touch screens, good savings on key operating units.
Tom
BassnChris reply :
On 12/8/2013 at 1:33 PM, dougie511 said:Okay so the other day i was at scheels and i was just scoping out fish finders because i know i need to purchase one here pretty soon! The associate was really pushing a hummingbird unit..........................because ive been kind of kicking myself for not possibly picking it up and not only that but i feel like lowrance makes a little better product but i also dont know much about fish finders so some help in that area would be great to of what you like and dislike about the two different makes! He was really pushing the hummingbird unit on me though saying it will be the best for my money and really trying to get me to buy it which is his job so thats why i kind of want to get some more info on them! thank you!
I was in your boat (no pun intended) last year. Did not know a lot about the sonar units. Do as I did and do a lot of searching here and the internet about the units you are interested in. Feel free to ask questions.
I do not like it when a salesman is 'pushing' anything. After much deliberation last year around this time I had finally narrowed it down and bought a Lowrance HDS 7 touch online when I found a great deal. But I had already decided I wanted it before I found the deal. Then I found a Lowrance HDS 10 Gen 1 at BassPro later that day.........regularly around $2500......on sale for $999. I snatched it up but not before I asked if I could return it for a 100% refund.
Not any technical advice here.....sorry. YOU need to decide what YOU want, for whatever your reasons are for wanting it. Or you will not be happy with them. Don't kick yourself for not buying it........in my opinion you did the right thing. Good luck.
dougie511 reply :
On 12/8/2013 at 11:13 PM, Wayne P. said:The 500 and 700 series are being discontinued and replaced by the 600 series. There will be one 700 series kept. 718.
The 800, 900, and 1100 series are being updated and will be the same as the 2013 models but with a faster processor.Those models will have a "9" at the end of the model number-- 899, 999, 1199, etc
The two new models for the 2014 model year are designed for the bluewater market. Those are the ONIX and ION.
They have a couple of size displays in each model.
As far as the 598ci HD SI Combo, that is a better unit than its replacement, the 698ci HD SI. The new model has a narrower display which is what you do not want with a Side Imaging unit.
The equivelent 798ci HD SI is the best in that screen size since it has the same size display as the 598 but has the additional capability of connectivity to other units to share data and accessories, has three quick view buttons, and dual card readers.
thanks thats actually a lot of help!! do you like the side imaging? and do you feel that it is very helpful or not so helpful?
dougie511 reply :
On 12/8/2013 at 11:42 PM, slonezp said:As far as likes/dislikes, it's a the same as a Ford vs Chevy debate. I've only run 1 Lowrance unit and it was a basic black and white. It worked flawlessly for 10 years before I sold the boat. I ran 2 birds on that boat also without issue 1 being a SI unit and the other a Matrix unit. I've got Birds on my current boat. I chose them over the Lowrance primarily for ease of use. The customer service is good, and after the warranty expires, they continue to service the units for a fixed rate. Lowrance on the otherhand, if they deem an older unit has outdated technology, they do not repair them and only offer a credit towards buying a new graph. The warranty on the Birds is 1 year for the units up thru the 700 series and 2 years for the 800 series and up.
thank you!!
dougie511 reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 12:43 AM, BadBassWV said:You can still pickup a 598ci si di for around $525.00 Shipped. If You trust the guys one Ebay. I just got one seems everything is fine with it, new in the box and everything was there. There are alot of honest dealers on ebay.
i actually deal a lot with ebay and bought a rod and reel setup off of there all brand new for way cheaper and had absolutely no problems with it!! i like ebay a lot the only problems i have really had is at times the shipping is slower than listed but thats kind of crappy excuse to complain lol
dougie511 reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 2:52 AM, WRB said:Fish finders today are more than depth sounding sonar units, they provide GPS location, way points and navigation maps, plus they can offer side scanning or 360 scanning depending on how much money you are willing to spend.
