A little advice please????

Ok, I was all set to buy a Humminbird 798si, then all this talk about Lowrance and the possibility of them coming out with SI has me wondering what the best buy would be. I was looking at the smaller Lowrance HDS and it goes for around $785 on J an H, where the HB 798si goes for around $850. Both have color FF and GPS, but I keep hearing of the problems with the HB GPS. I'm not a technical genious and I'm not sure I understand how the issues affect fishing. Does this mean if I see something on the SI or FF and mark it as a waypoint, that it won't be accurate enough to get me back to it? I then hear Lowrance has better GPS, and the HD thing looks awesome. If the rumors of the Lowrance SI are true, then I would be able to upgrade to it with the purchase of the new transducer? Is this how you guys who are in the know understand it? Basically, if you were me, would you buy the 798si and move on with no regrets, or but the Lowrance HD and hope the rumors are true? Help please.:eek:

If it was me, especially if I had a finder that was serving its purpose, I would wait and see what turns out with the whole Lowrance deal. Then buy. Who knows, whichever one you decide on, the price has almost got to be in the same ballpark with each unit (competition). I would doubt that all you would have to do is change the transducer to make any unit side imaging. I may be wrong on that but it should not be hard to find out for sure. Billy

You will always regret not waiting for the latest and greatest. there will always be newer and better. I have the first generation HB si and am waiting for the next beat. But there will always be better down the road. Bite the bullet and make the purchase. You are waisting valuable fishing time. Just in case you havent noticed, everyone on CDcot com has an opinion. Do it before the prices go up!

There is no telling how much Lowrance will charge for the transducer to upgrade the unit. Plus it's just a rumor.

I have a 797 and almost bought a 798 a month ago, but decided I didn't need 2 of them so I bought a 788 and interlink.

Not being much of a lowrance guy myself, I wouldn't buy the lowrance unless I could upgrade to the 7 inch screen, but without the SI, I don't think it's worth it.

I've been amazed at what Lowrance commands for their units, even though they don't have SI most of them are priced equivelant to the SI. I often wonder why anyone buys them. Now the GPS functionality is second to none, but a guy could just by a standalone gps unit.

By the way, Lowrance is definitely coming out with the SI. It is a black box module that will use the new HD sonar/gps heads. Network 2000 application.

Mid summer product release. It will be a black box + transducer +HD Head +GPS puck.

Know this for a fact now.

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

By the way, Lowrance is definitely coming out with the SI. It is a black box module that will use the new HD sonar/gps heads. Network 2000 application.

Mid summer product release. It will be a black box + transducer +HD Head +GPS puck.

Know this for a fact now.

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Any rumors on how much it will be? If they price it like they do everything else, a 798SI equivelant product would be 2500.00

I would bet that their prices will be comparable with HB. The bad thing about electronics is by time you get them home they are obsolete. If you wait for a newer and better model, you will be waiting forever.

I have no idea about pricing, but I bet the GPS will work.:)

IBNFSHN is right on about technology. My 8 month old lcx27 is now obsolete.:o

here is the new GPS receiver info for the HDS.. Notice the refresh is 5 times per second. 16 channel receiver.

LGC-4000 GPS Receiver | Lowrance

That all makes sense. Thing is, I don't really have a functional FF on the console right now. It comes and goes. It's an old HB. It seems most of you who have the HB SI are happy enough with it. Heck, some have considered buying a second one. Can anyone clear up for me exactly what the GPS issues are all about? Is it just people complaining about something that is really not a big deal?

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I have no idea about pricing, but I bet the GPS will work.:)

IBNFSHN is right on about technology. My 8 month old lcx27 is now obsolete.:o

here is the new GPS receiver info for the HDS.. Notice the refresh is 5 times per second. 16 channel receiver.

LGC-4000 GPS Receiver | Lowrance

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Does this mean that you are having issues with the GPS on your HB SI? I'm an idiot when it comes to a lot of this high tech stuff, so feel free to explain it to me as such.

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Originally Posted by IBNFSHN

I would bet that their prices will be comparable with HB. The bad thing about electronics is by time you get them home they are obsolete. If you wait for a newer and better model, you will be waiting forever.

