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If you had to choose one or the other of the available technologies - Humminbird 360 Mega vs Humminbird Mega Live (or Garmin LiveScope) - which would you choose and why?
We're considering adding a Humminbird 360, but are wondering if we'd be better holding off and getting the Mega Live (or even the Garmin LiveScope).
If I had a gen 4 bird already I would wait for mega live. If not livescope bundle would be next.
Last or not at all would be 360.
For the way I fish me personally would go 360 ( which will be my next purchase ) as I do a bunch of open water Crappie fishing and searching with 360 is faster and easier then using a Livescope setup. Open water Crappies are on the move constantly and using 360 just sit and watch which way they are going and no fooling around moving a transducer around to try and stay on them. Where I see Livescope or Mega Live is around weeds and dense structure.
I’m pro HB and love my Mega 360. But!!! I don’t honestly think you will get your hands in a Mega Live before April/May. Lots of guys are pre ordering and paying up front so they come first and that even will be slow delivery. Lots of Bass Pros right now are riggin their boats for Mega Live and already have Mega 360:as they will run both. Kevin VanDam’s latest video in rigging his new Nitro has him saying he will get his Mega Live at the end of feb but again,,that is anybody’s guess. And. I’m waiting to see a video of Mega Live in action before I decide. Good luck.
I'm not in a big hurry either way, just trying to plan ahead.
I'm kind of leaning towards the 360, but then what do I know 'cause I still suck at putting fish in the boat.
Can't speak to the HB Live system as I have not seen it or seen any video of it in action yet.
A choice between HB360 and Garmin Livescope, I would say the edge goes to Livescope for crappie fishing.
The ability to see the fish reactions to baits in real time and the live XY axis of distance and depth for pin point bait presentations to a target, is hard to beat.
LS and 360 are both just tools.
Each have their place.
I would choose LS currently, however I haven’t seen mega live.
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What/if any electronics do you have in your boat already?
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I preordered the mega live because I have all hummingbird electronics. I I ran Garmin products I would buy the live scope. I wish I had the 360 also.Quote:
Originally Posted by groundloop
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Helix 7 MSI GPS G3N up front and Solix 10 MSI G2 on the console, and they're networked through an ethernet hub.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHC
I'd love to have both a 360 and Mega-Live, but the budget is telling me it's gotta' be one or the other.
Forgive my ignorance, but are those units going to be compatible with ML? If so, I think personally I’d wait for mega live.Quote:
Originally Posted by groundloop
Mega 360 for me.
Personally, I'm not interested in watching fish strike my lure. And I am really not interested in watching them stare at it and not bite. That would just frustrate me to no end.
I'm in the same boat. New electronics and what to go with. I'm a HB fan and went all new Helix 9 units. I'm also going Mega 360. I find my problem isn't catching fish, it's finding fish. Mega 360 is more of a search tool. The downside I see to Mega 360 is the refresh rate. It should be great for spider rigging speeds, and might be marginal for pulling crankbait speeds. Time will tell. Next year I could add Mega Live if I choose to go that route later. by then the kinks should be resolved and teh initial demand should have subsided. Plus I can watch all the threads and youtube videos to see IF I want to spend $1500 on it.
You have a whole other issue then - that 7 inch ain't gonna cut it. Ask me how I know!Quote:
Originally Posted by groundloop
I have livescope and have a bigger screen on my bow than on my console.
MEGA 360 is very beneficial for spider riggin and trolling techniques - to notice things around the boat that “aimed” Live Sonar might miss ...
Live Sonar is very beneficial for casting, shooting, single poling, float and fly techniques - to target things in the narrow Live Sonar beam ...
Rickie
I have original 360 and Livescope. I don't troll or spider rig, most of the time I'm casting to structure and when they won't bite like that I'm fishing vertical and I use Livescope more than the 360. Being able to watch where you're placing your bait with Livescope has helped me catch a lot of fish.
I just went from 10” to 12” MDI+ G4N couple of weeks ago,,,and what a difference in pic of Mega 360. Wow! Cant wait to use the 12”. Definitely bigger is better!
I forgot to mention that we'd probably add a second Helix on the console whichever way we go. I THINK we'd be ok then, but I'm not 100 percent certain.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHC
Can anyone point me to Humminbird documentation about compatibility/networking for Mega-360 and Mega Live? I found some information a couple of months ago that seemed a bit contradictory, we definitely need to verify compatibility before jumping into this.
Also, I'm not worried about the 7 inch Helix up front..... my son fishes up there so that's his problem. :biggrin
Here is some copied info from another forum. I see a few of the pro bass fishermen rigging their boats getting ready to install mega live when they get it and they all have mega 360 running on a separate HB fish finder and one also installed for Mega Live. However, info on mega live is really still sketchy. Mega Live is networked and plugs into Ethernet port. Mega 360 plugs into a transducer port.
Expected Humminbird MEGA Live! See fish and bottom shapes in real time, with unprecedented accuracy in MEGA Imaging + technology. Range up to 46meters (150ft)
-Select your preferred viewing mode, forward, down or wide landscape ?? view
-A pin and keep the fish of the lure is easily visible
-MEGA + the imaging quality of the echo signal through the entire scene, without any dead spots
-Et need for a separate controller unit, MEGA live connected directly to the Ethernet network. You can also use the popular MEGA 360 underwater radar on the same terminal.
-Note! MEGA Live is designed to fit directly into Ultrex and Fortrex bow engines ONLY. The separately sold Minn Kota sensor stands are suitable for use in MEGA Live mounting. Other mounting solutions will be available from the manufacturer later.
-MEGA Live compatible models:
HELIX G3N & G4N MEGA Imaging +
All SOLIX models
All APEX models
Interesting. You will probably get varied responses because your fishing style is so different than mine. I have my livescope on my trolling motor so I have full boat control with my TM pedal and that is why I have a bigger screen on the bow. A second screen sounds good regardless of where you like it especially if you have an assistant!Quote:
Originally Posted by groundloop
First information Hbird says Mega Live will work with Helix Mega Gen 3 + and up.
For some reason,,,I am waiting to see when HB is going to bring a new software update out. I’m thinking when you see a new software update for the different Helix units for example...with a install of say software version 2.300. I think you might be able to determine what units will work with mega live such as the G2N units possibly networked. All units working with Mega 360 are required to run software version 2.88. The G4N new units are all preloaded with software version 2.300. HB prefers all units to be same same when using Mega 360 even networked. I have to think a software update 2.300 is going to be released when they release Mega Live. I could be wrong,,but I keep checking the software upgrades and so far don’t see it on HB’s website. Nobody knows anything yet as everybody was thinking and waiting for a press release Feb 1st from HB and so far it’s still quiet as heck and everybody is still guessing!