Lowrance or Hummingbird GPS Combos?

[BUCKSNMUSKYS]

I am looking @ the Hummingbird 957C or the Lowrance HDS7. Anyone have any experience or have any insight to help my decision? It appears the graphics are better with the Hummingbird but I have always had Lowrance. In addition, I have experience with Lakemaster but they do not have my favorite lake in high resolution. Any advice for navionics/lakemaster? So many decisions! I am leaning towards the Hummingbird with Navionics unless someone can persuade me otherwise? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

My next purchase will be a bird with a Lakemaster chip.

[eyebjim]

go bird!

[fishing is hot]

I don’t know what going on at Lowrance lately but their locaters and GPS systems have had a few issues. Their Customer Service has always been one of the best. Recently they let one customer service reps go. She had been with Lowrance for a long time and helped me out a few times. The first time was with a LMS350 that wasn’t working and I was fishing a tournament on Mille Lacs. I called and she sent one out over night and I had it the next morning. She said good luck and asked if I would call after the tournament to settle up.

I tried some thing different this year for ice fishing and tried a Hummingbird ICE 55 and had an issue with a bad battery charger. They didn’t ask any questions and sent one out over night. This was the first Hummingbird since my Super 60.

Since the Super 60 it has been all Lowrance units. It’s about time to upgrade my electronics again. I noticed that Hummingbirds displays are much better than they use to be.

This time it will be Hummingbird.

[harvey lee]

I have always used Lowrance products. I switched to the Bird SI units this year and have heard nothing but good.

[korn_fish]

I just received my HDS-8 units with the lakes insight and have been playing around with both the Navionics North and Lakemaster chips. My previous set up was Garmin with the fishing hotspots software. I really like what I see so far.

Both chips are supported by the bird and Lowrance now. The accuracy and detail of contours between Lakemaster and Navionis, for lakes which they both term 'High Definition', is like comparing apples to watermelons in my opinion. LakeMaster wins hands down. However, Lakemaster doesn't have pools 2 and 3 mapped and I fish those about equally as I fish pool 4 which led to the need for a Navionics chip.

For navigation though, Navionics has some awesome detail. Bouys, sunken hazards such as stumps, old barge wrecks etc. Once I saw that detail I realized I will be utilizing both chips for the same bodies of waters

Also, the unmentioned chip here (no chip really) is the built in Insight lake maps that are installed on the Lowrance HDS models with lakes insight. This appears to be the same detail as what I had previously on my Garmin unit with the fishing hotspots software. It shows contours and highlights certain 'fishing areas' and clicking on the waypoint shows details as to the whats and whens for the specific fishing areas. I am not aware if this is information is available pre-loaded on the 'bird'. I was ignorarnt of the fact it was even pre-loaded on Lowrance so it might be available on the bird as well. I am sure someone here can pipe in on that.

I have yet to compare a 'bird' alongside a 'rance' in a 'real-life' scenario but will have the opportunity in April. I am not sure what model of the bird I will be getting my hands on however.

For me in the demos, the Lowrance had better definition on the sounder and I didn't see any real differences in the mapping. The bird does have a couple 'extras' when it comes to the lakemaster chip which I think are merely 'nice-to-haves' like the water level off set and the ability to highlight a specific depth range. I doubt it will take very long before there are updates available for Lowrance to do this as well though.

Based on what I saw I was 90% pro Lowrance and about 10% pro-bird when it came to my unbiased scorecard.

Right now the only thing I wish I was seeing on the Lowrance that I am not seeing is the ability overlay maps on top of the another map or parts of it. For example, I would love to see some of the fishing information from the lakes insight maps the same time I am viewing the lakemaster maps. Or be able to indicate that I want to display contours from the lakemaster chip and features from Navionics chip etc.

So there is still room for lots of improvements

[croixflats]

Korn_fish I was wondering why you switched from Garmin. Just curious as I'm a Garmin fan. Not that you did anything wrong

Great review and info thanks for sharing.

