Jason Halfen
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Hot off the presses from Humminbird!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Humminbird® Expands Innovative Sonar Offerings
With the Addition of Down ImagingTM
Highly Popular "Side-to-Side" Picture-Like View Now Includes View Below the Boat
EUFAULA, Ala. (Sept. 28, 2009) - Expanding on an impressive list of sonar capabilities, Humminbird® announces the addition of Down ImagingTM Sonar to its groundbreaking Side Imaging® technology.
"Humminbird's goal continues to be to provide anglers with the most innovative technology and Down Imaging is the next step in that process," said Dale Logue, product manager for Humminbird. "Adding Down Imaging to Side Imaging, and our new SwitchFireTM Traditional Sonar, the opportunity to find highly productive fishing spots is unprecedented."
Like Humminbird's innovative Side Imaging Sonar, which revolutionized the marine electronics industry, Down Imaging presents picture-like images of the bottom. Down Imaging views are focused directly beneath the angler's boat, giving a detailed look at structure and the water column. Down Imaging and Side Imaging together give anglers an incredibly detailed, full 180° view of the bottom.
Split-screen viewing options provide the ability to view Side Imaging, Down Imaging and SwitchFire Sonar separately, in groups of two, or all three at once.
"Humminbird created an entirely new category with Side Imaging, and now Down Imaging uses that same technology to give anglers an advantage like no other," said Logue.
A free software upgrade to add Down Imaging will be available in January to current owners of Humminbird models with Side Imaging (except 797c2 SI) by simply registering their product at Humminbird.com. No new hardware or transducer is required. All new Side Imaging models (998c SI and 898c SI) come standard with Down Imaging capabilities, with existing models (1197c SI and 798c SI) adding the feature as a running change in 2010.
I know a lot of guys are interested in this feature....now there's no reason to look further than the industry leader in Side Imaging technology for a picture-like image of what lies directly beneath your boat.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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SAUGER
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Cool beans!! It just keeps getting better. 
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moreyes
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Sweet
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Most of my money is spent on fishing, fishing tackle and boats, the rest is wasted......Thanks Kirt Hedquist
NPAA 292 <'((^)){
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Nic Habeck
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You just have to love the competition between HB & LOW. It only makes it better for all of us fishermen. They just need a way to tell us if the fish we image are hungry and what they are thinking would be good to eat...
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Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught. ~Author Unknown
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Kooty
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What I really like is they are not getting greedy and charging for this feature.
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I was born in the 70's, grew up in 80's, made my mistakes in 90's now I'm just trying to make up for lost time.
John
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Bigfife
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Will this be available for the 997 as well?
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Just call me Dr. Walleye...lol
Team Fife Fishing
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Jason Halfen
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Yes it will.
From the press release:
Quote:
A free software upgrade to add Down Imaging will be available in January to current owners of Humminbird models with Side Imaging (except 797c2 SI) by simply registering their product at Humminbird.com.
If you have a 997 already, you're all set. Just get the new software release in January.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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Bigfife
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Sweet! I just got mine so I know I still have a ton to learn. Anymore of those Hummingbird seminars planned?
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Just call me Dr. Walleye...lol
Team Fife Fishing
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Jason Halfen
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I have two Humminbird seminars schedule for 2010 at this point. One will be at Skeeter Boat Center, and the second is likely to be in Rochester MN.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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smackem
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I knew something like this would happen. Just didn't know if it would be loadable into the older models. I've been eyeballing the 997 and the 1197 but was waiting to hear what was going to happen next. With $$$ being as tight as it is, I didn't want to invest the coin only to find out I should have waited. Looks like I have NOW made up my mind.
GREAT INFO just in time
Hopefully the upgrade won't poor man me
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Jason Halfen
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Here are some screen captures showcasing Down-Imaging.
These are direct from the head technical guru at Humminbird.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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TDomaille
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Post deleted by TDomaille
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Tim Domaille -
Pro-Staff- Brovarney Baits
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MossBoss
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That's great, except that I have a 797. 
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Drew H.
