Hbird or Lowrance

[eagle_3464]

I am in the market for a new locator with GPS and mapping. With Johnson'a acquisition of Lakemaster I'm sure mapping capabilities will become more enhanced with the birds but will those capabilities retro back to units purchased today?

I like to color coding that can be done on the bird maps. I stopped at Cabelas last night and asked alot of questions to the point of leaning toward Hbird. But in reading some of the posts on here it sounds like there is a real issue with map speed rendering at higher speeds and depth readings, both shallow water and high speeds. If those are real issues as reported here then I'm not sure I want to go that route. For those of you with DI and/or SI, what are your thoughts? The cabelas rep has them but hasn't been impressed with either the bird or lowrance imaging, at least for most typical MN waters.

The plus side to lowrance was that imaging could be added later where bird you need to buy that mode up front.

What are your thoughts, pro's and con's of both?

[CaptainMusky]

If you are going to buy something in the very near future the Lowrance is a better choice, IMO. There have been issues with the new HDS too, but those were early models with water intrusion which as since been resolved.

They just came out with a new 4.0 SW upgrade that speeds things up tremendously for booting (took a while to turn on before) and a host of new features.

The depth shading is a nice feature on the Bird, but I am told that Lowrance is working on this for a new SW upgrade in the future. The lakemaster chips are just now capable with the new Birds. Not sure what the issue was there, but they didnt work before. I have heard about the problems with the Birds, I am not sure about their SW, but if Lowrance can fix some of their bugs with SW upgrades I would imagine they could as well, but not sure.

The thing with the imaging is that with lowrance you get a true down image. What Bird does is blends the left and right side images together to form a down image. Not the best picture of straight down. That is one negative I have heard about them.

I dont have structurescan for my HDS, but it is something I plan to add later, which helped in the decision. Both are good units though.

[Tracker55]

I own three HB locators and have had no problems with any of them. They are much easier to use than the Lowrance IMHO. I think either brand is good but keep leaning toward the HB mainly due to the reputation of Lowrance customer service. The new locators are not inexpensive and the last thing you want is to have $1500+,- tied up in a unit that doesnt work and you get jerked around trying to get it repaired or replaced. I would go with the HB. Just my $.02

[TruthWalleyes]

I couldn't be happier with Hummingbird Side imaging!

I find that many do not know how to make the adjustments to get a clear crisp image. Structure (Humps, Rocks, Transitions, Weeds, Sticks, Thermoclines, etc) All stick out like a sore thumb!

How about the Lowrance users, post some of your screen captures.

Here's a few H-Bird side imaging screen shots.

Can you find the crappies?

Or spawning beds in a sandy area surrounded by weeds; You can even see there are fish in nearly all those beds(they look like small grains of rice):

Maybe some minnesota river structure:

Walleyes sitting on rocks:

Or Big Walleyes sitting in the thermocline:

[CaptainMusky]

Truth, those arent walleyes, its mayfly hatch. LOL just kidding.

I wish I had structure scan on mine and I would share some screen shots.

To the comment about customer service, I think that may have been an old issue. I called them after I got my HDS because something wasnt showing as I expected and the manual didnt even reference it. The rep picked up within a minute or two, ran me through some things, settings changes, and then a soft reboot. In the end it worked perfectly just as I had originally expected. This was done in less than 5 minutes.

He told me that if I had to send the unit it it could take from 5 to 20 business days to get a replacement. Of course the 20 business days would be hard to swallow, but he said it never takes that long. The other option would be to take it back to the retailer and they would give me a new unit in exchange for the other one. I am glad it didnt come to any of this, but it sure seemed to me to be satisfactory service in my experience.

[Nick Kuhn]

I have no issues with the mapping speed on my HBird, but I do use a Navionics chip. I'm guessing it's LM chips that cause the problem.

[kg2]

I have been running Lakemaster maps in my HB units this year and last so I wouldn't consider this "just now available".

The HB models now with DI in the model name do not "blend" like Capt Musky stated. Others may like it, but I don't see any benefit of DI when SI does the same thing only better. The DI models sell at a lower price than SI, of course.

When zoomed in to 10 or 20 foot view I do overrun the map, but if I zoom out to 100 feet when running at 60mph I don't have the issue.

[CaptainMusky]

I have been running Lakemaster maps in my HB units this year and last so I wouldn't consider this "just now available".

here is some additional information they give you to have better performance on HB:

Follow through this checklist first:

1. Check to ensure you have a compatible Humminbird GPS HERE.

2. Check to ensure that your Humminbird GPS has the most recent update available on Humminbirds HSOforum. You must register your GPS HERE to see what updates are available for your Model

3. Make sure your Humminbird GPS is set to North Up under the Nav tab>Chart Orientation Menu option. Currently LakeMaster Cards will not display in "Course Up" mode.

4. After checking and adjusting the above settings, you should be able to zoom into a LakeMaster Lake and see contours. If you are still having problems displaying contours, please contact LakeMaster directly via phone or email.

[kg2]

I have been running Lakemaster for ALL of 2010 and now this year.

LM's site must have been a little behind the times. I even bought 3 new 2011 chips for added HD lakes!

[CaptainMusky]

I have been running Lakemaster for ALL of 2010 and now this year.

LM's site must have been a little behind the times. I even bought 3 new 2011 chips for added HD lakes!

Entirely possible. I know all the advertising I see for LM says "now works on Humminbird". So maybe there were still issues, but not as widespread and they have them resolved now. Completely plausible.

