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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Guys, I'm looking at upgrading to an 8" screen (or bigger) Whats the best units out there and an idea of costs. Jerome |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I'm partial to the Lowrance units, best pricing I have found is from Pro Fishing Supply... |
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Posts: 559
| Are you going to use the bigger, heavier unit on the bow to help break ICE ? I am sure you will get lots of good feedback here.
PS is it over? and how did you do the last few times out? |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Ya, it's over here..... 0* last night, 17* today. Talked to L last night and he and his guys broke 4 reels yesterday in the icey water. SUCKS.
disipointed that the Fat Lady missed the net,..Again !
Soooo, how much would a 8-10" screen S.I. unit cost, installed? |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | Just looked them up, $2100 for the 8" with LSS, $2600 for the 10" with LSS, instalation not included...
Edited by shaley 11/20/2011 4:09 PM
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Posts: 133
Location: Wausau, WI | I have two years on a Humminbird 998. Without getting into too much detail, I would highly recommend the Humminbird over the Lowrance because of the ease of use. I have a couple of buddies with Lowrance units and it is difficult to switch screens, navigate through the system, and adjust settings compared to the Humminbird. This is by no means a dig at Lowrance so I hope my post doesn't get deleted. The Humminbird unit is truly better in all aspects IN MY OPINION. An 8" screen (898) will run about $1,200 - $1,500. If you have the cash, get the biggest screen you can. I though the 998 was more than enough until I fished with my buddies 1198. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | So in your opinion is the Hummingbird an easyer unit for an "Older Gentleman" to use and figure out ?
And is there ever any GOOD "used units " out there?
Thanks. |
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Posts: 29
Location: Chicago | want to buy my lowrance LCX-28HD that i bought two years ago? I want to switch to a hummingbird! |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | I also like my Hummingbird 898c si and find it easy to use. I have not used the Lowrance system so can't compare the two. They sometimes come up used on Bass Boat Central, but seem to go fast. Si technology is really cool and helped my trolling game quite a bit this year. Have fun picking out your new toy!
Matt |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | We have both HB and HDS, my HB friends like the display of the graph of my HDS alot better than their HB... I do to.....Deals can be had off of Bass Boat Central more birds than HDS units though, the HDS sell fast....
Edited by shaley 11/20/2011 4:42 PM
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Posts: 133
Location: Wausau, WI | Yes, I would especially recommend the Humminbird for someone who isn't "tech savvy". There is also TONS of info on the internet on how to properly set up and fine tune Humminbird Side Imaging units. You can really learn a lot on a crappy winter day just by reading Side Imaging Forums. |
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| G Rome...just do what i do...get a young guy who can read my old black and white electronics....navigate the boat...and net my fish when the clicker wakes me up from my cat-nap.....fish on....lol... |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Good one Rick !
My biggest problem is......How do I hide a $2,600. "TOY" for the Boat from the C.O.???
It only took Her 2 weeks to discover my Off Shore account last year..........
Jerome |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | H2O, your already a Lowrance guy, the HDS isn't that much different. You'll have it down in no time. When I switched from the LCX units to the HDS units it took me two good outings and I had it pretty well figured out. As much as you fish, you'll have no problems. The main difference is the menus, there are more options, There are a few more keys and that's a given when you add the capabilities they did. I'd go HDS because the ability to add other features like Sirius weather/radio, Sonic Hub Marine Audio and StructureScan to name a few.
Plus, you just might have someone who would be more than happy to give you free on the water tutorial of the units and how all the features work;). |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | Forgot Lorance does have a $200 rebate going on the HDS 8 and 10.... |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | As someone who used to run Lowrance and currently runs Birds on my personal boat and HDS on the work boat - I prefer the birds. As already stated, much easier navigation and use. They have a great feature where you can save different screens - such as all sonar, sonar/map split, all map, or however you want and all you have to do is hit 1 button and boom, you're there! You can get an h-bird 998 w/ down & side-scan for $2,000 + tax. A similar HDS unit (HDS-8) with stucture scan is $2,300 + tax.
If you do go with the HDS, I'd suggest getting it with all the goodies right away - adding later as options isn't cheap - $600 just to add structure scan.
sc |
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | scmuskies - 11/21/2011 11:31 AM
They have a great feature where you can save different screens - such as all sonar, sonar/map split, all map, or however you want and all you have to do is hit 1 button and boom, you're there! You can get an h-bird 998 w/ down & side-scan for $2,000 + tax. A similar HDS unit (HDS-8) with stucture scan is $2,300 + tax.
If you do go with the HDS, I'd suggest getting it with all the goodies right away - adding later as options isn't cheap - $600 just to add structure scan.
The 4.0 update for the HDS adds the ability to save screens just like the Humminbird. I'm not sure of the technical name for the feature, but your able to save 6 screens so you can flip to your preferred screen in seconds.
As for the price of the Lowrance, I would expect it to cost more, the HDS can do three times as much as a bird. SonicHub, Sirius radio/weather, radar, StructureScan and a whole lot of other engine readouts.
Best thing is, if you don't want any of those add-ons for that matter or you can't afford them right away, then you can add them at a later date. It'll cost you no more money later if you choose to not by the StructureScan as a package. It's $600 if you buy it with or without as a package.
Edited by TJ DeVoe 11/21/2011 11:44 AM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Oh, don't forget about the $200 rebate on the HDS units going on RIGHT NOW!
Here is the link:
http://www.lowrance.com/specialoffers/Lowrance-Getaway/
Edited by TJ DeVoe 11/21/2011 11:46 AM
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| the HDS can do three times as much as a bird. SonicHub, Sirius radio/weather, radar, StructureScan and a whole lot of other engine readouts.
