Lowrance V.S. Humminbird - What do you choose?

[Catfish_Commando]

Lowrance has the (HDS-10) Highest-Definition Broadband Fishfinding model on the market. It uses broadband which claims to provide:

Less Noise, More Targets
Crystal-Clear Clarity
Greater Shallow-Water Detail and Coverage
Incredible Deep-Water Performance
Expandability at No Extra Cost

Humminbird has the SI models. See what you never saw before, but sacrifice 2D performance. (Most people I talk with state 2D is not on par with Lowrance).

Even guys I know that make some big $$ fishing, run both models.

Lowrance or Humminbird...

What is more important to you? Side Imaging, or crystal clear 2D Views with the broad band?

If you were going to buy one of the top models, what would you get?

Remember, Lowrance is releasing an SI version.

[catoon]

if i had the money lowrance

[Catfish_Commando]

After seeing both models side by side, and low rumblings of Lowrance coming out with an SI version, I am slowly leaning towards the Lowrance way myself (I believe)...

No knock against Humminbird, but they need to beat their programmers up some.

[GaryF]

Tough call, I agree with all the points on Lowrance vs Hummingbird. There is a reason people run both. But to pick 1, I'd go for the Hummingbird, as there is no substitute for being able to see / identify structure and check out a large swath of water like you can with the 3D.

[Pip]

After using both, real tough choice to pick just one. Have had both on the boat together now for a year, and basically have gotten used to using both together. Haven't seen or gotten hands on with the HD models yet, but I do rely heavily on the 2D of the lowrance. Sidescan just compliments and opens up things for me visually. Before the Sidescan came out i was all lowrance.


Think i'll chicken out on just picking one, when I can have the best of both worlds with both.:wink:

[GaryF]

and low rumblings of Lowrance coming out with an SI version

If Lowrance does come out with a good 3D and if they don't price it out of reason they will end up eating Humminbird's lunch. Those are still 2 pretty big if's to overcome though.

[Fishking]

No knock against Humminbird, but they need to beat their programmers up some.


In two weeks the new software version is supposed to be released. They say drastic changes in the 2D but I'll believe it when I see it. I think a big issue with Humminbird is all the different settings you can adjust makes it confusing for some peeps. In my opinion, once you fine tune the HB 2D to match the area/water that you are fishing, you will not see that much difference between it and Lowrance. Until Lowrance comes out with a SI option, it's a no brainer...Humminbird all the way for me.

[kcgmatt]

I installed a HB 997SI last summer and am still learning with it. I left my LX-25's hooked up and still use them in some areas but if I had to choose just one it would be the 997 SI.

[Grimpuppy]

Someone tell me what is the standard a sonar has to meet to be called HD. There aint one. The HD standard was set for televisions not sonar. HD is a resolution of 1280x720 or 1920x1080 for widescreen tv's. Looking at the top of the line Lowrance HDS graph it specs the resolution at 600x800. A far cry from HDTV standards. Lowrance can put an HD tag on every one of their units if they want. Same for Humminbird, Eagle, Garmin or any other one. HD is a marketing ploy in anything but TV's because the only standard applies to tv's. I seen a pair of HD sunglasses advertised on tv yesterday.

[Catfish_Commando]

Jay, the marketing slant is leaned more towards the clarity of the broadband sonar V.S. the SVGA display with 600x800-pixel resolution.


The HD refers that you will see fish than you could never see before V.S. the resolution of the screen.

[blackwaterkatz]

I have to ditto what PIP said above. I use both, but I'm looking forward to the new software from HB to improve the 2d sonar. The lowrance is my first love, and the side imaging of the HB adds to that, but would never replace the lowrance, as things stand right now.

[TNVOLCAT]

So, will this new software HB has coming out for the 2d sonar be available to download off their site into my 997?

If so, I'll stick with my H'bird.

[Catfish_Commando]

You load it on your memory card, then transfer the card to your Humminbird. When you turn on your HB, it will recognize the card has an update, and work its voodo.

I updated mine to the latest a few months ago.

[TNVOLCAT]

Ok, sounds easy enough, look forward to the new update then!

Thanks!

[lendog]

i've always liked the hummingbirds, they are easy to use and user friendly, i have a hummingbird matrix 3D and love it, if i were to upgrade i'd get another hummingbird

[catfishcrazy256]

I have tryed all kinds over the years and Humminbird has always been my favorite :wink:

[Fishking]

You load it on your memory card, then transfer the card to your Humminbird. When you turn on your HB, it will recognize the card has an update, and work its voodo.

I updated mine to the latest a few months ago.


Make sure you remove the previous version off your memory card first. You should be golden after that.

[ShilohRed]

I was the first one on here to get one of the Hummingbird SI units. Still running it, To me if you read the manual. Spend time using the unit, It's not hard to run. Mine will show a fish hitting the bait, Track a sinker in 10ft or 40ft of water. Find all the structure around the boat.
Shoot what more can a person ask for? As for High Speed Use. Mine even on SI stills works at 30 MPH now. And in 2-D I can add a extra transducer and get that wide open. But the SI transducer was not made to work great at High speeds.
Now do I believe Lowrance is going to come out with a Si unit? Not sure but will tell you this. Don't think for a minute that it will be a plug and play unit if it they do come out with one. I hope they do come out with one some day. As that will only make both better units, Anytime you have 2 company's with the same working product there going to keep making it better.
I will be sticking with my old unit until it bites the dust. And then if theres 2 units on the market after the Lowrance has been out on the market for a while. I may look at it. I know people that have the Higher grade Lowrance 2-d units. But hate they skip so many fish in 2-D. As when there only covering 3 ft of water theres so much there your not seeing.
Pete

[metalman]

I have a 997SI and it works very well. I didn't just jump on the SI bandwagon as I have always been a Lowrance user going way back; I still have an Eagle and a Lowrance X16 paper graphs gathering dust. My Lowrance color unit died and they wanted way too much to fix it so I researched the 997 and checked out a couple on the water. I was pretty much sold after that!

