Lowrance Elite 7 vs humminbird 859ci hd di

[northernfishin]

In the market for a depth finder sonar chart plotter. These are the two I'm sugested. Any thoughts on the two or experience with them? Still not sure if I see a major advantage of one vs other. Plan on using navioniccs chip.

[Brad B]

If it was me I would get the humminbird. if you have a minnekota trolling motor and you ever decide to add I Pilot Link to it you would need a humminbird finder for it to work. the 859 is a nice unit if you want just the down imagining. I just added a 899 and the link setup to my boat this past weekend and now am waiting for the lakes to open up so I can go try them out.

[northernfishin]

I fish big water and don't use a trolling motor but a 8hp kicker. I know the price points are 100$ cheaper for lowrance. I know it's like a Chevy ford debate but still haven't seen these pros and cons for each unit.

[CaptainMusky]

A couple things to consider that may or may not matter to you.

Lowrance Elite 7HDI has a superior internal GPS. Humminbird will give you a puck to install somewhere.

Lowrance allows you to overlay your downscan image onto the display. Basically you can log your sonar and then play it back. If you go through the same path it will have the image of the bottom overlaying your contour lines on your graph if you choose. Humminbird you cannot do this. Continuing the logging theme even further, if you save your log to a chip, then upload that to the Lowrance Insight Genesis site, they will generate a map file and send it back to you so you can essentially map your own lakes. Again, this may or may not be a benefit to you, but the capability is absolutely there.

I would say they both are about equal in the ease of use factor.

If you are going to use Navionics chip, it doesnt matter which unit you buy. Both brands offer multiple mapping choices so that is nice.

Per Brad's point about IPilot Link and the Bird, well you cannot do that with Navionics chips anyway so that is a moot point.

Price is a big deal. $100 buys a bunch of gas, bait and lures. You really cannot go wrong with either, but the Elite gives you more for your money with greater capabilities (whether you plan to use those features or not is up to you) IMO.

[northernfishin]

Thanks for the help. While researching it appeared that GPS on the Lowrance is much better than the hummingbird. Thank you for confirming that. That matters to me when avoiding rocks on rainy lake where I will use it 99% of the time. Anyone know anything about the new chirp that is available in the elite 7?

[CaptainMusky]

I dont know if CHIRP is out yet, but it was just announced that it is coming. What I do know is limited, but it should give you much more amazing detail than a typical broadband sounder. You see CHIRP on most of the Offshore rigs, if you watch Wicked Tuna, most of those units are using CHIRP. It allows you to really separate baitfish from other fish. Clouds of bait can be easily confused as a larger fish. With CHIRP its amazing detail from what I have seen on videos, etc.

Back to the GPS thing for a second. I wouldnt say that Lowrance has a better GPS, because a puck is just fine, but because the internal GPS on the Humminbirds were so bad they just included the puck you have to now install that as well. Not a major deal, but something of note. Hands down Lowrance had a better internal GPS, but sayings its internal GPS is better than the puck that Humminbird has isnt what I am saying.

The internal GPS in the Lowrance is rock solid. Locks in in seconds regardless if its behind a windshield in a boat and even works great when my boat is still in my garage.

[gregg52]

just a thought as I'm going to buy new stuff this year

As you saying saying about recording a track and what not

and you said it doesnt matter but that is something i would never use

i have to buy the bird as i'm going to get an ipilot

iwasd a diehard lowrance guy till i bought the 520s on my bought now

wasnt impressed at all with locator part of those the GPS was good

i had to up date them and get a new transducer which i didnt like

you buy something and pay good money then you have to update doesnt sit well

with me

I hope this bird(and i'm not sure which one i will get but all said and done this little venture is going to bout 3000 bucks so it better work

and put more fish in my boat...lol

[CaptainMusky]

Gregg they are features you can choose to use or not use. I never would have imagined in 100 years some of the capabilities these new units offer. I am quite sure there are many other things you have told yourself "you would never use" but find yourself relying on them every day.

Its great to have options and you are right those 520 series lowrance units were not good. But software updates are really no big deal anymore. Just take to a retailer and have them do it. Takes 5 mins. These updates may fix bugs in the sw or provide new features. I have updated my hds units a couple times and added new functionality along the way.

Your computer updates itself yet you probably don't even think twice about it.

[northernfishin]

How's the clarity on the lowrance vs bird. Seems like the bird has better down scan. What about using for ice fishing. Any thoughts on one vs other?

