Printable View
I know the general opinion is that Lowrance is not worth the hassle. I haven't seen any recent post in reference to the quality or the customer service. I have looked at both the HDS 8 and the 998. I like the HDs unit better, but am still worried about the durability. I hate to beat a dead horse, but would like to here some opinions of people with more current units. Thanks in advance!
I've seen a lot of posts saying that Lowrance CS has taken care of people. I have not had a problem with Lowrance CS, and I've not had any hassle with my units. No durability issues. I've owned both, but for now I'm sticking with, and adding more Lowrance. I'd love to monitor my Yamaha motor, livewell temp, add music to my rig, and the broadband radar would sure be fun to play with. Only one brand offers this many items on their networked units. Prove me wrong on that, and I'll send you a pair of nail clippers for your boat.
Buy whatever units you think will make you happy. If you like the HDS unit better, but you think customer service is an issue, then you have a strange decision, meaning you might buy the unit you don't want because of customer service.
I have a HDS8 and a HDS5 on my boat and my buddy has a 8 and 10 on his boat. We have had zero problems. We have had the units over a year.
[QUOTE=mduncan62;1446912] I'd love to monitor my Yamaha motor, livewell temp, add music to my rig, and the broadband radar would sure be fun to play with. Only one brand offers this many items on their networked units.QUOTE]
I really like all these features you mention. They are way cool. Don't forget to mention the luxury of being able to just buy the HDS unit, then add the side/down scan when one can afford it. The Ethernet networking is also great. It allows to add future HDS units to the network (up to three different head units to the same side/down scan transducer.) and see the same thing on all three units. Should a head unit go bad, the side/down scan is separate, thus avoiding having to replace it with an entire setup.
I have a 60hp tiller on the back and stay at the back of the boat on a regular basis other than to deploy trolling motor or drop/pull anchors. I plan to eventually pick up another HDS-5 or 7 for the front of the boat so others can see what I'm looking at.
Bottom line is that both Humminbird, Lowrance, and other manufacturers have given us so many options when it comes to quality units. It looks to be more like a Ford vs. Chevy thing these days. I really don't think you could go wrong with either one. I chose Lowrance simply because I've never had a problem with one of their units that was not caused be me. I also like the GPS directional arrow that points in the direction the unit is facing, it leaves no guessing when easing up to a waypoint.
with the way electronics are improving we are all outdated as soon as we buy. both are good I have owned both, having said that I still cant catch fish. they need to put lasers on them for shooting and auto retreve for loading dead fish into boat. good luck.
but I do like my lowrance I have 5/7/8 and they are all working verry well.
I don't think that's the general opinion. I've had nothing but Lowrance since I switched from Garmin several years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by shorebound1
I just bought a HDS-8. I haven't used it yet but the way i see it is just buy the one you want. Any of them can have problems and some of each brand has had problems. I know I'm going to look at this for quite a long time so I got what I wanted.
Thanks for the quick replies. I really want to take advantage of the discount. I just needed a few more opinions. I am glad this didn't turn into an attack on either brand. I've been leeching on here for awhile and enjoy reading the reports and advice. I plan to contribute as best I can in the future.
Glad to have you on the boards. Welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by shorebound1
a lot of people here in western kentucky use the hds units. they seem to like them. ive herd good things about them.ive used 997 four 4 years now,no issues very pleased.good luck .P.S. i wouldnt buy a unit and plan to add acc. later because of money. technology moves way to fast. just something to think about????? good luck
Yes, welcome. Always good to see new folks joining in.Quote:
Originally Posted by shorebound1
Thanks guys. I don't know if I will be able to get one right now. I had several bills come in. We are building a new house and for some reason the wife doesn't think I need a $2000 depth finder.
what the wife wants the wife gets. good move shorebound1Quote:
Originally Posted by shorebound1
a happy wife is a happy home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shorebound1
That's why you have your builder buy it for you and add 2k towards those cabinets.
Thumbs UpQuote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
Customer Service is precisely why I switched to Humminbird. I had brand new Lowrance units and never got a response for 45 days on several issues I was having. In that 45 days I grew tired of waiting and switched over to Humminbird. I have a 997 and a 798 linked together through Interlink. Humminbird Customer Service bent over backwards to help even with the 997 that was used. They helped make the transition easy. I might add that Humminbird Units are soooo much easier to use with the 3 preset buttons.
By the time Lowrance sent me a reply to my email (which was not any sort of solution) 45 days later I was well accustomed to my new Units from Humminbird. I tried calling in to Lowrance about 15 times and never could get through even after holding sometimes 45 minutes.
Both have great pictures when they work but when they don't I feel much better having Humminbird in my corner. They are Simply, Clearly, Better!
i have 997 i need i mean i want one of those di units.mite try thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
Amen I got way too much and no more fish RoflQuote:
Originally Posted by beagle man
2 things.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcat1
1. Sorry you had a problem with Cust service. When I have a problem, I call. This is true for either brand. If you are really having a "problem", call and talk to them, or the dealer you bought it from.
