Perch_44
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need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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I am looking at upgrading to a side imaging unit. either an HDS7 or a Humminbird 898c SI.
first off, am i wasting my money and my time only getting a 7" screen model? i really do not want to spend more then what the 7" models cost. that will be my cap regardless.
which one is better, and why, between the lowrance and humminbird units?
I have always been a lowrance guy, so of course i am kind of cautious of switching to something new, but when spending this kind of money, i want the most for that money.
thanks!
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Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits...
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DocFrigo
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Perch,
First off, I am sponsored by no one and run both lowrance and humminbird. After using the 997, the screen size is the smallest I'd go with these units, merely due to having more screen to run the GPS and sonar at the same time (or, which is really cool, SI, DI and 2D all at the same time). So, regardless of the unit, I'd go big as your budget.
After reviewing both brands-think both are fine and will equally get the job done. Humminbird has plus of years or bugs being worked out-something Lowrance will have to play catch up on coupled with Lowrance customer service being a little behind in the times with the loss of Linda Colt. Humminbird customer service seems much, much better.
Until someone comes up with a cold, hard advantage-choice will pretty much be up to your preference.
Good luck with you decision! 
Jeremy
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Perch_44
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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what about down imaging, is that standard on the humminbird units now?
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Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits...
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Briank
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Call me after 7 pm for a true unbiased opinion.
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Briank's Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
2010 Flathead, Channel and Sturgeon Guided Photos<<
A catfish guy living in a walleye world.
MNCSA #1
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Briank
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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PS Not saying Doc's isn't. 
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Briank's Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
2010 Flathead, Channel and Sturgeon Guided Photos<<
A catfish guy living in a walleye world.
MNCSA #1
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Randy W
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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This is a copy of the other post I responded to this morning. I agree with what was stated on the screen size for getting the largest your budget will allow. I'm also realalistic in not everyone wants the same as myself out of their electronics. If your only looking to check out a spot here and there and don't NEED multiple features on your screen at one time, the smaller screen will work fine.
Copy:I am not sponsored by Johnson Outdoors/Humminbird and this is just my humble opinion.
I have run a H-bird 1197 for the last few years as my primary locator, and had until this spring a 997 also. Both units have performed well above my expectations. Previous, I had been a hard-core Lowrance LMS-350 A user. Without a doubt, the humingbird is the leader in technology, user friendly, and variety of featured units in different budget ranges. If and when anything ever happens to my 1197's, I will replace them with the equivilant H/Bird products.
I have had a couple of clients now hire me to go out in their boat and instruct them on the use of their electronics. What a couple of guys thought would take them days to figure out, actually only took a few hours. That included time on the water to capture tons of screen shots (as well as review all the menu features) and time to work with the H-bird PC software to edit waypoints, updates, integrated Google Earth, creating back up files, and most importantly - learning more about the structure they fish from reviewing the screen captures.
If you get an opportunity to get on the water with a Hummingbird owner, take advantage of it to check out how easy this technology is to use!
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The ONLY thing worse than losing.........IS QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime member Wisconsin Trappers Assoc.
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Ruger2506
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
first off, am i wasting my money and my time only getting a 7" screen model? i really do not want to spend more then what the 7" models cost. that will be my cap regardless.
thanks!
Short answer, not wasting, but shorting yourself.
I have a 7" screen in the bow of my boat. I can't imagine trying to look at split screen side imagine on the 7". You wouldn't think it, but that 1" makes a huge difference.
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"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
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Perch_44
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
Call me after 7 pm for a true unbiased opinion.
are you testing both lowrance and hbird units today?
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Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits...
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Jason Halfen
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
what about down imaging, is that standard on the humminbird units now?
Check your other post (link) for the answer to this question.
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wimwuen
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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I truly am unbiased on this. I'm in the same boat so to speak. I have a 334C that's giving me problems again. I have weighed the pros and cons of each. Here's what I've found in my research.
Lowrance Pros
There's still a lot of people running them (my circle of fishing buddies are mostly Lowrance guys so it's easier to share waypoints etc... on the water)
I run other Lowrance units (comfort level is there, and I'm kind of particular about keeping things matched up)
You can create your own Dr Depth contour maps (the birds contoured in Dr Depth are actually trails, not contour lines)
Lowrance Cons
Customer service (if you can get ahold of them)
They end up costing more by time you buy the $600 add on
Software update issues (I've had this more than once)
Humminbird Pros
Customer Service
Updates (when down imaging came out, it was a free software download, not an expensive add on)
The map highlighting with Lakemaster looks Awesome
There's a ton of info and groups dedicated to the H-Bird side imaging
Humminbird Cons
Dr Depth doesn't really work yet
Converting waypoints (initial convert isn't bad, but I imagine it's a pain in the boat if not impossible)
I'm sure some will argue my opinions, but these are the factors I've been weighing. Then again, I'm the only person I know who's thinking about putting a $2000 locator on a 16' flatbottom boat.