Your first priority is being honest with yourself and determine how you fish, then what your needs are for the sonar unit. Whatever you choose, try to get on the water demonstration, in store similators are designed to sell units. You are going to spend a lot of fishing time learning how to use a sonar unit.
Last years big change was touch screens, the units stayed nearly the same in regards to performance. Both Lowrance and Hummingbird are discounting the manual key operating systems for touch screens, good savings on key operating units.
Tom
well i honestly wanna spend a ton of time on the water this coming up summer but not having electronics now makes it a struggle it seems like to locate where they are! and what i mean by that is almost everytime i go fishing i hardly ever catch more than 2 bass and when i catch one i usually try to sit there and fan cast and do different speed retrieves and switch things up and still nothing it just doesnt make sense to me and i feel like knowing drop offs and be able to see structure under the water will really help me and i hardly ever get skunked besides now that its winter i got skunked a couple times but i feel that having electronics is gonna be a pretty big help to me fishing more effectively! so thats why im trying to learn and see what will suit me best and find a good price range! Do
dougie511 reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 9:49 AM, BassnChris said:I was in your boat (no pun intended) last year. Did not know a lot about the sonar units. Do as I did and do a lot of searching here and the internet about the units you are interested in. Feel free to ask questions.
I do not like it when a salesman is 'pushing' anything. After much deliberation last year around this time I had finally narrowed it down and bought a Lowrance HDS 7 touch online when I found a great deal. But I had already decided I wanted it before I found the deal. Then I found a Lowrance HDS 10 Gen 1 at BassPro later that day.........regularly around $2500......on sale for $999. I snatched it up but not before I asked if I could return it for a 100% refund.
Not any technical advice here.....sorry. YOU need to decide what YOU want, for whatever your reasons are for wanting it. Or you will not be happy with them. Don't kick yourself for not buying it........in my opinion you did the right thing. Good luck.
Ya i hate when they get pushy also that was kind of my story behind it all! Because i like the lowarance models from what i see in the store and like it was stated in this topic they are setup in store to look good so they can sell models!! But for some reason the hummingbird just doesnt appeal much to me but the sad part is im goin of only by messing with them in store not actually using one! and it sucks because i honestly dont get much time to see how some of these models work on the water! i guess i could try youtube! what made you want the lowrance? and also does lowrance come with down and side scan? some guy posted on here about them possibly not having it or it comes as a separate deal or something?
BassnChris reply :
As I understood it I was going to need a hub to network my units if I bought Humminbirds and the Lowrance would network with just a cable.
Not to say Humminbirds are not good.......in fact my first unit was a Humminbird and I liked it....it was not networkable though.
I think in my mind Lowrance stood for sonar.............kind of a standard. You hear it both ways but that is where I was in my thinking. I like the options available for Lowrance and their connectivity. I am excited about the new front looking spotlightscan too.
I bought my Lowrance 7 Touch with the structurescan transducer. The touch units have the structure scan module built in.....so I could use my other HDS unit with structure scan by sharing the transducer.
I am not by any means an expert......there are others here that know a lot more about it and I respect their opinions a great deal.
As I understand it......the structure scan is Lowrance's down/side imaging. But you might check with the other guys to get more detailed information..................if you have not done it yet you might do some searches in the forums and online.
Good luck
Wayne P. reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 12:46 PM, dougie511 said:thanks thats actually a lot of help!! do you like the side imaging? and do you feel that it is very helpful or not so helpful?
I use SIde Imaging at the console and bow all the time. It shows what is under the boat and what is away from under the boat. I basicaly "sight fish" all the time no matter what time of year and water depth.
With a Humminbird Side Imaging unit, it comes with everything to make it fully functional for Side Imaging, Down Imaging, 2D sonar, and GPS/ mapping. You may want to add other accessories to customize it for your installation.
Yea, I would say I like it and it is very helpful. I have three Side Imaging units.
Wayne P. reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 9:11 PM, BassnChris said:As I understood it I was going to need a hub to network my units if I bought Humminbirds and the Lowrance would network with just a cable.