3 times as much as the Bird? lol.
the Birds have satellite weather too, they just added radar, can read/display engine data, and manage to display the structure via standard/down/side-imaging.
Lowrance has satellite radio control.
Humminbird has Lakemaster chips and can control Cannon downriggers. (you know, "fishing stuff".)
Edited by lambeau 11/21/2011 12:49 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | lambeau - 11/21/2011 12:47 PM
the HDS can do three times as much as a bird. SonicHub, Sirius radio/weather, radar, StructureScan and a whole lot of other engine readouts.
3 times as much as the Bird? lol.
the Birds have satellite weather too, they just added radar, can read/display engine data, and manage to display the structure via standard/down/side-imaging.
Lowrance has satellite radio control.
Humminbird has Lakemaster chips and can control Cannon downriggers. (you know, "fishing stuff". )
Good to hear Bird is catching up, bout time I guess. |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | Even with the rebate, the HDS's still cost more $$$ and sonic hub is overpriced. You can get a good cd player w/ MP3 input and speakers with money left over to buy an iPOD, plus less stuff to mount. |
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| Good to hear Bird is catching up, bout time I guess.
yeah.
good they're catching up with Side Imaging. oops, they had that before Lowrance.
and it's good they're catching up with sales. oops, they're #1 in the market.
but hey, Lowrance has satellite radio so i guess that equates to doing "three times as much as a Bird" right?
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | lambeau - 11/21/2011 3:01 PM
Good to hear Bird is catching up, bout time I guess.
yeah.
good they're catching up with Side Imaging. oops, they had that before Lowrance.
and it's good they're catching up with sales. oops, they're #1 in the market.
but hey, Lowrance has satellite radio so i guess that equates to doing "three times as much as a Bird" right?
Lambeau, we've already been through this. Steve pointed out in an earlier thread they maybe #1 in sales but it's easy to be that when your selling a whole bunch of the $100-200 units. Obviously, the big push for Lowrance the last couple years has been the the LCX and now the HDS units, quite the opposite for Humminbird. It's just been the last couple years Bird has made a push with some "real" units.
Oh, what about Down Imaging, who had that first? Oh, that's right, not Bird!
As for the side imaging, funny how Bird has radar, funny how they have Sirius weather, radio and the so called capability of engine readouts. All of which those things were long available through Simrad, sister company of Navico and their leading saltwater marine electronics. Ask ANYONE who has used Simrad products, they are by far the best, that I assure you of. I know this from the the last three saltwater events I've been at over the past few months.
Ever heard of the Green Box? Where did that originate? I think it starts with an L and ends with an e.
Edited by TJ DeVoe 11/21/2011 3:32 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | Sled, you bring the popcorn I'll bring the beer.... 
last time I checked being the first to market with something doesn't mean it's better... or the best... even having the most sales doesn't mean it's the best...it usually means they have a bigger marketing budget...
what would be interesting to me is of the 2 which one is #1 in units over say $900 sold...
I just follow my trails anyway.
Edited by BNelson 11/21/2011 3:42 PM
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | BNelson - 11/21/2011 3:34 PM
last time I checked being the first to market with something doesn't mean it's better... or the best... even having the most sales doesn't mean it's the best...it usually means they have a bigger marketing budget...
I agree completely. Funny how Mr. Lambeau likes throwing that useless fact out there on a question like this.
I've seen and used both units, from my experience, I like the Lowrance performance overall.
Units sold over $900, that's a no brainer. I can't even imagine how many 1000's of LCX units were sold before Bird even had a competitive unit on the market. The LCX line started early 2000's, Bird finally got a competitive unit in like what, 2007 or so?
Edited by TJ DeVoe 11/21/2011 3:48 PM
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| "maybe #1 in sales but it's easy to be that when your selling a whole bunch of the $100-200 units."
Ummm... the Eagle Cudas didn't fit here? What about the X-50s, or now the X-4s, or... I've seen and will see plenty of them on boats as starter packages.
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| Ever heard of the Green Box? Where did that originate? I think it starts with an L and ends with an e.
did you just go "Green Box" as evidence that Lowrance beats out Humminbird?
really?
here's my observation: there's an awful lot of people i know switching over to Humminbird. (who aren't pro-staff and don't work for a website on which Lowrance advertises.) just like me, they usually say the reason has to do with seeing Humminbirds work on the water and liking them better. also like me, they comment on the dependability and reputation for superior customer service.
of course, if you like Lowrance better, buy one of those! just don't try and claim some complete crap about how they do 3 times as many things.
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Location: Contrarian Island | TJ, I'd like to know who is selling more high end units as of 2011...not 2007... today...
Edited by BNelson 11/21/2011 3:48 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | BNelson - 11/21/2011 3:48 PM
TJ, I'd like to know who is selling more high end units as of 2011...not 2007... today...
It would be interesting, but I personally don't care. Obviously Bird has done a tremendous job on getting considerable market share, but the market share Lowrance had was huge, I don't think they lost that much to the point they were taken over on that part of the market. Lowrance is still the dominant sonar units for anglers on just about every tournament circuit we cover each year. Things have remained very good for Lowrance from the things we've heard.
Edited by TJ DeVoe 11/21/2011 3:55 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | well of course they didn't get taken over..there are basically 2 choices..any time a consumer is limited to 2 very similiar choices chances of 1 ending up with an overwhelming share is slim.... sI would imagine Lowrance has taken a hit on the high end units ... both seem like solid units...I know guys who love their HDS units and guys who love the HBirds....
Edited by BNelson 11/21/2011 4:03 PM
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