I don't think there is anything wrong with the 2D and of course the SI is simply amazing.
My biggest (maybe only) criticism is that Humminbird have never made a transducer that is as hydrodynamic as Lowrance and that makes 'ducer placement very critical for the 'bird units. I don't know if Lowrance's skimmer shape is patented but 'bird should have copied it (or tried to) long ago.
Apart from that, as said above, until Lowrance come up with an SI unit that is overall as good as the 997 and is affordable I will stick to the 997.
...W

[CaptainBrad]

Here is an interesting take on the issue. I have never cared for either Lowrance or Humminbird. It was only recently I began using Lowrance GPS because it was the only one that would work with the lake maps I like. For river fishing GPS mapping is fairly irrelevant so and the idea of SI has really gotten my attention so for my new boat I have decided to give up the 2d resolution of my Vexilar and go with the 997c.

I think the SI will increase my catches and the unit overall will be a good one. If for some reason I don't like the 2d I will be adding a 2nd graph to make up for the shortcomings. Truthfully I don't think it will be a problem.

[cheapNdisgusting]

I have a HB 997-si and think it is the greatest thing I have ever bought, mainly for the side immaging. The GPS is spot-on also. The transducer needs improvement.

Humminbird all the way.

[Catfish_Commando]

As for High Speed Use. Mine even on SI stills works at 30 MPH now.
Pete

Pete, High Speed was a reference to being cool, or cutting edge in my initial post. Army terminology...

[catcrazed]

Mine will show a fish hitting the bait, Track a sinker in 10ft or 40ft of water. Find all the structure around the boat.
Shoot what more can a person ask for? Pete

Thats a no brainer for me. All fish look exactly the same on the humminbird. Ive said this before and peeps can think im crazy and I don't care, but with a lowrance there are ways to tell scaled from non-scaled fish. NOT with the humminbird though. Ive been on a boat that are equiped with both. This is a must when river fishing for me. I'll be darn if I want to set up on a bunch of carp, stripers, gar, white bass, etc. That is the most important thing to me. As for those that have told me Im crazy in the past, oh well, I know what I know. Ive proven it time and time again on the water!! Thats why I asked a few weeks ago if anyone had heard if lowrance was going to come out with a si unit. I would like to have si and Lowrance 2-d without having to clutter my console with 2 graphs. Actually I wouldnt mind if I had the room on the console but I don't.

[metalman]

with a lowrance there are ways to tell scaled from non-scaled fish.

Robin,
Are you talking about the double image method or do you have a new trick?
...W

[Catfish_Commando]

I stuck with Humminbird with my upgrade.

Will be interesting to see the reviews on the Lowrance SI on the BOC.

[Dirtdobber]

I have used both and will stay with Lowrance for the way I fish.

[metalman]

Lowrance has just announced that they are coming out with SI options for their HD units.
Humminbird are on the verge of releasing a software update that, according to some supposedly unbiased reports, makes their 2D sonar images just as good as Lowrance's.

Their is a rumor that HB and Lowrance may have traded some technology secrets but nothing official has come from either company...W

[tswebb71]

Has hbird released it yet and if so, has anyone had an opportunity to see it?

[SSgt Fishslayer]

lowrance. every person i talk to that fishes seriously out here swears by them. plus its now what i am using (first one) so that makes me a little partial i guess.

[ShilohRed]

Lowrance has just announced that they are coming out with SI options for their HD units.
Humminbird are on the verge of releasing a software update that, according to some supposedly unbiased reports, makes their 2D sonar images just as good as Lowrance's.

Their is a rumor that HB and Lowrance may have traded some technology secrets but nothing official has come from either company...W

Winston I was talking with a guy today. He was able to speak to a few from Humminbird for a few hours. They told him that with the update that would be out in about 2 weeks or less. That the 2-D part of the units will show everything just as the Lowrance does .Being that you can turn up the unit and show all the clutter. Also show all the little fish that most of us are not trying to see also.
Also they from what I have heard have hired a couple of Lowrance guys and that may be where the update is coming from.
All that I can say, when get this update I think theres going to be lots of happy guys with Humminbird units.
I need to do some checking and see if the Matrix 97 unit I am thinking about buying can be updated with it also. If not I may be looking for the None Si 900 units for the front of the boat. That way I can tie them in and share waypoints on both.:cool2: That way when I mark a log or rock 90 ft to the right and 40 ft behind me. I can with the trolling motor hover over it and catch fish. I love fishing that way. But not its not easy to do . But add the same waypoint to the trolling motor unit. And then its on.
I had a guy tell me when the update hits. Its watch out fish.:wink:
Pete

[tswebb71]

lowrance. every person i talk to that fishes seriously out here swears by them. plus its now what i am using (first one) so that makes me a little partial i guess.

Sorry about that I was asking about the update. Thanks though.

[SSgt Fishslayer]

my bad. i guess it would help if i read the entire thread through before i shot off my big mouth. :embarassed:

[dominoman]

I'm gonna make a high tech choice, I'm sticking with my HB SI, it's paid for.

[Grimpuppy]

Has hbird released it yet and if so, has anyone had an opportunity to see it?

Some pics of the new HB 2d are posted here.

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102533&page=5