humminbird vs. Lowrance

[Fishing Buddy 6]

I am looking at purchasing a new side imaging unit. I am wondering people's opinions on Humminbird Vs. Lowrance. Looking at the 998 or the hds 8 with structure scan. I am interested in other fisherman likes and dislikes of each unit.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have a bird, and am REALLY happy with it.. been happy with the unit, and happy with the customer service.. Yet some of the new features on the Lowrance look pretty darn sweet.

It will be a tough choice for you, but no matter which you get, I know you will be pleased.

[Fish Head]

I'm in the process of switching to the 998 bird this year. I've been told that the GPS unit in the 998 is much more acurate than the HDS8. I can't remember why, I think it takes readings much more frequently or something like that. Maybe someone here knows more about this?

[Fishing Buddy 6]

I am leaning towards the 998. Just wanted to get a little input on what people thought about the units. Your opinion and replies are greatly appreciated. Please continue to chime in with your thoughts on the units if you want. I like when customer service is good too.

Thank you,

C

[CaptainMusky]

If you go the Lowrance route, make sure you get the Gen2 because of the faster processing speed, etc. Not that the others were slow by any means, but this just makes them that much faster. Since you are looking at Structure Scan, the Gen2 models allow Structure map. Overlaying your imaging over the plotter. It is amazing. You can save all of this data, make your own maps, or just save it to come back to it later.

You will get into a 998 for less money but the Lowrance has definitely some advanced features that Hummingbird doesnt.

Both with provide you scanning images, but Hummingbird blends the left and right scans to similate a downscan image where Lowrance has a down image generated.

Never heard that about the GPS being more accurate on the bird, unless you are comparing an external antenna to an internal on the Lowrance. External antennas are more accurate and ping or update much more frequently so that may be where that is coming from, not sure.

[Larson15]

I personally like the Humminbirds much more as I find them alot easier to set up and user friendly. Also Humminbird owns Lakemaster now and wont be making chips for Lowrance anymore....

[goose89]

Also Humminbird owns Lakemaster now and wont be making chips for Lowrance anymore....

Actually, Johnson Outdoors owns Humminbird and Lakemaster, as well as MinnKota.

I'm very happy with my 998 & 958 as well. Have fished with the HDS's as well. Very nice as well. I like the 'birds "user friendliness" right out of the box and the ability to shade in / color a particular depth range. Cool feature that's Lowrance doesn't have that' put fish in the boat.

What is the final / bottom-line word on Lakemaster and Lowrance compatability in the near future. I've heard a lot of hearsay, but nothing recently. If I went Lowrance, (I'm not, just a hypothetical), could I still put a LM chip in it?? If yes, still can, how bout down the road??

[gixxer01]

Humminbird/Lakemaster/Minn-kota have some cool things working for the future. Once the Pinpoint patents run out you'll be able to link the sonar with the trolling motor. I'm thinking the Lakemaster acquisition has alot to do with this. I pilot is great, but I'd love to see what will come of this upgrade.

The Gen2 Lowrance's overlay data is pretty sweet. From what I've heard/read Lowrance has a crisper picture that does HB.

I really think these companies need to improve on the dual-functionality of these midsized, high end graphs. Lowrance has done a good job of supplying ice kits for their HDS models (dual beam ice ducer would be nice), but I would like HB to do the same with their 798 and 898 models. I suppose profit is king though!

[PerchJerker]

They're both good. I use both a lot. I prefer Lowrance but I like HB too.

If I was going with Lowrance this year I would definately go with a Gen2 unit. But if you don't already have LM cards for Lowrance then you might want to rethink that route and go with HB for the mapping options.

As to a more accurate GPS in HB ........ no. You are being caught up by the 50 satellite marketing gimmick, but there are not that many satellites to track. In fact there are only about 12 in view at any time, so a 16-channel and a 50-channel receiver will see all the same satellites at the same time ---- but 50 sure sounds a lot better than 16. There may be small differences in the update rate of the gps receivers, but not enough to say that one is more accurate than the other. I have heard many experts say that either gps is probaby more accurate than anyone's boat control skills I wouldn't worry about gps accuracy with either brand.

