Need some input from those "In The Know"

I am thinking about getting me a new FF with side scan. I just want the entry level as I just cant justify goin way out to the thousands of dollars for one since I am only a 1 day a week fisherman. I have been looking at the Humminbird 798ci combo and the Lowrance HDS5. If I am reading right, the 798 is the cheapest because you have to add the side scan to the HDS5. also I believe the 798 just has one transducer and has down imaging as well as side imaging. I have been tryin to read and compare but I think I can learn more from the folks that have these units and what they think :D


thanks

maachuu

Wannabe is the FF Guru....Not the fish guru...just ff. :D

and the screen is bigger. It don;t matter if you only fish one day a week, thats about all I do. If you get the little screen, you WILL REGRET not saving up a few pennies and getting the bigger screen.

Don't know bout the HDS, but the humminbird was easy to use out of the box. Plus you can upgrade the software in most models other than the 797.

Get in touch with BillBob , He has a good used 997 that is reasonably priced!

The SI is almost useless on a small screen. I would either Get a bigger SI unit, or if ya want a small screen unit, a cheaper non SI unit like the 788. The Lowrance HDS units have awesome maps, but the cost and poor customer service were issues that kept me from going that route.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by feelay

The SI is almost useless on a small screen. I would either Get a bigger SI unit, or if ya want a small screen unit, a cheaper non SI unit like the 788. The Lowrance HDS units have awesome maps, but the cost and poor customer service were issues that kept me from going that route.

---

thanks feelay, I have a new 598 Humminbird but I want to get side scan. I guess better look at the 898 instead of the 798 since the screen is 2" bigger


thanks

m

Let me bottom line this for ya.

Skip the HDS5 and 797 / 798. Screen is just too small to be useful.

Get you a used 997 (used) or minimum of 898 if you go new. PM Billbob. Dang good price, plus he's a snappy dresser and can mambo like no other here.

Now, let me draw another line and let you read below that....

If money was no object, I'd chunk my 997, get me an HDS 8 for the console, HDS 7 for the Front and an LSS-1 and be happier than DD at an open bar with a day off the next day.

Of course, $ is an object. There's the rub. The SI and mapping of the HDS is superior to the H'bird, plus the GPS works like a GPS should work. Don't belive me....ask Billbob, the well dressed mambo king why he's selling his for a good price. On top of that, you'll fiind spotty reports of Lowrance unit seals being bad and getting water inside and you can find all kinds of Steven King type horror stories of Lowrance customer service.

Were I fishing for a living, I'd have 2 HDS 10s, LSS1s and a Backup HDS10 and backup LSS1.

Wannabe...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Let me bottom line this for ya.

Skip the HDS5 and 797 / 798. Screen is just too small to be useful.

Get you a used 997 (used) or minimum of 898 if you go new. PM Billbob. Dang good price, plus he's a snappy dresser and can mambo like no other here.

Now, let me draw another line and let you read below that....

If money was no object, I'd chunk my 997, get me an HDS 8 for the console, HDS 7 for the Front and an LSS-1 and be happier than DD at an open bar with a day off the next day.

Of course, $ is an object. There's the rub. The SI and mapping of the HDS is superior to the H'bird, plus the GPS works like a GPS should work. Don't belive me....ask Billbob, the well dressed mambo king why he's selling his for a good price. On top of that, you'll fiind spotty reports of Lowrance unit seals being bad and getting water inside and you can find all kinds of Steven King type horror stories of Lowrance customer service.

Were I fishing for a living, I'd have 2 HDS 10s, LSS1s and a Backup HDS10 and backup LSS1.

Wannabe...

---

Thanks WB, money is really not the object, aint got it, cant get it and when I do get it, cant keep it. I just cant justify 2 or 3 grand for a fish finder. You guys have let me see that I need the bigger screen, guess I will try and get in touch with billbob


maachuu

Yep...that's why I'm runnin' a 997.

Wannabe...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Let me bottom line this for ya.

Skip the HDS5 and 797 / 798. Screen is just too small to be useful.

Get you a used 997 (used) or minimum of 898 if you go new. PM Billbob. Dang good price, plus he's a snappy dresser and can mambo like no other here.

Now, let me draw another line and let you read below that....

If money was no object, I'd chunk my 997, get me an HDS 8 for the console, HDS 7 for the Front and an LSS-1 and be happier than DD at an open bar with a day off the next day.

