turkey killer
Well-known member
im gonna be buying new electronics wasnt sure if i should go with the hds7 or the bird....any input would be great thanks...
lowrance or humminbird
- Thread starter turkey killer
- Start date
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Mike Hernandez
Well-known member
This question comes up often. I had the same one about 3 months ago. I ended up buying a HB and am happy with my purchase. One of the things that helped sway me away from Lowrance was having to buy a separate unit for structure imaging. I would recommend that whichever unit you do purchase, use a RAM Mount. Those things are GREAT!!
Oldman
Well-known member
look up some of the not so long ago post about this.
bronzeback45
Well-known member
I would choose Lowrance too, the broadband sonar is better than the bird and when you purchase LSS you can ethernet up to 3 units on LSS1. I currently have 2 HDS 7's and love them. In the future I'm planning on getting a HDS 8and have my 7's on the bow. I can share Xducer's through ethernet and LSS on all 3 units.
Oldman
Well-known member
bird
Buoy-Master
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 10,855
Ditto on what Oldman said.
Do your homework. I did and went with the Bird for warranty reasons and because its built right here in the south. No regrets other than wish I had went ahead and bought the 1197/1198. I currently have the 998csi and it is awesome.
I have two 998 si Birds on my boat. They are connected with the ethernet cable and share one GPS puck. They can also share transducers if you want. I have one on the bow and one on the console. I went with the Birds because of the quality issues Lowrance was having. I hear they have them fixed but I am not sure about that. My questions is, If quality was their concern how did so many units have serious problems. I do know this. You will not beat Humminbirds Customer Service. The biggest thing is whatever unit you get learn how to use it. If you just turn it on and go you are only scratching the surface.
bronzeback45
Well-known member
Lowrance invented sonar and they continue to provide the latest updates. Humminbird invented side scan and Lowrance pefected it. Each time a new update is released its like geting a new unit. I heard that they have been trying out the 4.1 update since last year and I just upgraded to the 4.0 a couple weeks ago. Its the old Chevy/Ford argument. Also, I dont believe anything electronic wise is 100% American. Lowrance hands down for me but thats just my opinion.
Oldman
Well-known member
bird has a lot of up dates all so and their service department is second to none.i hear Lowrance had gotten better but i have heard too many horror stories about their service to buy one.both are good when you buy them but sooner or later you will need service.
graybullet
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2010
- Messages
- 708
I agree with what Oldman said. I have a Humminbird, and I love it.
turkey killer
Well-known member
well i bought the hds 7 and love it thanks guys for ur input
Look at all the additional features for Side Imaging that Humminbird offers: SI Enhance, Numerous Color Pallets, Contour Mode, SI Range Lines, SI Zoom, Dual 2D Sonar Systems, DI Zoom, Sonar Recordings only limited by size of SD car, 50 Channel GPS with 4 Times REfersh Rate Standard Equipment, Wide Coverage area 180° coverage in 455 kHz you see everything from directly below the boat to the water surface out to hundreds of feet to each side, one click favorite presets, waterproof and the units even float, and Humminbirds are American based Parent Company and Made in Eufuala Alabama...Customer service goal is maximum of 3 days in and out the door.
Humminbird in the 1980's began using Broad Range Sonar Listening and Digital Sonar...not new to Humminbird
Here's some other innovation milestones and more to come...
Humminbird in the 1980's began using Broad Range Sonar Listening and Digital Sonar...not new to Humminbird
Here's some other innovation milestones and more to come...
