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I am wanting a Side Imaging unit....is the 598 a good unit. The price looks like something I could live with, is it worth it or should I wait for a bigger screen? What do you think about the features. I have been impressed with some of the screen shots posted on here but most have been from a bigger and nicer Bird. Looking for guidance from someone with experience. Thanks, Flintcreek
I'm interested too
If you can hold off and save up for one of the bigger screens, I think you will be glad you did. I have a 597 ci HD DI and a 7xx series SI. While the DI is pretty good for looking straight down at cover, the SI has trouble showing any detail with such a small screen.
I have a 898 and wish I had gotten the 998... another feature that I don't think the this unit has is the dual card SD slot. This to me is one of the better features on the larger units. I record a LOT and then review on my PC. Helps me to learn what I'm looking at. (I record a lot of know features.) I save brush piles and feature waypoints I find interesting for next trip.
Danny
The picture size is tricky you need to compare side by side the unit before buying one. The larger screen my not give you a larger Side Image picture. I have compared the units at local Bass Pro.
I have a 798 and a 998 ,after looking at 998 on console then look at the 798 at front ,i wander how i got by without my 998,too much different ,if i could wait and then get a 998 then that is what i would do
Thanks guys, not sure I want to spring for a 998 would cost almost as much as my boat....I would like to find a deal on a 898 and move up a size on the screen. We don't have a Bass Pro Shop close but we do have a Academy and a Gander Mountain close, I will try to take a look and see what I think about the difference in screen. I really see side imaging improving my fishing a lot....hopefully worth it.
Get what you can afford. Everyone will tell you get a bigger screen. We all would love to do that but not everyone can.
I agree the 798s were very good for the money. I have not seen the 598 in action but for the money it's got to be a great value. It sounds like all you need.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrNip
It's easy to spend someone else's money, but I always suggest buy the biggest screen you can afford. I have never heard anyone say, "I wish I'd bought a smaller screen".
The question was should i get a 598 or wait,and so we was giving him our opinion that we had rather wait and get a bigger unit ,however one can find a use one reasonable,if he have to have one now than 598 is not a bad unit, bottom line can he wait or got to have one now.
There are things that can be done to allow easier deciphering of the SI images on the 5" display...
Set the SI Range to a shorter distance...(I rarely scan past 65ft even on my 10.4" screen)...
Set the SI image to 1 side only...(this is almost like a zoom function of the entire half of the SI image)...
And, of course...a zoom box can be opened on interesting items in the SI image...
Remember the 5" HB screens actually have higher resolution than any of the larger screens...(and this feature really shines when a zoom box is opened)...
Rickie
RNVINC, thanks for your input...I will try to swing by Academy tomorrow and see if they have one set up that I can play with a little and make sure it has the capability to just look at 1 side and open a zoom box. Based on this info I would think it would work fine for me...however I would like to have the capability of using memory cards and recording to take a look later at home on the lap top, but I am not sure it is worth the price difference to me. :fish
The 598 does have 1 card slot...
A little inconvenient for using a mapping card and then wanting to take a snapshot or recording...
But that's 1 of the biggest production cost savings HB used to make this unit more affordable for users to get started in SI...
Rickie
I did make it over to Gander Mountain today. They had the 698 and 899 on display....I did get to compare them some....but no salesman to help or ask any questions. The 899 did seem to show much more detail. I did not figure out how to in the simulation mode to zoom or just SI out one side. I am still looking and trying to make up my mind. Thanks for all the info.
I have the 598..and I LOVE it..yes it's smaller than the others..but the price was great..and the great resolution is really nice...and there are sooooo many features..views..it fits well in my boat..seeing stuff below that did'nt know was there..lol..got it last fall...took it out before it got cold here in Pa..went to local lake..was playing with it...came across new structure, pile..I didn't know was there.. before I got my actual brush pile I had located yrs before with DI , and caught lots of slabs...lol..again ...I really love it..still learning ...but...that's what makes it fun..lol...
I think the 598 is a really good unit for entry level SI and GPS. It does have the readouts at the bottom to help increase the screen realestate.
The 899 would be better since it has 2 card slots.......recording and viewing in the house is very helpful, especially with the smaller screen size units.
Call the board sponsors to get a better price and great customer service.
I have had my 598 for a year now and in all am happy with it. I still fish from a 14' Jon so it's about all I could justify for my boat. I usually scan 30 to 40 feet either side to get more detail. I'm still not the best with it but I know I get on fish way faster than just with 2d sonar. You do have to look closer since with the small screen some stuff doesn't just jump out at you. I'll post some more screenshots later from my trip yesterday, found a couple good piles.
Attachment 165245
Attachment 165245
JKD thanks for the pictures....I am still shopping around but the 598 is high on my list...I am fishing out of a 15.6' Bass America Crappie Special...so not a big or high dollar boat at all. I feel that a upgrade on electronics would improve my fishing more than a nicer boat.
It gets the job done for sure.
Good deal on a 798 in the personal classifieds. 798HD has 2 card slots and Ethernet capable vs 598 1 card slot and isn't Ethernet capable.
Well I missed the 798 in the classified ads but I did end up with a couple of Gander Mountain gift cards and they have the 798 on sale right now along with a rebate from Hummingbird so I ordered it this afternoon. Hopefully I will have it and get installed by next weekend. I am about 45 minutes away from a Gander Mountain store but they did not have one in stock, so I had to order it. I wanted one for this weekend.
What is their price now and how much is refund?
Congrats on the purchase, we will be waiting to see some screenshots.
Tcountry the price is $649.00 and the rebate is $50.00....you got a deal on the one in the classifieds....
Should be here tomorrow....hope to get it installed and maybe hit the water at least for a few minutes this weekend.
798 arrived today...so now I have to get time to install.
Pix...pix...post up the pix....Quote:
Originally Posted by flintcreek
We like pix...!!
Rickie
Barely got it unboxed last night. Life is getting in the way of fishing. I am at the Hospital today with my Dad so fishing and fish finder install will have to take a back seat for more important matters.
Someone beat me to itQuote:
Originally Posted by flintcreek
tcountry, I thought you beat me to it....really I had several gift cards from Gander Mountain so I had to buy from them and they had what I thought was a great price. Have you bought one yet?
Decided last night to put the 798 SI on my old Lowe Hustler rather than the newer stick steer Bass America. The stick steer boat puts me up front and the ride is just rougher than my back likes on rough days. So I have a lot of work to do before I mount the SI unit. I plan to put the newer motor off the stick steer on my old Lowe and rewire most of the boat...so it is a lot bigger project now than just installing the SI unit. Hopefully I can get it done before the 4th of July.
Not yet. May just wait another year and pick up a bigger one on close out.