Humminbird 998C SI vs 998C HD SI

Looking to upgrade my unit.

I think I have narrowed it down to the 998 SI but not quite certain what the difference is between last years model and this years model with the HD.

I believe they changed the back lighting this year to LED – but that’s really the only difference I can make out.

There is about a $600 difference in the price and was wondering if anyone had an opinion on one or the other.

Most of my fishing is done at night so I don’t suspect I will need the extra LED backlighting to reduce glare of the sun.

Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks!

Do you currently run SI ? Take a look at it before you buy. I find myself rarely using SI feature. My next upgrade will be a larger screen with DI only.

I have not run SI yet…

Why do you not use it much?

Would not buy anything without SI myself.

It is a matter of preference and should be matched with the way you use your boat to fish.

Particularly nice on the trolling motor transducer.
You can rotate the TM and it acts like a 360 transducer.
Takes a little getting used to the display produced when rotating.

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Looking to upgrade my unit.

I think I have narrowed it down to the 998 SI but not quite certain what the difference is between last years model and this years model with the HD.

I believe they changed the back lighting this year to LED – but that’s really the only difference I can make out.

There is about a $600 difference in the price and was wondering if anyone had an opinion on one or the other.

Most of my fishing is done at night so I don’t suspect I will need the extra LED backlighting to reduce glare of the sun.

Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks!

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I was just going to make a post about the exact same thing.

I run a 998 (2 yrs old now) and I love it. I use the si often in the summer on our lake to mark cribs and structure. It is a great tool for that.

The other thing you will enjoy about that unit is the hb select warranty service. I had a power button issue on my unit last year and had the unit back in 3 days including my shipping day

As for the screen it is a bit dim during the day but i can certainly see it no problem.

Get the HD Si.You will find the under cut banks ,logs,rocks and other cat holding areas that you now over look.I catfish areas that other guys pass up.Fish hiding in weed lines pop out at you with a little experiance.
I use the Di for fishing humps and rocks deep for eyes and love that feature too.

Why the HD though? What’s the plus’s to the HD other than LED back lighting?

The only difference is the LED backlighting…..

When HD first came out, you needed an HD unit to read the Lakemaster HD cards ( 1 foot increments )
Not sure if that is still true

The HD units can be linked together without the $120 linking box.

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The HD units can be linked together without the $120 linking box.

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X2

The LED backlighting is new last year. It was on 7 and 11 series and added to 8 and 9 series last year. That is 1 positive thing I can say about the unit, I like the backlighting very daylight viewable and then you can dim it down for nighttime.

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The HD units can be linked together without the $120 linking box.

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Both the 998 and 998 hd are ethernet capable or linkable without the box. But you will need a eithernet hub($200 box) to add acc to both units. the 997 needs the 129 dollar interlink box and has no eithernet capabilities..

Great post. Do you need two chips to run connected devices or can you get by with one.

My bro and I are looking at the 1198 si and 998si or958 di for the front.

Keep the inputs coming.

I use SI exclusively when I fish. I have had a 997 since 08, and now have an 1197 and an 1198. There has not been one day that I wished I had a 998HD instead of my 997. I’d save the coin if I was you and go with the 998 for $1,315.

1 mapping chip per unit is needed. You can also have a 2nd sd card in the slot for screen captures.

I’ve got 2 – 1198’s and I love’um

Super bright display, that I have to practically blacken out at night or I’ll go blind

With muskie fishing, I don’t find myself using the SI though

Not sure how much I’ll use it, but I may have to get that dialed in

I can’t wait to get these units paired up with the i-link

Average joe
What kind of boat do you have these rigged on? Are you shooting your tranaducers through the hull? If you are doing this, how dis you know where to place your transducers ?

Thanks

I would be supprised if they were shoot through ducers. I was unaware that SI would function with that.

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Average joe
What kind of boat do you have these rigged on? Are you shooting your tranaducers through the hull? If you are doing this, how dis you know where to place your transducers ?

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I have a Ranger 618VS, and I had Frankies install them

SO you are shooting through the hull and getting SI and DI?

Or just 2D sonar?

As I recall, I don’t believe I remember seeing any transducers on the outside of my boat

I know SI for sure, but I’m not sure about the DI. I haven’t used these features very much due to the fact that I mainly muskie fish, but after watching a guide friend of mine use his last year, I’m thinking I’m missing out

SI CANNOT be mounted inside the boat shoot thru, DI and 2D can be shoot thru. Unless you have the bottom mounted transducer then you have to drill a 1 inch hole thru the bottom of your boat.

Thanks Tom!
That was my thoughts of understanding.

Can the older 998c SI (non HD) hook up with the new ipilot link?

Is interlink the same as Ethernet capability?

I currently have a 788c that I would like to put on the bow and link with the 998c SI. At some point I would like to get the ipilot and link them all together, does this unit have the capability of doing that?

Thanks guys!

Can the older 998c SI (non HD) hook up with the new ipilot link? yes

Is interlink the same as Ethernet capability? yes but no

I currently have a 788c that I would like to put on the bow and link with the 998c SI. At some point I would like to get the ipilot and link them all together, does this unit have the capability of doing that? 788 not sure but the 798 is.

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Can the older 998c SI (non HD) hook up with the new ipilot link?

Is interlink the same as Ethernet capability?

I currently have a 788c that I would like to put on the bow and link with the 998c SI. At some point I would like to get the ipilot and link them all together, does this unit have the capability of doing that?

Thanks guys!

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998- yes that can use Link

Interlink and ethernet have the same purpose but are done differently

With a 788c you will not be able to run the link to it nor ethernet it to the 998. Also the 788c will NOT run the link. You “MAY” be able to interlink the 7 and 9 and then run the link to the 9 but Im not sure. I would strongly urge you to shy away from the interlink if at all possible.

Is this an older 788c? The H-bird website states all 3 of the currant 788 products are optional for ethernet, interlink and I-Pilot Link.

http://store.humminbird.com/category/247618/700_Series

Wow, much of the confusion stems from guys on forums (like this one) saying things they don’t actually know about. If you don’t know, and are not absolutely certain, do not say anything.

The 788 series have to be the HD version to have ethernet compatibility. If they are the older versions (788c, 788ci), they do not have ethernet capability. They changed the Temp/Speed port on the 700 series when they came out with ethernet, and the HD series are ethernet compatible with an adapater. (788ci HD, 788ci HD DI, 788ci HD SI). You will need the ethernet adapter, part #AS EC QDE from Humminbird, $30.



Also, people need to be clear on the unit they are talking about. Miss out on one letter, and it is confusing to people. For example, there is a difference between a 788c and a 788ci units. “i” stands for internal GPS. And there is a difference between a 788ci, and a 788ci HD.

Interlink is not the same as ethernet. You cannot hook up units to I-Pilot Link with interlink. You have to have ethernet capability to do that. Interlink is limited compared to ethernet.

Thanks Camo for the explanation.

I pulled the trigger today on the Humminbird 998c SI.

I am going to be selling my 788c so If anyone is interested…

Thanks for all the input guys – Ill get some pictures when I have it installed.

It is going on my new rebuild:

JAKOB’s Rebuild

Will you please post a link where your information and pic came from?