Of course, $ is an object. There's the rub. The SI and mapping of the HDS is superior to the H'bird, plus the GPS works like a GPS should work. Don't belive me....ask Billbob, the well dressed mambo king why he's selling his for a good price. On top of that, you'll fiind spotty reports of Lowrance unit seals being bad and getting water inside and you can find all kinds of Steven King type horror stories of Lowrance customer service.

Were I fishing for a living, I'd have 2 HDS 10s, LSS1s and a Backup HDS10 and backup LSS1.

Wannabe...

---

If Wannabe was fishing for a living he would be broke, nekid, and hungry....just saying. :D

That be the truth G3!

Can anybody see any differance in Wannabes catch rate since he got side imaging? I can't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by G3 Fisherman

Can anybody see any differance in Wannabes catch rate since he got side imaging? I can't.

---

Crack that whip G3 :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by G3 Fisherman

Can anybody see any differance in Wannabes catch rate since he got side imaging? I can't.

---

huh, is it suppose to help you catch more fish ? thought it was just to let me see more of the fish that I am not catching :D


m

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by G3 Fisherman

If Wannabe was fishing for a living he would be broke, nekid, and hungry....just saying. :D

---

Yeah, well...I'm working' on it. Two thirds of the way there already.

Besides, you're a geezer. Pfft.

Wannabe...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Yeah, well...I'm working' on it. Two thirds of the way there already.

Besides, you're a geezer. Pfft.

Wannabe...

---

What are you doing up so early?:D

but thats cause he's been having folks fishing with him that know how to fish and know what they're looking at on the Lake map. :D Ain't never seent no body that couldn't look at a lake contour map and not be able to find a channel. Plum stewpit if ya ask me

DD now I ain't no great big WB fan, but in his defense, the said channel you were referin to wasn't on the navionics maps. It stopped bout a 1/2 mile from where he was wantin to find it. It wasn't even on my eyephone navionics map.

Another thing Maachuu, ifn you ain't never had an HDs you'll never know what it's like. I'm happy with my 997. Whatever you choose you will be amazed with the technology.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Minnerman

Another thing Maachuu, ifn you ain't never had an HDs you'll never know what it's like. I'm happy with my 997. Whatever you choose you will be amazed with the technology.

---

Thanks minnerman, I want a unit that has SI but I am struggling with paying 1500 for a unit, thats what I paid for my boat (just the boat & trailer) back in 1998 :D and about half what I paid for my New Honda motor, and of course I have to remember this is one of my toys and I cant use household funds for it either, if you know what I mean :D I really want the 898 or 997 but my price (funds) range is more like the 798, will just have to wait it out and see if my ship comes in :D



thanks

maachuu

Man the debate on which is best could go on forever. Got to get my word in though.
Lowrance is no doubt the better looking unit. Another thing I do not think they struggle with the interference issues that Humminbird has in some instances.
But at the end of the day if something goes wrong with the Lowrance you will be in a world of hurt. All the stories of long repair times and poor customer service are not a good sign and I have seen it first hand. I would go nuts if I spent a couple grand and it took almost a month to complete a warranty repair. My humminbird came back total turn around time 3 days...
I am happy with the Hbirds...

I just bought and installed a 898c si on my boat. For me, it was between the 898 or the 997. I really liked the extra screen size of the 997. I actually won a 997 on ebay for $1275 but the seller canceled on me. So I went with the 898 from TheDigitalOasis for $1300 brand new (same thing cost $1500 at bass pro).

The 997 has a one inch bigger screen but used the 16 satellite GPS and has a slightly slower processor than the 898. Also has older base maps... no big deal.

The 898 has one inch smaller screen but uses 50 satellite GPS and has a faster processor than the 997 and used the most up to date base maps.

So they both had their advantages and disadvantages.... The 798 I believe has an internal GPS antenna or can be bought with an external GPS antenna. Just something to look into...

DoubleG

got another question for you guys, I have not decided what unit I will be upgrading to but was wandering this, if I go with the 798 I see where you can have external or internal gps and was wandering which of these do you guys think would be best ? I currently have a 598ci and it has internal gps and I dont have any problems with it but I may be missing something by not having external. any and all info greatly appreciated


thanks

maachuu

Go external. There is not a great deal of difference in GPS performance between the 2 but.. The external will allow you to position the receiver where you want it and that is a good thing because the closer you relate the receiver to the transducer the more accurate your reading will be.
Been there done that.

will the navionics card I have work on either the 798, 898 or 997 ?


thanks

m

What card do you have? The 798, 898, and 998 take the SD card.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DoubleGobble00

What card do you have? The 798, 898, and 998 take the SD card.

