Buying sonar/gps combo

[vikingmeatwad]

I am having a tough time with this as I always do with big purchases. Spending nearly 2k for a new sonar/gps is quite a big purchase for me and something i'd like to be happy with for quite a long time.

I have compared the Humminbird vs. Lowrance all year and I think I will strike next spring after the Lowrance SI is released and I can truly compare the price to value.

I have heard that the Side imaging is made by the same company and that Lowrance has recently purchased this company.

I guess I'm looking for opinions on Humminbird vs Lowrance Sonar/gps and what people think for walleyes/panfish.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

HDS as big as you can afford would be my advice!

I have the HDS-5 and am very pleased with it.

[harvey lee]

The reason I change from Lowrance units to Humminbirds units is simply the great customer service at Humminbird. They are simply wonderful to work with if needed.

My Lowrance 520 had and still has numerous serious operating issues. To date, I have not been able to resolve these issues with Lowrance short of paying thwem to rebuild the unit. There have been way to many issues with this unit to even think of putting more money into it.

Check throughout the open water or Equipment forum as this subject has been discussed in length in the past. This may help you decide on which unit might be the best for you.

Good luck in your new purchase and I hope you find what works best for you.

Humminbird for me all the way. I have nothing but good about their product, or customer service.

[PerchJerker]

My boat has multiple Lowrance units networked together. Earlier this year I wanted to put a HB on the boat to get Side Imaging but I was having trouble figuring out how to work it into my setup and which Lowrance unit(s) to keep on the network ---- and LakeMaster not being compatible with HB was part of my hold-up as well.

When Lowrance announced the HDS series and that it would be SideScan compatible I decided to go with an HDS unit --- it was the easiest way for me to go because I was able to plug it into my network and it worked with LakeMaster maps (plus I liked the idea of the High Definition Broadband Sounder).

I've had an HDS on my boat all year. It's been a great unit, I haven't had even a hint of trouble with it and I think the sonar performance is outstanding. I mostly use it as a sonar, I've only used the GPS functions a bit but they seem good as well.

I'm planning to add the StructureScan module to my HDS as soon as it's available (due out in November). The StructureScan module will provide side scanning and down scanning for up to 3 HDS units so I may be swapping out one of my other Lowrances to an HDS next spring as well to have 2 side scanning units on my boat.

Based on my own experience I am really happy with the Lowrance HDS.

I will also say that HBs are great units too. I almost put one on my boat and have used them on other guys' boats. HB is coming out with software enhancements (due in Jan) to allow their Side Imaging units to do down scanning as well, and to allow HB units to use LakeMaster maps (it needs to be a HB map card, the current Lowrance and Garmin LM cards won't work in HB) --- these enhancements do a lot to even out the differences between the units. And HB is coming out with an 8 inch model which will be priced between the current 700 and 900 series so that will be another good option for a lot of guys.

I hope that helps. I think they're both good brands so it's hard to recommend one over the other. You can check out all the current units and their prices at Sonar/GPS Combos at Pro Fishing Supply.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

... (plus I liked the idea of the High Definition Broadband Sounder).

Is this not a marketing thing based on the name "broadband"? What makes it a "broadband"?

[MN Mike]

I think you're doing the right thing in holding off until next spring. Should be a lot of info on the new views by both companies by spring time.

I've got the Humminbird, sold my Lowrance units this past spring.

Looks like Humminbird is really working these Combo units over for next year, so far they have added the DownImaging, Lakemaster chip compatibility, Switchfire, Waypoint Management and more color schemes to the sonar and by the sounds of it, that won't be all.

I really like the dual SD Card slots, putting screen shots and recordings on that chip is great but probably the best idea is having those 3 preset buttons, saves a lot of time.

Good luck with your decision!

Mike

[harvey lee]

The biggest factor for me to switch was Lowrances lack of customer service.

Dave, I hope you continue to have good luck with your new units. If you have a issue, my bet is you will also be switching to another brand. The Lowrance units are great but if you need assistance, good luck. So many have switched due to their lack of Customer service.

[PerchJerker]

Originally Posted By: PerchJerker

... (plus I liked the idea of the High Definition Broadband Sounder).

Is this not a marketing thing based on the name "broadband"? What makes it a "broadband"?

I don't think it's just a marketing thing. After using an HDS all year I think it's the real deal.

Broadband means HDS units process a digital signal, not the analog signal that was used previously. The advantage with digital or broadband is more information and faster processing and a high definition sonar display. Comparing a high definition sonar to a standard sonar is the same as comparing a high definition TV to a regular TV --- it's sharper, it's cleaner, and you see more detail.

Broadband also allows multiple Lowrance units to simultaneouly share the same sonar display from one transducer, by connecting an ethernet cable.

[DTro]

I cannot comment on the quality of either as I haven’t used either personally. I’ve seen the HB SI’s and those are fun to play with. I’m sure both have their pros and cons.

I can only say this, try to call the Lowrance customer service hotline once, just for the heck of it. All I can say is good luck even getting anything other than a busy signal.

Things might have changed since then, but I had an issue with my H2OC power cord and called continually several times a day for a week straight and never got through one time. I don’t have a landline and my cell minutes were racking up (a minute charge for every stinkin call), so I gave up and got a new cord instead. From what I hear, even had I have been able to get a live person, I then might have been on hold for 30 minutes or more.

