Which one would you buy? 597 combo / 788 combo / Elite 5 HDI

These are all in the same ballpark price wise right now. I have a 581di, but I can't see the screen well at all. I was hoping a color screen would help me. I was saving for a 597 because I want color and snapshot capabilities, and I already have the transducer installed. I see that the 788 is basically a 597 with an extra card slot and ethernet capability, which might come in handy. Today I noticed BBG has the Elite 5 HDI at a great price, and it seems to me (wait for it) that Lowrance down imaging is superior to HB. Please don't hate, just my opinion from screenshots I've seen. I have not seen the actual HDI screen, so I am not sure if it is better quality or brighter than the 597s I've seen.

I am thinking real hard about getting the HDI. What do you all think?

I'd save for something that has side imaging.

Si is not in my budget, at least not one with a screen big enough for me to interpret.

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Originally Posted by montagc

Si is not in my budget, at least not one with a screen big enough for me to interpret.

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montagc - you would be surprised at the ability to read to SI from Humminbird on the 700 series. Also - a word on screen shots versus "real-time live-sonar" Any company can make a screen shot look good - day in and day out - HB's SI units will stand up to the competition!

The one thing I had to learn on my unit was to be able to look at a mark (just in color sonar) and distinguish what a crappie looked like - I am pretty good at Walleye, Pike, Perch, etc - and now after a few days of looking at nothing but crappies - I can look at a mark and say: "That's a crappie!"

My vote would be for the bigger 700 series screen - and if you can figure out a way to swing it - I would highly suggest getting it with Side Imaging! But if not - you'll be happy with the color sonar!

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Originally Posted by Tommy Skarlis

montagc - you would be surprised at the ability to read to SI from Humminbird on the 700 series. Also - a word on screen shots versus "real-time live-sonar" Any company can make a screen shot look good - day in and day out - HB's SI units will stand up to the competition!

The one thing I had to learn on my unit was to be able to look at a mark (just in color sonar) and distinguish what a crappie looked like - I am pretty good at Walleye, Pike, Perch, etc - and now after a few days of looking at nothing but crappies - I can look at a mark and say: "That's a crappie!"

My vote would be for the bigger 700 series screen - and if you can figure out a way to swing it - I would highly suggest getting it with Side Imaging! But if not - you'll be happy with the color sonar!

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Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

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Originally Posted by Don G

Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

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X2 :dono

Might consider the Lowrance Elite 7, the screen is bigger than the 5" ones you're considering/mentioned, can get it with just DI and 2d, or move up to the gps/2d/di model. But get the biggest screen you can't afford whether its HB or Low. JMO

Thanks guys. Just FYI, the pics I refer too are ones I see posted here, not marketing pics. The elite 7 breaks the $600 mark, I am in the $450 range, and that is pushing it. I should probably just save the dough and wait for si units to come down.

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Originally Posted by Don G

Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

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I do not - currently have a few videos planned - but nothing on tape as of yet. Best way to learn is to mark fish and then catch them to verify, that's what we did in Grenada. After a couple of days of trolling through "marks" and then catching them, it got fairly easy to distinguish what was shad and what was crappie.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by montagc

Thanks guys. Just FYI, the pics I refer too are ones I see posted here, not marketing pics. The elite 7 breaks the $600 mark, I am in the $450 range, and that is pushing it. I should probably just save the dough and wait for si units to come down.

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I fully understand the budget deal. Have been seeing a few used units on the market recently for about 3/4 to half the cost as new, maybe one of those would work. Best of luck montagc

One of our member sponsors has the 788 for $429,

That's Brian@BBG Marine. 788HD $429

Yes, he also has the 597 and 5 hdi for not much more than that, hence my dilemma. It is a good dilemma to have, at least.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by montagc

Yes, he also has the 597 and 5 hdi for not much more than that, hence my dilemma. It is a good dilemma to have, at least.

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Make sure those deals include a transducer !! Several online places are advertising the E5HDI at $400-450 .. but, that's without a transducer (which adds another $100+ to the final cost).

... cp :kewl

I have a 597ci di hd and love it. they also make a 598, it's a 597 with side imaging

If you ever think you might want to Ethernet units the 788 at that price is a awesome deal plus it has 2 Card slots.

how about used Si?
I know there are guys that want to move up in size, and might sell a good working si unit cheap.
is there a sell component to crappie.com?

788

just wait for a few months, winter is almost here, HB is suppose to be coming out with new units from what I hear and that means the older ones will drop in price. There is also black friday when they seem to give away units at the major retailers. I had a 700 series, got a 898 for the console from a friend cheap and am planing to go to a 958 or 998 at the bow. Save up a little and get a bigger screen there is no comparison and it is cheaper to just buy the right one first instead of buying and upgradeing. just my :twocents

It is better to buy Lowrance Elite 5HDI, rather than Humminbird 597 ci HD DI, because 5 HDI have both options of 2D/DI views – vertical and horizontal. 597 ci HD DI has horizontal one only.
Once you see vertical splitting of 2D/DI views you would never go back to horizontal splitting of 2D/DI views, because it hits your eyes, it looks squeezed and hardly recognizable after vertical views.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4203/ao5k.jpg

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http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7933/rrht.jpg

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I don't know if this thread has helped any, lol. In any case, I used the money had saved up for this to help out a buddy. He needed cash, so I bought a pistol from him, not that I needed one. Guess I better start pinchin pennies again.

788 has 2 card slots. better than 597 with 1

Look at the Lowrance 7X it is only a 2d sonar/down imaging...no maps or gps...the screen size is perfect.It is a great unit for the money.I have one at the bow.I have gps and maps on a 998 at the console so I didn't need it up front.I paid 550 for my 7x

I counted four 2D/DI split screen views in 5HDI unit:

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/2748/zgil.jpg

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and only one 2D/DI split screen view in 597ci HD DI unit:

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6476/h7g3.jpg

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The same is in 788. In my opinion this view is the worst one – everything is squeezed vertically. I wish 597 has at least the first one on the left above - the best one, but no choice. Actually 597 has such view, but for 2D/2D only:

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8224/0spb.jpg

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Why not to do the same for 2D/DI 200/455kHz and 455/800kHz, it is just a matter of one point in new software version.
What bothers me the most is that the new 688ci HD DI will not have that view as well. Manual is not published yet.

Lowrance, but I own HB. Lowrance has better DI, and free/stable updates, as well as great customer support.

Attachment 152194
Elite 5 HDI Any ideas what this is. See brush.

Well, I saved up again and happened upon a lightly used 597 HD di gps combo for just over 300. Think I'll try it out and see if I like it. If I don't, I should be able to recoup my cost pretty easily at that price.

. I have gotten used to the monochrome 581 screen after using it a bit more. I may keep the 581 and put it on my dad's old boat since he is running an old tcr id1. I can also swap heads that way.

No way you can beat this deal.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...ls.cgi?i=80342