Printable View
I am trying to decide on buying a new SI unit and I am kinda stuck between the HB999SI and the Lowrance HDS8 with structure scan package. Anyone have experience with any of these and able to steer me in the right direction? I know a few years back HB owned the SI market but that Lowrance I was looking at today was very impressive and has a 300$ rebate right now.
Lowrance
The most frequent opinions are that Lowrance has better DI and Humminbird has better shallow water SI...
This can be quantified somewhat by...:
*The fact that Lowrance has a dedicated "down pointing" piezo (DI in the HB SI units is computer generated from data received from the SI piezoes)...
*The fact that HB's 455kHz covers a full 180° (Lowrance widest coverage is about 130°)...
If you vertical jig...the Lowrance "down pointing" piezo would be of benefit...
If you fish a lot of shallow water (<8ft)...the HB 455kHz 180° coverage would be of benefit...
Rickie
Lowrance HDS8 GEN2 and bbgmarine. The down imaging will blow your mind and the side imaging is good too, with the $300.00 mark down makes it an outstanding value.
O man just saw the video of building your own map with Structure scan on the Lowrance.....now that is cool!
Buy one of each. See which one you like best, sell the other for a loss and buy the keeper's big brother to keep him company.
LOL thanks thats kind of what I did. I have the 500 series Humminbird on the front and went ahead and got the HDS8 with structure scan for the console. I Installed it under my carport in the 35degree wind and rain we got today.....Im still shivering. Im going to give it a test run tomorrow and hopfully bring home some ring perch in the process.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stymie
How much is the unit after the 300 mark down?Quote:
Originally Posted by Countrytime
Regular Price: $2,199.00Sale Price: $1,699.00
-300 Rebat
1399 on Cabelas
Shut up and fish shot me a good deal on the hds8 I believe I will order one tomorrowQuote:
Originally Posted by CharlotteNC1978
Shut up and fish shot me a good deal on the hds8 I believe I will order one tomorrowQuote:
Originally Posted by CharlotteNC1978
Check here before you order http://www.bbgmarine.com/index.php?m...naprq1ui0pvvc0, click add to cart for the price. Remember there is a $300 rebate too.Quote:
Originally Posted by cajun fryer
I've used them both. Both are great!
Attachment 155205Just got mine added can not wait to get on the water.
I've got 998 and Hds 8 structure and I like the Hds8 much better. You can get one for 1200 after rebate from Digiatal oasis or BBG Marine
Jimmy,what is it about the hds you like better than 998,di ? Si? Easier to use,you had them both so you should know what the different is to you,and how is motor guide doing now? Have you got a chance to try yet sent you got it fix?
I like how well the screen shows up in bright days on hds and the clarity of the screen. Also how well the fish show up, the fish really show up well on the hds. They were tiny specs on the 998 but very easy to see on the hds. I was fishing for schooling black crappie anchored and I could actually see the shadows coming before the fish returns came into view.... The fish and structure show up really good on DI and you know they are really there and not a computer generated image. HDS just seems like a much better made sytem. Menu IS NOT more user friendly and I'm still working with that but it isn't that hard. It does have more functions that I probably wont ever use. Also you can scroll back through what you passed if you miss it and pass it before you mark it... You can't do that on the 998..... Side image darkens out a bit on the HDS worse than 998 but I haven't used it enough to know how big of a problem it will be. But overall if I had to pick one it would be the HDS. What really stands out the most is how well you can see the screen on bright days. I was fishing in the sunlight and I had to have my face close to the 998 to see it, but could almost see the bow mounted hds from the console. The only down side at all I would give to the hds is if you are in less than 10 feet of water, but I have seen good posts in shallow water too from these, I just haven't had a chance to use it much. 998 is probably quite a bit better in very shallow water say 8 foot or less, but I haven't used it enough to complain about it in shallow water yet. It is a lot better in deeper water say 15' and deeper.... When I bought the 998 I was a bit disappointed in it, I'm not with the hds. I think the hds compares to the Onix not the 998 from the pictures I've seen. The screen is 1/2" taller on the HDS8 which makes more than one split a lot easier to see too.... I've only got to use it a couple times but really like it so far. I have it on front so I can't go as fast as would give me perfect images, but they are very usable even barely moving. I went over what I thought was a sunken Christmas tree for 2 years but saw that it is man made structure like a bucket with boards in it on Down image. I'm just really impressed with it overall so far vs. the 998.
thanks for reply,now have you had a chance to try out trolling motor since you got it fix? I am ordering one
No I haven't gotten a chance to use it since I got it fixed, but It worked great the 2 times I had it out. They replaced the 2 gps (the pinpoint) system. Motorguide said that it is very important to unplug the trolling motor or cut the power to it anytime you are not using it. I didn't know about this and neither did the certified motorguide repair center that installed it. They installed an inline 60 amp automatic breaker and wired it to the battery. Leaving power to the trolling motor all the time is what tore it up motorguide said. Motorguide fixed it at the service center, I did have to pay for a new manual breaker that I can turn off like a switch and to have it installed, but Motorguide sent a new pinpoint system and paid the shop to install it. So I ended up out about $100. It does say in the manual to always cut the power when not in use, but I didn't see the importance of this nor did the installers. Owners of Terrova I pilot are used to doing this because the gps runs all the time if you leave these plugged in apparently and will run the battery dead. They did say that I am not the first with this issue, but they had it fixed in 3 days and it was kind of my fault for not following directions in the manual so I'm very pleased with their customer service. Seems that they think the onboard charger I have plugged in to maintain the batteries they think "backflow" of electricity burned up some circuit board, probably the gps system wasn't shutting down I'm guessing. With a 2 year warranty I wouldn't be afraid to buy one just be sure to unplug or cut power to it when not in use anytime and when charging. I'm sure the bugs will be worked out in 2 years and with the service I had I think it's worth it as well as it worked for me, even if there are a few initial issues. I guess it can be expected with any new product, especially if you don't follow directions like me.
