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Posts: 91
| Hey guys,
Planning to get a GPS unit for my boat, and have pretty much decided on these two units ( features, price, etc.). Wondering if anyone has either unit, or knows of.
The two units are the Lowrance HDS-5 Combo 2010, and the Humminbird 597ci HD Combo. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again! |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | This is a no brainer in my opinion. The HDS-5 allows you the opportunity to add extra features such as the LSS-1 which is the StructureScan and Sonic Hub, allowing you to add a marine audio server that's compatible with iPod, iPhone, and MP3 devices.
I think the sonar readout is much better on the HDS than the Bird. |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | I use an HDS-5 on our work boat & own 757c GPS & 586c birds. The birds are great units & more user friendly to navigate around through the menus and have been great units. I don't see how the readout is any better between the two brands. The lowance has a slightly bigger screen (5" vs 4.5" for the bird), but the bird has higher resulution (640x480 vs 480x480 for the HDS). Plus, for the price of the HDS-5 Combo (US basemap w/ transducer - $699 - on sale) you can get a 597 ciHD with downimaging for $50 less. That bumps you up to the same screen size (5"), but even better resoultion (640x640).
All those add ons are nice, but they cost a pretty penny. For the price of the Sonic Hub ($300) you can get a good marine CD player & speakers w/ MP3 jack (which allows you to use your iPod, iPhone, and MP3 devices), have the ability to listen to radio, still play CDs, and have money left over. The structure scan is even more money, and if you really want that in a unit I'd suggest just getting one with it in the first place. |
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Posts: 1088
Location: Hayward, WI | A better comparison would be HDS-5 to a 788cI hd, or a 597cIHD to a Elite 5. |
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Posts: 642
Location: Richfield, MN | From listening to a seminar at Cabelas the birds seen easier to navigate from place to place. I own Lowrances and really like mine but I do have to scroll more to get things done as compared to the birds it seems.
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Posts: 202
Location: Rhinelander | After having many troubles with my Lowrance, and it finally blew an internal fuse. That was enough. After having fished with a friend who had a bird last year, I was sold on the ease of use and better features for the money. I got a 597c HD DI for $650. To get the same features in a HD5 would have been over a grand from what the Cabelas salesman told me |
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | A couple months ago I bought and installed a HB581i with GPS and love it. The unit is black and white and after postage was $350. I had the menu mastered the first time out and the detail is spectacular. I can't comment on the Lowrance but I'm very happy with my new HB.
jed |
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| I have a 597ci HD, maps take awhile to load up, I'm used to Garmin gps's and as far as I'm concerned they are still the best and fastest. I'm constantly out running my chart on my bird, can zoom in at any speed and keep chart going, transducer is tough to get setup, just got it updated as well. The down imaging is a wash IMO, not real happ at all with this unit. |
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Posts: 40
| Just as guest stated above, the maps do take a little longer than I would like to load. However I used to be a Lowrance guy and made the switch. There are some nice features like depth highlight which is very nice, overall I would take that exact bird any day. Just my opinion though........ |
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Lowrance HDS-5 or Humminbird 597ci HD Combo