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Quote:
That's great, except that I have a 797.
Do you know why they eliminated the 797?
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There are two kinds of people in this world "Givers and Takers" "How can I help you"
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icefishingelite
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Thats great news Jason thanks for the heads up on this one. The images look exceptional and now im curious to see if this down imaging will work on hardwater. I know the ducer has to be moving but i think the images maybe interpreted by hole hopping. Maybe even see rising fish on it, any idea what the refresh rate on the down imaging will be?
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Jason Halfen
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The 797 was replaced by the 798. I believe that change occurred within the past year.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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whittsend
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OMG... I think I'm about to cry.
But its a GOOD cry. 
After reading the whole article, I honestly put my hands in the air like the Packers just scored a last second touchdown agains the Vikings. GREAT NEWS!!!!!!
I was afraid the article would say, "add transducer and cables for only $xxx extra." Jason, give your HB buddies a hug for us. First Lakemaster, WHICH ROCKS - Love the Rainy/LOW chip... and now down imaging. How much cooler can it get!!
I know that down imaging is not really that much different than the SI... If you know how to read the SI, the SI gives you the exact same information as the down imaging. However, I have to admit that I was a little jealous of LOW when I saw their shots.
Way to go HB, you just upped your awesome factor. This is two thumbs waaay up! 
PS - Jason - Make sure to let us all know when you do your next SI seminar. I'd love to be there for that one. Feel free to use any of my shots as well if they would help...
Thanks again... Always keeping us informed and up to date! 
Mike
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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reddog
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Quote:
OMG... I think I'm about to cry.
But its a GOOD cry.
After reading the whole article, I honestly put my hands in the air like the Packers just scored a last second touchdown agains the Vikings. GREAT NEWS!!!!!!
I was afraid the article would say, "add transducer and cables for only $xxx extra." Jason, give your HB buddies a hug for us. First Lakemaster, WHICH ROCKS - Love the Rainy/LOW chip... and now down imaging. How much cooler can it get!!
I know that down imaging is not really that much different than the SI... If you know how to read the SI, the SI gives you the exact same information as the down imaging. However, I have to admit that I was a little jealous of LOW when I saw their shots.
Way to go HB, you just upped your awesome factor. This is two thumbs waaay up!
PS - Jason - Make sure to let us all know when you do your next SI seminar. I'd love to be there for that one. Feel free to use any of my shots as well if they would help...
Thanks again... Always keeping us informed and up to date!
Mike
My thoughts exactly! Well, except the football part, I wouldve reversed the teams.
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Absolute2ks
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RIP LOWRANCE
O my gosh Lowrance and all there troubles
And it is free with Humminbird 
If this were Lowrance this would be in a new unit for the low low cost of $2999.99
O boy a Ipilot and a new box of Crank's on the way 
hec I think if Humminbird made crank bait's
I think they would let you download new colors on them 
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Absolute2ks
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Currently I rigg about 60% HB (I average about 7 or 8 a month during open water season) 40% Lowrance, If HB keeps this up I will be rigging 99% HB... alot nicer to rigg too
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2K'S
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Randy W
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Thats a very smart business move by HB. A lot of guys would be PO'd and have a bad taste. This way, HB strengthened their market share and know they will get a LOT of GOOD free press with this. And that is the best advertising a company can have.
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The ONLY thing worse than losing.........IS QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime member Wisconsin Trappers Assoc.
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Kris Brantner
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that is awesome. i cant wait to get it. but janurary? come on man! they werent thinking of the frozen people! i have to wait untill at least march to try it out! going to be a looooooong winter...
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Jason Halfen
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I'll be sure to post a bunch of cool Down-Imaging screen captures from the upper reaches of Pool 4 this winter.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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moreyes
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found this
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Most of my money is spent on fishing, fishing tackle and boats, the rest is wasted......Thanks Kirt Hedquist
NPAA 292 <'((^)){
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Bigfife
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I'm trying to get a better idea of how the picture is taken. If I'm going straight forward is the picture from an angle infront of my boat? 20 feet behind the boat looking forward? Or from the side?
