Besides Humminbird or Lowrance

First I would like to say that It isn't my intention to offend anyone who owns these brands. Please don't take it that way.

I have been a Humminbird fan for several years. I bought an Onix a year and half ago and loved it But you would hope that with a machine that cost that much, It wouldn't be obsolete in 2 years. Between There updates causing problems that you have to wait on the next update to fix and them discontinuing models every two years, I'm about ready to step off the Bird bandwagon. I refuse to buy into the whole Mega is better crap because when I had the 800 and 455khz, I found myself using the 455 more than anything. So that is my issue with Humminbird.

As for lowrance, I wouldn't hit a hog in the but with a truckload of their best equipment. Will never own another unit with that name on it. I had a bad experience with there customer service years ago and will not forget it.

So here's my dilemma. I'm about to buy a new boat and naturally new electronics will be installed. I've been telling myself for the past few months that I'll put another Onix 10 on it. But thanks to humminbirds latest gimmik, They won't be produced anymore and I'm not spending $3500 on the bigger better deal.

With this being said, and Humminbird and Low rance not being a choice, What would be some other recommendations? Side, down imaging and chirp would be nice. Using for freshwater. Catfish and crappie.

Any actual owners of other brands that care to comment?

I just put a Garmin 73sv on my boat really like it but some do not like the map quality on them.

Joey, I am not sure about the whole complaint about Humminbird. I sorta look at it like a laptop. The minute you walk out of the store with the latest,greatest it is only months from being obsolete. At that point you can either upgrade or hold on to the tech. you have and live with it. I don't think that upgrading every time the newest comes out is necessary. When buying a new boat or if you are ready have at that. All this being said look at Garmin. I have some friends that do a lot, and I mean a lot, of cat fishing and they are very satisfied with it.

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Originally Posted by Boa3

Joey, I am not sure about the whole complaint about Humminbird. I sorta look at it like a laptop. The minute you walk out of the store with the latest,greatest it is only months from being obsolete. At that point you can either upgrade or hold on to the tech. you have and live with it. I don't think that upgrading every time the newest comes out is necessary. When buying a new boat or if you are ready have at that. All this being said look at Garmin. I have some friends that do a lot, and I mean a lot, of cat fishing and they are very satisfied with it.

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I get the laptop thing your talking about and completely agree and would be happy buying a gen1 helix 10. But I'm scared to update it to get some of the features I need because the update may screw the machine up. I've read many, many complaints about update issues. Where there's smoke, There's fire.

I dunno. Maybe I'm over thinking the whole thing...

First .... The product life for the Onix has been about 5 years. (That is a VERY long product life for any electronic device) When you bought yours 2 years ago it had been on the market 3 years. There is supposed to be a big software release for the Onix in March that will allow it to share mega imaging from the Stolix in addition to a number of other things. Most people who have one believe it has the best imaging on the market .... maybe not now that the mega and Stolix have been released.

There were a LOT of problems with the Onix with it's initial release, but most have been resolved .... and hopefully any remaining issues will be resolved with the coming release.

So .... Humminbird is continuing to support the Onix and is updating it to be fully compatible with the new technology. I communicate on a regular basis with someone who runs pretty much all models of all units as part of his business and he still thinks the Onix is the best of all. He has told me that some of the other vendors not mentioned by you don't begin to compare as far as imaging quality goes....So, I think you will be going downhill to anything else from the Onix.

Thanks for the honest response Bob. I too am scared that I will be downgrading image quality by switching brands.
I loveed the Onix. Just don't want to drop the coin on a new unit and have to go through the whole process of Humminbird trying to work out the bugs.

Don't know what I'm gonna buy yet. May still end up with a Bird on the console.

ONIX 2.70 fixed most of the issues except for a few minor inconveniences ...
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I highly rrecommend waiting at least until this new ONIX software comes out in March ...

Then give it a few weeks for the guinea pigs (like me) to test it ...

Rickie

Thanks Rickie. Always value your input.


I really don't know if I could make myself buy any other brand.

Are lowrance and Simrad affiliated in any way?

I love Lowrance.

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Originally Posted by JoeyWelch

Are lowrance and Simrad affiliated in any way?

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Both are holdings or Navico ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeyWelch

Are lowrance and Simrad affiliated in any way?

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Both are holdings of Navico ...

Navico Marine Electronics | Recreational and Commercial Marine

Rickie

I love Lowrance. Still got my green box.

Thanks.
Simrads out.

Its hard to beat a Garmin.

I'm starting to see some screenshots on facebook of the mega/chirp side image. Looks like I'm gonna be doing the foot in mouth thing here.
These images are Bad a**!
I was not expecting to see this. I'm getting back on the Bird bandwagon. Anybody need a ride?

I like the Garmin for the price point

Just bolted one up for a friend SAT
93SV is 750 bucks complete

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Friend of mine has Garmin it is nice and crisp