Thread: HDS8 vs HB997 test results

Originally Posted by DonDon

I'm glad someone did a head to head.

I am also, but to be fair, I think the interference issue with the HB unit should be resolved before any conclusion can be made. Cane Pole has a reputation here as the guru on these type things, so his test results are going to carry a lot of weight with the people who peruse this board on a regular basis. Both of these companies have a lot of money invested in this technology so it's important that both the units be performing optimally when any comparison is made.

If I have a company that makes parachutes and I'm going head to head in a shootout against another manufacturer of parachutes then both chutes should be properly packed before the jump.

I don't have any interest in brand loyalty be it side finders, trucks or boats. I always shop for the most bang per buck and I've owned both Lowrance and HB in the past.

Originally Posted by TN Hillbilly

I am also, but to be fair, I think the interference issue with the HB unit should be resolved before any conclusion can be made.

Both units had the same issue, if you look at the pictures.

Originally Posted by mduncan62

Both units had the same issue, if you look at the pictures.

I don't see any interference at all in the Lowrance shots. Point it out to me.

Originally Posted by TN Hillbilly

I don't see any interference at all in the Lowrance shots. Point it out to me.

WOW. Surprised you can see it on the HB then. It's in the exact same location, and on the downscan also.

Originally Posted by TN Hillbilly

I don't see any interference at all in the Lowrance shots. Point it out to me.

Notice the pointers, exact same spot and side that the HB had interference. I know it's probably difficult to see, so I used big red pointers.

What you're pointing to is propwash. What I'm talking about is electrical interference. In the pic below I indicated the propwash with red arrows, the electrical interference with blue. The electrical interference shows up as white lines. Only the HB is showing electrical interference, which degrades the display of the bottom and any structure.

Pretty much anytime you have the transducer on the transom you'll see at least some propwash.

Oh prop wash. Guess the Lowrance transducer was mounted further back then the prop?
If you were scanning over prop wash it would show on both sides.

Originally Posted by mduncan62

Oh prop wash. Guess the Lowrance transducer was mounted further back then the prop?
If you were scanning over prop wash it would show on both sides.

That's not the way it works. Propwash occurs a short distance ahead of the prop as well as behind it. If the transducer is mounted to the left of the motor then the propwash will appear in the right hand view. If the transducer is mounted to the right of the motor the propwash appears in the left hand view. Anyone who has run si can tell you that what you're seeing is propwash. If you just look at the pics I posted earlier you'll see that there are no white interference lines because there isn't any electrical interference and consequently, a much better view of the bottom and structure. The first two pics I posted don't show any propwash because my transducer is mounted off the right side of the boat well ahead of the prop. I retract it when running any faster than 5 mph. In the pic I posted from Humviewer, you can see a steady return about 7 ft deep. That's the left hand pontoon of my boat. Anytime the water is more than 7 ft deep, that left hand pontoon shows up in the image. I'm not sure why this interference issue is so confusing for you. There's no question that the HB was receiving interference that the Lowrance wasn't subject to.

Cane pole,

I drink Folgers coffee as well and have a few of those containers lying around. If you would, please give me some specs on your coffee can condos so I can make one myself and see what I can do as far as imaging with my 998. i.e. diameter and length of pvc pipe. Container filled with gravel? concrete?

Thanks

Originally Posted by TN Hillbilly

Cane pole,

I drink Folgers coffee as well and have a few of those containers lying around. If you would, please give me some specs on your coffee can condos so I can make one myself and see what I can do as far as imaging with my 998. i.e. diameter and length of pvc pipe. Container filled with gravel? concrete?

Thanks

I have my Transducer mounted directly in front of the prop, and I don't get prop wash if that's what you want to call it. In front of the prop to me would not be prop wash, sorry we'll just have to disagree. And since you know the low product so well, can you show me what elect. interference looks like?
Every HB I've owned had interference problems, maybe the guys from apple can fix that for HB like they did the new iphone.

Scanning for a boat, is a lot different from 3 pieces of PVC sticking out of a 12 inch folgers coffee can. IMO. Tires also will give a much different return.

Canepole, is it possible to get a pic of the transducer placements on the test vehicle?