Humminbird HD/ SI/ DI/ Combo help....

I'm so confused....HD/SI/DI/ Combo...I see all these screen shots and just don't understand which model 'Birds can do what and work with the iPilot on a Minnkota PD55... Bad case of CUS...I'm looking at the 800 or 900 series, and want the most bang for my bucks...Can anybody explain it to me? I've emailed Humminbird several times in the last few weeks and have gotten no response... I really don't like "No Customer Service", maybe a Lowrance is in my future even without the interaction with the tm...HELP !!!! Please.....

Although it's probably not good for business, I'd bet most CS reps are handling customers with product problems rather than answering prospective customers questions. I doubt Lowrance, Garmin or any other manufacturer is going to have folks sitting around to walk people through product operations. It's all on the internet right now. Manufacturers sites show product capabilities, then use Google or Youtube to see units in operation.

I am kinda in your boat also. I have the IPilot like yours and it works fine with a standard HB DF (565). As I understand it, you can use down imaging (down scan if Lowrance) with the US2 built in transducer but not side scan. I can see how moving the transducer around would screw up the signals on a side imaging unit.
I plan to get a DI/GPS combo (7") for my console and move the HB 365 combo from my console to the front. I may go with a DI/SI combo if I can afford one.
Am leaning toward the Lowrance based on the screen shots I've seen on here. Always had HBs but the resolution does not seem as good as the Lowrance.

These units are compatible with the iPilot link...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6...ilotLink-1.jpg

Rickie

All HB SI models have to incorporate "SI" in the model name...
All HB SI models have GPS chartplotting/2d/SI/DI (computer rendered DI from SI crystals)

All HB DI models have to incorporate "DI" in the model name...
All HB DI models have GPS chartplotting/2d/DI (dedicated DI from DI crystals)

"c" in HB model name means color display...
"i" in HB model name means internal GPS antenna...
"Combo" in HB model name means GPS chartplotting...
("Combo" unit with no "i" means GPS chartplotting with external antenna)...

"HD" in HB 500 series units means nothing...
"HD" in HB 700 series units means Ethernet compatable...
"HD" in HB 800 & 900 series units means LED backlit display....
(There is no "HD" moniker in any 1100 series units)...

"XD" in any HB series unit means "xtra depth" which incorporates an additional 50kHz 2d sonar beam for deeper depth capability...

Rickie

Rickie thank you sir this helps alot ^^

+1 what Rickie said.
I would just add that e-mail is one of the slowest ways to get your questions answered and that is if the message actually gets through (slower would be USPS). We have problems getting messages from and to some internet providers. That is if your message does not get kicked out by a SPAM or virus filter. Be sure that you have a subject in the subject line or it will get kicked out. Calling would get you the fastest response. Try calling early in the morning (they start at 8:00 AM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday they start at 8:30 AM). Mondays are their busiest day so call another day or be ready to wait.