Depth Finders

[celliott28]

My dad is looking for a new depth finder. He is looking at the side scans and bottom imaging. Any suggestions?

 

[bronzeback45]

Might try asking in GPS, Sonar, and Marine electronics.

 

[BulletTJ]

If it were me. I would by a Humminbird unit. They are made in America and you wont find better customer service in the field. Lowrance units are made in Mexico and their customer service sux. When you buy a Humminbird there is nothing EXTRA you have to buy to get the side scan and the down imaging. I have two Humminbird 998's on my boat. I have a couple of friends that own the Lowrance HDS units. They have moisture issues and the UPS man has had one of them more than Bryan has. When he calls to check on the repair, he gets put on hold forever. His unit has been sent back 4 times for the same repair. A heavy dew will cause it to short out. I was fishing with him in the rain one day and his unit stopped working. At the end of the day he took the unit off and poured water out of it. I dont understand why they don't just replace the thing. I will NEVER buy a Lowrance unit as long as it is made in Mexico. I have bought a lot of stuff for boats over the years. The HB 998 is the best money I have ever spent on a boat. I like the 1198 but it was a little large for my boat.
I hope this helps.

 

[tndoe270]

Hummingbird, it's ready to go if you get the unique pre loaded with maps.. Give Johnny a call at DJSMARINELECTRONICS and he'll take care of what you need.

 

[bronzeback45]

Thats his opinion and I beg to differ on that. He going on whats read or heard about, and Ive heard the same from both Manufactures. I'd suggest going to academy and try them out yourself. Lowrance for me, but thats my personal prefrence, If you purchase a Lowrance then I would gladly meet with you and help you set it up and teach some basics. Oh yeah, look at the # of lowrance units on the pros boats verses the birdys, enough said. BB45

 

[bronzeback45]

Lowrance has Insight mapping on the HDS Insight in 3D or get basemap and puchase the hd insight chip and or navionics premium or platium. I have both and there is advantages of having both maps. The base map even has all the contours on all lakes localy except Chickamauga, but its with a little less detail. Your best bet is going to Academy and try them out. This thread is going to turn into a Ford/Chevy pissing contest.

 

[BulletTJ]

bronzeback45 - 5/4/2012 9:13 AM

Thats his opinion and I beg to differ on that. He going on whats read or heard about, and Ive heard the same from both Manufactures. I'd suggest going to academy and try them out yourself. Lowrance for me, but thats my personal prefrence, If you purchase a Lowrance then I would gladly meet with you and help you set it up and teach some basics. Oh yeah, look at the # of lowrance units on the pros boats verses the birdys, enough said. BB45

I am not really sure if I was the one this was directed at or not. The experiences I stated were not something that I heard or read about. It is from actual experience with mine and my friends units. As for Lowrance being made in Mexico, it is a fact. Look on the box your unit came in. It will say made in Mexico.
Humminbird products are made in America. I try and buy made in USA when I can. I do KNOW this. I have only had one problem with a HB unit in the last 12 years. A new unit was FedX to me over night. This was on the HB 797 unit. I really dont care how many units Lowrance gives to the Pros verses how many units Humminbirds gives away. My hard earned money goes where I can get the best equipment and customer service. Last time I checked KVD trade his Lowrance units for Humminbirds. Not that it matters, but KVD is not doing to bad in the Pro ranks. emoLaugh

 

[flpper]

My suggestion is to forget Academy. Most (not all) of those guys can't tell you jack about the units other than the manufacturer and price. You'll stand there and look at the units with tons of questions and no one to answer them accurately. My solution? Take some time and hook up with someone who has a Lowrance and ride with them. Then hook up with someone who has an HB and ride with them. Have yourself a list of features you want and a list of questions about those features. *Ask a lot of questions*

The first poster was right about the extras. With Lowrance you'll get the head unit/GPS puck/transducer. Then you have to buy the Structure Scan module for DI/SI. Most people don't know that. HB comes complete for plug n play. The extras are for connecting two units, or barometer; you don't need those, they are "candy".

The "more detailed" mapping programs are gonna cost you an extra $200 for the chips. LakeMaster doesn't have a chip for KY/TN yet, but they do have one for Ga/Al/Fl. My preference would be LakeMaster if they had TN, but I'm stuck with Navionics for now. Not a bad programs, but LakeMaster has some features I want that Navionics doesn't offer.

Either one you decide on, you'll be in it for about the same money for the same features. It is a Ford/Chevy thing!

 

[bronzeback45]

:emoticon: :emoticon: :emoticon: My guess is customer serviceis only as good as the individual they're dealing with emoPoke. Im sure The birdys are paying KVD lots of money but he did start with Lowrance. Like I said its a personal prefrence. Lowrance invented sonar and HB invented side scan, But lowrance perfected it with downscan anduses 3 seperate crystals in lss xducer for left , right, and down scan, HB produces image of left and right to form a down image. emoBigsmile emoGeezer .

 

[bronzeback45]

Here is a few screen shots Ive taken

 

[Ericb]

I have a hds8 with SS and never had a problem so far, knock on wood, have had it over two years and did have to call cust serv about another unit and could not have asked for better service. they said they have been reworking their cust. serv. I am wanting to get with bronzeback for some help on it, just dont get to use it enough to figure out,

 

[flpper]

bronzeback45 - 5/4/2012 10:59 AM

:emoticon: :emoticon: :emoticon: My guess is customer service is only as good as the individual they're dealing with emoPoke. Im sure The birdys are paying KVD lots of money but he did start with Lowrance. Like I said its a personal prefrence. Lowrance invented sonar and HB invented side scan, But lowrance perfected it with downscan and uses 3 seperate crystals in lss xducer for left , right, and down scan, HB produces image of left and right to form a down image. emoBigsmile emoGeezer .

Can't say a word about Lowrance CS because I've never dealt with them. HB CS was great the one time I dealt with them. ericm has a great post today about his experience with HB CS.

bronzeback45 is probably right about attitude, but that's a two-way street. Sometimes people on both sides are just having a bad day.

I still say your best bet is to ride with owners of either brand, ask alot of questions, and decide for yourself. Maybe bronzeback will take you out for Lowrance, and if you can't find anyone else, I'll take you out for HumminBird (I'm still pretty much a novice).

 

[Captain Hazmat]

Humminbird is the best sonar hands

 

[celliott28]

thank you guys!

 

[Doug V]

You need to compare apple-to-apples and coverage for coverage...Make sure you are looking at 455kHz vs 455kHz and 800 versus 800 Khz...the coverage areas are different.

With Side Imaging it's about looking away from the boat and coverage area...That's why Most invest in the technology to cover lots of water fast and find structure and fish...

Here's 720' of coverage more than Humminbird Advertises

Here's some of my favorites all in 455kHz

Coverage to the bank can you see the moss on the ramp?

Now 800kHz

One thing I have seen is more coverage and balanced returns across a wider area of coverage with Humminbird