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Posts: 151
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI | I just talked to a humminbird sales rep at the local marina and he told me that I would be happy I didn't buy both graphs this spring for me new ranger. I put on a 998hd on the console and put my HDS 5 on the bow from my other boat. I got a great deal ($1400) on the 998hd or so I thought... Apparently Hbird is throwing down on Lowrance in the year to come by coming out with GPS built into each graph (no need for puck), Lakemaster teamed up with a chartplotter company so now you'll be able to record on your own graph, HD maps(1ft contours) with bottom densities for lakes that aren't currently on the lakemaster chips. It is rumored that they will also have touch screens as well and to top this off, ALL WHILE SLASHING PRICES ACROSS THE BOARD ON ALL GRAPHS!!! The graph I want on my bow will cost 30% less in march, with all the new features! So if your in the market for a new graph wait for spring!!
Should be interesting to see how this all plays out...
Adubs |
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| So, Basically everything Lowrance / Navionics already does? |
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| Yup Lowrance is just going to lay down, Imagine, whatever Hummingbirds coming out with, Lowrance has already done. |
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not necessarily.
Both companies are pushing the envelope with new technology, and both are building some very nice products.
'Bird was first to market with some innovations, Lowrance first to market with others. Good competition there.
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | I bought a new Humminbird last year.
I have a 25 year old Impulse 2800 (company now out of business) that works amazingly well. The impulse will literally show a crappie jig just off the bottom.
RM |
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Posts: 151
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI | you guys are missing the point...if you can get all of the features that (yes lowrance has along with what humminbird does, i.e. hooking up to ipilot/ilink along with touch screen and recording your own maps) but get it for half the cost of a lowrance...that would go a long ways towards increasing a companies market share! When I was in the market this spring for new graphs and a new 101 trolling motor my deciding factor was the ability to connect the trolling motor to the graph which is an awesome feature. The minnkota trolling motor is a better machine compared to motorguide IMO (if you like the extra features) now add that lowrance can't connect to the minnkota TM's which are becoming more and more popular...and to top it off HB will will now offer the only thing that had me considering lowrance and that was the touch screen...AND I CAN GET IT FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LESS for the same size and features...who would not buy a HB??
Yes lowrance makes a good product but I've experienced the difference in customer service (lowrance was terrible and HB was great, and that is the experience that a lot of people have had). I have both Lowrance and HB on my boat now mainly because navionics and lakemaster both had lakes I fish and I liked different features of both graphs. I'm guessing anyone looking to add new electronics (high end that is) to their fishing rigs it will be a lot easier decision "IF" HB comes out with these new features, better documented customer service, at a SIGNIFICANTLY better price! Thats simple business/math IMHO. |
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| adubs - 9/26/2013 9:51 Am
...but get it for half the cost of a lowrance...
AND I CAN GET IT FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LESS...
Half the price? Where are you getting your "facts"? Maybe a bit cheaper if you are running one unit in your boat... Certainly not if you are running multiple units. I am a fan of Johnson outdoors products and Lowrance... Not bashing either. But your statements just do not seem true. |
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I bet we will know soon what the pricing structure will be on the 2014 products. Until then, let's keep the white noise from both camps down to a dull roar. |
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Posts: 922
| I went from Lowrance HDS7 to a Humminbird 898 (or whatever the 7" model is). I used it for one summer and immediately went back to Lowrance. The fuctionality of the Bird is lacking if you ask me compared to Lowrance.
The Bird was ok and I would never bash the product. My main concern was the zoon feature. One push of the button and it zooms too far in. Push zoom out and it zooms too far out.
Lowrance zooms in and out in tiny little increments and it MUCH more fuctional (for me anyways) because of that feature.
The other main problem I remember (I think) was that I couldn't shrink down the size of the font on the depth and water temp, etc. It took up like 20% of the screen. That was way too frustrating.
Just my opinion. |
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Posts: 116
| The other main problem I remember (I think) was that I couldn't shrink down the size of the font on the depth and water temp, etc. It took up like 20% of the screen. That was way too frustrating.
x2. Takes up too much space. I like to be able to customize my screen and overlay data for different applications which was a deciding factor for me to go with Lowrance. Their customer service has been great to me. I do miss Lakemaster though. |
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| Midget just nailed my only two complaints with the bird, otherwise a superior product imo. I believe the font can be recuced in the 1000 series units. |
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Posts: 202
Location: Rhinelander | Adub,
Have you thought about the source? I am not defending anyone, but if you were talking with a Lowrance salesman they likely would have some very energetic news coming from their side too? Just sayin'. Personally, I am a HB guy |
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| I have 2014 H'Birds on order for my store for Apr/May delivery, and I can tell you there is no dramatic price drop, and no touch screens. |
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Posts: 1094
Location: Hayward, WI | CEK, both of your claims are false... |
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| Possibly, the units I am familiar with were first shown at the Big Rock Sports Western Canada Fishing show in British Columbia last month.
H'Bird probably has a diffrent program for the States. |
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Posts: 151
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI | my source was Zacho's in chippewa Falls, I have no problem stating that. I obviously do not know this for sure and yes I'd imagine Lowrance has something new for this year too...I was quoted a price of $450 for a base 800 series for the bow or under $1000 for they new 998 version. They were msrp $2000 this year and they sold me mine for $1400. So I will stick with what I said...if the 998hd has all the new features and you can buy it for $1000 or less I'd imagine most people would go that way...
Like steve said, we'll have to wait and see... |
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| The new 998? For 2014 they are 999, 1199, etc. |
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Posts: 743
| For all those people who switched from Lowrance to Hummingbird. What do you do with all the useless chips you have? I have 6 chips for my lowrance. Do I have to go out and buy them all over again? not only do i have to spend 1000's on new units ,but 100's on new chips. Is that really worth it? |
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sell them on the BST board or with the Lowrance unit when you sell it, or stick to Lowrance, your call. |
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| the rumors are true, h'bird is releasing touchscreens, and in addition to updating the existing line, their prices are dropping, not 30%, but dropping none the less. |
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| They will be announcing them around Nov 1, they are called the Onix and the Ion.
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| yeah no, Humminbird will be releasing the 1199, 999, and 899 and the 600 series to replace the 700 and 500 series. |
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Posts: 42
Location: Ontario | My new minn kota trolling motor is hooked up to my lowrance HDS not sure what other features might be missing but it shows depth on my sonar. Had to buy a $15 adapter |
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Posts: 410
Location: Wakefield, MI | Humminbird has 600 series sonars listed on their website, never saw them before.
Edited by milje 10/18/2013 6:19 AM
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Posts: 73
| Just wondering from the original post.......whats up with the statement regarding MK trolling motors not hooking up with Lowrance? I'm on my second MK / Lowrance combo at the bow , connected to the universal sonar and have no probs at all. Will these not work together in the future line of products, or is this just another misspoken statement? |
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Posts: 410
Location: Wakefield, MI | Slimetime 2 - 10/18/2013 4:41 AM
Just wondering from the original post.......whats up with the statement regarding MK trolling motors not hooking up with Lowrance? I'm on my second MK / Lowrance combo at the bow , connected to the universal sonar and have no probs at all. Will these not work together in the future line of products, or is this just another misspoken statement?
I'm guessing he's talking about iLink. I don't believe it works with Lowrance. |
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Posts: 73
| Ahhh......thanks milje! |
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