[Fishing Buddy 6]

I really appreciate all of the useful information that I am getting from people. Thank you for not being biased to one company when letting me know you you think is better. This have been very helpful. However, it is a big decision and will still ponder this for a few more days.

Thanks,

C

[Fish Head]

As to a more accurate GPS in HB ........ no. You are being caught up by the 50 satellite marketing gimmick, but there are not that many satellites to track. In fact there are only about 12 in view at any time, so a 16-channel and a 50-channel receiver will see all the same satellites at the same time ---- but 50 sure sounds a lot better than 16. There may be small differences in the update rate of the gps receivers, but not enough to say that one is more accurate than the other. I have heard many experts say that either gps is probaby more accurate than anyone's boat control skills I wouldn't worry about gps accuracy with either brand.

That "50 satalite" thing is why the rep told me that its more acurate. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Larson15]

Goose, A HB rep recently told me that they will not be making new chips for the Lowrance units. The older chips should be compatible with the newer lowrance units though.

[goose89]

Thanks Larson15! I'm good for now, but always like to keep up with options with the latest and greatest. Might direct future choices.

[delcecchi]

Goose, A HB rep recently told me that they will not be making new chips for the Lowrance units. The older chips should be compatible with the newer lowrance units though.

As we have seen with Garmin, the data is available. So in the long run it will be available for all units. Heck, you can get it on your smart phone for 10 bucks.

[JohnMickish]

Here is my take on the whole HB vs Low deal. I fish out of alot of high end boats during the year, some with Birds and some with Lows. I honestly feel that the Lowrance units offer a more traditional sonar picture (arches) with better colors, but the bird colors are not that different, it's just that the fish sometimes show up as blobs and not arches. Is that a deal breaker? No.

Lowrance still has some quality issues and a friend of mine even carries a spare HDS 10 in his boat since he has had lost two units in the last two years. The Humminbirds just plain work, all the time in any water.

The HDS Gen2 units have a new mapping option that will overlay the map onto the side or down imaging image, cool stuff for sure.

As mentioned, Johnson Outdoors owns Minn Kota, Humminbird and Lakemaster. Rumor has it that there is something in the works that will allow all of them to talk and work together. With Humminbird there are more mapping options available than there are for Lowrance now, which is a huge deal if you ever travel to other states.

I used to be a big Lowrance guy but after my last two units where junk (LCX27s) I made the change to Humminbird three years ago and am glad I did. I run an 1197SI on the dash and will be putting a 1158DI on the bow before the ice melts.

[reddog]

Here is my take on the whole HB vs Low deal. I fish out of alot of high end boats during the year, some with Birds and some with Lows. I honestly feel that the Lowrance units offer a more traditional sonar picture (arches) with better colors, but the bird colors are not that different, it's just that the fish sometimes show up as blobs and not arches. Is that a deal breaker? No.

Lowrance still has some quality issues and a friend of mine even carries a spare HDS 10 in his boat since he has had lost two units in the last two years. The Humminbirds just plain work, all the time in any water.

The HDS Gen2 units have a new mapping option that will overlay the map onto the side or down imaging image, cool stuff for sure.

As mentioned, Johnson Outdoors owns Minn Kota, Humminbird and Lakemaster. Rumor has it that there is something in the works that will allow all of them to talk and work together. With Humminbird there are more mapping options available than there are for Lowrance now, which is a huge deal if you ever travel to other states.

I used to be a big Lowrance guy but after my last two units where junk (LCX27s) I made the change to Humminbird three years ago and am glad I did. I run an 1197SI on the dash and will be putting a 1158DI on the bow before the ice melts.

John,

I tried to PM you, but you have it turned off.

How much price difference is there between an 1158DI and an 1198 CSI. With tha amount of coin youre spending on the 58, why wouldnt you spend a couple hundred more and get the SI version?

I know I will never, ever be without SI up front.