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With all the die-hard lowrance fans out there, they'd be stupid not to jack the price up 4-500 more then HB. You have to know people would buy them like crazy.

Speckwick - you asked about the Humminbird GPS problem...

I'll do my best, it may or not be a big deal to you, just depends how picky
you are about stuff. First, the things ARE accurate, if you are really for
real on top of something and mark a point, those are good, legitimate
coordinates - the fun comes in when you try to get back over top of
that spot again after moving off of it. You know, you have a icon on
the screen showing the boat, and one showing your waypoint - well,
sometimes it's just the devil to steer one onto top of the other ;)

The problem is the rate or frequency with which the screen redraws
or refreshes. It's easy just with the trolling motor to come in so fast on
a waypoint that you get out ahead of the GPS, it lags behind.
Me personally, I've got about used to it - I know when I get about "so close"
to a waypoint to stop and do something like get rods out or whatever...
give it a few seconds and it will catch up. The boat will almost come to a
stop, but the cursor will keep moving, showing you still closing in on the
waypoint. If you don't wait, when you show on top of the point and stop,
you turn your head then look back, and now you're showing 50 or 100' on
PAST the waypoint.

Some other folks don't like the way the pointer responds to direction changes,
but that doesn't really bother me. I do believe this is due to the same
problem (slowness) though.

On a side note, I haven't heard for sure, but I'm still holding out hope
that they already fixed this on the 798??? Waiting on someone who's
had exp. with both units to say.

If you want a good GPS don't buy the HB models. Garmin has the finest GPS systems and the response is super fast. The SI to me is a waste of time unless your looking for spots made by someone else. Make your own and then all you need is a good GPS and sonar and the heck with SI.
LOL

Thanks J White. That helped a lot. The way I usually fish I'm sure it wouldn't be a real big deal to me, but like you said hopefully that's been fixed on the 798. I've not heard anyhting on it either way.
fishordie, if you fish the same lake or lakes all the time, then yes the SI might be somewhat usuless after a while. But even then there are things you don't know about the lake bottom. And when you travel to a new lake, that SI would be nice to have. I don't have a GPS on the boat at all right now, so I guaruntee it's better than what I have. I think I'll probably end up getting the 798. If I hate it or Lowrance comes out with something that just blows it out of the water, I'll move the 798 up front and find a way to buy the new one when it happens. I haven't heard anything bad about the sonar on the HB. That's good I guess?

Hear SLOWGPS on all 798 also, 50 channel receiver does not help...........

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Originally Posted by fishordie

If you want a good GPS don't buy the HB models. Garmin has the finest GPS systems and the response is super fast. The SI to me is a waste of time unless your looking for spots made by someone else. Make your own and then all you need is a good GPS and sonar and the heck with SI.
LOL

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Naw...You put it out and I go find it with SI. Just like hunting Easter eggs. Fun,Fun...

Cane

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Naw...You put it out and I go find it with SI. Just like hunting Easter eggs. Fun,Fun...

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No Naw's about it, yes I agree first time is fun, its the 2nd & 3rd time U try to find it just using ur GPS system cause u got it marked on screen. Guess I'm goin have to figure out a way to hire u to put some smarts into my old brain. Maybe I just need to ship my 997 to, let u teach it cause lots fish people have tried on my 997 & it just won't -GPS-cooperate. It likes to go past & around several times......:eek:

Jax,

I talked to HB today. The service center now acknowledges the problem and stated to me they were working on it. :rolleyes:

HB is sending me a care package to work on the noise problems. Some units have this noise problem, some don't. HB acknowledges this problem and are sending noise kits to fix the problem.

If I ever get my boat back, I will begin to install the on board windows
xp based computer. I should be able to manipulate gps waypoints on the fly. This gives me something to do between my other something to do things.

I got it all on a wood board now, waiting for good weather to work out the bugs. You mighta seen pics of the rig.

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Jax,

I talked to HB today. The service center now acknowledges the problem and stated to me they were working on it. :rolleyes:

HB is sending me a care package to work on the noise problems. Some units have this noise problem, some don't. HB acknowledges this problem and are sending noise kits to fix the problem.

If I ever get my boat back, I will begin to install the on board windows
xp based computer. I should be able to manipulate gps waypoints on the fly. This gives me something to do between my other something to do things.

