Anyone heard if lowrance is gonna have a Side imaging unit soon??

[catcrazed]

Just curious if anyone has heard if lowrance is going to have a side imaging unit soon?? The 2-d on the humminbird sucks so to get what I want I would have to have 2 different graphs on the boat and I hate to do that. Would just be nice if Lowrance would just come out with a Side imaging unit soon!!!! Anyone know???

[biga]

humminbird has the side imaging technology patented so the way i understand lowrance cant do it untill the patent expires or they discover new technology..

[Grimpuppy]

Why do you think the 2d sucks on the humminbirds?

[dinger66]

all i can say is humminbird is awsome

[ShilohRed]

Yes they will have it in years down the road. I think humminbirds Patent will run out around 2020.
But like others why does humminbirds 2-D suck? Shoot mine shows fish, even the arches. I can track my bait while fishing . Even watch a fish hit the bait.
Also had the fish ID on. As you hear people saying the fish ID does not work. Well if the Arches are belived. And each arch also has a fish ID. Could both be wrong? Or does the fish ID also work?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/ShilohRed/Sidescan/may2007017.jpg
A drop in 2-D showing fish
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/ShilohRed/Sidescan/shilohhole.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/ShilohRed/Sidescan/Octblues09033.jpg

It is different then what your used to. But if you give it a chance. You may well find out its as good.
Pete

[Grimpuppy]

You can see the same fish here in 2D and SI

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=48611&d=1221052130

[Stubby]

The only thing I don't like about my Humminbird is the shape of the water blowing Transducer. and don't tell me i've got it set wrong cause I don't believe it. Mine is the 787c2i. I wish I'd bought a Lawrance with the same capabilities and power. and, I do have two on mine, I have a eagle 520c on the front.

[Grimpuppy]

The only thing I don't like about my Humminbird is the shape of the water blowing Transducer.

Is your transducer throwing a rooster tail Carl? I though it was only the bigger SI ones that had the problem.

[GaryF]

Humminbird could also license their technology to Lowrance and collect royalties, but so far we haven't seen any signs of that happening.

For what it's worth, I didn't like the Hummingbird "2D" at first compared to a friends Lowrance, but it's grown on me some as I got used to it. I read somewhere that Humminbird was going to offer a plug that fits over the SI transducer to eliminate the roostertail.

[SkipEye]

Fill the hole in the transducer mounting bracket with RTV, that will eliminate a LOT of your roostertail.:wink: Black RTV looks real nice. Smooth and sculpt the leading edge of the RTV to smoothly channel the water around the transducer.

[TNVOLCAT]

Darryl, could you enlighten me on what RTV is? I'll have to try that out.

Thanks

[ShilohRed]

I will belive it when I see it out. but here is some info on it.
http://www.ebuyersworld.com/Lowrance-Side-Imaging-s/557.htm

This is a quote(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.))

So buy a $3000 unit then $1200 to $1500 extra to get the SI. LOL
I will believe it when it comes out. Also Lowrance could have had this. But they did not think the SI units would sell. So they passed on it years ago. Go figure. LOL Also from what I can find out the unit will be showed during the Bass masters classic. Then hit the market late summer or fall.
PEte

[ShilohRed]

The RTV(Sealant in a tube) is used to close the gap between the transducer and the bracket. Stops the Rooster tail on a lot of the units.
Pete

[lendog]

i have a hummingbird 3-D matrix and my transducer is huge and throws a rooster also, i'll try the calking trick

[GaryF]

For anyone who wants some light reading, here is Humminbird's patent: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22side+imaging%22&s2=sonar&OS=

I easily could have missed something, but the key point of the patent seems to be having the transducer attached to the boat instead of dragging a cable like the big towfish units use. There might be some creative ways to get around that...

[blackwaterkatz]

i have a hummingbird 3-D matrix and my transducer is huge and throws a rooster also, i'll try the calking trick

I received a plug from HB for mine, but prior to that I just wrapped some electrical tape around the mount where the water was passing through. Worked just as well...:smile2:

[ShilohRed]

For anyone who wants some light reading, here is Humminbird's patent: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22side+imaging%22&s2=sonar&OS=

I easily could have missed something, but the key point of the patent seems to be having the transducer attached to the boat instead of dragging a cable like the big towfish units use. There might be some creative ways to get around that...

I read that a few weeks ago. And part of it is mounting, Part is the transducer that sees left, Right and down at the same time. Also the part where they figured out how to allow us to mark the waypoints say 100ft left of the boat and 150ft behind what we have passed. Then the part about it not being a tow behind model, but attached to the boat. Then a lot more stuff.
But from what I hear Lowrance SI will have to have 2 transducers, one looking down and the other left and right. Also you will have to own or buy the HD unit. Then buy the extras for it.
Sounds to me that humminbird and Lowrance may be in a war soon. That is what we need. Just think what is next if Lowrance does work this out?
But still not going to be holding my breath until its out.
Pete

[mofishin]

From what I have heard, Hummingbird has the patent for about 5 more years.

[FREESPOOL]

I thought they held the patent for a total of 10 years. :cool2:

[Grimpuppy]

Patents are good for 20 years from the date filed. They filed it Aug 2 , 2005. So the patent will expire Aug 2, 2025.

