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After much consideration and research, I have decided to go with the Lowrance HDS with Side/Down imaging over the Humminbird. The two deciding factors were the ability to back scroll where you have been and adding waypoints, and the ability to put the down scan over the top of the
2D sonar.
That's fine, but recognize that you can do both of those with Humminbird. We've always been able to freeze the screen, cursor over to interesting objects, and then add waypoints right on them. And, as the image below demonstrates, we can overlay Down Imaging with 2D.
good choice, I have two lowrance 7 and 8 I really like mine, hope you enjoy the time on the water, let us know on any good or bad reports thanks
The back scrolling isn't the same as freezing the screen and adding points. You can actually make a run for a while looking at the screen and then go back and add points later. If you freeze the screen to add points, you'd have to stop your boat or you may miss some structure while it is frozen. The images you show are a nice feature, but with the HDS, you can actually overlay the images. I am not saying Humminbird does not have good systems, I have used Lowrance for quite a while and think this HDS is the bomb!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511
I have converted to lowrance also, after many years of HB. I don't have the structure scan yet, but my overtime from last month will cover it later this month.
Just in terms of the units themselves, and I'm having to compare my HDS5 to a 788C and there really is no comparison to me. The screen resolution, insight maps, and GPS alone made it well worth my while. After all the pics I've seen comparing HB to Lowrance for SI/DI the difference to me is like watching B&W TV vs. Color TV.
I'm happy with the decision. The unit hasn't filled with water, and I haven't needed to call Customer service. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I'm shopping for another Humminbird and selling my Lowrance instead. Not happy at all with their so called customer service and have had ZERO issues with my birds.
Well, HB does have the lowrance color scheme copy going, so that's a plus, I suppose, to those who switch from Lowrance to HB.
I'm sure next update, HB will work on improving the quality of the returns in terms of how they look on the screen.
I have the small 798c si and the pics I see on it has been as good a quality at the lowrance as have the pics I've seen from Jason and other people's pics on this forum. I have only had my unit a very short time and am very happy with it. I have owned lowrance units before and I think the HB is really a better quality unit. Also what you say is probably true. HB will come out with better quality of returns and they will probably be free as was the Down Imaging. Can you say the same about lowrance. I doubt it, they will charge you an arm and a leg and take forever to repair it. Nuff said!!!!!!!
I guess the bean counters were right at Lowrance. Customer service means nothing to the American consumer. I would have thought otherwise but I have been wrong before.
Maybe like the used car salemen used to say " Dazzle them with all the bells and whistles. They won't really care if it runs or not ".
I also admire you guys courage. I googled " Lowrance Customer Service . " After reading the first few I determined anyone purchasing these is used to being really lucky. Or perhaps they like waiting listening to elevator music on the phone.
Opinions are just that opinions. But if my B&W TV breaks it will be fixed and back to me inside a week. This is a fact. If your Color TV breaks let me know the time turn around. According to my search on the web turnaround it varies greatly at Lowrance now.
Hopefully two years from now you guys that went with Lowrance at this stage of the game will be justified. I wish problems on no one. I know how first hand when equipment failure can ruin a trip or vacation. I guess why thats why I want to know that they will take care of me after the sale.
congrats atleast you will own another set of sponges so some young kid wont have to bother with there problems ,have fun if you look at the dollar store they sell sponges cheap
1. I have owned a 700 Series SI, and while it is a decent unit, It's so small that you have have to be scanning in 10 feet of water or less, and only scan 25ft to be able to recognize anything on the screen. No this pics from HB aren't the same quality as Lowrance. I'm a fan of both, but one is clearly returning better quality images.Quote:
Originally Posted by J_ROW
2. Lowrance just realeased an update that was free a couple days ago. As have all the other updates been free.
3. Saying that the DI was free is a little funny. The price of SI/DI was built into the unit when you bought it. Business 101 on that one.
4. Send your unit to HB 1 month out of warranty and see how free it is to have it repaired. From my experience, having them fix it comes to about 1/2 the cost of a new unit or more. What this says to me is, they don't want to fix it, but if they touch it, you are going to pay a lot of money. I have sent every unit I've had from HB back to be fixed.
5. As for the time to have it repaired, I can't speak to that. I've owned several lowrance units over the years and have never had a problem with any of them.