[korn_fish]

Korn_fish I was wondering why you switched from Garmin. Just curious as I'm a Garmin fan. Not that you did anything wrong

I switched because I am a techno geek, wear a propeller cap and I needed something new to intrigue my brain haha jk! Well, maybe slightly a geek

The detailed definition I get with the sounder is the reason I wanted Lowrance. I too love the Garmins and have never had an issue with them. In fact I was sooo close to having a Garmin chartplotter sitting next to the Lowrance HDS-5 sounder at the console because I love the Garmin products and wanted one at the helm. When it came down to it, I wanted only one unit at the console and one unit at the bow and I didn't see the definition detail in the Garmin units' sounder capabilities as I did in the Lowrance. When I am on the open water, I place most of my need on the sounder quality rather than how clear the chartplotter is. The accuracy of the lakemaster/navionics countours will be the same regardless of unit brand. Then when I network all units together, it just made more sense to keep everything Lowrance.

Once I made the decision for Lowrance, I have found overwhelming support from other rance users that are explaining some not so 'hidden' features that I never even considered asking about when doing my pre-purchase homework. Such as the ability to review chartplotter/sounder logs. Ability to download these logs into and make your own contour maps for uncharted waters and also to make contour maps based on bottom density. Again, these are some points that were not features pushed (selling points) from the individuals pitching their products, so they may be available in the bird or Garmin products as well and I just don't know about it....Yet

BTW - my handheld unit is staying a Garmin 76CS. I don't see anything that the Lowrance hand helds do that the Garmin doesn't. Where they overlapp in functionality, the Garmin 76CS kicks some booty!!

[BUCKSNMUSKYS]

Thanks fellas. Sincerely appreciate your help. To be honest, I still have no clue. I think I will go look @ them one more time and go through the same routine yet again with the fellers @ Thorne Bros. They might throw me out this time if I don't finally buy one. Again, thanks for the help....especially Korn_Fish.

I have heard alot of rumblings about the customer service thing with Lowrance. I pre-called and I got put on hold for eternity and finally grew tired and hung up. Hummingbird answered immediately. Does that warrant enough to decide one way or another? I wouldn't think so, but it may push one over the edge if undecided.

[PerchJerker]

I use both Lowrance and Humminbird units quite a bit. Each one has things I like, and things I don't like as much.

I went with Lowrance units for my own boat and am happy with my choice. And I'm looking forward to adding the structurescan module to my network this year (going to install in next month after I get back from vacation).

[croixflats]

Originally Posted By: croixflats

Korn_fish I was wondering why you switched from Garmin. Just curious as I'm a Garmin fan. Not that you did anything wrong

I switched because I am a techno geek, wear a propeller cap and I needed something new to intrigue my brain haha jk! Well, maybe slightly a geek

The detailed definition I get with the sounder is the reason I wanted Lowrance. I too love the Garmins and have never had an issue with them. In fact I was sooo close to having a Garmin chartplotter sitting next to the Lowrance HDS-5 sounder at the console because I love the Garmin products and wanted one at the helm. When it came down to it, I wanted only one unit at the console and one unit at the bow and I didn't see the definition detail in the Garmin units' sounder capabilities as I did in the Lowrance. When I am on the open water, I place most of my need on the sounder quality rather than how clear the chartplotter is. The accuracy of the lakemaster/navionics countours will be the same regardless of unit brand. Then when I network all units together, it just made more sense to keep everything Lowrance.

Once I made the decision for Lowrance, I have found overwhelming support from other rance users that are explaining some not so 'hidden' features that I never even considered asking about when doing my pre-purchase homework. Such as the ability to review chartplotter/sounder logs. Ability to download these logs into and make your own contour maps for uncharted waters and also to make contour maps based on bottom density. Again, these are some points that were not features pushed (selling points) from the individuals pitching their products, so they may be available in the bird or Garmin products as well and I just don't know about it....Yet

BTW - my handheld unit is staying a Garmin 76CS. I don't see anything that the Lowrance hand helds do that the Garmin doesn't. Where they overlapp in functionality, the Garmin 76CS kicks some booty!!

Thanks for the reply. At least you got through the hard part unscathed and that was the decision part. Have a great time learning your new equipment. Always fun with new toys. I mean essential navigational tools.

