Thread: Humminbird vs. Lowrance...The way I see it.

Ok going to be a pro experience for the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI user. It seems with this unit, is either you absolutely hate it or absolutely love it. The reason I am posting this is that other people thinking of purchasing it will have the pros and cons of it before deciding. To start off with the main problem I see is people buy this unit and throw a Navionics Hotmaps Premium micro SD chip in it. Big mistake, Big mistake, this processor doesn't handle this chip well at all. TnT is spot on with the long delay with the updating with this particular chip. The best chip I have found is the Fishing Hotspot Pro USA chip. It is an LEI chip and mates well with the Elite 7 HDI processor. It shows all the ditches and channels on alot of middle Georgia lakes, it is not big on contour lines however. The second mistake is trying to put the transducer on the bottom of the trolling motor, can it be done yes, but again not the most optimal place to mount it due to prop wash and down imaging needs more speed to get clearer images. Have got some nice images just under 1 mph, but really need to get around 2-2.5 mph for the clearest image. This unit is not a HDS Lowrance but is a nice filler for a $600.00 unit if mated with the right chip and transducer mounted on the transom. Also take it to Bass Pro or go to Lowrance website and get the latest software update for it. Bass Pro can do it in just a few minutes. I can't comment on Humminbird too much except I know Spiderman and TnT really likes their's and I trust there judgements on them. Far as the Lowrance 7 HDI with the proper setup I get clear images for what I want it to do. I will try to post pictures the next few months of screenshots if some will post them for me on the website after I text them to them until I learn personally how to do it, just got my first new smartphone so I will start snapping the pics. Once I started using down imaging I never use 2D sonar any longer. It is like listening to an 8 track tape player to me when I can listen to a cd or mp3 which is digital. I think alot of dissatisfaction with the Lowrance 7 HDI stems from these two problem points and it leaves a very bad taste in the user's mouth. With the new Humminbirds they have improved processor speed and make wider screens on the mid range models, and it does handle the Navionics Hotmaps Premium chip with ease I know this by studying it and talking with new owners. If there are pro Lowrance 7 HDI owners speak up, we will never learn a thing if the pros and cons of a unit or chipping is not discussed. I would tell anyone, if you are not satisfied with what you bought then take it back and get something you are pleased with, it will aggravate the crap of you day in and day out, that is not enjoyable fishing. Men get those Birds and Lowrance's tuned in and in a few weeks it will get crazy good as Bigfishheads would say!

There in lies the $$ problem wit Lowrance. You have to spend WAY more on one of their units to get decent results that a lower priced HB will produce without having to buy another navigation chart chip. A 800 series HB with Navionics or Lake Master chips is the best for the $$ unless you want to really step up in $$. But to each his own. I saw picture a while back that I wish I could find again. The caption was something like "do you remember when your gps and depth finder was called Grandpa". Wish things were still that way..............................

A 798 is in the same price range as the elite lowrance, with much better results. I agree with Shinerunner you should not have to spend more for the same results. I would rather spend time fishing than playing with my electronics!

I am going back to the flasher and compass starting in February. I actually have both in the barn and won't take long to change.

One other thing I meant to talk about is transducers, a unit is only good imaging wise as it's transducer and the power there of. The Humminbird has a 500 RMS at 4,000 watt peak to peak, the Lowrance Elite7 HDI has a 250 RMS at 30,000 watt peak to peak. The Lowrance Elite 5 has what the Humminbird has on it which is 500 RMS and 4,000 watt peak to peak. I know they play a numbers game with these figures so it is hard to tell. The Elite 7 HDI with a one time initial setup and there is no having to play with it constantly. Just turn it on and fish. I have found timber plots on Oconee with it , that has already paid tremendous results by finding them. This is why down imaging is so great, find the timber find the fish.

I may be talking apple to oranges but they can get much better then this can they I buy this when the first come out I didn't have a chip in it. Is there a Difference in HDS7 and Elite7

There is some drop off in images between the HDS and the Elite 7 HDI Hobo, I have seen both, yes the HDS is better but not overwhelmingly. The HDS will cost more than double of what an Elite 7 HDI will, it is more powerful but has a powerful price tag as well. When I bought the Elite 7 HDI the new Birds were not in the stores yet. I can't wait to get on the boat with someone and see them in action. Hey, if it works I will use it regardless of brand. I like Lowrance, but I would own a Bird as well. The Lowrance HDS units do produce some the best down scan images around.

Way over my head