Disappointed in Humminbird

[Ming]

I bought an 858c HD DI Combo that was suppose to have down imaging and DualBeam PLUS. (The box it came in, Humminbirds HSOforum and thier catalog all have the DualBeam Plus listed as a feature.) I was reading over the owners manual and it says the DI models do not have DualBeam PLUS.

DualBeam PLUS is basically 2 cone angles (a wide angle and a narrow angle) that can be used at the same time on either a split screen or a blended screen. This feature was a big selling point as it would show me what is under the boat and what is to the side of the boat no matter the speed.

I bought it online so if I returned it I would have to pay the original shipping plus the return shipping plus a restocking fee. I would be out over $200.

I called Humminbird and even though the owners manual says it does not have DualBeam PLUS they tried to tell me the 858c HD DI Combo has DualBeam PLUS because the transducer had 2 beams. The beams on the transducer are not the same as the DualBeam PLUS and can not be used as a split screen or blended together. After they realized I was right and they were wrong they were not willing to do anything for me. Not even exchange it for a different model so I wouldn't be out $200 because of thier mistake and misleading advertising.

[TruthWalleyes]

You can run in 83 or 200. On my 898cSI i have 83, 200, or 83/200 but only in split screen.

Return it and get one with side imaging...DI isn't worth a darn anyway.

You want some sonar better than dual beam...Get Quadra Beam..

[Ming]

It has a 455 and 200 beam not the 83 and 200. You can not run the 455 and 200 in a split screen and even if you could it wouldn't give you the same coverage area as the 83 and 200.

I wish I could afford side imaging. Plus if I return it I am out over $200.

What I want is what Humminbird advertised was with the unit.

[TruthWalleyes]

The 455 would be for your DI and the 200 would be for your sonar.

For what it's worth, you can tell when when a fish is further away from the boat or not by the strength of the return in most cases.

These depth finders can be quite complicated when trying to purchase, sorry to hear you didn't get what you were looking for.

[Ming]

thanks.

The sonar has a 200Khz/25 degree cone and a 455Khz/16 degree cone. The down imaging has a 455/75 degree and a 800Khz/45 degree.

The DualBeam Plus has a 20 degree and a 60 degree cone. The 60 degree would show a lot more then either of the cones available.

[TruthWalleyes]

Call up Humminbird and see if you can hook up a quadra beam to it, that would give you what your looking for...but I'm not sure they are compatible.

You could always sell it and hope to cover your purchase price

[reddog]

Yes, it says Dual Beam on the 958 HSOforum, but on the overview, it only lists the 200 and the 455 and the 800. On the specifications tab, it does say Dual Beam Plus, but only lists 200 and 455.

If you click on the Dual Beam Plus explanation, it is about 2D sonar, 83 and 200 khz.

I can see the confusion.. and I dont know why they dont have the 83 in this model.

Your widest coverage would be with 455 DI at 75 degrees and also be your best screen for finding fish and interpreting what is truly down there, rather than guessing.

While I understand 83/200, understand that if you fish any type of slope, the wide 2d beam creates a "dead space", and can actually conceal fish within that dead zone.

Now, Im not making excuses for keeping this unit because it doesnt have the 83 degree crystal. I dont know exactly what to tell you..other than when you learn what your DI is telling you, you will find you wil use less and less of 2d, with the exception of vertical jigging and wanting to watch your jig.

[Ming]

I wanted both. I figured I would use the wide 60 degree when I am out on LOTW cruising the main basin. From what I understand DI can only be used at 6mph or less.

[reddog]

That would be for the most part correct, but your high speed will come from the 200 crystal anyway..

I dont use DI, (or 2D for the most part) only SI.

For what its worth, Im on your side on this..

[BartmanMN]

That is interesting. I never really noticed that, but my 788 is in the same boat as yours.

[reddog]

OK, Heres what I have figured out.

You do have dual beam 2D with the HD DI unit. You have a 200khz, 25 degree cone, which is your widest 2d cone and 5 degrees larger than what comes with a SI unit., and a 455 khz 16 degree 2D.

and a 455khz and an 800 khz DI beam.

I guess the only thing they really need to change on the HSOforum, is under the tab "Learn More About", where it clearly shows a 20 degree and a 60 degree 2D cone angle.

Im sure that there is a reason for making the change with the dedicated DI units.

[Ming]

While it does have 2 sonar beams they can not be used at the same time.

[reddog]

I know you have the unit, but is this all in the investigative stage, or are you all mounted up and ready to go. or have been on the water with it already?

[Ming]

Still in the box

[reddog]

Ok, its new in the box.. marketable, if you want.

What unit did you have in mind to replace it with, assuming you decide to change it out.

I can only assume that you bought it thru an internet store, that has no stock on the shelves (broker) and thats why they want such as fee for restocking, when really, they probably have no stocking shelves to begin with..

Have you talked with them about replacing it with something, instead of returning it.

I'm sending you a PM for some other contacts for you to contact, if you have the time and the inclination..

[Ming]

I don't know what I would go with. It took me a month to decide on this unit. I am getting an ipilot with ilink so I need to go with a humminbird unit.

I didn't get amy PMs.

[reddog]

Its gonna take me a little to get the contact information. No guarantees it will help.

I dont think you have your PM box set up in your profile yet. When I tried to send you a pm, it said you box was full..

[reddog]

I can see the dilemma. You do have dual 2dbeams, but you cannot combine them. I don't know why, but I can tell you that you are the first person that has brought this up on any of the boards I visit, and I have put a lot of time in looking. I can also tell you that almost every post I've seen, it's users are happy with the dedicated DI units. It may be that because the two cone angles are similar, that they thought it didn't make any sense to combine them. It could also be that, if pressed in the right direction that they could make a software adjustment down the road and make it available in order to satisfy their advertising information. All of this is pure speculation on my part, and I am not affiliated with JO in any way... Good luck with whatever you decide to do..

[Chris Haley]

If you have a bigger sporting goods store near you. You could take it in and explain your situation and they may give you full purchase value for a unit you would upgrade too. Given your situation with being out $200 if you send back. If they agree you have $200 to upgrade with. OR, you lost your reciept and have decided to upgrade. Not that I'm condoning that.

[TruthWalleyes]

I bought it online so if I returned it I would have to pay the original shipping plus the return shipping plus a restocking fee. I would be out over $200.

Sometimes it's best to pay a few bucks more and buy from someone local.