What are the distinct advantages (other than screen size and unit power) between these two units?
There is a significant cost difference that would prevent many from making this leap.
What difference is there with the “extra” frequency the transducer for the larger units offers?
Thanks,
Jeremy
I’m not an expert, but….
The larger size screen will make it very nice to see detail. You have about twice as much real estate to view the image, so I would assume you will get much easier to view images with the 997 — Especially when you split the screen and view it in combo with your lake map, gps screen, 2d sonar, etc.. If you split screen on the 797, it ends up making everything that much smaller.
I don’t know how much of a differnce the dual freq SI sonar makes. I have played around a little with mine, but not enough to see a big advantage with it. For me so far, I don’t think the duel freq SI alone would justify the price difference. Screen size is the huge issue for me.
That being said, the 797 sure is a lot cheaper, and gets you into the technology without having to spend a ton. A great deal, especially when you consider other similar units without SI but maybe with slightly larger screens go for the same price or more. If it came down to the choice of either getting the 797 with SI technology or a “regular” 2d unit with a larger screen, I would HANDS DOWN go with the smaller screen 797 unit. That SI is without question a huge advantage, no matter what screen size you are talking about.
When I was researching units over the last couple of years, I was heavily considering the Lowrance LCX-27, mainly because a friend had one, it was color, had a good 2d sonar, and I have liked my lowrance units in the past. The more I learned about SI, the more amazing it was, and the more I realized how much it would change the way I went about fishing (not to mention the “gee, thats really neat!” shock value…) This spring, I decided to go SI (with the 997), and I couldn’t be happier, even though it was more expensive than the 27. BTW, comparing 2d sonar, I am much happier with Lowrance’s units – I think they give much more detail and a better return… However, when I am on the water with the SI, I almost NEVER have the 2d sonar on. If I was told I had to give up my 2d readout, I wouldn’t blink an eye. The SI is that much better, and is always on in my boat.
If you can afford it, I’d go with the 997 or 1197.. Otherwise I’m sure the 797 will work awesome.
With more people learing about the SI and Lowrance supposedly coming out with their version in the fall, there will come a day when a lot more people will be fishing with them… It will sure be interesting to see how the fishing evolves around the technology.
Mike
Quote:
If it came down to the choice of either getting the 797 with SI technology or a “regular” 2d unit with a larger screen, I would HANDS DOWN go with the smaller screen 797 unit. That SI is without question a huge advantage, no matter what screen size you are talking about.
I couldn’t agree more. I purchased a 997 about a month ago. I was back and forth and back again for months before my fiance finally said, “I’m sick of hearing about it, just buy the Humminbird. So what it costs 2k.”
With that, I bought it and haven’t looked back. I can’t tell you how far it advances your knowledge of the water column below you. It’s unreal how much you can learn about what you’ve been “seeing” on your graph all these years.
I never ran a 798, so I am guessing. It all has to come down to level of detail and seperation. Another factor that is not discussed often with locators is the set up and level of “Forgiveness” with the transducers. I shoot through my hull with a puck that is epoxied in. There is definately a loss that is encountered with it. However, having a stronger signal to begin with, the loss is hardly noticeable.
Looking back at running my LMS-350, I could mark clouds of bait fish at 50mph in 70fow 20feet down. I could verticle jig a 1/16oz jig and small grub and see perfect seperation from the bottom. But I spent an entire day on my set up before mounting the transducer. I could have never gotten this level shooting through the glass. Close can work, and be ok for some. What level of performance do you expect to get from the unit? Are you looking to see the difference of hard/soft bottom, or fish burried 6 feet down in the weeds. My expectations are extremely high and I’m very critical of my investments. So my expectations could be very different from yours.
My current thinking is this: Since I am overall happy with my lowrance on my dash, I would continue running that unit and using the humminbird for SI and waypoint marking, not down looking sonar. This would allow me to keep the SI puck up and out of the water at speed (using the lowrance for that).-this would be a plus with winter fishing due to hitting ice chunks. Since my lowrance is only a single frequency, would there be interference with the humminbird transducer-could the conflicting frequency be turned off from the humminbird?
If this would work, I could utilize the 798, as the screen size would only be for SI, not split for the downlooking sonar. With utilizing two units, it be approx. the same sized screen dedicated to SI v/s having a 997 and using one side for SI and one side for downlooking sonar.
Thanks for the input guys, I am just trying to cover every angle and senerio prior to plunking down mega amounts of cash.
A great idea, methinks…
You can turn the 2d ping off (at least on the 997, i’m sure it would be the same with the 778), so that would get rid of any interference issues. And having the ‘ducer out of the water would minimize risk… You would, however, probably have to make some sort of bracket or mount that would push the SI ducer out a little more, so the SI isn’t interefered with by the other transducer(s) (assuming your transducers are mounted externally.) The SI needs clearance to both sides, down and out, to get the best image.
But like I said, you will probably find yourself using the 2d very minimally, if at all, most of the time.
Great plan, though
Mike
If your Lowrance isn’t a gps model, though, you still might find yourself using the splitscreen when veiwing waypoints or using the mapping capabilities of the HB.
I rarely splitscreen 2d and SI… Usually any splitscreen I do is SI and GPS/map screen. Having 2d on another locator would be nice, but might not totally solve your problem. Still a very nice way to go, though, and certainly protects your HB transducer while still getting great SI
Doc, I’m going fishing now. Will comment more tonight.
I ran a 797 2 years ago so I have some experience with your scenario.
Should have clarified that I run a seperate GPS unit for my main GPS functions. Would just transfer waypoints manually. (i.e. position of fish cribs, etc.)
Jason, you lucky dog-good luck fishing!
Jeremy
Doc:
Quote:
Since my lowrance is only a single frequency, would there be interference with the humminbird transducer-could the conflicting frequency be turned off from the humminbird?
The 798c uses dual beam (200/83) for its down-looking sonar. You can select which of the two (or a combination of both) that is displayed in the 2D sonar view (Sonar menu tab, Beam select (first option)). If you select 83 kHz, then you wouldn’t see any interference from the Lowrance unit operating at 200. I believe that the ‘bird will still transmit the 200 kHz frequency (and thereby give you crosstalk on your Lowrance), just not display the returns.
Doc:
About your overall strategy….it’ll work just fine. I had a 797c (now replaced by the 798c, which has a slightly larger screen) on my Crestliner the summer and fall before she went down the road. I mounted it by my kicker so I could study objects closely while at trolling speed. Even though the screen size was (and still is) limited, what you see will be eye-opening.
One danger though….don’t drive Dean’s Skeeter 1950 around too much. His dash mounted 997c will give you buyers remorse for not buying a bigger unit up front. 
Thanks for the reply Jason, think I will save my pennies for the 997. The cross talk issue would screw with my lowrance, think that will hit the road and then utilize one bigger unit for downlooking and SI-if I recollect, all I would need is a 2nd transducer to keep the SI ducer out of the water at speed.
2nd question, does the downlooking only ducer work better at speed, as you had stated losing bottom at approx. 30mph.
did you catch any fish last night?
Jeremy
P.S. I already know what Dean’s answer would be. 
Go with the 997 Jeremy. You won’t regret it! 
Doc,
A second, through-hull transducer will give you the down-looking sonar performance you’ll need when underway. Humminbird’s software automatically switches between the two transducers based on speed.
As of right now, all of my sonar readings come from the SI transducer….haven’t added the through-hull yet. I can read bottom up to 30-ish mph….but just bottom with no other details visible. That’s because of all the water turbulence at my SI transducer at speed. That particular problem will be eliminated with the second ‘ducer.
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