I got it all on a wood board now, waiting for good weather to work out the bugs. You mighta seen pics of the rig.

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Glad to see them acknowledge the problem up front. How long has this been hanging over their head? Do you think with the rumors about Lowrance and SI put some pressure on them to fess up or maybe just enough disappointment from their customers. I can't speak for others, currently don't own a humminbird but it just leaves a sour taste in your mouth as to how they handled it. I can't help believe that most folks would of accepted the problem better if they would of been upfront from the get go. Water under the bridge and we move on....

You just know that with the advent of Lowrance coming out with their SI they will remedy the situation very quickly.....gotta love competition:).

that is nice but the next thing you will be hearing is all the lowrance guys crying about there new si software problems of there on.just like any new electronic that hits the market they will have there on issues.that is just my 0.02cents

I ain't real happy with either one of them. I had a Lowrance 102c crap out and a 997 crap out this past year. I will say HB got it back in a week and Lowrance took a month.

I ain't buying crap anytime soon.

that is what i am saying they booth you would think is going to have issue even though they cost over 2000.00 they should fish for you

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I have no idea about pricing, but I bet the GPS will work.:)

IBNFSHN is right on about technology. My 8 month old lcx27 is now obsolete.:o

here is the new GPS receiver info for the HDS.. Notice the refresh is 5 times per second. 16 channel receiver.

LGC-4000 GPS Receiver | Lowrance

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Is there a chance that the new puck (LGC-4000 GPS Receiver) will be backwards compatible with older units that have the NMEA 2000 networking?

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Naw...You put it out and I go find it with SI. Just like hunting Easter eggs. Fun,Fun...

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Your right Cane Pole most folks had rather ride around and find the work that someone else has done than do any work themselves.:eek:

that is what i am going to do if you put it out i will fish it

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Originally Posted by fishordie

Your right Cane Pole most folks had rather ride around and find the work that someone else has done than do any work themselves.:eek:

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You can finds all sorts of stuff with SI. Don't mean the fishes are there. I put out a lot of cover that never produced a fish. Now, who is the dummy?

Nothing wrong with using technology to find the fish. You still gotta get them in the boat.

Lot of folks like piddling with this stuff for pleasure and entertainment. Don't be too hard on us.

Another way of lookin at it - when you dump it in "our" lake,
it ain't "yours" anymore ;)

i havent seen any problems with my 997 refreshing at all....when running 70+mph down the water havent had a problem yet

i went to humminbird from lowrance for 2 reasons

1-the SI is incredible i have found more stuff faster with it than ever with any other unit i have ever used

2-i have had so many Lowrance units that were junk....lowrance took care of them very quickly but its still a pain...had problems with a 102c swapped it out with a 510, a 332c that they swapped out with a 520....went through 3 yes 3 LCX26cHD units....finally they swapped it with a LCX28cHD......and have had 4 diffrent LGC 2000 antennas in the boat...had no tellin how many problems with network parts from resistors to Ts to cords..was a pain since most every time it was right before i was planning on going somewhere or i would already be there and it wouldnt work and id have to have somethin replaced...it honestly jsut got old and it was time for somethin diffrent so i went with all HB stuff...now i have a 997SI on the console...weathersense module, intelink module anda 957c up on the bow...so far so good and no problems yet

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I ain't real happy with either one of them. I had a Lowrance 102c crap out and a 997 crap out this past year. I will say HB got it back in a week and Lowrance took a month.

I ain't buying crap anytime soon.

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Been doing this for awhile. Had my first sonar over 30 years ago, a Lowrance. Then got an HB Super thirty II. Even had a Vex for ice fishing a few years ago. I've got a 997 and 917 with an interlink now and I like them. The GPS problems you describe don't bother me because I don't spider-rig.

Here's what I've observed: HB generally has the latest "new" technology vs. Lowrance. Their customer service is better. And they don't treat their customers like crap on upgrades or issues. Lowrance generally "perfects" technology. Their units seem to last. But their customer service sucks (in my opinion) and I've been burned by their changes more than once. They charge a fortune to repair a unit once it's out of warranty (remember the LMS series? The LMS-300 was a good unit; I got the LMS-200, same unit, less power; both supposed to be upgradable at the time. They discontinued the LMS-200 6 months after I bought it with no support thereafter. Goodby upgrades).

