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Posts: 15
| I'm getting a new boat this spring. I currently use a Lowrance HDS 7 with a MinnKota Powerdrive V2 I-Pilot. I like both very much. My problem is that the Lawrence will network with the Motor Guide trolling motors, whereas the Hummingbird will network with the MinnKota. I am considering Staying with a Lowrance and switching to a Motor Guide X5 or switching to the Hummingbird Helix 9 with the Minnkota Terrova with I-Pilot. Any body have any thoughts on the Hummingbird Helix? |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Like my Helix 5 SI. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Keep in mind, if you want to network the helix with the Minn Kota, you will need the I pilot link, not just the i pilot.
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | If networking a HB with Ipilot Link you will need at least a Helix 9. If you are just looking to use the universal sonar in either TM then any standard depth finder will work with the proper adapter. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | As mentioned, I-pilot is a stand-alone function of select Minn Kota motors. They do not need to be connected to a fish finder to operate I-pilot functions. If the motor has US2 sonar built in, you can hook up a fishfinder using a US2 adapter cable to read 2D sonar and depth. I-pilot includes popular functions like spot-lock, cruise control, and all steering and speed functions, just to name a few.
As for I-pilot Link, this motor will network with a Humminbird unit and allow you access to all I-pilot commands, plus the ability to set a number of navigational commands relating to the information supplied by your LakeMaster chip. Following depth contours, or following within a specified distance of a depth contour (eh em, weed lines) |
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Posts: 2
| Helix is also good, but I vote for Lowrance HDS series. |
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Posts: 90
| LuisFisher - 3/29/2016 10:34 AM
Helix is also good, but I vote for Lowrance HDS series.
Why?
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Posts: 79
| Not a hummingbird kinda guy, but I do like my HDS9's and motorguide combo. Spotlock is better on the XI5 then buddies MK's. YMMV |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | I am interested to see if anybody has anymore information for this thread. I am in the market for a new depth finder and want to know what people like about each unit. What are the difference on the actual map between Hummingbird and Lowrance?
Hopefully someone has something other than "I like it". Thanks guys! |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | Everything you need comes with the Humminbird to get going.
Don't have to buy addons like transducers.
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Posts: 1209
| Hb 999 side image/di is superior compared to hds9touch gen2
Hds has superior 2 d sonar.
Hb mapping when paired to lakemaster is oodles superior to gen 2 hds units because of depth highlight features.
Lowrance indash/ flush mount is easier than hb
Hb transducers are more compact.
I run 999 next to hds9 that's how I know such things are better more to add;
Lowrance has more adjustability, can get you all messed up
Hb is simpler to run and just works out of the box, hard to get messed up.
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | Thanks for the Info. I'm really stuck on what I want to get next. I have an Elite 4 right now so it is nothing special and pretty small to have on the front deck. Mainly I want to get something that is a little larger but I am still not sure if I would need all the bells and whistles. |
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Posts: 437
| Fishysam - 7/21/2016 10:41 AM
Hb mapping when paired to lakemaster is oodles superior to gen 2 hds units because of depth highlight features.
This is available on HDS units with a SW upgrade that came out a year or so ago.
The Elite or now Hook series from Lowrance are much simpler to use than an HDS. This doesn't mean the HDS units are difficult because you get out of them what you put in or want in regards to setup, networking, etc.
In the end you will need to decide if you want multiple units in the boat. If you do, do you want them to be able to share information. If you do, there are two methods to share information between units but they each have limitations and there isn't overlap.
Example: Ethernet allows you to share waypoints, sonar, GPS source, etc. NMEA2000 will share on board diagnostics and many other more detailed features that most guys do not use.
NMEA2000 is how Motorguide xi5 units connect to HDS units with the Pinpoint gateway to allow you to interface or control the trolling motor from an HDS unit. VERY AWESOME feature, been using it for 2 years now.
I currently have 3 HDS units in my boat, but only two of them are networked together. One is only used for sonar/side/down imaging so I didn't network that with the others.
Having them networked via Ethernet is slick. I enter a waypoint on one unit and it instantly displays on the other one. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | Humminbird vs. Lowrance tends to bring with it a "Ford or Chevy" type of argument. However, take a look at the LakeMaster data that is exclusive to Humminbird. Hands down best out there. Having that level of detail allows me to find spots that others don't know are there.
