Custom Baits - Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: bassmasters40701 on 06/18/12 12:20 UTC
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I am looking to upgrade the electronics on my Ranger and get a side imagining unit and would like some advice. I'm looking at the HDS series or the Humminbird. I'm sure both units are great but does anyone have experience (both good or bad) with either of these units.
I currently have Lowrance 520's and am going to mount the new unit next to the steering wheel.
You all have helped me out tremendously with pouring baits and want to get your opinion on this as well.
Thanks for your help,
Tyler
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When I bought my boat it had Lowrance units on it. I decided to buy a Humminbird for my side imaging and I have been totally impressed. HB customer service is outstanding. I have heard others have some problems with Lowrance customer service. It might be better now, but I do know there was a time when it took forever to get anything done with Lowrance.
The other thing I like about HB is that when they release major functionality, you get a software upgrade and your unit has the new feature. If Lowrance has a major upgrade, you have to buy the newest unit to get the new feature.
Both are good units and you are not going to go wrong with either unit as far as side scan or down scan. It's just the other "stuff" that you may want to research.
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The forums - Bass Boat Central and Crappie.com have a number of threads on both. There are advantages for either unit. I personally purchased a Humminbird 997 sidescan before Lowrance came out with theirs. I like my bird. I have never been on the water with a Lowrance unit; so am of little value there. ( I would like to view a Lowrance unit for comparison. ) I do know that the larger screen models are the ones MUCH preferred. Sun angle can be a problem when viewing; as well as watching where you are going. My unit; when "dialed in" in non-turbid water will show a great amount of detail.
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Hey Tyler...Ditto on everything Firetiger and Paul posted. I have a HB 797 in the console and a 787 up front. If I had it to do over I would definately stay with HB, but would upgrade to the larger screens. My boat also came with Lorance units, but after a couple years I was still confused on which buttons to push. The only regret I have re the HB is not getting a larger screen.
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I run HDS & havent had any issues with it. IMO the HDS side/down image i better & clearer than HB's & im not the only one that has noticed that. ive spent time in front of both units on lowrance 5's,8's & 10's & the humminbird 998. in the end its really what you want & what your wanting to do with it
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i have screen shots i can post if you want to look at them just let me know
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My Buddy just put a HB 898c SI Combo in his bass boat and we went out on the first day and it was absolutely amazing!
1. The BIG screen is a MUST
2. We had meaningful data in minutes! The menus seem really intuitive.
He has had it over a month now ...and he really likes how easy it has been figuring it out....
We are in the process now of mapping our ice fishing areas with the Dr. Depth software that was suggested on this site (Paul is the master of that software).
The big problem is we spend more time playing with the depth finder....than fishing!!!!
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I have a HB 898. Works good. Great for seeing and finding structure.
Not so great for seeing fush IMO. Dont expect to go down a shoreline and see fish there or under docks.
I detroyed my screen by cleaning it with standard windex with amonia (no warnings anywhere). Found out later they reccomend windex with vinegar.
My buddy just got a Lowrance. He hates it but I am guessing his settings are off. He is amazed at my HB and wishes his looks like it. As said though something must be off on his
....Bill
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I appreciate all of the replies they have been extremely helpful. I'm glad we didn't start an electronics war because that was definitely not my intent, I just needed some information from actual users and that is what I got.
Anyone else have any opinions or advice please let me know.
Thanks again.
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Truthfully, my father and I have been Lowrance users for years, but here recently we've both had a change in opinions about the electronics we're using. Reason being, Lowrance' customer service has become pitiful and their electronics are very complex operating systems, as for Hummingbird when asked about the 777c we used, Hummingbird was more than helpful and come to find out operator error was the only problem. As for the Lowrance, the transducer went bad. My father and I operate Lowrance and eagles on his Skeeter and my Ranger, but as for the tracker he just sold it had a 141c hummingbird in front and a 777c hummingbird in the rear which both proved to be excellent electronics.
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OK, not to sreal the thread, but for a old-timer what's the easiest unit to learn? Haven't had anything new in about twelve years and all the new improvements scare me. Can't see spending big money on a unit and then haveing trouble learning how to use it. I have a hand held GPS that uses Navornics chips and Im still not sure on how to use that! Any advice
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Take a kid fishing! A tech savvy 12 year old would probably figure the thing out in a few minutes.....the rest of us....6 months if we were lucky!
In my personal experience, Humminbird is the most "intuitive".
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For all of the Humminbird people out there. I am looking at the 998 and the 898. The only difference I can see between the two units is the 1 inch screen size. Is there any other differences that I am not seeing and is the 1 in screen size really worth the 400 dollars?
Thanks again for the advice.
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Don't forget about the warranty. I've had to replace 2 Lowrance units during the warranty period and then shortly after the warranty, I had to pay a lot of money to get them repaired. At that time the warranty was only a year. After spending thousands on them I did not feel I got my moneys worth and at the time, I went 2 times a month and stored my boat indoors and disconnected my units before charging the boat. That was 24 trips in one year and the units back then were a couple grand each and I had 2, one at the front and one at the console.
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I am not sure the processors are the same on the 898 and 998. When I purchased mine the 997 had a "stronger " processor as well as the larger screen.
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Don't forget about the warranty. I've had to replace 2 Lowrance units during the warranty period and then shortly after the warranty, I had to pay a lot of money to get them repaired. At that time the warranty was only a year. After spending thousands on them I did not feel I got my moneys worth and at the time, I went 2 times a month and stored my boat indoors and disconnected my units before charging the boat. That was 24 trips in one year and the units back then were a couple grand each and I had 2, one at the front and one at the console.
Ouch... Did they do anything the third time to help you? I'm not big on extended warranties, but this may be an item to consider getting one on.
I still use the ones that came on my boat, I think 332's? I've been waiting to see if there is a clear winner before taking the expensive plunge. Looks like I may need a little more time.
Jason
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Get the 1198, you'll be so glad you did it. Save your pennies, sell some molds, have a bake sale, do whatever you need to do, but the big screen is AWESOME!
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My buddy just got an HDS 5 and wow is that screen tiny.
My buddy made me an aluminum pedastel to raise it a bit as I have really bad eyes (blind in one)
(http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq257/zz430t56/123_0328.jpg)
....Bill
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That is super cool!!!
Jason
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That is a really good idea. I bet that takes care of any glare as well when the sun is high in the sky.