Not to say Humminbirds are not good.......in fact my first unit was a Humminbird and I liked it....it was not networkable though.
I think in my mind Lowrance stood for sonar.............kind of a standard. You hear it both ways but that is where I was in my thinking. I like the options available for Lowrance and their connectivity. I am excited about the new front looking spotlightscan too.
I bought my Lowrance 7 Touch with the structurescan transducer. The touch units have the structure scan module built in.....so I could use my other HDS unit with structure scan by sharing the transducer.
I am not by any means an expert......there are others here that know a lot more about it and I respect their opinions a great deal.
As I understand it......the structure scan is Lowrance's down/side imaging. But you might check with the other guys to get more detailed information..................if you have not done it yet you might vist the electronics forum here and by all means do a search.
Good luck
Structure Scan does the Down Scan feature and the Side Scan feature. The unit itself comes with a 2D transducer for traditional sonar. You need both transducers for all functions.
dougie511 reply :
On 12/9/2013 at 9:20 PM, Wayne P. said:Structure Scan does the Down Scan feature and the Side Scan feature. The unit itself comes with a 2D transducer for traditional sonar. You need both transducers for all functions.
thank you for the help!! and i was really wanting a side imaging, down scan, 2d, and gps but after watching youtube videos last night for a couple hours on fish finders the side imaging honestly kind of confused me on how the layout is on the screen! it may have been the video i watched of it being explained that confused me im not really sure! But with hummingbird im pretty sure the unit i looked at had all of that but i found a lowrance with down scan, 2d, and gps elite 7 so a bigger screen for a little cheaper than the hummingbird just no side imaging which im not sure i need! i really want it but im not sure i can really understand it! and if you have side and down imaging and everything on your fish finder why do you sight fish? do you just know the lake well enough?
dougie511 reply :
another big sell point the guy was saying at scheels was about how the hummingbirds come with a card so you can put the navionics maps on it and stuff! is that option what they call the chartplotter?
Wayne P. reply :
On 12/10/2013 at 4:55 AM, dougie511 said:thank you for the help!! and i was really wanting a side imaging, down scan, 2d, and gps but after watching youtube videos last night for a couple hours on fish finders the side imaging honestly kind of confused me on how the layout is on the screen! it may have been the video i watched of it being explained that confused me im not really sure! But with hummingbird im pretty sure the unit i looked at had all of that but i found a lowrance with down scan, 2d, and gps elite 7 so a bigger screen for a little cheaper than the hummingbird just no side imaging which im not sure i need! i really want it but im not sure i can really understand it! and if you have side and down imaging and everything on your fish finder why do you sight fish? do you just know the lake well enough?
You didn't understand what I ment by "sight fishing". I watch the Side Imaging display and fish for the fish I see displayed. If they are 100' away from the boat in 30' of water, I see them and cast to where they are.
If I am in 5' or less of water that is dingy to muddy, and the fish are 50' from the boat, I see them displayed and cast to where they are.
That is why I used " "
With the Lowrance Down Scan unit, Raymarine Dragonfly, Humminbird Down Imaging units, or whatever Garmin calls their new similar model, you only see what is under the boat about in the same coverage area as the 2D sonar.
Only the Lowance Structure Scan and Humminbird Side Imaging has the type of "to the sides" coverage with the picture-like images.
I personally don't use Down Imaging for other than getting comparison images for sonar discussions like this.
The coverage is just too limited. For the inexperienced sonar user, Down Imaging/Down Scan/ DownView, etc. does help interpret what the 2D sonar is showing.
dougie511 reply :
On 12/10/2013 at 5:29 AM, Wayne P. said:You didn't understand what I ment by "sight fishing". I watch the Side Imaging display and fish for the fish I see displayed. If they are 100' away from the boat in 30' of water, I see them and cast to where they are.
If I am in 5' or less of water that is dingy to muddy, and the fish are 50' from the boat, I see them displayed and cast to where they are.