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Just call me Dr. Walleye...lol
Team Fife Fishing
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whittsend
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Quote:
I'm trying to get a better idea of how the picture is taken. If I'm going straight forward is the picture from an angle infront of my boat? 20 feet behind the boat looking forward? Or from the side?
I was thinking the same thing... How does the screen image move in relation to the boat path?
Mike
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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whittsend
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Sort of looks like as the boat travels forward, the screen will travel right to left, just like a normal downlooking 2d sonar. It seems that the view will include stronger marks showing brighter (whiter), and weaker marks or marks off to the side of the tranducer cone showing as less bright marks). But is our viewing angle perpendicular or parallel to the boats path??
Maybe it doesn't really matter. Thats what the SI is for, the DI will be an added bonus for directly under the boat....
It a little weird to think about, because you are trying to represent a 3-D scanned image on a 2-D screen, but still hoping to recreast the 3-D aspects as best you can...
Anyway, maybe I'm overthinking this. Probably self explanatory once you see it in person. HB guys have any more info on this, or anymore screenshots or video??
Thanks, Mike
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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Bigfife
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I'm picturing it as taking an underwater camera and mounting it on a pole say 20 feet out to the starboard and then aiming it under the boat.
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Just call me Dr. Walleye...lol
Team Fife Fishing
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Jason Halfen
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There's not a ton more information available at this point. Below is a link to the product info sheet that is starting to get distributed to Johnson Outdoors staff and vendors. I think this may be where Moreyes obtained the image shown above.
Humminbird Down Imaging product info sheet
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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Absolute2ks
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My thoughts are it is like taking a picture directly under the boat like 2d sonar does from were the boat has been going forward starting at the left of the screen being the oldest moving to the right. So what is at the left most of the screen is the farthest back. It is all history been there done that kind of thing.
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2K'S
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Ruger2506
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Quote:
I was afraid the article would say, "add transducer and cables for only $xxx extra." Jason, give your HB buddies a hug for us. First Lakemaster, WHICH ROCKS - Love the Rainy/LOW chip... and now down imaging. How much cooler can it get!!
Mike
I have to agree. I didn't even read the whole article before I thought, "I'd like to have that, but what's it going to cost to upgrade." That is simply amazing and I applaud HB for offering that.
I'm in the medical imaging industry and I know all the medical imaging companies charge unbelievable prices for upgrades.
I'm really excited to employ down imaging.
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"Have you ever wondered if the one dollar bills in your wallet or purse were ever in a stripper's butt crack?"
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Ruger2506
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Quote:
I'm trying to get a better idea of how the picture is taken. If I'm going straight forward is the picture from an angle infront of my boat? 20 feet behind the boat looking forward? Or from the side?
Think of imaging like this. Imagine a loaf of bread. You take one slice out of the middle of the loaf and examine the "face" of the loaf.
Same thing for this. As you move forward on the water, you will be imaging things that you go over. So you'll basically be seeing images as if you are walking along the bottom traveling in the same direction as your boat.
As the face of the loaf of bread is examined without the dimension of depth. This will be the same.
If you look at the diagram Moreyes posted. You'd be standing back by the 30 looking in the same direction as the boat is traveling.
Hope that helps.
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"Have you ever wondered if the one dollar bills in your wallet or purse were ever in a stripper's butt crack?"
Edited by Ruger2506 (09/29/09 01:04 PM)
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Randy W
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Quote:
I'm trying to get a better idea of how the picture is taken. If I'm going straight forward is the picture from an angle infront of my boat? 20 feet behind the boat looking forward? Or from the side?
Here is the response I got on your question:
The signal is taken from the Si beams. The Si beams are very narrow front to rear so the DownImaging sonar view would not be showing anything in front of or behind the boat.
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Greg Walters
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The ONLY thing worse than losing.........IS QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime member Wisconsin Trappers Assoc.
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Turkeynate
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Here is my question. If you don't have to upgrade the sonar on the Birds only the software then doesn't that mean HB has been holding out on us all these years and had this technology for a long time?
