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OK guy when I get home towards the end of the year I am wanting to buy a new fishfinder. I do not mind going with a HB or Low... What I am looking for is something with SI and DI... I have about $1500 ish to spend... I have been reading tons of articles on here and can't find what I am looking for or if I have found it haven't realized that I did... What units are out there in my price range with a combo SI/DI... Any input would be greatly appreciated... Thanks Cody
It's good that you have a budget already decided...that narrows down the field of choices...
Next question is....what are the future plans....??
*Stand alone unit forever..??
*Mounted to 1 boat only - or swappable on multiple stations and/or boats..??
*Possible additional networked units ...??
*Interest in future add-on accessories..(iPilot, Cannonlink, Pilot 1, Radar, AIS, engine data network)....??
Rickie
Hey Rickie thanks for the reply... It is more then likely going to be a stand alone unit on a 1542 aluminum flat bottom boat.... Don't plan on linking or adding anything to it.... I do have a Ranger and might get a separate set of transducers and cables and mounts so I can switch out the unit onto that later on.... Thanks Cody
Depending on what your approximate $$ range is....that approximate $1500 is going to put you into the range of the HB 800-900 series SI Combos....or the Lowrance HDS 7-8 (Gen2) or 9Touch...
For the future plan of a setup station on your OTHER boat....::
If you decide the HB series....you would need ...
*gimbal bracket
*power source
*HDSI Xducer (2d/DI/SI)
*GPS antenna
If you decide Lowrance Gen1 or Gen2...you would need..
*gimbal bracket
*power source
*HDS Xducer (2d)
*LSS Xducer (DI/SI)
*LSS module
If you decide Lowrance Touch series...you would need..
*gimbal bracket
*power source
*HDS Xducer (2d)
*LSS Xducer (DI/SI)
So, as you can see, the hardware differences in the the "second station" on your other boat's future plans can have an important bearing on your decision for the unit of choice..
Rickie
Thanks so much Rickie.... With those three above mentioned am I looking at $1500 ish for the display and then extra for the hardware or is that hareware included? I realize that I still have a lot of researching to do and I have around 6 more months before I make my purchase.... I am just glad that we have a site like crappie.com where I can get such great help.... Cody
Had similar dilemma and budget. I eventually went with a humminbird 998 c si. It had the SI/DI that I wanted and it had them all in one unit (no extra hardware or transducer for the SI). I have seen and heard great reviews about both products Lowrance and Humminbird. This was just a choice I made and I am happy with it. You may find some good sales at the end of the year when folks try to reduce their inventory to get the new models (Site sponsors have good deals - send them a PM when the time comes). One piece of advice I have is that you may wish to have a some $$ put aside (approx 100-150) to buy a product that supplies enhanced navigation and sonar data (lakemaster/navionics). That purchase has come in very handy. I chose a Navionics product because the states I fish were covered on one chip..
Cody...Your initial unit purchase (approx $1500 you said) will be for 1 unit station on your present boat...ready to use..Quote:
Originally Posted by CDavisLPN
The examples I gave in that post is only for the "second station" hardware you would need to buy and install extra in order to move the head unit from your present boat to the second boat...
Do you need me to list the things you would need to purchase for setting up your initial purchase station..??
Rickie
Hey thanks Rickie and Pat.... So I am thinking I want to go with the humminbird 998 c si more then likely. I have been reading some reviews though and was wondering where you have yours mounted Pat? If it is on the transom do you have any problems with it working while on plane? And Rickie I read on another review that it has a separate antenna that you have to buy for the GPS is that correct? Cody
No, the 998 units come with a an external GPS Receiver in the box.
Just a note to add what Greg said...Quote:
Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg
Your initial purchase of the 998c HD SI Combo will have everything you need to get the 2d/SI/DI/GPS Chartplotting features....
It will also have built-in XD Contour map but it "may" only be lake outlines for your particular lake...
If the built-in mapping does not have the detail you need...you may decide to buy a map card..(Navionics or Lakemaster)...
(If you plan on adding iLink in the future...the Lakemaster card has a card that will allow the Terrova and the MinnKota to use the "Follow the Contour" feature ...)..
Rickie
Sorry missed question yes I have a transom mount bass tracker 185 aluminum hull and I have only tested it a couple of times and I do have issues with on plane depth readings. Not sure if I can tweek setup and resolve issue. My lowrance did give readings in same location. My concerns with this have been lessoned by having the navionics charts without them I was concerned when on new water. Again problem could be setup
Hey Pat would you mind keeping me updated as you get to play with you unit more.... I may have to go with the Low if it won't read while on plane.... I hope you get it tweaked for you sake and hopefully mine.... I wonder if anyone else has had this problem? Cody
I will keep you informed of what I learn i believe I have a challenge with an aluminum hull. I sent PM with some additional Info
Hey Pat I got your PM and have already started searching on the provided link... Looks like I have a bunch more reading to do... Like I said keep me posted if you don't mind. Thanks Cody
Brand should have no affect on high speed readings...it's 100% xducer placement in "clean" water...Quote:
Originally Posted by CDavisLPN
If any brand xducer is not in the water on-plane...(or there are bubbles created by the hull design)...there will be no high speed reading....
Sonar will not read thru air....HB..Low..Gar...Ray...Vex...or any other brand...
Rickie
Thanks guys. Not sure if I mentioned it but I am wanting to but the unit on a flat bottom boat will a tiller handle so I wont have tilt and trim. Do yall think this is feasible or know someone that I may be able to ask? Cody
2 options here with SI on your transom...Quote:
Originally Posted by CDavisLPN
*Tilt the motor up (if it is indeed blocking any of the signal)
*Use "Dual left and right" Xducers with a spitter cable...
Rickie
As stated, your transducer needs to be in clean water. I had a second, external xducer mounting bracket welded onto my aluminum boat transom so that I didn't have to drill any holes in it and my DI unit is a second unit. The unit was losing DI readings at 10 mph and greater. I started looking at the new bracket addition and saw that because of the angle of my transom, one corner was actually protruding below the hull. I marked off the bottom of it to make it flush with the hull last week and went to work with an angle grinder. Checked it out last weekend and I now get DI returns up to 25 mph before the DI shuts down. Of course, they're not clean DI returns but it fixed it for great returns at reduced speeds.
On the hb units isn't the si/di transducer just one and not two separate transducers? If I put it to the far edge right or left of motor since it wont have tilt an trim will I loose part of my si on one side? or if I use dual transducers like mentioned above will I have to get a third for di? Thanks for the help guys trying to get this figured out so when I get home I know what I need to do.... Cody
The Humminbird Side Imaging unit transducers have Si/Di/2D sonar all in one.
If you mount the Si transducer on the far right or left side you may have to tilt up the motor or use a second Si transducer, along with the AS-Si-LR-Y cable, to get unblocked Si sonar. The unit will still be able to show Di sonar.