[CaptainMusky]

Down scan will not work for ice fishing. The transducer must be moving for it to work. You could get a puck transducer for them and the graphs work awesome for ice fishing. I haven't used a bird but I'm sure its equally at home on the ice my hds is.

Clarity of the scan images seem comparable I wouldn't really say one is far superior in the down scan than the other.

[raymondk]

talked to a hummingbird expert on the I PILOT HE HIMSELF WAS NOT completely sold on it because it goes off of the lake chip which he stated they just are not good enough at this point if you think you can follow a sharp break or weedline they will not work real well he did state that they will work nice on gradual or big flats nice where 10 to 20 feet off won't matter.Me my self I would go with the Elite 7 right now you can get a insight pro 2013 chip free(which is a really good chip)all for $599 .

[northernfishin]

So it appears that cabelas has both for the same price of 549.99 right now and my local shop will honor the price. Guess now its the debate of which is better or has what I'm looking for. One thing I haven't heard yet is why one chooses bird over lowrance or vice versa. Other than the ipilot being a non issue. Itd be nice to have someone could tell me which one will be best for the long term.

[CaptainMusky]

You ask that question and you will just get lowrance owners say buy lowrance and bird buy a bird.

Both are great units but at the same price you get more features with the elite. The key for you is to just determine if that's worth it or not.

The structure map overlay to me is a huge advantage. I could see myself using that a lot because map chips aren't all that accurate plus you can see transition areas at a glance with the contour lines. Find the rock to sand or mud areas much easier.

[northernfishin]

I agree with you completely. I am leaning towards the lowrance for it seems to fit my needs and more navionics chips. The bird seems Like a nice newer shiny version.

[updecreek]

Who has the lowrance elite 7 hdi? What chip do you use? Anybody have navioncs north hotmaps premium? Trying to find lake chip with contours of 1 feet? I did the 3.0 upgrade to the unit.

[CaptainMusky]

I don't have an elite 7 hdi but do have the navionics platinum chip. Its 1ft contours for most lakes I fish. Otherwise the lowrance lake insight pro is a good chip that uses lakemaster data. I have that one too and happy with both.

[delcecchi]

Which lakes? I think you can preview at Navionics web site.

[northernfishin]

New info I found today on the bird 859ci HD di. It doesn't have a flasher mode so I think that pushes me towards the elite 7 now.

[updecreek]

Ok figured it out my 2012 insight pro chip will not work but the 2013 insight pro chip does. Very happy with it so far looked at all the lakes I fish and they all had 1 foot contours. The insight has some hotspot info tabs on some lake. The elite 7 hdi has flasher mode you can ice fish with it too. I use this in my truck in the winter just like a boat. I hook it up to a small 12 volt battery.

But I saved$$ bought it used. this model if your going to spend the $$ go HDS. my .02

[Dbl]

I have two Elite 7's that I picked up last year when they came out. I do have an Ipilot but at the time adding the Ilink and Hummingbird units to talk them along with the lake chip was way to big of an outlay for something that would not be a big benefit for me. I believe the contour tracking is only as good as the chip that is using it...and they are all far from perfect.

After a few growing pains with the Elite 7's and a few updates I have the units working quite well. They got a great workout on Rainy last fall prior to putting the boat away for the winter. CaptainMusky has already done a nice job explaining some of the features available. I ran a 2013 Navionics chip on my front unit and a 2013 Insight on the back unit. I preferred the Insight in most of the lakes I fished last year in Minnesota. (Rainy, Ottertail, Vermillion, metro lakes, etc).

Overall I think you would be pleased with the performance of the Elite 7. It provides a lot of bang for the buck!

[Savage Brewer]

I have an Elite 7 HDI, Elite 5 HDI and a HDS-8.

Happy with all 3 units, running Lake Insight Pro maps.

I would say for everyday use the Elite-7 HDI is an amazing deal.

I dont know of a better unit for $700.00

[northernfishin]

I got an elite 7. With the 100$ mail in rebate I was able to get the unit transducer navionics hot maps premium and a ram mount for 600$. Other than price I also got it so I can use it next winter for ice fishing as well. Very happy the local shop matched online deals I found. Have been able to play with it a bit and I think I'm going to like it once I get it on rainy lake. Now for the 2 ft of ice to melt....

[CaptainMusky]

Let us know how you like it once you use it. From every review I have heard they are great units. I havent used one myself, but read plenty. Good luck.

Dont forget you get free updates for a year on that Navionics chip. I am not sure how you prove when your purchased it, but I know they had a promotion going for that.