Thread: Hb 798

you know I have a 797 with the internal GPS in it. I did not get the maps preloaded but bought the nav SD disk a few mounths later, All this talk about the GPS,,,,,,I have not had any issues with mine so I'm not really sure what you guys are bxxxxxxg about. Could someone tell me what the GPS problem is with these units?

Originally Posted by laserdoc

you know I have a 797 with the internal GPS in it. I did not get the maps preloaded but bought the nav SD disk a few mounths later, All this talk about the GPS,,,,,,I have not had any issues with mine so I'm not really sure what you guys are bxxxxxxg about. Could someone tell me what the GPS problem is with these units?

We are not bXXXXXXg about a "GPS" problem. The problem is after you mark a spot and try to NAVIGATE back to it. The screen doesn't refresh at a rate fast enough to keep up with what direction you are headed in, thus making it almost impossible to go back to that spot without running in circles for 10 minutes. Just try and follow the course projection line and make just a minor correction in your heading and see how long it takes the projection arrow to catch up with you. Better than that turn a circle and when you have done a 360 I bet the projection arrow is pointed darn near behind you.

Everybody keeps calling it a GPS problem. It's not. The GPS is pretty accurate. It is a screen refresh rate issue.

I can spin on a dime with my 87c and the course projection arrow keeps up. The 797 & 997 will not. It's like being on a really really slooooooow internet connection. Lags bad. Don't know about the new 798's.

I have in the past took up for HB's customer Service because I was convinced they would make it right. I've just about decided that they figure that they are the only show in town and they will sell more new units cause people arn't satisfied with these.

Just my 2 cents.

Thanks Wiskers. I'm ready to buy one, but I don't know if I want to pull the trigger until I know for sure. I don't want to spend that much $$ and be in the same spot as everyone else is with these 797s. I feel for you guys spending that much and not getting a product that is worth a darn and HB not wanting to make it right.

I've been paying attention to several of the posts regarding using the 997 transducer for the 797 and the much clearer picture it gets. If I buy the 798, I wonder if I should just get the control unit only and purchase the larger transducer separately? Also, get the external antenna and mount it above the transducer on the stern to minimize any boat length difference. I'm going to mount the control unit to the console.

Originally Posted by fishforfun

If I buy the 798, I wonder if I should just get the control unit only and purchase the larger transducer separately? Also, get the external antenna and mount it above the transducer on the stern to minimize any boat length difference. I'm going to mount the control unit to the console.

Well I would deff. go with the big transducer and make sure that the GPS reciever you get is gonna be the 50 channel. I think you can get what you need at jandhproducts.com . They usually have the best prices.

I use a handheld also, but will typically throw out a bouy if I want to be sure I'm close.

It's worth the money even for the 797. I'm buying a 798 here soon. The second sd card slot sold me. That was my biggest gripe with the 797.

The gps is so-so. I'm interested to see if the 50-channel does anything at all, in terms of improvement. I know they just came out with an update, but didn't read the notes to see if it's addressed in the update.

I can't wait to talk to the Hbird rep at the Grizzly Jig Crappie Bash in a couple of weeks. I have a feeling he is going to get an earful firsthand if he doesn't have some answers or at least a decent explanation of why they won't address the slow refresh rate issue. Why would they sell a 50 satellite antenna and still have a slow refresh rate? That doesn't make a lot of sense.