[catfishcentral]

Lowerance is headquarterd here in Tulsa,Ok and they were at the boat show here this weekend. They had the new Lowerance HDS units and they are really, really nice. The SI transducer they said will be out in the fall sometime. You will have two seperate transducers one for normal and the second for side imagine when it comes out. They said it will be much easier to read and follow then the hummingbird. I think before I were to spend the money on one I'd wait to see the costs to add the SI and how much better it is then the hummingbird.

[SkipEye]

Trivia: RTV stands for Room Temperature Vulcanizing, just a plain ole tube of sealant guys, commonly called RTV and usually labeled as such.


LOWRANCE is coming out with SI?:ooooh: I already dropped $3K on the 1197 Humminbird, guess I'll have to remain a Humminbird fan. I do like the 2D better on the Lowrance though, if their SI is also better might have to trade up!:wink:

[Grimpuppy]

Rumor on the SI forums has it Humminbird is going to replace it's current 2d sonar software with an updated version within the next two weeks. Suppose to be able to get the update from Humminbird website when released and update your unit. I wasn't unhappy with my 2d, but after seeing the pics of the updated version, it looks pretty good.

[catcrazed]

Why do you think the 2d sucks on the humminbirds?

Ive been on my buddys boat and he has his lowrance mounted right next to the humminbird si and thank goodness!!! The lowrance will give you different colors on the bottom depending on if it is a hard and soft bottom. Humminbird....................... Thumbs down!!!! It never changes, and that is critical when looking for a certain type of bottom. Now I know what your all thinking. Why would you need to know when you have the si anyways. Well, its nice to know wheather or not the structure im fishing is on a muddy bottom, gravel bottom, rocky bottom, etc. I know that if I were to run the humminbird and just get used to it then it may grow on me but as for now the ONLY way i would have one is if the lowrance was mounted right next to it. After seeing the humminbird 2-d in action compared to the lowrance, I now know why so many catfisherman run the 2 units together. That is why i was curious if I could just wait it out and see if lowrance would come out with a si unit. That way I can just have one graph and not 2 on my console. Im not puttin humminbird down cause the si part is amazing!!! I know that people on here can tell me till im blue in the face that you can't tell a soft skinned fish from a scaled fish on a lowrance unit and there is no doubt about it you can............... But after messin with the humminbird, all the fish appear the same shape, color, etc. That wont work for me. Its nice to know that when you stop to fish, your not fishing for gar, carp, stripers, etc. This is why it would just be nice to have a lowrance with SI!!! I don't care if a lowrance technician got on here and said it can't be done. I do it every time Im out. I know there are folks that tourney fish that can tell ya as well if there looking at a scaled or non-scaled fish. With the humminbird 2-d though, every fish appears exactly the same. That is a big, big, big disadvantage!!!

[Grimpuppy]

I know where you are coming from. The Humminbird isn't really much worse, it is just different. Look at page 27 in the manual an it tells you how to define the bottom. The thickness of the red at the bottom on the hummnbird tells you if it is a hard bottom or soft. The bottom will always be red.

[blackwaterkatz]

I won't hold my breath until Lowrance brings out an SI unit, but the HD units look pretty good. FYI, Humminbird is close to providing a software upgrade, and if the screen shots I've seen are any indication, the 2d sonar will be very much improved from the current version. I have the 797 si on my boat, with the Lowrance 337 mounted next to it. The lowrance is my primary unit for standard down (2d) sonar because the HB just sucks in that regard, and I mostly use the HB for side imaging. I'm looking forward to the new software upgrade that will hopefully put the HB at least on the same level as the lowrance.

[catcrazed]

I know where you are coming from. The Humminbird isn't really much worse, it is just different. Look at page 27 in the manual an it tells you how to define the bottom. The thickness of the red at the bottom on the hummnbird tells you if it is a hard bottom or soft. The bottom will always be red.

See that definetely helps to know that. Ive only been on a boat with a si unit and never have had the opportunity to read the manual. Its pretty harsh of me to judge the 2d without even readin up on it but when you compare the 2 graphs when there side by side there is still no comparison to the 2d on the lowrance. The si part is crazy though on the hb units though. I don't even know if I would fish if I had that thing. just cruise around lookin!! LOL. I know that a lot of folks that only spend that kinda money on there graphs because they tourney fish. I on the other hand just want to know what is on the bottom in my stretch of river to find good spots for when I go.

[tswebb71]

Rumor on the SI forums has it Humminbird is going to replace it's current 2d sonar software with an updated version within the next two weeks. Suppose to be able to get the update from Humminbird website when released and update your unit. I wasn't unhappy with my 2d, but after seeing the pics of the updated version, it looks pretty good.


Thanks Jay!! That looks much better than what I am used to on the bird. I can't wait for the update!!!!

[jerseycat9]

The new upgrade for humminbird looks a lot better. Some have said it would be on par with lowrance but I dont see the same quality.

[SkipEye]

The new upgrade for humminbird looks a lot better. Some have said it would be on par with lowrance but I dont see the same quality.

Did you turn off TVG?

[jerseycat9]

Did you turn off TVG?
Judging from what Ive seen and read on a couple forums the upgrades for the humminbird make it even better but for the 2d I will stick with lowrance but I would now say humminbird has the second best 2d models out there just gotta wait and see what the overall quality is on lowrance side amaging before I spend any more money.