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| Looking at buying one of the two graphs. I hear the humminbirds have better side imaging. Can anyone tell me which they think is better. Just looking for insight before I buy. |
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Posts: 279
| Saying that humminbirds have better side imaging is hard to prove. Both companies put out great products. I had always used humminbird for years. Bought hds two years ago and would switch back for anything! |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I like my Ford truck better than your Chev but I wouldn't be at all surprised if you like your Chev better than my Ford. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I just studied this extensively for about a week. I spent hours and hours reviewing both product lines. There's a thread about it in the "Tackle and Equipment" forum, but I'll briefly summarize it here.
1) Both make EXCELLENT products. You really cannot go wrong with either.
2) Lowrance has a bit more support for "bells & whistles" things, like XM Weather and audio.
3) If you want to use DrDepth to really get into making your own maps, it works a bit better with Lowrance.
4) While Lowrance has gotten a bad reputation for poor quality and customer support in the past, this is probably no longer deserved. See my other thread for more complete details.
Short answer: You really cannot go wrong with either product line, so you'll just have to decide if you want the things that Lowrance supports more so than Humminbird.
TB
EDIT: Here is a link to that thread...
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=73...
Edited by tcbetka 4/11/2012 2:22 PM
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Second on the last post
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Posts: 134
Location: Central Wi | Agree with all post, both have goods and bads, the lowrance guys will swear by them and humminbird guys will do the same. I personally have always had humminbirds and cant say a bad thing about them, support has been ok if needed and products have held up great... |
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| I have used Lowrance since my guiding days (+25 years ago) until the transducer fiasco three years ago. I put 7 ducers on my boat, over two years. Lowrance wouldn't even give me a free one.
I then switched to Humminbird and got an 898ci, and absolutely love it. In fact, I am moving it to my bowmount and purchased an 1198ci this year.
I know the Lowrances have improved, but I got burned and they won't get my business again.
Dan |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | That's fair enough Dan. I don't know if I would either, if I had your experience with their product. And frankly, that's the sort of information they need to hear--because THAT is what will make them step up.
After researching it a lot over the past week, and talking to at least ten "power users" of their products, I've decided to go with Lowrance. I might regret it, but hopefully not (knock on wood). But I certainly can't criticize you for making the decision you did...
TB |
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Posts: 202
| I have one of each on my boat and have used both of them a ton and I do have a very big preference. Hummingbird not only has, in my opinion, better products but there products are much more reliable. In 3 years of using them I have never blown a transducer puck, hard drive etc. For me its a no brainer but thats just my opinion |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I was (am) actually entertaining that idea Spencer. Which units do you have, and what do you use each for? It's an interesting idea, to be sure...
TB |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | both are great units .i just bought 2 birds 1198 si i got the best deal on the birds so thats what i went with know humminbird is comming out with 360 so thats a pluss that and johnson outdoors owns humminbird lake maps and minn kota put them all together makes humminbird look even better |
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Posts: 400
Location: North/Central WI | DanKlis - 4/11/2012 4:24 PM
I have used Lowrance since my guiding days (+25 years ago) until the transducer fiasco three years ago. I put 7 ducers on my boat, over two years. Lowrance wouldn't even give me a free one.
I then switched to Humminbird and got an 898ci, and absolutely love it. In fact, I am moving it to my bowmount and purchased an 1198ci this year.
I know the Lowrances have improved, but I got burned and they won't get my business again.
Dan
I also went thru numerous transducers with my Lowrance 520c's. I now have 998si at the console and a 858c on the bow...really like my Humminbirds so far. |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Comparing units years old to today's considering the rapidly advancing microprocessor, display, and transducer technology is like comparing a 2006 to today's Chevy or Ford trucks. Market share, new product development advances, and the company internal structures change as well, in Lowrance's AND Humminbird's case quite dramatically.
Both Johnson Outdoors and Navico have produced products that had issues, both have had customer service issues, and both have worked through them and are building the best equipment we have ever seen. Get to a store where you can try both, talk to folks and compare like Tom did, and then make a decision. One thing for sure, the 'advantage' will be an ever shifting field in the future as new technology is developed and introduced. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | DanKlis,
Question for you on your transducer fiasco... Did the unit not read in shallow water or on over thick weeds?
Thanks
Steve
Edited by VMS 4/12/2012 1:26 PM
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| HB = Apple
Lowrance = PC |
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| VMS -
This was a fairly common problem. I blew transducers on (at least I think) a 520 - non-color then "upgraded" to a 520c. I blew three on the 520c (and one GPS receiver)
I know that Doug Johnson had similar problems transducer issues..
Apparently the sending units were not sealed properly. And they would just quit working. Really sucked having one go during trolling season on LOTW.
I got pretty good at installing them and running the wire through the gun whale.
I have a good freind that never had an issue.
Dan |
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Posts: 582
| I have both, and prefer Humminbird. Not the side imaging products but my HB seems to be more reliable and works at higher speeds. I had an issue with some of the epoxy sent with my HBird that screwed up the puck install. I called HBird and they sent me new epoxy, and new transducer overnight to make sure i was happy. I had and issue wiht my Lowrance 520c and got 2 completely different answers from Lowrance after waiting for about 2 weeks for them to answer an email. I hear its is improving, but HBird just seems to be more responsive. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Dan, I am in the process of replacing my 5th transducer(3 on one boat, now the second on my other) in 4 years. I was beginng to believe my unit was frying them, but now lost one with the HDS. sucked having to shop for one/change out in Canada last year, when staying 100 miles from nearest town, but had to have a working transducer. I also know folks who have had no issues, and some have had to replace several. Its comforting to know my $2200 unit wasn't the problem, but not fun having to gopher wires and remove decks to make the switch. Hoping that is finally behind me...