6. My unit has a 2yr warranty. Can you say the same. I know you can't.
First - This thread wasn't meant to get people going at eachother. Let's stay civil! I have owned a Lowrance for 4 years now and never had to call customer support. I am not saying they don't break, but I'm sure the HB's break from time to time also. Again, I never said HB was a bad unit. I just like a couple of the features Lowrance offers right now. No matter which one you may like, good fishing to all of you!
JTMavs, congrats on your decision. It awes me every time I see pics from either unit. It'll be a looooong time before I'm lucky enough to own either unit, be it Lowrance or HB, but as long as statements are made from personal facts, a healthy debate is a good read. I'm with you, I dont want to see any of the threads becoming personal attacks, but any and all of the threads which comes from personal experiences should help the next buyer out, or atleast give him more to consider.:o
JTMavs- My response was to the individual downgrading the Humminbird status to the technology of B&W TV.
Mduncan62
Before anyone wants to crow about how long their warranty is. It can be 10 years if the company does not stand behind it does you no good. All these complaints on the web about Lowrance customer service are not imaginary nor or they false. Because you personally have not cause to use their CS doesn't mean there is no use for it. To state otherwise is like saying that dog does not bite because he hasn't bit you.
Do not let your substansial investment make you blind to a fault that does exist. It is a sign of intelligence to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Blind loyalty does no one any good.
Way back in 1964 gun buyers were loyal to the Winchester name. WInchester execs at the time took advantage of this and started producing junk. That is why the phrase pre 1964 means so much as to a Winchesters present value. Since info flow was so slow they did coast for a couple of years making junk. But finally the word got out.
I am NOT saying Lowrance is presently making junk. What I am saying is where there is smoke there is fire. Every company has complaints its how they handle them that defines their true corporate mission. If you cannot fathom that I will understand that I am spurring a dead horse on this subject.
Looks to me like there wll be no end to the controversy in comparing these two units. Obviously there are alot of HB faithfuls on here that have been so use to having there product at the top of the totem pole that they cannot not even give credit where credit is due... Bottom line---the images from Lowrance are 5 times better than the ones from HB, bottom line!!!! Anybody with half good eyesight can see that... Now the customer service part of it might be a different story. Maybe HB's cs is far better. Maybe not... But the thing is, if you hardly ever have to use it(like alot of people on here have stated that have lowrance) then what does it matter...All I'm saying is right now I think Lowrance has a considerable edge on HB even if they do have sluggish costumer service. Even more--HB better hope Lowrance hasn't stepped up there cs department because that would not be good for them...Have already seen quite a few people on here make the switch from HB to Lowrance. Only time will tell.:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by hays47
Don't forget about those of us who have went the other way...With HB!!!!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by JABBO
Well some people want never learn no matter how much you tell them... Now lets go catch some fish TnT!!!!:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by TnT
Nice smoke is fire analogy, again attacking the CS for lack of a better answer to the Lowrance product. Search for any product that has ever been made and there will be complaints and praise.Quote:
Originally Posted by hays47
Comes down to a personal choice. If a person says that the lowrance is better in his opinion, isn't he entitled to do that on the internet? Did that break a rule in this forum? Good day sir.
Hays47 <----- gets off dead horse and quits spurring him. Keeps forgetting you cannot teach someone who does not want to learn.
Here's an interesting thread. Seems it took some special intervention for this fellow to finally get some customer service. I'm sure he's happy now, but no one should have to go thru what he did. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/georg...lain-junk.html
Hays47---> Congratulations!!!! You are the 1,000,000 person on the web to make the argument that the HB units are better because of customer service. Pleae pat yourself on the back again.Quote:
Originally Posted by hays47
I smell smoke coming from these posts of yours. Smoke screen the unit performance with poor customer service. Thanks for trying to help me fathom your superior knowledge.
I'd be pretty certain that lowrance is looking at how to improve the CS. When that happens, what will be your argument then?
I'm pretty you are right about the smoke like the lawsuit against lowrance about their side imaging HB claimed the stole. As far as the gold screen the lowrance has on its down scan , my 798c si has a blue screen, a red screen, a green screen and a gray screen but no gold screen! My beef isn't that lowrance does not have a good image, they do, but was the remark that HB stole the gold screen. I have owned some lowrance units going back to the old paper graft unit and they all worked. I just think my lowly 798 with it 5 inch screen is ok for me and shows a great image. Its only 1.4 inch isn't really that much smaller than the hds7. And yes the $300 dollar 798c si and a lot more affordable to some people than the hds5 which cost $1300.