That is why I used " "
With the Lowrance Down Scan unit, Raymarine Dragonfly, Humminbird Down Imaging units, or whatever Garmin calls their new similar model, you only see what is under the boat about in the same coverage area as the 2D sonar.
Only the Lowance Structure Scan and Humminbird Side Imaging has the type of "to the sides" coverage with the picture-like images.
I personally don't use Down Imaging for other than getting comparison images for sonar discussions like this.
The coverage is just too limited. For the inexperienced sonar user, Down Imaging/Down Scan/ DownView, etc. does help interpret what the 2D sonar is showing.
sorry about the misunderstanding! It's starting to make a lot more sense now. Thank you for the help!
Comfortably Numb reply :
Have you seen this vid?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xe6pLPdMKc&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF76D33FD0CA0C7F7
I had a Humminbird si and now a Lowrance HDS. Both perform well but I really like the HDS better with its better si and di.
As said the HB come complete and ready to use Si Di and 2d as well as GPS. Since new models are coming out you can get a good eal on them. They only use one transducer so easier to switch from one boat to another.
The Low HDS comes with a 2d transducer and an electronic box and seperate transducer is needed to add Si and Di.
ANY si unit with a 5" screen is very difficult to see the Si screen. Step up to at least a 7" screen if possible.
Wayne P. reply :
On 12/10/2013 at 4:57 AM, dougie511 said:another big sell point the guy was saying at scheels was about how the hummingbirds come with a card so you can put the navionics maps on it and stuff! is that option what they call the chartplotter?
The Humminbird Combo units have memory card readers to add mapping products like Navionics and Lakemaster.
Lowrance Combo units have card readers also for Navionics, Insite and more.
Neither come with the mapping cards, that is a separate purchase.
A combo unit has sonar and GPS.
A unit that is a GPS trackplotter and has background mapping capability is called a Chart Plotter.
dougie511 reply :
On 12/10/2013 at 9:20 PM, Wayne P. said:The Humminbird Combo units have memory card readers to add mapping products like Navionics and Lakemaster.
Lowrance Combo units have card readers also for Navionics, Insite and more.
Neither come with the mapping cards, that is a separate purchase.
A combo unit has sonar and GPS.
A unit that is a GPS trackplotter and has background mapping capability is called a Chart Plotter.
uve been a huge help dude i really appreciate it!
jignfule reply :
On 12/8/2013 at 11:13 PM, Wayne P. said:The 500 and 700 series are being discontinued and replaced by the 600 series. There will be one 700 series kept. 718.
The 800, 900, and 1100 series are being updated and will be the same as the 2013 models but with a faster processor.Those models will have a "9" at the end of the model number-- 899, 999, 1199, etc
The two new models for the 2014 model year are designed for the bluewater market. Those are the ONIX and ION.
They have a couple of size displays in each model.
As far as the 598ci HD SI Combo, that is a better unit than its replacement, the 698ci HD SI. The new model has a narrower display which is what you do not want with a Side Imaging unit.
The equivelent 798ci HD SI is the best in that screen size since it has the same size display as the 598 but has the additional capability of connectivity to other units to share data and accessories, has three quick view buttons, and dual card readers.
How much of the information is lost on a 698ci compared to the 598 and 798
slonezp reply :
The information is not lost, it's compacted, so it's smaller and more difficult to read
Wayne P. reply :
On 4/3/2014 at 11:01 AM, slonezp said:The information is not lost, it's compacted, so it's smaller and more difficult to read
What slonezp stated !!
WIGuide reply :
Looks like these guys have got you covered for most of your questions. I will chime in on the Lowrance vs Humminbird debate. They are both great units. I don't feel that there is a clear winner for either. Each has some qualities or features that are better than the others. It just boils down to which is more suited for you. One thing I will warn you about if you're going the Lowrance route, find out exactly what you want it to do and find out from a dealer or even on here exactly everything you need for it to work the way you want. They have a way of nickel and diming you for everything so factor that into your price and budget.
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