2. He's looking at a HDS-8 and I can tell that you haven't looked at them. Those 3 preset buttons on the 998 don't come close to the what the HDS-8 and 10 does with the 6 buttons that they have. Go demo it at your sporting goods store. Thumbs Up
if you got a 997 you should have DI :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by kosmo
You have DI, in case you haven't noticed it yet. Thumbs UpQuote:
Originally Posted by kosmo
lowrance; does make the better units,or so i here anyways???????Doh
not were i want itQuote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
okQuote:
Originally Posted by kosmo
Catch any fish??
spend to much time playing with electronicsQuote:
Originally Posted by Fisherman_Wantabe
Attachment 56578 heres some more fish,dont think i caught any of these either
Just wondering, I know Humminbird units are made in U.S.A. (Alabama), does anyone know where Lowrance units are made?
Nice pics Kosmo. And Bigminner, HB is "assembled" in the usa. Lowrance is assembled in Mexico. Where the actual parts come from, take a guess. Guess where half of the products or contents of most of the products you use today come from. That keyboard you typed your message on, and 0 parts from your computer were made in America, they work just fine don't they? Your car?
If you guys want to talk about features, and how you can expand your HB network, please speak up. Assembled in America, and Customer service gripes are all you have left. And Kosmo's favorite Photo attack. Rofl
Hey kosmo..you might want to think about editing out those coordinates when you post a pic...
Open your humviewer snapshot in paint and just erase them..then resave...
Rickie
thanks rnvinc, ive got some places that i wont show coordinates of.these pctures that ive shown here really dont matter. P.S. ill stop posting pictures .ithink that i am making some here mad :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
Here's just one post regarding Lowrance equipment. I'm sure a search will turn up plenty more. Would you like to invest $2000 or more in a unit and it be obsolete in 2 to 3 years? Their excuse for not repairing them is no parts are available. Wouldn't you expect a manufacturer to carry parts and be able to service a $2000 unit for at least 5 or 8 years? Offering a big discount on a new unit doesn't cut it. There are quite a number of late model Lowrance units that they will no longer service, not just an odd 1 or 2. Lowrance has lots of nice features, but when someone tells me a $2000 unit is obsolete after 2 years, that's a deal breaker.
Anybody out there know of anyone who can fix Lowrance units. I have a 110 that quit working last summer and Lowrance refuses to help in any way besides me ponying up another $2000 to buy some more of their junk. Spend $2000 and 2 1/2 years later that product is obsolete! Unbelievable! If anyone can help I'd like to at least try to get this fixed/replaced, hard to watch an investment like that sit and collect dust!
Some may consider this a bash of Lowrance, I consider it a heads up to those considering an expensive electronics purchase.
i herd that hummingbird is going to close down in usa and move to mexico. not enough support hereRoflRoflQuote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
This is the first post I've seen for a discontinued product where there was no mention of them giving the person credit on a new HDS, or just giving them an HDS unit as a replacement.... 1. They aren't going to discontinue the HDS units for a very long time. 2. If you have a recent unit that is discontinued, call Lowrance, all the cases I have seen, they credit you. 3. The HDS systems don't have a donut.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shellback
I don't think your post was a bash. I think it's another attempt to bash customer service and the discontinued products. Offering a Huge discount on a new unit as a replacement for a discontinued product that's out of warranty is a good deal, when you could be looking at a $1000 to have it repaired. Both brands charge you to repair units that are out of warranty, that's a fact. Lowrance may have done a study that showed that when faced with paying for a high dollar repair VS. buying a replacement unit, the majority of customers would buy a new unit. In which case, it's a mistake to fix them for 5-8 years.
Their excuse for not repairing them is no parts are available. Wouldn't you expect a manufacturer to carry parts and be able to service a $2000 unit for at least 5 or 8 years? Offering a big discount on a new unit doesn't cut it. There are quite a number of late model Lowrance units that they will no longer service, not just an odd 1 or 2. Lowrance has lots of nice features, but when someone tells me a $2000 unit is obsolete after 2 years, that's a deal breaker.Quote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
Whats all this got to do with the donut?
It's a fact that Lowrance has discontinued repair of many late model units. Many folks who spent $2000 plus, can't afford a new unit whether a big discount is offered or not. Like it or not it's a fact.
Seeing how you brought the H/B donut in your post, should we start tabulating the internet complaint posts on the H/B donut versus the complaint posts on Lowrance customer service? What is the difference between me forewarning folks about how Lowrance handles repairs on their units, versus you discrediting H/B about the donut? You mention that the donut is an issue to consider when purchasing an H/B unit, and I mention future repairs could be an issue with Lowrance. Let's hope for your sake H/B doesn't fix the donut. because then all those H/B folks will be satisfied, and all the folks with unrepairable Lowrance's will still be stuck with them. I rest my case.