Thread: New electronics

About to upgrade electronics in my boat. I have always had just traditional 2d (recently got color) and for someone that has never used di or si they seem a little overwhelming.

What units are "more" user friendly?
Pros / Cons when comparing HB and lowrance?

Humminbird is way more user friendly. You will get a answers all over the board on this one. But that's the reason I went to Bird from Lowrance products when I upgraded.

What cray said.

Lowrance!!! Their built in insight is really nice up the rivers and showing old creek channels and other structure. User friendly just means run it in auto mode.

Really depends on how much you want to spend. I have Humminbird Onix 10 c SI units with a transom mount 360 and I love the set up. Will be glad when more lakes get mapped so I can use the follow the contour feature with my Terrova trolling motor. They are very user friendly.

I can create my own lake contour maps with the Onix units. Finding time to make the maps is the problem. When I'm on the lake I'm fishing not making maps! It takes time making the criss crossing pattern on the lake to create the maps.

Just got it today from BBG
the bigger the better

So with lowrance maps are built in and are decent. Humminbird I would have to purchase the map card? I'm wanting to run di up front and side from the console. The idea is Id like to make a waypoint based on what I see on the console unit then be able to go back to it from up front. Is the hb or lowrance (softer on pocket) to be able to do this. From everything I've seen the returns on both brands are comparable.

I'm a Lowrance guy, but HB is nice also. I really like the built in Insight, and you can use Navionics and see both mapping programs side by side on the Lowrance. Insight for where the Navionics doesn't show up, and both for seeing contours and structure side by side when they both show up.

The Insigt shows you stuff the new programs don't and its like using a topographical map of the lake bed.

Gotcha ....thanks for explaining it BRM. Could you pm me how much it would cost for install for one or both units if you do installs?

Originally Posted by joeglow

Gotcha ....thanks for explaining it BRM. Could you pm me how much it would cost for install for one or both units if you do installs?

I do install those units and I can network them however you want. Just give me a call for any details. 870-635-0202

The Lowrance HDS units can show up to 4 screens at a time (5 if you split screen the sonar), but for me, showing both mapping programs at the same time, side by side is a huge advantage when searching for fish holding patterns. It's easier to see the structure on Navionics (which I call the layer of the land, aka 1' contours, flats, drop offs, ledges, etc) and potential Cover on the Insight (which I call trees, bridges, house foundations, and all natural or man made Cover). The Insight is better at showing you in blue the old creeks, ditches, home places, bridges, old roads, etc that were in the lake bed before they were flooded. Navionics has better contour definition.