Anyway, I prefer HB to Lowrance on the service; doesn't mean I'll never go back, but I think Lowrance is arrogant and that HB tries harder. Since Johnson Controls bought them, I think their reliablity is getting better. When I call HB about my SI, I get through to the people I need and know what they're talking about. Their folks cruise the Web looking for SI issues and trying to help. I don't see that with Lowrance. I'm sure folks have had great experiences with Lowrance--just hasn't been my experience.

HB Super 30 :) brings back fond memories. Wish I'd of kept the last one
I had... Had a Vexilar flasher on this boat when I got it, just didn't like
it the same.

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Originally Posted by J White

Another way of lookin at it - when you dump it in "our" lake,
it ain't "yours" anymore ;)

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:):):)

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Originally Posted by J White

HB Super 30 :) brings back fond memories. Wish I'd of kept the last one
I had... Had a Vexilar flasher on this boat when I got it, just didn't like
it the same.

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Yeah, I loved it. I did alot of shallow water fishing (less than 15') back then and the cone angle was about 32 degrees on it. The Lowrance was only 16 degrees, so you picked up more on the HB. Course, in 50' of water, it was just too much!

The Vex I had was about an 8 degree cone--perfect for ice fishing. You could see your ice spoon (#10 hook with a wax worm), see the fish approach (it would be the larger, deeper line on the flasher), see the two lines merge, and bingo, a bite. Got to the point where you'd set the hook when the lines merged and not wait for the spring bobber to drop.

Just sold the HB two years ago to a fella in Tenn who had been looking for one. I think it went for $75 :)

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Originally Posted by J White

Another way of lookin at it - when you dump it in "our" lake,
it ain't "yours" anymore ;)

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I don't disagree with your statement at all. If I spent the time with my HB SI trying to find stuff to fish the sun would be setting and maybe I would have fished ten percent of what I have in the water. I guess it's true that 5% do the work and 95% try to fish the work of the 5%.
Best Of Luck Riding Around in circles with your SI while I'm fishing my spots.;)

I spend very little time riding around in circles lookin at sonar :p
usually it's only after I've fished several hours, and already have all
the fish I want to clean in the cooler... but however I find it, by seeing
it on SI, or regular sonar, or bumping into it and getting snagged -
I'm gonna fish it if there ain't nobody on it.

I pretty well gave up deer hunting because of "people" and the way they
act... really like fishing year-round better, so this is my last stand.
Ain't gonna be backed off fishing a spot on public water by dockowners,
commercial fishermen, an fer sure by no other fisherman.

*edit* I will say this tho, I'm the kind of guy, I've rounded a bend and came up on
folks towing a piece of brush out to sink, and felt kinda like I run up on somebody
gettin' cozy with their gal - I will tip my hat, turn around and go the other way and
leave them some privacy... now, if a month later I stumble across it, I'm gonna fish it.
But I won't go lookin for it just because I saw them in that area -
so best o' luck to you too bub.

I'm not buying the SI to find cover someone else put out. Actually here in Ohio sinking anything in lakes is illegal. Not to say it doesn't happen, but there isn't enough of it out there to merit buying SI to find it. I will use the SI to check out areas I really don't fish so much, or to locate cover I never know existed in areas I do fish a lot.
Thing is, there are no secrets when it comes to experienced fishermen who pay attention to whats going on around them. If I go past a guy sitting on a spot in a place that I've never thought to fish or whatever, I'm gonna remember that and go back to that spot next time I get to the area. It's not taking advantage of someone elses work. Once you put it in the lake, it may as well be a new tree that fell in the water as far as I'm concerned. If I fish it and catch fish, I'll be back to it. I don't care what it is or who put it there. If you want private fishing holes....Dig a pond.

amen you don't have to ride around to find brush, just mark the boat sitting there for hours with your gps and come back later

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Originally Posted by dedawg1149

amen you don't have to ride around to find brush, just mark the boat sitting there for hours with your gps and come back later

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:D:D:D

I gotta digital range finder with a compass. I can "pick them off" at 1500 yards. Go right to their nest when they got to roost. No cherry patches here if I am on the water and if I fell like snooping.;)