Jimmy,i just ordered one and don g ordered one also
I sure hope they work out good for you guys too because I used my real name on here... LOL
[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0326145955_zpsclckrhzd.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psclckrhzd.jpg[/URLhttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...pseix1abcm.jpghttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psf3um2uyv.jpg[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0324142417_zps5j36yzhi.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps5j36yzhi.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0321140540_zpsko3dubor.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psko3dubor.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0321140243_zpscd1e02i3.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...pscd1e02i3.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0318145607_zpsaomsmnx9.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psaomsmnx9.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0318144052_zpskq719l0d.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps1yhe41yb.jpgsnp0318144052_zpskq719l0d.jpg[/IMG][/URLhttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...pso82vujbj.jpg
http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psbxx7tous.jpghttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psahyloppf.jpg[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0318141633_zpsdq4phh9x.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psdq4phh9x.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s826.photobucket.com/user/kosmo012/media/Mobile%20Uploads/snp0318143446_zps5s5bwyn0.jpg.html]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps5s5bwyn0.jpg[/URLhttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...psryzsx9nj.jpg
Dang Komso those are some great shots especially the DI. I assume that's the Onix? Do you think the shallow water SI is as good as the others?
Looks like Onix is new King of the Hill.... unfortunately out of my price range.
Wow, these new units are unbelievable, I have an old lowrance x65, (I said old, lol) and this is just sooo much better quality images, I gotta upgrade dangit :)
kosmo,thanks for the pics,it can't get know better than that,clear as a real pic
where is transducer mounted?
just checked the price 2699. I'm gonna have to be happy with my $1200 hds8 for now. If I was a guide, rich, professional fisherman or retired and fished everyday I might be getting a little ancy though. Maybe when next years model comes out and they are selling for 1500 I may be interested. (if my 998 has any value left by then.) I do believe they have came to a point that they can't get much better though. Now they'll just get bigger.
Sorry yeall,I posted these pictures in the wrong thread.i was wondering were they got off to:Rofl:yikes
HDS9 , bigger is better
I don't think there is much difference in size between the 8 and 9. But there is about 1000 dollars difference in price. I've never had anything touch screen, not even a phone so I guess I don't see the value in it. But if I was to spend that much I may just have to go Onix8. Pretty good pictures posted from the Onix. Don't see the use in paying that much for a touch screen without any better pictures over an 8.
I wouldn't buy an Onix now, to many growing pains. Plus it will not communicate with older HB units. The last I read they were working on sharing way points and may have that fixed by now. Once they get the bugs worked out it will be a great unit.
Here are some prices, all from the same supplier except the Onix 10. The cables and GPS antenna if desired will be a wash price wise.
HUMMINBIRD ONIX10ci SI Combo Fishfinder / GPS, $3199.99
Humminbird ONIX8ci SI Combo - Side Imaging, $2699.99
Lowrance HDS-12 Gen2 Touch Insight BUNDLE w/83/200 & LSS2 Transducer, $3039.00
Lowrance HDS-9 Gen2 Touch Insight BUNDLE w/83/200 & LSS2 Transducer, $2159.00
Lowrance HDS-10 Gen2 Insight USA w/LSS-2, 83/200 kHz & LSS-2 Transducer, $2169.00
Lowrance HDS-8 Gen2 Insight USA Bundle w/LSS-2, 83/200 kHz & LSS-2 Transducer, $1529.00
300 dollar rebate though gets the price down to 1229 on the hds8 bundle with lss-2 don't forget about that..... for a few more days anyways... yeah your right I was going to put I'd wait and get an Onix if I was gonna spend that much but was too lazy to type all that.
You now have until april 21 to get the $300 rebate on a HDS7, HDS8, or HDS10 Bundle with Lss-2 box and transducer. You only have until April 6 to get the $200 rebate for a Touch Unit, they did not extend the rebate date on Touch units, I just checked.....
1200 for a HDS8 Bundle is the best deal right now for those interested in the most for the money like myself......IMO That's what the final price was on mine, I think the Touch Units will be similar to the Onix, still bugs to work out. I guess the 9 Touch final price will be $1941 with the $200 rebate, but you got less than a week for the $200 rebate if your gonna buy one you better hurry April 6 is last day for rebate on Touch. After that there will be a $950 difference between the 8 and 9 for 2 weeks after that anyways.... Then there will probably be a sale, I don't know, but something I'm sure. But I really don't know if the prices will stay at the 1500-1529 levels for hds8bundle or not after the rebate ends, I'm kinda new to new technology so I haven't noticed what they did after the rebates ended in the past.
HB has better SI - Low better DI, myself I use the SI an awful lot of the time... for GOOD REASON!
I have both and don't agree but everybody has their own opinions and are right, for each is own. Lowrance is a bit weak in the shallows i'll agree. But all other images on si I think is better on the hds.:twocents
I had both and the HDS is better.
I'm guessing most people voting on this survey have never had an HDS with structure scan.