nwright
Well-known member
This is for Doug V:
Some of LOWRANCE patents:
1957 Introduced the world's first transistorized sonar instrument for sporting, fishing and boating
1959 Developed the technology to shoot high frequency sonar signals through the bottom of boat hulls
1960 Produced temperature-stable transducers, enabling fishermen to make soundings through ice
1960 Used backlighted faceplates for easy night-time viewing
1965 Conceived and developed effective interference suppression systems
1965 Produced the first sonars and transducers capable of high speed performance (from 15 to more than 65 miles per hour)
1969 Produced a high-resolution sonar instrument able to separate fish six inches off the bottom
1970 Patented an electronic speed control circuit for multi-depth range sonars
1970 Patented a method and apparatus for improving fishing under a dock
1971 Devised the first flasher-type sonar with a focused lens light-trap dial
1972 Patented time-varying gain control circuits
1972 Patented a display stand
1973 Patented the variable pulse length suppression system, effectively eliminating acoustical and electrical interference
1973 Patented a device for indicating the temperature and depth of water
1973 Patented a submerged object warning apparatus for ships
1973 Patented a trolling motor with steering means
1973 Patented a light shield for an indicating instrument
1973 Patented an apparatus for mounting a transducer to the transom of a boat
1973 Patented an inverter ballast circuit
1973 Patented an apparatus for providing an indication of the depth of objects in water
1974 Patented a sonar transducer
1974 Patented an oxygen analyzer
1974 Patented an improved trolling motor
1974 Patented a four phase stepping motor control
1974 Patented an automatic down rigger
1974 Patented a light emitting diode (LED) of phosphorous readout
1974 Patented a spring loaded transducer bracket
1976 Introduced the first fully interchangeable transducers
1976 Patented a sonar flasher speed control
1977 Patented a low cost gimbal mount sonar
1978 Patented a fully variable tracking suppression system for white-line or gray-line paper chart recorders
1978 Patented a method of manufacturing transducers
1979 Combined microprocessors (computers on a microchip) and independent keyboard entry in sonars
1980 Introduced a silent, lifetime brush for flashers
1980 Patented a brush holder for rectilinear recorder
1980 Patented a commutator and fiber brush rotating disc
1982 Designed a super-high resolution sonar able to separate vertical targets just one inch apart
1982 Patented a range expander for sonar
1983 Perfected a plastic through-the-hull transducer even stronger than its bronze counterpart
1983 Patented a sonar with signal amplitude differentiation and noise suppression
1984 Patented an improved gimbal mounting bracket
1984 Patented a transducer mounting
1985 Introduced the first LCG that combined a microprocessor with independent keyboard entry of upper and lower depth limits
1986 Patented a sonar with capability of transmitting and printing on alternate cycles
1987 Introduced "Clearvision" LCG display screens, with high contrast graphics and the widest viewing angle in the industry
1989 Patented a sonar fish finder with a split screen display which indicates whether fish or other objects are left, right, or under the boat
1990 Patented a 3D sonar transducer, and a method of mounting a transducer flush with the boat hull maximizing sonar performance with no effect on boat performance
1990 Patented a method of mounting a transducer in a boat hull
1992 Patented a sonar transducer with low drag, low acoustical noise pickup, and improved sonar echo reception through its unique ellipsoidal shape
1995 Introduced the world's first LCD product to offer integrated GPS, mapping and sonar capabilities, and patented a sonar system with an interactive display
1996 Patented a ratcheted transducer mount with a protective kick-up feature to prevent damage if it hits a floating object
1996 Introduced the industry's first 12 channel GPS receiver sold for under $200
1996 Introduced the first hand held aviation GPS with full mapping capability
1996 Patented a two-piece interlocking connector
1997 Patented a floating transducer accessory for bank and shore fishing
1997 Patented a method of optionally installing a transducer in a boat hull
1998 Introduced the industry's first hand-held mapping GPS shipped with a full detailed mapping CD-ROM enabling upload of user selectable maps into the unit
1998 Patented a buoyant transducer assembly
1999 Introduced the "MapCreate" CD-ROM which allows the user to choose from a highly detailed digitized database with features such as, U.S. Navigational Aids, Streams and other water bodies for the boater and angler; or U.S. Rural Roads, Railroads, State and Federal Highways for land-based applications. In addition, the user can create a customized map of the area they select to download into their Lowrance GPS mapping unit.
2001 Introduced the Sport Fishing "First" of silent, paperless digital recording/playback/storage of sonar graphs and GPS trip details in the LCX-15 and 16 series of products.