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John23
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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I just bought an 1197 last week. I'm having some issues with it right now (I made a post on that this morning) but I am confident that HB will resolve them for me very soon.
I looked at both very carefully and was leaning hard towards Lowrance. I am familiar with their menu options, have had good experiences with them and their products generally, and still view them as the electronics leader. That last point may come into question soon, but up until about a year ago it wasn't even close.
I chose Humminbird for one simple reason: Johnson Outdoors owns MinnKota and Humminbird. Marine electronics should improve dramatically over the next 5 years, and at a minimum our GPS/locators should be telling our trolling motors what to do very soon. I want to be able to do that, and MinnKota seems closest to having that technology. Wade from Jolly Ann pointed this out to me just a few weeks ago and that made what was a tough decision into a fairly easy one.
I believe based on everything I've read that the performance of the Lowrance and HB units are virtually identical. If anything, the Lowrance sample images you see are a little clearer, but I really doubt they're truly any better on the water.
As far as a 7" screen, I don't have any first hand experience. But I'm sure that a 7" screen with SI will be far, far better than not having SI. I agree that you should set your budget and get the biggest display you can.
Unbiased opinions are hard to find. The most important thing you can do is learn as much as possible about both, try them both if you can, then make your own decision. I don't think you can make a bad decision on this.
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Randy W
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
Then again, I'm the only person I know who's thinking about putting a $2000 locator on a 16' flatbottom boat.
Your not alone - I sold one of my 1197's to a guy with a flatbottom!
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The ONLY thing worse than losing.........IS QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime member Wisconsin Trappers Assoc.
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huntfishhastings
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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I have a HDS7 and have had problems. I heard the bigger units havent had as many issues. I have no idea if there is any truth to it or not. I dont have the structure scan yet because im thinking about buying a HB package with a unit for the back and bow. Lowrance customer service is worthless the if the company runs like their customer service they wont be around long. With that said the HDS series are great when they are working but I'd go with HB if you dont want to worry about problems.
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whittsend
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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What's the status on the patent infringement lawsuit between HB and Lowrance?
Would the potential consequences of HB winning/losing the lawsuit have any effect on someone's current decision on which unit to buy?? (Or is an outcome too far down the road to have any bearing on today's decision?)
E.g. are there any issues concering further support, software updates, etc from Lowrance if HB does win a lawsuit???.... Or would it be more of a monetary damage award and/or payment for the right to use the patented ideas if HB won??
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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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fishim
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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I was in a boat last week checking out Lowrance's Structure Scan and there was a guy with who had run Birds last year with si and after seeing Lowrance's product he said there is no doubt he will be swithing to Lowrance. The biggest issue for him with HB he said was he needed to constantly change the chartspeed when changing boat speed. With the Lowrance they would just leave it on normal and it would work fine. I was really impressed with the picture you would get even above trolling speeds and going wide open you still could read bottom just like a normal depthfinder. Just what I gathered I havnt spent much time with either of the units but these guys were both leaning toward Lowrance. Another thing I really like about the HDS units are the hot keys on the bottom of the unit, they let you make adjustments quickly and easily. You need to get the HDS8 or HDS10 to get that feature. 2cents
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Wade Kuehl
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Perch, Be a man and get an 1197C! 
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Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine banner above to visit our website!
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Briank
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Nice chatting with ya Perchy...
I hope you like your new unit as much as I did a number of years ago!
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Briank's Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
2010 Flathead, Channel and Sturgeon Guided Photos<<
A catfish guy living in a walleye world.
MNCSA #1
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mrjigger
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Thanks Brian, Just the image I wanted to see before hitting the snore shelf...... 
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"Give a man a little luck and anything will do for brains" ....Albert Soady
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Perch_44
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
Nice chatting with ya Perchy...
I hope you like your new unit as much as I did a number of years ago!
right click...save as...
that one will come in handy down the road. photoshop thanks you.
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Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits...
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Wade Kuehl
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
Nice chatting with ya Perchy...
I hope you like your new unit as much as I did a number of years ago!
O no! I remember that pic! And that fishfinder!
Geez, Brian. You were just a boy back then. 
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Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine banner above to visit our website!
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Sweet
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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you know it's hard to call the pictures incriminating when he keeps posting them himself.
 MY EYES ARE BURNING!!!!!
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Briank
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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O no! I remember that pic! And that fishfinder!
Geez, Brian. You were just a boy back then.
Yes Wade,  you took some great pictures that day!
I gave Perch my best unbiased answer to his question. I don't know if I helped him or not..but he received the two bit tour.
It will be interesting to see which way he goes...all eyes are watching Perch..including the game warden's. 
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Briank's Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
2010 Flathead, Channel and Sturgeon Guided Photos<<
A catfish guy living in a walleye world.
MNCSA #1
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Perch_44
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Re: need unbiased opinions on side imaging units.
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Quote:
all eyes are watching Perch..including the game warden's.
they are always watching these internet forums...
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Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits...
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