[JohnMickish]

Thanks for telling me I have my PMs turned off. I will change that.

Theres about $600-$800 difference between them, maybe less depending on specials and such. The reason I am going to do the DI instead of the SI on the bow is this, and I've thought long and hard about it.

1, I will have a SI unit behind the windshield, if I want to see it I can take the steps back there and look at it. I can still control the trolling motor with the ipilot

2, At the speeds where the SI is most effective (2.5-5MPH) I probably won't be on the bow anyways.

3, I won't be in "fish search" mode from the bow, I will be in "fish catch" mode and moving at less than 1 MPH. Faster than that and I will be using the kicker, and then behind the windshield.

4, I don't want to hang that big SI transducer off my trolling motor, and I probably won't hang the DI one either, I will have them networked and use the rear DI to view up front. Is this ideal? No, but to me it's a better situation than having an extra cord running down the trolling motor shaft, and I won't be verticle jigging with the DI on, at that point it will be traditional 2D sonar.

Of course I'm not saying that I don't want the SI up front, and if I can get a great deal when I buy I will get one, but for now, that $600 difference is worth walking the 6 feet to the dash to see it. $600 is three tanks of fuel for the boat (52 gallons if empty), or one weekend trip to Green Bay, LOW or Oahe.

For what it's worth, Pro Fishing Supply (site sponsor) has their 1198SIs priced at $2450 (a supper price!)+ tax, and I have been quoted $1950 and no tax for the 1158DI. Ideally it would be nice to have two new 1198s since for 2012 the brightness has really been turned up (they are now backlit, like the good TVs) on the 11XX series but that's a whole lot of coinage and probably not going to happen all at once, unless I trip over a pot of gold sometime. Maybe I could talk someone into buying my 1197SI for around $3000 then that would make it easier to do!

[reddog]

Sorry, I just bought an 1197 for 1500, so youre kinda out of the ballpark.

We really need to talk about this trolling motor unit some more.

PM sent.

[goose89]

Good deal, but there's a HUGE difference in the 97 and 98 in processing time (map redraw). 97's a good unit, but IMO the 98 would be worth the extra grand if able to swing it.

[reddog]

Goose, Agreed, and I really struggled with this, but.... my thought process was, that I could buy the 1197 for 1500 which saved at least 900 over a new 1198. Assuming that someday, probably within the next few years that there is going to be integration between the Bird units and the Minnkota trolling motors. I have a 36V 101 IPilot Terrova (which I also bought used for $800, saved another $700) No one can predict if the current 1198 will be capable of this upgrade. One can only speculate. So, I opted to buy the used hardware at the savings assuming that it will still be worth X amount of dollars on the open market when I upgrade to the newer pieces. Frankly, I have no issues with the processing speed, map redraw with Navionics chips or brightness of my 97 equipment,(1197 and 997) currently on my boat. I have no problems with neither of them talking to each other either.

[goose89]

good to hear! LM chips here. Anyways, good thinking and $$ saving. I'm curious about the next steps (connecting 'bird to Terrova) and if everything will need to be new, or if we can integrate our current units into it. I'd be surprised, with the ability to download upgrades, that new units will be needed, but I'm by far an expert on any of that. That's a scary thought! New TM, new 10" unit plus the price to be able to "connect" them, could be pricey.

[reddog]

Again, purely speculation at this point. I have no idea, thats why I'm in capital retention mode right now, until we know..

Althouth all of this conversation has been good banter... back to the original subject.

Lowrance or Humminbird? and why.

[JohnMickish]

The processor speed is indeed a huge difference between the 11X7s and the 2012 and newer 11X8s.

The one bad thing I can say about my 1197 is that I don't like being able to outrun the map when I need/want it zoomed in so I can accuratly follow my trail.

Was tha a new in the box with warranty 1197 for $1500?

[reddog]

No, it was a previously owned 1197.

[morepower02]

I have live demos of the h birds and Lowrance gen 2 hds graphs running if anyone wants to stop in and check out.