Edited by mtcook16 7/22/2016 9:15 AM
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Both make great unites either way you go. Bought my boat in 2012 I went with birds because of the lake maps now I have everything link together works great.my advice would be buy the biggest unit you can afford. |
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Posts: 1023
| If spot lock is important to u then I would go xi5/Lowrance.
Perhaps the new Minn Kota spot lock will be as tight. But it is more $$$$.
I really like my 899 HB. It's easy to use but the DI is better on Lowrance units. I have found the HB sonar to be excellent at marking fish in bottom. No real difference than Lowrance from what I can tell.
If I had the $$ I would get the new Minn Kota that is coming out and stick with my HB units. |
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Posts: 1753
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | mtcook16 - 7/22/2016 9:12 AM
Humminbird vs. Lowrance tends to bring with it a "Ford or Chevy" type of argument. However, take a look at the LakeMaster data that is exclusive to Humminbird. Hands down best out there. Having that level of detail allows me to find spots that others don't know are there.
Lakemaster and Lowrance both purchase the map data from survey companies.
The Lowrance HD 2016 card has had the exact detail as the Lakemaster chips had. The first Lowrance HD 2012 card was just that - the Lakemaster states that first had mapping.
I like the Lowrance HDS because I can run ONE map card in up to 5 networked units. I am also a Lowrance guy and have converted more than a few to the dark side. Detail, clarity, amount of adjustments, and the single map card per network made my decision for me. If you are going Lowrance, I definitely recommend the HDS series over the others for the networking alone. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | RyanJoz - 7/22/2016 11:20 AM
mtcook16 - 7/22/2016 9:12 AM
Humminbird vs. Lowrance tends to bring with it a "Ford or Chevy" type of argument. However, take a look at the LakeMaster data that is exclusive to Humminbird. Hands down best out there. Having that level of detail allows me to find spots that others don't know are there.
Lakemaster and Lowrance both purchase the map data from survey companies.
The Lowrance HD 2016 card has had the exact detail as the Lakemaster chips had. The first Lowrance HD 2012 card was just that - the Lakemaster states that first had mapping.
I like the Lowrance HDS because I can run ONE map card in up to 5 networked units. I am also a Lowrance guy and have converted more than a few to the dark side. Detail, clarity, amount of adjustments, and the single map card per network made my decision for me. If you are going Lowrance, I definitely recommend the HDS series over the others for the networking alone.
Well, that's not entirely true. Humminbird spends lots of resources on enhancing the quality of their lap maps over what is available. They have a GIS mapping team that goes around the country to gather the data for the HD lakes with 1' contours.
Edited by mtcook16 7/22/2016 3:03 PM
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Posts: 437
| mtcook16 - 7/22/2016 2:50 PM
RyanJoz - 7/22/2016 11:20 AM
mtcook16 - 7/22/2016 9:12 AM
Humminbird vs. Lowrance tends to bring with it a "Ford or Chevy" type of argument. However, take a look at the LakeMaster data that is exclusive to Humminbird. Hands down best out there. Having that level of detail allows me to find spots that others don't know are there.
Lakemaster and Lowrance both purchase the map data from survey companies.
The Lowrance HD 2016 card has had the exact detail as the Lakemaster chips had. The first Lowrance HD 2012 card was just that - the Lakemaster states that first had mapping.
I like the Lowrance HDS because I can run ONE map card in up to 5 networked units. I am also a Lowrance guy and have converted more than a few to the dark side. Detail, clarity, amount of adjustments, and the single map card per network made my decision for me. If you are going Lowrance, I definitely recommend the HDS series over the others for the networking alone.
Well, that's not entirely true. Humminbird spends lots of resources on enhancing the quality of their lap maps over what is available. They have a GIS mapping team that goes around the country to gather the data for the HD lakes with 1' contours.
Unless you have actually sat and compared the mapping options available for Lowrance, you cannot say "Lakemaster is superior" because it is not.
I have Lakemaster chips that I use in my HDS units. I also have Navionics Platinum and Lowrance Lake Insight Pro chips. My go-to is the Lowrance chip because it combines lakemaster data from multiple chips into ONE CHIP (lakemaster has 3 chips that do this at $100 each). I have had them on two units side by side and they are the same. The Navionics chip is better on certain bodies of water especially the more remote stuff in Canada that doesn't appear at all on Lakemaster or Lowrance. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | Thank you guys for the info. I will be stick with Lawrence most likely after hearing about the chips being networked. I honestly didn't even think about having to buy another chip. I have noticed that the maps on hummingbird are a bit easier to read. |
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