Lowrance Or Hummingbird 2024
Ror Boy reply :
Ive never owned a fish finder. Im willing to spend $1500 but would not like to spend that much if ican. What would you guys buy?
Jig Man reply :
Either brand will do a very good job for you if you take time to research them and get some hands on experience.
Go to a place like Cabela's or Bass Pro where they have both brands on display. I latch onto a sales guy and have him walk you through both units in your price range. Then take over the controls and do some button pushing yourself to see which one have the features and ease of operation that you want.
If the store is a reasonable distance from you, go more than once. Make sure you are getting what you want before you lay down that much cash.
Wayne P. reply :
First of all what features do you want?
Regular Sonar---Single or Dual Frequency
Imaging Sonar---Side or Down or both
GPS---with or without mapping
Color or Monochrome display
Screen Size
Don't count on anyone at Bass Pro knowing anything about Humminbird products.
Jig Man reply :
On 2/14/2012 at 1:43 AM, Wayne P. said:Don't count on anyone at Bass Pro knowing anything about Humminbird products.
That may be the case where you live but the guys here know more HB than Low.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
Here is what I did. I read both websites, read the owners manuals, then went to BPS for some button time. I was dead set on the H 898 until I went and pushed buttons. I ended up ordering the HDS7 Gen 2. The lowrance is cheaper to expand and if you buy the bundle its the same price. IMO it comes down to preferece. Both are good units.
J Francho reply :
On 2/14/2012 at 3:15 AM, Siebert Outdoors said:Here is what I did. I read both websites, read the owners manuals, then went to BPS for some button time. I was dead set on the H 898 until I went and pushed buttons. I ended up ordering the HDS7 Gen 2. The lowrance is cheaper to expand and if you buy the bundle its the same price. IMO it comes down to preferece. Both are good units.
Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 2/15/2012 at 10:58 PM, J Francho said:Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.
Not yet. I'm still waiting for it from Lowrance. I had a local shop I use to work at order it in for me. I bought the LDS7 package that retails at 1499. I did see in a Cabelas catalog that starting feb 16 approx there is a rebate. I dont know the truth to that or if its just cabelas but its worth looking into. I went with the 7" but really want the 8" The small ones have a small screen obviously. I'd buy the biggest one you can afford. I'm hoping next year to buy the 8 and move the 7 to the front. Once I get it all hooked up I will be giving my report and likes. I just hope we dont freeze over by then. I'm hoping less then 2 weeks and I'll be up and running. Once I get it hooked up I am going to the lake unless froze. I might not even take a rod.
J Francho reply :
What I want to do is get the HDS5 fully bundled, and get the basic HDS7 Sonor/GPS. I want to be able to use the 5 on the boat and on the kayak. I'm wondering if I have to buy the bundles for both units, or does Ethernet let you share on both?
S Hovanec reply :
On 2/15/2012 at 10:58 PM, J Francho said:Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.
I have a 5 on the console and 7 on the bow (both gen 1). I do not have the LSS, I just ahve the two connected together with the ethernet to share waypoints. I believe you can share a LSS unit between 2 head units. If you want to use the LSS on your yak, you would need to move LSS unit and the LSS transducer to the yak. If you don't want to to that moving each time, you wold need 2 LSS units.
J Francho reply :
I can't just get another 'ducer for the kayak?
Siebert Outdoors reply :
JFrancho, the way I understand it is yes for both your answers. If you want to use the LSS you can view it on both finders.
This will help. http://www.lowrance....ureScan/System/
Your only major catch with transferring units is the LSS for the Kayak.
J Francho reply :
Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.
Todd Driscoll reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 2:32 AM, J Francho said:Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.
No doubt, it's very beneficial on both the transom and trolling motor. Each LSS only supports one ducer, so to have independent LSS ducers on both the TM and transom, you would need two complete LSSs.
J Francho reply :
Thanks, Todd. That may have to come later - three LSSs (two for the boat, one for the kayak) is a tough pill to swallow.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 2:32 AM, J Francho said:Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.
Interesting. Very Very interesting.
I'm thinking when I get all hooked up I'm going to go for a dive and see how the LSS picks up a diver.
Pete-K reply :
Crankhead reply :
Here is something else to consider. My buddy & I own a 18 1/2' Lund together. We were strictly Lowrance guys until we had some problems w/both of our units. We got kind of jacked around by their service...it took 6 months to find out they wouldnt't do anything about our problems (1 unit the out housing cracked/the other I can't recall). Plus I think...could be wrong...that there was a charge for any updates to the units. So in 09' we switched to Humminbird and never regretted it. All software updates are free & easy to do. We've had to use Humminbird's service twice. Their turn around time once the unit was in their possession...we had it back in 4 days on one & 5 days on the other.
Jig Man reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 3:28 AM, Siebert Outdoors said:Interesting. Very Very interesting.
I'm thinking when I get all hooked up I'm going to go for a dive and see how the LSS picks up a diver.
