Looking to upgrade electronics!

Looking to upgrade my 10 year old Lowrance electronics! These things show depth but honestly can’t say I’ve ever marked a fish with them! Even sat on spots where we caught fish one right after another and the graph just looked flat on the bottom! So thinking about hummingbird helix or even the older 900-1100 series with side imaging also considered staying with Lowrance hds I just don’t know which way to go? Anyone have a opinion before I buy something or even have something for sale that they believe in but just want to upgrade them selfs? Need some advice on what people are using and if it’s working! The guys selling these things at lets say cabelas don’t always have the on the water experience with the product! Thanks in advance for the advice

When I jumped into the H/bird 1197 I walked away from my beloved LMS-350A. That Lowrance unit took a lot of fart’n around with the transducer location to get it right. For the time, it was about the best out there.
The technology and displays have increase so dramatically since then. My OLD H/bird 1197 still is an excellent unit. However, this brings me to a word of caution if you buy a used unit. Processor speed. As technology continues to grow, so does the software these units run and the map chips we use. Easy to put in a new map chip and the unit goes into slow motion. For that reason, i would look newer if your making the leap.
A few of my H/bird samples

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I have a Lowrance 102C, 10 yrs. old, shows fish arches. Its been a good unit, but its time to up grade. This was my first depth finder, so I experienced a learning curve. I am in the same boat you are. I’ve done a lot of research. Everyone talks about CHIRP frequency in their line of depthfinders, don’t know if it’s worth it, but, Lowrance, Raymarine, and Garmin are offering it in their most basic units. Humminbird only makes this available in their higher end units, $1000 plus. Also I am looking at a combo unit which makes my decision a little more difficult, because of availability SD mapping chips, for my midwest area, Miss. river which Raymarine, and Garmin are very disappointing. I have a friend with a Humminbird 899 SI, nice unit. Randy talks about processor, I would definitely agree. Don’t get in a hurry. Do not buy used.

Specifically talking about CHIRP, yes, it is worth it. You can get much higher detail while turning down the sensitivity getting a cleaner image. For that alone its worth it.

Ok I normally stay away from these Chevy vs Ford conversations but I thought this was a good time to post this pic being there was a Hummingbird pic posted. If you look at my picture below it’s easy to see the fish arcs on the bottom. IMO Lowrance is the only unit that can give a crisp reading like this. Look at the fussy looking output of the Hummingbird. You will get used to reading anything you buy but I prefer a clear picture.

As for installation
* screw the ducer to the back of your boat
* power up the unit
* and fish!

I’ve had 10 different Lowrance units over the years and they all worked great. I’d have no problem buying a used unit. I have a ten year old unit on my second boat and it reads just like the pic below. I really don’t think all the “new” technology will catch me anymore fish. All I need to know is if they’re down there and my old unit could and still can do that. I love Lowrance and others love Birds.

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OK, you say CHIRP is worth it, and I am not disputing you, but would you spend $400 more for a Humminbird over a Lowrance to get CHIRP.

Whatever you get, now’s the time to buy. Go to the Sports Show and find your best price.

Joe Scegura wrote:

If you look at my picture below it’s easy to see the fish arcs on the bottom.

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I had been running humminbird for 12 years. I have had 1197, 1198, 1199, and a 1159. They have been great units and I can’t say a bad thing about them. I laugh at the Lowrance guys that complain about the bird not having the arcs. It shows the same information just in different format. I just switched to a Garmin xsv unit. I have spent the last few days figuring it out. I have traditional sonar, Sideview, down view, and panoptix with unit. I was fishing fairly shallow so I didn’t use the panoptix much yet. From what I have seen so far the technology with this unit is quite impressive, and unbelievably clear and easy to use. Garmin has jumped in with both feet and to me are far out in front of humminbird and lowrance.

mojogunter wrote:

I laugh at the Lowrance guys that complain about the bird not having the arcs. It shows the same information just in different format.

I just stated that I like how clear my Lowrance reads. If you like the fuzzy arcs (different format as you call it) on your Bird that’s fine by me.

How about you just offer your opinion and leave it at that.

Relax, reread your post and I think you will see how your comment could be a viewed as a backhanded slight towards humminbird. I was poking fun at you because you stated the same thing I would always hear from the Lowrance faithful. I ran lowrance for several years, but switched when bird came out with SI. FYI garmin display has the arcs like the Lowrance.

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mojogunter wrote:</div>
I laugh at the Lowrance guys that complain about the bird not having the arcs. It shows the same information just in different format.