IDK what you think, but I hate using North Up. What do you use? I use course up since the bow of my boat is usually the direction I am heading. If I had to use North Up I would probably go bonkers because it would be spinning around all the time.

[PerchJerker]

HB and Low both make good units. I've got the one I prefer in my own boat and like it a lot. I use the other one A LOT and like it a lot too. They both perform really well when installed and adjusted and used correctly.

The biggest difference these days is in networking capabilities -- Lowrance has a lot more options and capabilities, HB is slowly getting into this area. If you're looking at connecting multiple units together then Lowrance has an advantage --- if you're looking at adding various network components to your network like vhf radio or sonic hub or radar or fuel flow meters etc. then Lowrance has an advantage. Even the ability to add StructureScan at a later date, or to connect it to multiple units, is an advantage with Lowrnance. But if you're looking at having 1 or 2 units and no add-ons then the networking point doesn't apply.

2010 was the first year LakeMaster cards worked in HB units, in 2011 they came out with the 2nd version of the HB card for LakeMaster. There are a few features on the HB LM card that you don't get with Lowrance -- the ability to shade specific water depths, and the ability to adjust the water level offset. Nice features that a lot of guys really like.

Both brands have good side imaging abilities. Nice pics posted above. You can get those images and those sonar displays on either brand --- they both are great performers when adjusted and used correctly.

For the side imaging / down imaging units, you can make an argument that Lowrance has a better down viewing picture because it's captured with its own transducer element --- for the HB SI units, the down image is a computer generated display from the edge of the 2 side viewing transducers. Still really good but it is a difference between the two brands.

For the down imaging units (no side imaging), both HB and Low have their own down imaging transducer elements. The Low units that are DSI give you downscan only, no traditional sonar --- the HB DI units give you down imaging and traditonal sonar, a nice option to have.

There is still a lot of posting on the internet about bad customer service at Lowrance. For the most part this is old news, dating back to the LMS / LCX units that were discontinued 2-3 years ago. Their CS was terrible back then but it has improved greatly. I talk to both companies CS departments frequently, and this year it is almost always quicker to get through to Lowrance. IMO there is not a significant difference in the level of customer service --- I know others feel differently or have a hard time getting past a previous bad experience.

If the differences in networking / addons isn't important to you, I think the best way to decide these days is to look at the displays and pick the unit that you think looks the best or shows the info the best.

Hope that helps.

[muskiemanAD]

I recently bought the HB 597DI and love it. DI is great for identifying weeds and how thick they are and what not. If you are zoomed in to close they do take awhile to load a map, that would be my only complaint. The depth highlight is great though, I set mine for 17 feet plus 1 foot and I have the weed line of Tonka highlighted, it sure makes it nice.....

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

So hb lakemaster has to run with north up??

[CaptainMusky]

So hb lakemaster has to run with north up??

Not sure if it has to but they recommend it for better charting performance.

[Gus]

You don't have to run with North up on our unit, but is sure makes reading it easier. The whole map is constantly twisting and adjusting on you if you have it in course up.

[JohnMickish]

I ran my 898SI with course up and it works fine. I prefer course up over north up so I can keep the left side of the screen on my left, and so on. That makes for easier and faster course corrections-less thinking!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I ran my 898SI with course up and it works fine. I prefer course up over north up so I can keep the left side of the screen on my left, and so on. That makes for easier and faster course corrections-less thinking!

Exactly

[CaptainMusky]

I ran my 898SI with course up and it works fine. I prefer course up over north up so I can keep the left side of the screen on my left, and so on. That makes for easier and faster course corrections-less thinking!

I use course up too. North up is annoying I want the direction I am going to be at the top of the screen. I don't care where north is.

[Superduty]

eagle,

You were looking for thoughts. Here's mine.

Buy the biggest Lowrance HDS you can afford and don't look back.

Don't worry about customer service or water intrusion. That is old internet chatter and has been addressed. I have heard about good and bad service from either company. Don't think it is impossible to have issues with either brand. Both lowrance and humminbird users are experiencing growing pains with current software upgrades. For the most part, both companies are in a sense of denial about it. There are lots of variables involved when a customer installs his own unit and does the upgrades himself. I've been in boats with the biggest birds and lowrance units. Either brand is a good product and the side imaging/scan will forever change the way you fish. I prefer the lowrance when it comes down to spending my own hard earned money.

[eagle_3464]

Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming I'm not sold either way yet. If there is anyone in the Alex area with side imaging that wouldn't mind taking me on the water for a demo, I would really appreciate it. I'm not yet sold on the SI but I don't want to dump $600 for a unit without, only to wish later I had it. Of course that is if I went the HB route. Cabela's currently has a special on the 597ciHD but thrying to make certain it fits the bill.

[Esox_Magnum]

I'd check with Dave at Pro Fishing Supply first. He is a site sponcer and pretty tough to beat his pricing...

[kg2]

I run course up at the console and magnetic north up at the bow.

[PerchJerker]

The only time I ever run course up is if I'm contour trolling, and even then not very often. I almost always run north up. I have found that for course up, the map jumps and moves around way to much for my liking ---- I don't like seeing the contour lines twisting and turning around.

[Superduty]

Couldn't agree more Perchjerker.

I usually leave it in north up, but will use course up when making long runs following a gps trail on Rainy lake or the Mississippi river. Have to zoom out quite a ways to make it work without jumping and twisting.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

That's like walking backwards.