Side-imaging sonar reviews

[delmuts]

From what i see, i would not gain any extra lakes by going to a lakemaster chip, although the detail maybe better. ( we are so limitted here in Iowa anyway! ) Slowly i am learning the Miss. river since my wife owns a trailer near Harpers Ferry.( Man do i prefer a lake though!!) But! Pleasant Creek and Clear Lake are on both chips, and those would be my main ones.

What is the best option as far as a power source for the unit so i can play with it at home this winter? Buying a small batt.( which i don't need) or is there a power converter that will work better?

[delmuts]

Harvey Lee! How's the knee doing? I did the injections this summer, so getting by for now. Course this shoulder thing has set me back too!

[reddog]

What is the best option as far as a power source for the unit so i can play with it at home this winter? Buying a small batt.( which i don't need) or is there a power converter that will work better?

Radio Shack power supply Cat # 22-507

[delmuts]

Thanks Reddog!

[Jason_Halfen]

All you really need is the power cable from the unit and a typical 7A or 9A electronics battery that you'd run a flasher with....a solution that will cost $20 or less, and take up just as much room as a power converter.

[MN Mike]

All you really need is the power cable from the unit and a typical 7A or 9A electronics battery that you'd run a flasher with....a solution that will cost $20 or less, and take up just as much room as a power converter.

That's what I use, works fine.

Mike

[harvey lee]

Harvey Lee! How's the knee doing? I did the injections this summer, so getting by for now. Course this shoulder thing has set me back too!

I had a total knee done on my left knee and it is now 100% working but I still have some pain on a few days a month. I believe something is wrong in that knee area as I get some clicking noise from time to time. The MRI says the joint is fine. Better than it was for sure. I also had both shoulders done with rotator cuff surgery and they are great and I can use my compound bow again and I thought I was headed in the crossbow direc tion like you. Not yet anyway. Just getting harder to climb the tree's but that may have something to do with age also.

[NTW]

I am curious if many of you use your computer to store data from your side imaging sonar. What type of cool features am I missing out on?

I recently downloaded the software from the hbird HSOforum. I put the card I was saving waypoints on in the computer and can look at the saved screenshots but can't seem to do anything else like organize or record waypoint locations (long/lat), rename and cleanup icons, etc.

[Nick Kuhn]

There's a third party program called HumViewer that you need to replay your side imaging recordings.

[delmuts]

"Just getting harder to climb the tree's but that may have something to do with age also."

I can relate to that, even though i'm a few years behind you! As the saying goes; " It's not the years, it's the milage!"

The AC/DC converter sounds interesting. I don't ice fish, so a batt. etc. would be of no use other than to play with the locator.

Does one get the software from Hummingbird to use on the computer, or can you get it some where else?

[MN Mike]

Humminbird has their own software too and you will get that free when you register your device at their site.

Humviewer is available as a free download. It's a great tool, I like to use it to map out areas to fish in the winter. I can mark rockpiles, sandbars, weedlines and whatnot and upload those waypoints right to my GPS.

You can setup different views, color palletes and ever create your own recordings to show others.

Here's a few shots I captured with my computer when I was downrigging on Lake of the Woods last summer, all of these were captured using HumViewer.

[Nick Kuhn]

It's the google I'm feeling lucky result for HumViewer. It's hosted on a Danish (I think) site but the page is in English. It's pretty intuitive, and works rather well. It's not an exact playback but it's pretty close.

[lucky]

Doc" Bruce Samson has a good site. http://www.hightechfishing.com/

[A.W.Wolfram]

Well I picked up a Humminbird 898 C Si today. I think its time to hit P4 and get the learning curve started.

[reddog]

Well I picked up a Humminbird 898 C Si today. I think its time to hit P4 and get the learning curve started.

Welcome to the Hbird family!

Theres a ton of information on the web, just do a search of the most active sites. bbc xumba, sideimagesoft etc

You will be miles ahead with the learning curve if you get your settings adjusted for optimum viewing right from the start.

I found the transition extremely simple.

[delmuts]

Well i bit the bullet and ordered a 798 SI this morning. My stomach is still turning!( not use to spending that kind of bucks for fishing) , even thou my wife gave me over have of the money for it! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!

[Nick Kuhn]

You'll love it. Don't worry about the screen size too much. The 798 actually has a higher total pixel count than the 898 or 998. So for anyone with sharp eyes, it's perfect.

[delmuts]

It's the best i could afford! Can't wait for it and the power converter to get here so i can start playing with it.

[cjac]

Well i bit the bullet and ordered a 798 SI this morning. My stomach is still turning!( not use to spending that kind of bucks for fishing) , even thou my wife gave me over have of the money for it! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!

Nicely done Del!

Same here including the $$$ from the Mrs; I just scored a deal on a 798SI HD unit that was way too good to pass up. Looking to match it up with a 858 on the bow. Only issue is that I have an older Minnkota PD with Universal Sonar I, not the Uni Sonar II as the built in transducer so I may have to run an exposed cable down the TM shaft to the transducer, unless there's a work-around for that. Any suggestions? Or will I end up with a new Terrova too?

NK: I may have to ask you to join me in the NE metro this Spring to reduce my learning curve!

[Nick Kuhn]

I could use some time on the lakes in that area. But only after the white stuff goes away.

[kg2]

cjac, your motor with US1 will work with the 858 if you have the MKR-US-8 adapter cable (which is now obsolete, I believe). However, you will only get the one frequency (200 kh), single cone, and no temp.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Im looking to put a 798 on my boat this spring and have been watching online for several months now. Im curious, Ive heard a few people mention 'good deals' just curious what kind of deals are you guys talking? Can I expect to get one for less than $800?

Thinking my best chance might be waiting for the sportshow and seeing if I cant get a good deal by dropping a bunch of cash at once seeing as I need a trolling motor too.

[Nick Kuhn]

Should be able to go under $800 for the older 798's. The new ones come it at the same price point with better features, so no way last years will sell very well at the same price. 797's last year could be had for about $700. I'd expect $750 to be a good price to buy at.

[Larson15]

If you want to buy locally the sportmans show will be your best option. Next week is the St. Paul sportsmans show where you could probably haggle a deal on one. Otherwise I know of a few very reputable online stores that you could definitely get a deal on one. The one thing nice about buying online is you dont pay sales tax which will equate to 60-80 dollars in savings.

[Nick Kuhn]

You don't pay a tax at the shows either (at least I didn't when I bought mine last year).