[Tom Linderholm]

Thanks for the info Korn, I am in the market right now for a combo unit that has the ability to overlay radar as well. I've been playing with the HDS-10 and really like it on the shelf. I have read a few reviews on the new units and looks like they had a bad run of faulty units early on in 2009. Unfortunately I cannot find any recent reviews telling me whether they had fixed the gps glitches and the leaky head units to help me seal the deal on my purchase. Anyone have any words of wisdom on the late model units? Have they fixed their glitches or should I be looking at a Furuno? I have a X-25 on my old boat and can't decide whether I should bring it along on the new boat.

[PerchJerker]

I have read a few reviews on the new units and looks like they had a bad run of faulty units early on in 2009. Unfortunately I cannot find any recent reviews telling me whether they had fixed the gps glitches and the leaky head units to help me seal the deal on my purchase. Anyone have any words of wisdom on the late model units?

I have an HDS in my boat, I put it in last May and have not had any issues with water intrusion or with GPS issues.

The water intrusion issues I've heard of were all early last year, I haven't heard of any issues on new units since May. That doesn't mean there haven't been any out there, but my impression is that Lowrance was quick to fix that problem.

Also, they've had a few software updates which have focused mainly on improving the GPS performance. I have my HDS in a network that includes an external antenna, and it seems like half the time my network is reading the external antenna and the other half of the time it's reading the internal antenna on the HDS. I haven't experienced any GPS glitches or delays at all in my boat.

Don't know if that helps or not but that has been my experience. I'll probably add another HDS unit to my network this year.

[Tom Linderholm]

Thanks PJ, looking at getting my package on Wednesday at the boat show, trying to get all the info possible. Like I said, I am really impressed with the overall package, just dont want to be out of my electronics during our relatively short summer.

[mknolls]

Would like to say one thing on the Birds. Was at Mpls boat show this year and had a chance to talk to Bird rep because I had some question about my 997c SI combo 09 version. He said new up dates for unit including being able to change you contour or lake depth of the lake to match you GPS location on the lake. Depending on lake depth for that year. Also for those that own one there are update's you should go and get, ether at you dealer ship or on Birds web page. And downloaded to unit as well. It may depend on what chip, Navionics or lake map you have to get the different features. I have not done so as my boat is in storage. But well be doing this as soon as possible. New this year was a Lake map chip that gave better detail of lake of the woods, what they call HD I would imagine. I did ask the question as to way don't they offer the set up that you see at display stations. So a person could spend more time understanding there unit in there house rather than have to having it on the boat. He said that was a good question and he was going to bring it up to them. He did say I should contact Hummingbird to see if they will sell me the cord so as to spend more time with it at home. I think they should just sell the unit with the cord to do so. I have not done so as of yet because money has been an issue for me right now, and if they would sell it to me I would like to know that I can just tell the to send it. Can't wait for open water.

MK

[korn_fish]

I did ask the question as to way don't they offer the set up that you see at display stations. So a person could spend more time understanding there unit in there house rather than have to having it on the boat.

Not entirely positive on the power cord for the birds, but I am inside the house playing gps/sounder every night. I use the same power cord as I use in the boat except I use my battery from the vexilar to temporarily hook it to instead of needing a wall plug cord/adapter.

[hugonian1]

After total frustration with 2 different Lowrance units I went with the Bird.

3 Years and no problems.

[harvey lee]

I like Korn Fish am using the bird unit inside the house with the cords included to hook up to the boat.

This is one very nice unit and the color and options are great.

[trenn]

I fish mainly the St. Louis,would side imaging be any good for this? Also, howdo you like the DB+ . trenn

[PerchJerker]

I fish mainly the St. Louis,would side imaging be any good for this? Also, howdo you like the DB+ . trenn

SI in rivers can be outstanding. We've found and caught fish that we saw on SI that we weren't seeing well at all with traditional sonar (due to all the junk in the water). And SI is great at looking at wingdams and other river structure --- it's generally a lot more interesting than what we see in the lakes around here anyway.

[trenn]

Thanks PJ, any thoughts on the usefulness of Dual Beam 20/60 ? Trenn