Jason Gilstrap posted a screen shot of a Low guy in the water. It was amazing. I think it is on the Low facebook site but not sure. I think I saw it on the Texas fishing forum site.
---------------------------------
About an lss1 on a yak, I'm not sure it would be beneficial because you might not be moving fast enough or steady enough to get good images.
Todd Driscoll reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 7:55 PM, Jig Man said:Jason Gilstrap posted a screen shot of a Low guy in the water. It was amazing. I think it is on the Low facebook site but not sure. I think I saw it on the Texas fishing forum site.
Here is a 3 pane shot of a SCUBA diver
Todd Driscoll reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 5:26 PM, Crankhead said:Plus I think...could be wrong...that there was a charge for any updates to the units. So in 09' we switched to Humminbird and never regretted it. All software updates are free & easy to do.
Lowrance software updates have always been free and are offered as a download on lowrance.com.
J Francho reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 7:55 PM, Jig Man said:About an lss1 on a yak, I'm not sure it would be beneficial because you might not be moving fast enough or steady enough to get good images.
I know a ton of guys running both HB SI and LSS units on kayaks. I can get 3 mph with basically zero effort, over 6 powering along.
Jig Man reply :
On 2/16/2012 at 10:23 PM, J Francho said:I know a ton of guys running both HB SI and LSS units on kayaks. I can get 3 mph with basically zero effort, over 6 powering along.
3mph is plenty fast for good images. I assumed you would be moving very slowly or not at all while fishing. Do you have a trolling motor on it?
J Francho reply :
No TM, but many guys do. I don't move 3 mph while I'm fishing in my boat, so I don't think it would matter.
Triton_Mike reply :
I own 4 birds 2ea 1198's,997 and 917. If I can help with humminbird let me know. I've been running SI since Humminbird came out with it. Kayaks and SI you guys are hard core LOL. It will work just not sure it will work as well as you want it to. Depends on how you use it. If you vertical fished alot I would highly reccomend it but I wouldn't guess you guys vertical fish much (maybe you striper guys on big lakes).
The key here is finding fish with SI/DI. To get good images of structure you need to be moving 3 to 5mph roughly. to find fish (vertically) you don't have to be moving at all. Now Streams and rivers... ehhhhhh not sure I could reccomend a Si unit for that. But yes it will work.
Here is an example of finding fish with no movement of the boat. Notice speed aka mph.
Now one might ask gee sonar is good enough in this instance. But these big groups of fish aren't always under the boat LOL.
notguilty reply :
Fellas you just shed a whole lot of light on my question. Was looking at low hds 8 with all the goodies but was not sure on some pros and cons. Any suggestions on ease of use with gen2 to the gen1 and or pros and cons to one or the other?
Glenn reply :
We just bought an 8" HDS Gen2 for the bow and a 10" HDS Gen2 for the console, plus the weather module (we already have Sirius radio on the boat, so that was a no-brainer). We also got the Navionics chip. They're not installed yet, but I'll post a report once we've had a chance to kick the tires. In the mean time, I've been spending a lot of time watching training videos and reading up on all the new stuff!
LoneWolf reply :
i just finished installing a humminbird a new 898cSI on the bow of my boat and couldn't be happier....lots of info and videos and tons of help to get me started on operation of unit......american made with great customer service.....gonna be a great summer
Todd Driscoll reply :
On 2/21/2012 at 11:48 AM, notguilty said:Fellas you just shed a whole lot of light on my question. Was looking at low hds 8 with all the goodies but was not sure on some pros and cons. Any suggestions on ease of use with gen2 to the gen1 and or pros and cons to one or the other?
The Gen2s have a faster processor (response to Menu/key selections is very quick), have the new StructureMap feature, and have more internal storage memory. Other features of the Gen2 are the same as Gen1. See more on Gen2 and StructureMap below:
http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/HDS-Gen2/
J Francho reply :
After playing with a HDS 8 and a HDS 8 Gen 2 side my side, the Gen 2 is way faster.
J Francho reply :
On 2/21/2012 at 12:08 PM, Glenn said:We just bought an 8" HDS Gen2 for the bow and a 10" HDS Gen2 for the console, plus the weather module (we already have Sirius radio on the boat, so that was a no-brainer). We also got the Navionics chip. They're not installed yet, but I'll post a report once we've had a chance to kick the tires. In the mean time, I've been spending a lot of time watching training videos and reading up on all the new stuff!
Just a dumb question, why not put the 10 up front, where you have more room and the viewing distance is greater? I mean, I spend WAYYY more time fishing than driving. Just curious.
Jig Man reply :
That is for sure what I would do if I had a 10. I could only afford 2 8s.
Wayne P. reply :
On 2/22/2012 at 4:51 AM, J Francho said:Just a dumb question, why not put the 10 up front, where you have more room and the viewing distance is greater? I mean, I spend WAYYY more time fishing than driving. Just curious.
Agreed J, I did just that when I added another SI unit to go with my 5" screen model. I then decided to get another 10" for the console. BIGGER is BETTER especially from a distance.
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