I would have thought you would need a transducer change. This is awsome news, but makes me wish they would have released it years ago... Makes you wonder if they were holding this ace in their back pocket waiting for a competor to up them... then slap it on the table and say Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!
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Jason Halfen
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The information has been there all along in the form of sonar returns to the transducer. Writing the correct code to interpret those sonar returns and display them in the form that we now call Down Imaging is what has taken time. And that time is now over....Down Imaging is upon us!
As for holding something back? Well, a prudent company always has new technologies that are forthcoming...new features that anglers demand...new materials and processes that help hold the costs of the units down to the extent possible. I don't think that Humminbird is holding anything back, but I know that people will continue to be amazed and excited as Humminbird and MinnKota roll out new, thoroughly-tested technologies with features that anglers appreciate.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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smackem
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Well said
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whittsend
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The down imaging will be a nice bonus, for sure... But SI itself is where its really at, and HB has been doing that for YEARS prior to the competition. If you know how to read SI, DI is just icing on the cake. DI is just taking those same sonar readings that SI has been using all along, and putting them into a different format. Again, its a great feature (especially for those who are new to SI or can't visualize it very well), but it is by no means a whole new world of technology... It will basically give the same info as the SI, just a different viewpoint. Kudos to HB for keeping their product up to date, and thanks to Jason for keeping us all up to date!
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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reddog
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Quote:
The information has been there all along in the form of sonar returns to the transducer. Writing the correct code to interpret those sonar returns and display them in the form that we now call Down Imaging is what has taken time. And that time is now over....Down Imaging is upon us!
As for holding something back? Well, a prudent company always has new technologies that are forthcoming...new features that anglers demand...new materials and processes that help hold the costs of the units down to the extent possible. I don't think that Humminbird is holding anything back, but I know that people will continue to be amazed and excited as Humminbird and MinnKota roll out new, thoroughly-tested technologies with features that anglers appreciate.
Somebodies gotta say it, so I guess I will.
I'm amazed that this is a "FREE" upgrade, because I know for a fact, that most of us would've been willing to pay for it, if for no other reason than the "down scan" from the competitor had me thinking of taking a look at that unit. Not any more.
I think if it had been a pay to add upgrade, it may not have "stung" the 797 users quite so badly. 
looking forward to the new color pallete also.
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whittsend
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If it was a pay to play, I probably would NOT have upgraded just to get the DI, and might have been put off a little even... However, HB gets a HUGE thumbs up for making it a free software upgrade, and I can only imagine that keeping thier current customers happy will translate into amazing amounts of word-of-mouth recommendations and higher sales in the future. Very smart customer service/sales move on HB's part. With all the current problems with LOW's customer service dept, HB has put themselves in a great market position.
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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reddog
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For the most part, I agree with you, so let me explain a little further:
I wasnt thinking a huge amount like4-600, but more like 50-100 for the DI upgrade. I wouldve spent that in a heartbeat, just to have it.
I guess Ruger 25-06 mentioned that he was also surprised it was free earlier.
There must be some extensive menu items in the DI upgrade, because some of the pictures that Joby Smith posted on another website, show the information on the left side of the screen, which indicates a 997 (probably), as the information bar is on the bottom of a 1197.
He has the screen split into 3 views, which hasnt been an option prior.
Should be interesting, thats for sure.
Could be a knockout punch and the way things are going and past record for the competition, it could be available to Humminbird users before the competitions.. November to January is only one glitch away.
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whittsend
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3 way split screen will be very cool and useful for sure.
When is LOW's version supposed to be out, anyway???
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Do what you want. This is only an opinion. I'm not here to offer advice or recommendations in any professional capacity whatsoever.
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Kooty
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I sure hope it doesn't knock out Lowrance. I just hope the market share they have lost in the last 12 months or so will force them to be a better company. The more competition we have between these two, the better of we all are.
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I was born in the 70's, grew up in 80's, made my mistakes in 90's now I'm just trying to make up for lost time.
John
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Humminbird adds Down-Imaging!