[markkstanley]

I run a 997 Bird and a Lowrance HDS5 as well as a Lowrance 520c and an 27c (the 27c is used on the bow, the Bird and the HDS5 are on the console). I am with PJ - the HDS units are great and I've had no issues with my other Lowrance units. Running the Bird side by side with the HDS I'd be hard pressed to say one is better than the other as a sonar unit. I do prefer Lakemaster over Nav as a map for the lakes I fish. Wait to see how the Lowrance side imaging works but at the price points I have seen I would opt for Lowrance. The ability to run up to 3 units is a neat feature. You can buy a HDS5 and a HDS7 as well as the Lowrance sidescanner for just a bit more than the 997 Bird.

[Eric Wettschreck]

For a lot of different reasons, I'm a Humminbird guy.

Just tossin this out to ya. For the money you're looking at spending, take a look at seperate units. Meaning a GPS/Chartplotter and a sonar as seperate units. Early this spring I was shopping around for a GPS/Sonar combo unit. After quite a bit of shopping I went with 2 seperate units and am really glad I did.

[fishwater]

I run both HDS and Hbird on my boat. I use the HDS at the console for mapping and have it switched to a transducer on my TM and one on my transom (just in case.) I run the Hbird on my transom.

My opinions are that Hbird has a slight edge regarding 2d sonar capabilities. The dual beam plus option is the clincher for me - running both beams side x side can be very useful.

Important to note is that Humminbird and Lowrance implement their 2d displays in different ways. Hbird has a time variable gain, essentially they represent similar sized objects similar on the screen irregardless of depth. Lowrance by design shows deeper fish smaller than shallow fish (of the same size.)

Broadband means HDS units process a digital signal, not the analog signal that was used previously. The advantage with digital or broadband is more information and faster processing and a high definition sonar display.

Hbird uses DSP (digital signal processing) also, they just implement them differently. Broadband is a catchy name for Lowrance's design platform, kinda misleading since they aren't actually broadband. From my understanding they use a broad range of signal intensity, but only from one of three wavelengths depending on tranducer and settings. The only real difference I suspect is that Lowrance uses feedback DSP to set the signal output level of the ducer and input amplification prior to further DSP processing. Humminbird reads a heavier signal from the get go and then applies DSP processing to that.

[kg2]

I would not buy a HDS and then necessarily expect that you can purchase structure scan later. HB did get a patent that may or may not hold up in court. You never really know about the courts. Even if Lowrance does get them to market on their timeline, the courts may make them stop and pay retribution.

You just can't count on anything till it happens, and then you may want to wait till spring anyways.

Broadband is just a techy catch phrase when it comes to this usage.

Networking with HB is a lot less complex with less things to potentially go wrong.

[vikingmeatwad]

I got a ton of great input here and it helps me feel better about waiting it out to see what happens.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I agree. I may even wait till 2011. This units are a huge investment now days. Not a purchase to be taken lightly, especially in this economy.

[solbes]

I just bought an HDS 7 and will install this weekend. Super pumped, the interface and screen detail is excellent. Software seemed very easy to use.

I haven't heard about any patent disputes with the structure scan. I would fully expect to see a release in the next month or two.

[kg2]

That isn' surprising if you aren't in the industry (or even if you are).

It would suck to buy it (structure scan), and then have Lowrance not be able to support it due to court ruling. It will tick off a lot of people who bought the HDS. Time will tell.

[Ed Carlson]

My observations is this. Without a doubt in my mind the Hummingbird units on inland waters now have the edge with technology and software. Off the shelf they are purchased with a stable and well performing hardware and software platform. Hummingbirds Updates are singular in purpose, well thought out and tested, and ready to roll when issued. After sales product service and support is good, and appears to me to be improving.

Lowrance unfortunately has been plagued with issues the past 3 or 4 years. The updates they have issued have been to fix a fix that did not fix the original software that came with the unit, and often still subject to even more software glitch's latter by the user. There service is widely now considered to be not up to par, and support has proven to me to be slow and often frustrating. They have a lot of work to do in that department, in my opinion.

If I were to add a third option to consider, it would be Garmin, and in particular the 5208, 5212, or the big kahuna the 5215 series Sonar/GPS.

The Garmin 5200 series are all touch screen QVGA hi-definition video grade displays, multi format platform and net-workable with video camera media inputs, expandable capability's with satellite radio and internet, extremely fast and accurate GPS and mapping. The user interface is intuitive and highly user friendly. Garmin does not ever release anything until it is testes, retested, and sent to an independent testing agency to be tested again....than they will consider releasing it. Garmin also has a mapping update program that is pro-rated, so maps really never go out of date as long as you maintain them. Garmin sonars/GPS units run LakeMaster, Garmin, TRAX and a few other formats of data mapping. Garmin customer service is in my opinion the industry standard and exceptional, after sales support is also above and beyond by industry standards. I love the fact you can easily e-mail a Garmin tech, and they will find you and solve the problem, and you do not need to try to chase them and hang on a phone. Calling them has proven no problem for me, 4-5 rings...a live tech to chat with, ...if they are busy...you leave your number and they call you that day...imagine that.

Potential downfall for some is that so far Garmin has not stepped into the side imagery game....but they may soon...and the 5200 series would be the one to run it if they did as it is expandable, has massive amounts of processor space to spare, and not slated for any majors design changes for 5 years.

The 5200 series Garmin units are definitely one to look into if your considering a 2k class investment in a sonar/gps system.