2002 Introduced the Grayscale Flasher feature in select sonar units. Introduced the iFINDER®, the first hand-held GPS to utilize standard off-the-shelf memory cards of up to 128MB and more
Some of LOWRANCE patents:
1957 Introduced the world's first transistorized sonar instrument for sporting, fishing and boating
1959 Developed the technology to shoot high frequency sonar signals through the bottom of boat hulls
1960 Produced temperature-stable transducers, enabling fishermen to make soundings through ice
1960 Used backlighted faceplates for easy night-time viewing
1965 Conceived and developed effective interference suppression systems
1965 Produced the first sonars and transducers capable of high speed performance (from 15 to more than 65 miles per hour)
1969 Produced a high-resolution sonar instrument able to separate fish six inches off the bottom
1970 Patented an electronic speed control circuit for multi-depth range sonars
1970 Patented a method and apparatus for improving fishing under a dock
1971 Devised the first flasher-type sonar with a focused lens light-trap dial
1972 Patented time-varying gain control circuits
1972 Patented a display stand
1973 Patented the variable pulse length suppression system, effectively eliminating acoustical and electrical interference
1973 Patented a device for indicating the temperature and depth of water
1973 Patented a submerged object warning apparatus for ships
1973 Patented a trolling motor with steering means
1973 Patented a light shield for an indicating instrument
1973 Patented an apparatus for mounting a transducer to the transom of a boat
1973 Patented an inverter ballast circuit
1973 Patented an apparatus for providing an indication of the depth of objects in water
1974 Patented a sonar transducer
1974 Patented an oxygen analyzer
1974 Patented an improved trolling motor
1974 Patented a four phase stepping motor control
1974 Patented an automatic down rigger
1974 Patented a light emitting diode (LED) of phosphorous readout
1974 Patented a spring loaded transducer bracket
1976 Introduced the first fully interchangeable transducers
1976 Patented a sonar flasher speed control
1977 Patented a low cost gimbal mount sonar
1978 Patented a fully variable tracking suppression system for white-line or gray-line paper chart recorders
1978 Patented a method of manufacturing transducers
1979 Combined microprocessors (computers on a microchip) and independent keyboard entry in sonars
1980 Introduced a silent, lifetime brush for flashers
1980 Patented a brush holder for rectilinear recorder
1980 Patented a commutator and fiber brush rotating disc
1982 Designed a super-high resolution sonar able to separate vertical targets just one inch apart
1982 Patented a range expander for sonar
1983 Perfected a plastic through-the-hull transducer even stronger than its bronze counterpart
1983 Patented a sonar with signal amplitude differentiation and noise suppression
1984 Patented an improved gimbal mounting bracket
1984 Patented a transducer mounting
1985 Introduced the first LCG that combined a microprocessor with independent keyboard entry of upper and lower depth limits
1986 Patented a sonar with capability of transmitting and printing on alternate cycles
1987 Introduced "Clearvision" LCG display screens, with high contrast graphics and the widest viewing angle in the industry
1989 Patented a sonar fish finder with a split screen display which indicates whether fish or other objects are left, right, or under the boat
1990 Patented a 3D sonar transducer, and a method of mounting a transducer flush with the boat hull maximizing sonar performance with no effect on boat performance
1990 Patented a method of mounting a transducer in a boat hull
1992 Patented a sonar transducer with low drag, low acoustical noise pickup, and improved sonar echo reception through its unique ellipsoidal shape
1995 Introduced the world's first LCD product to offer integrated GPS, mapping and sonar capabilities, and patented a sonar system with an interactive display
1996 Patented a ratcheted transducer mount with a protective kick-up feature to prevent damage if it hits a floating object
1996 Introduced the industry's first 12 channel GPS receiver sold for under $200
1996 Introduced the first hand held aviation GPS with full mapping capability
1996 Patented a two-piece interlocking connector
1997 Patented a floating transducer accessory for bank and shore fishing
1997 Patented a method of optionally installing a transducer in a boat hull
1998 Introduced the industry's first hand-held mapping GPS shipped with a full detailed mapping CD-ROM enabling upload of user selectable maps into the unit
1998 Patented a buoyant transducer assembly
1999 Introduced the "MapCreate" CD-ROM which allows the user to choose from a highly detailed digitized database with features such as, U.S. Navigational Aids, Streams and other water bodies for the boater and angler; or U.S. Rural Roads, Railroads, State and Federal Highways for land-based applications. In addition, the user can create a customized map of the area they select to download into their Lowrance GPS mapping unit.
2001 Introduced the Sport Fishing "First" of silent, paperless digital recording/playback/storage of sonar graphs and GPS trip details in the LCX-15 and 16 series of products.
2002 Introduced the Grayscale Flasher feature in select sonar units. Introduced the iFINDER®, the first hand-held GPS to utilize standard off-the-shelf memory cards of up to 128MB and more
G
Guest
Guest
i have an hds 5 and love it only downfall is that all the structure scan and stuff u have to buy separately and humminbird you dont
nwright
Well-known member
I would say the one that makes you happy is the best.
Last week I spent two evenings with a local fisherman helping him tune his Humminbird to where he could see anything. Finally got it to where he was happy. Images were not as sharp a Lowrance.
Yesterday I spent three hours on the lake with FLW pro Andy Morgan tuning in his Lowrance sonar and structurescan. He was very happy. Andy had tried Humminbird and was not happy and went back to Lowrance.
I'm just saying.......whatever makes you happy.
Last week I spent two evenings with a local fisherman helping him tune his Humminbird to where he could see anything. Finally got it to where he was happy. Images were not as sharp a Lowrance.
Yesterday I spent three hours on the lake with FLW pro Andy Morgan tuning in his Lowrance sonar and structurescan. He was very happy. Andy had tried Humminbird and was not happy and went back to Lowrance.
I'm just saying.......whatever makes you happy.