Edited by Reef Hawg 4/13/2012 8:46 PM
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Is this the standard 83/200 kHz unit that you guys have had trouble with? I don't think they are that expensive ($40-50 or so?), so I wonder if it wouldn't be prudent to simply have a spare on-hand? Now the SI/DI transducer on the other hand...
TB |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Yes, the standard Skimmer (83/200). They run about $80. I had a spare, twice, using it each time. My transducer was one year old when we were in Canada last summer, and it failed. I had researched the issue, and thought it was behind me in 2010. It was a known problem, and again, hopefully in my past now. To be honest i believe I may have just been unlucky. I purchased one of them 'new' though it was out of the package already at my local marina. I was in a pinch and needed the critical spare. The next was purchased through Lowrance, and the last one up in Canada at a marina where the owner sold me the last one, stating they had just gotten several in the week before. I believe I now have two transducers on my rigs, manufactured post issue. Fingers crossed. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | And having a spare transducer doesn't do you much good of course, until you can get the boat out of the water and change the thing. If you're out on the lake and need it, it doesn't do you much good. You'd almost have to "pre-install" the spare on the transom before your long trip, just to be on the safe side!
One thing that does scare me about these HDS 8 units I just ordered is the fact that both will depend upon the same transducer. Not much for redundancy, is it? Makes me a bit uncomfortable, but there really isn't much else to do--although having a spare 83/200 kHz unit wouldn't be the end of the world. The LSS-1 transducer is well over $200 though, so I likely won't be carrying a spare one around.
TB |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | From everything I hear, the transducer issue is behind us. You might be wise, however, to get the adapter for the universal sonar transducer on your trolling motor if you have a Minn Kota, or a puck if the electric motor doesn't have the inherent 'ducer. At least then, you can rely on it during a trip of trolling, or to get back to shore/landing if the skimmer dies. That said, I really like casting and trolling both, with my bow unit running off the front transducer. While not making much difference on places like the lower bay etc, it has saved a number of lost hours/lures for me when I see trees/rocks/shallows appear on the front unit, with time to avoid collision before my prop/lurs get there. Its especially helpful on the river here, and while trolling in Canada, even if I have to deal with a bit of asociated screen clutter. Its rare that my two units are reading within 3-4' of one another when working structure, and they are often 'off' by alot more.
With that said, I would also network my sonars, if running the LSS. Appears to be a nice system.
Edited by Reef Hawg 4/14/2012 12:56 AM
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I have done that in the past with a Universal Sonar--get an extension cable, and run it under the gunwale. Then I had the choice of either using the US unit on the trolling motor, or I simply connected the extension cable and displayed the depth under the trolling motor on one of my units at the console. It worked pretty good, especially while trolling.
I intend to network everything this time around though--but before too long I'd have to get an extension port module. As I recall the LSS-1 only has three ports to connect units, and both HDS 8's will need one. So that leaves one open port.
TB |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Just so you guys know, the LSS-1 reads depth just like your regular transducer. So it can act as a backup, but when your running, the LSS-1 is typically out of the water on most setups so it can't provide you readings. Now if my memory serves me right, you'll get readings on plane with your Lund since you have a flat transom and not step like a lot of fiberglass hulls.
I wish I knew why you guys have had such bad luck with ducers, I've never heard of anyone going through that many. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Good to hear about the LSS-1 TJ. To be clear, I've never lost a transducer (knock on wood). I've heard of it happening to a number of guys though, but like you I can't figure out why either. I've heard of some poor seals on some of them, and I presumed that was the issue. But I can't imagine that would explain ALL those failures...
TB |
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Location: north central wisconsin | TJ DeVoe - 4/14/2012 7:53 AM
I wish I knew why you guys have had such bad luck with ducers, I've never heard of anyone going through that many.
Its a well known issue, that the company addressed. Seals were bad on some, and manifested itself more quickly on units taken in and out of freezing temps., from what I've read, which would include me. As far as I am aware, nobody is having issues with recently purchased transducers. I know of at least a dozen people who have replaced at least one, and several who have had a few or more(a quick search just now revealed couple guys on WC.com had replaced up to 5 on different boats/units). My guess is that there were a pile of the 'bad' ones sent to a smaller number of retailers. My local marina was one of them. Again, unless there are still a couple dusty ones floating around at a little used retailer, its in the past.
Edited by Reef Hawg 4/14/2012 8:50 PM
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | Reef, I've had to replace two. I just chalked that up to use because they do go bad, but never really thought anything of it. Like I said, I just hadn't heard of anyone going through that many ducers in that short period of time.
Edited by TJ DeVoe 4/14/2012 7:31 PM
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | The one that I had the longest, actually still works, but I broke it myself when I walked into it a week or two after buying the boat used(it was probably on the boat a few years then). I marine tex'd it back together and it worked till a couple seasons ago when it finally gave way again, so I purchased a new one. I'm in the process of re-gluing it for use as the spare I should've had along in Canada last year. By the way, the symptoms of the 'bad' ones were for the most part the same when talking to separate parties with the issue. It would read fine out of the box then folks would notice it at running speeds first, losing bottom. At first I tried height adjustments etc, thinking that was the issue. Then, I would start losing the bottom line while fishing, eventually having the units sens, pegged at 100%. After putting the new one on, I would be shocked to see how 'high' I'd have my settings, and how much detail I was again able to see.
As an aside, was out today for the kids fishing contest here, and briefly thought I was having Skimmer transducer issues on my old boat, till I realized I had the HDS set for my US2 transducer in the Ranger. Dogghh!
Edited by Reef Hawg 4/14/2012 9:03 PM
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humminbird vs. lowrance