Which one would you buy. Humminbird or Lowrance

Chattanooga Fishing Forum

Help Support Chattanooga Fishing Forum:

Fishing machine

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
737
Location
Eagle Bluff Golf Course
I need help here guys. I want to up grade my sonar unit. If I narrow it down to two different units, which one would you buy and why? Humminbird 998c SI or the Lowrance HDS-8 Gen.2 with bundle package. emoScratch help
 
If it was me I would get the Lowrance, in the future you can purchase 2 more units and hook them up via ethernet, I recently bought a HDS 8 GEN2 and love it, I have 2 HDS 7's and moved them to the bow. To me, the menu keys are more simple than the bird, more so with the favorites you can set up with the quik keys on the HDS 8
 
this is a hard choice to make, i asked the same thing about a month ago but anyway, just go out with somebody on here and try both of them or go to a place that sells them and just play with them. me personlaly i like hds gen 2 and i got the budle as well, but i got the hds just because i have owned lowrance and like all the setting but some feel the same about the bird.
hope this helps
 
Humminbird. I've seen them both and used them both. IMO the Humminbird is much easier to learn and use. Customer service is fantastic too.
 
The ONLY way I would have a Lowrance unit is if they gave it to me. Lowrance customer service sux. Not to mention the units are made in Mexico. Humminbird has great customer service and they are made in the USA. Plus when you buy the Bird 998 you dont have to buy some jacked up bundle to make it work. It comes out of the box ready to go and all updates are free. JMHO
 
Fishing machine - 4/4/2012 10:43 PM

I need help here guys. I want to up grade my sonar unit. If I narrow it down to two different units, which one would you buy and why? Humminbird 998c SI or the Lowrance HDS-8 Gen.2 with bundle package. emoScratch help


Thanks guys for your help
 
bronzeback45 - 4/5/2012 3:09 AM

If it was me I would get the Lowrance, in the future you can purchase 2 more units and hook them up via ethernet, I recently bought a HDS 8 GEN2 and love it, I have 2 HDS 7's and moved them to the bow. To me, the menu keys are more simple than the bird, more so with the favorites you can set up with the quik keys on the HDS 8

Humminbird is unlimited on the number of units you can share via Ethernet. You can share the transducer data with other units via Ethernet. If you have more than 2 units you can add 5 Port Hubs and even stack 5 Port Hubs and the more Hubs you stack the more you can share. This is how 360 Imaging will share between all SI units on the Network. The only limit is the graph models have to be the same technology.
 
Good point Doug, the difference in ethernet sharing is that Lowrance HDS-units will share with practically any other Lowrance model with GPS as far back as the LCX units. Humminbird restricts ethernet sharing in groups; such as the 500 series and 700 series are compatible, but those two are not compatible with the 800, 900 and 1100 series which are compatible only among themselves.
I have heard it said several times on this forum that Humminbird customer service is head and shoulders above Lowrance and I would tend to agree.
But, this question is like asking if you would buy a Ford or Chevy; they each have their fans for one reason or another.
 
I went hummingbird for some of the reasons already stated, I have never used a HDS unit so I have nothing bad to say about them, but one of the big reasons I went with HB was for lakemaster when it comes out from what Ive seen it will blow navionics out of the water and will only be on HB as far as what Ive been told.
 
djsmarinelectronics - 4/5/2012 5:01 PM

Good point Doug, the difference in ethernet sharing is that Lowrance HDS-units will share with practically any other Lowrance model with GPS as far back as the LCX units. Humminbird restricts ethernet sharing in groups; such as the 500 series and 700 series are compatible, but those two are not compatible with the 800, 900 and 1100 series which are compatible only among themselves.
I have heard it said several times on this forum that Humminbird customer service is head and shoulders above Lowrance and I would tend to agree.
But, this question is like asking if you would buy a Ford or Chevy; they each have their fans for one reason or another.

Humminbird 500 Series are stand Alone units. But Humminbird 700 HD Series are Ethernet Networkable along with all 800 Series, 908 Series Units and all 1100 Series units. Any 700 Series, 800, 900 or 1100 Series and Non-Current Matrix Series Units are InterLink Networkable. So there are networking solutions all the way back to pre-2003 when I Switched to Humminbird.

Speaking of that Humminbird Still services and supports those 9 Year old units I first started with and some models are older than that. Heck the first SI units introduced in 2004 the 987c are still getting software feature enhancements and service.
 
when better units are built hummingbird will be the ones making them and like said above they are made right here in the USA not mexico.
 
Also when you decide which one its hard to beat Johnny at DJ'S marine electronics prices and from what Ive found you wont beat his service.
 
fishinvol - 4/5/2012 7:47 AM

Humminbird. I've seen them both and used them both. IMO the Humminbird is much easier to learn and use. Customer service is fantastic too.





I completely agree! I'm useing a 898 now and plan on adding a 998 linked real soon!
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top