---

I believe it is the Gold card and it is a sd card, cant really remember and it is in my FF on my boat at home


thanks

maachuu

I agree....external is best...although a pain. Pucks do go bad and if internal, you're hosed.

Yes, the navionics card should work in all unless you've got something really outdated....prolly ought to check with Navionics to make sure it's compatible before you budget on it though just to be sure.

I was doing some more thinking about your set up though....I'm recanting now that I see you'll end up with 2 GPSs.....Mount the SI at the back where your tiller is and you can see it and the GPS puck close to unit as possible....point being, repeatable position for accuracy.

Wannabe...

The card you have for the 598 will work.

I guess I need to put my 2 cents in this discussion. As far as HB vs. Lowrance, I purchased a 787c and a 797c Si 18 months ago and had trouble with the screens looking like acid rain. I called the customer service line and they said to box them up and they would fix them at no cost. Since it was in the middle of tournament season , they put a rush on them and I had them back in 7 days. Pretty good service. Now here is the real reason I would buy HB. With the new updates available for the 797, I carried it in for the upgrade and it got zapped. The factory sent me a new 798c 2i and it works great. It also has a card slot for taking pictures on a reading card for later looking. As far as the external or internal, I like the internal because when you mark a spot, you are on top of it and holes were drilled.

save your money get a LOWRANCE customer service is fine, upgrades easy you wont be sorry go with a HD7 OR 8 I have both and they are superb

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappiholic

I guess I need to put my 2 cents in this discussion. As far as HB vs. Lowrance, I purchased a 787c and a 797c Si 18 months ago and had trouble with the screens looking like acid rain. I called the customer service line and they said to box them up and they would fix them at no cost. Since it was in the middle of tournament season , they put a rush on them and I had them back in 7 days. Pretty good service. Now here is the real reason I would buy HB. With the new updates available for the 797, I carried it in for the upgrade and it got zapped. The factory sent me a new 798c 2i and it works great. It also has a card slot for taking pictures on a reading card for later looking. As far as the external or internal, I like the internal because when you mark a spot, you are on top of it and holes were drilled.

---

Thanks crappiholic, I appreciate the input. I like the fact of not having to drill more holes in my boat for sure !


m

My question is ease of use, is the Hd's or the HB 898 or 997 easier to understand and use. Bein a lil longer in the tooth than you young fellers I seem to be purty techno challenged. Heck fire I have trouble with my cell phone sometimes. I would hate to spend all that money on somethin I couldnt make work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by beagle man

save your money get a LOWRANCE customer service is fine, upgrades easy you wont be sorry go with a HD7 OR 8 I have both and they are superb

---

Thanks for you input beagle man, I appreciate it

maachuu

Out of the box start up ease of use.. goes to Humminbird.. Menus are a bit more complicated on the Lowrance..
Used both and just call'em like I see'em...

Just call the numbers and see what happens.
Lowrance ; Customer Service Department at 1-800-324-1356
Hummminbird ; 1-800-633-1468

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CRAPPIEHUNTER68

Just call the numbers and see what happens.
Lowrance ; Customer Service Department at 1-800-324-1356
Hummminbird ; 1-800-633-1468

---

Thanks Crappiehunter, appreciate the input, looking more like I need to stay with HB but the verdict is not in yet :)


thanks again

maachuu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by captcall

My question is ease of use, is the Hd's or the HB 898 or 997 easier to understand and use. Bein a lil longer in the tooth than you young fellers I seem to be purty techno challenged. Heck fire I have trouble with my cell phone sometimes. I would hate to spend all that money on somethin I couldnt make work.

---

If you buy a Lowrance and can't make it work, I'd be glad to take it off your hands. ;)

Maachuu, I studied long and hard when trying to determine which to buy. Wound up with HB788 on the bow and 998 at the console. Haven't had to call CS yet but have posted a few questions on their web site (which is VERY VERY good) and have gotten prompt and helpful responses. I'm sure you will like whichever you get. Good luck.