I just stated that I like how clear my Lowrance reads. If you like the fuzzy arcs (different format as you call it) on your Bird that’s fine by me.

How about you just offer your opinion and leave it at that.

How offen do you guys use or really rely on the side imaging? And where does it really work great at? One guy at a local boat center who sells hummingbird actually talked me out of side imaging today! Said if there are weeds on bottom it’s hard to see the fish and if the walleye is 50 left of the boat are you really going to see it on the graph! Just when I thought I had a good idea on what direction to go I don’t know again! I fish the river maybe a dozen times in the spring and half a dozen in fall winter. Do a lot of spring and early summer trolling, have a upper red trip booked for June so does a guy really need to spent the extra $300-400 on side imaging but are you a fool to not spend it when buying a new unit! Hell I just don’t know!!! Question is are you guys ecstatic about your side imaging or should a guy just use the down imaging? Thanks for the advice

The SI is good for guys running shorelines looking for gaps or holes in the weeds to throw into. I just used mine this weekend looking for scattered walleyes in the shallows and it worked well for me. I also use it on big water on flats to find schools of fish. On the river I use DI to see better separation to see fish tight to the bottom. It is a nice feature depending on the type of fishing you do.

Thanks for the info maybe just spend the extra money! Can’t take it with me!!

Rainbow620 wrote:

How offen do you guys use or really rely on the side imaging? And where does it really work great at? One guy at a local boat center who sells hummingbird actually talked me out of side imaging today! Said if there are weeds on bottom it’s hard to see the fish and if the walleye is 50 left of the boat are you really going to see it on the graph! Just when I thought I had a good idea on what direction to go I don’t know again! I fish the river maybe a dozen times in the spring and half a dozen in fall winter. Do a lot of spring and early summer trolling, have a upper red trip booked for June so does a guy really need to spent the extra $300-400 on side imaging but are you a fool to not spend it when buying a new unit! Hell I just don’t know!!! Question is are you guys ecstatic about your side imaging or should a guy just use the down imaging? Thanks for the advice

If I may, I read a lot of guys look’in to up grade and we all can get into the John Deer/International Harvester, Ford/Chevy, Frick/Frat ect….

I see posts that are asking questions requiring a substantial jump in their investment that is relevant to many dollars and act with the Master Card in a day or two.

Hummm, if I was to make an upgrade on something that would cost me a few hundred to make a change I would have made that decision and dropped the master card, done deal.

If I’m looking to make a change that might cost me up to a grand,well I think I’d be doing some home work over a while.

I’ve been thinking about making a change in my electronics for a while and I will spend thousand dollars and more on my new units each, well, I Do Research and Lots Of It!

My thoughts,
Don’t decide too quickly, and do your research,
Decide wisely!

For instance I have an 11989 and a 998 both are Csi’s tied to the link system using an Ulterra trolling motor with a 5 pin hub.

I’m contemplating making a switch to Helix or Onix. I use 2 finders on my boat or more so,.

Can I use one of each type? What are the advantages for one versus the other?
Advantages versus disadvantages at any combinations of my equations.

Denny, if you have a an 1198 and 998, I can’t see much benefit to buying a new onix or helix unit. As long as you’re happy with your current map chip and don’t wish to utilize autochart, there’s not much gain IMO.

Pretty sure with recent software you can mix and match the birds.

Anyone considering a substantial upgrade needs to compare it to how they fish and know they will use. I’ve had guys in my boat that couldn’t distinguish fish from a blank screen. Others can spot the white specs in the rocks with the side scan and recognize inactive fish that were belly to the bottom. Some guys capitalize on the technology and others need a unit that can verbally tell them what to do. Not trying to be demeaning to anyone. There is just a vast difference in how people are able to read the information. Not that it needs to be shared publicly, but every individual needs to recognize what tools fit their skill sets and buy accordingly.

Joe, thanks for the image. I don’t get into many others boats so it’s nice to see other equipment in action

Randy Wieland wrote:

. Joe, thanks for the image. I don’t get into many others boats so it’s nice to see other equipment in action

No problem Randy and you’re right about the learning curve in reading fish. If someone doesn’t fish a lot I really question whether I should recommend a unit that does way more than they will ever use. It’s not like side imaging is something you can pick up fishing once or twice a month.

As much as you and I fish it comes easy, but for the average angler I think an easy to read 2D sonar is the way to go. I catch nearly all my fish with this basic technology. Side imaging, chirp, touch screen… these things are nice but catch me very few fish. That’s just my opinion though.

I just spent an hour in Scheels asking alot of questions. I’m also looking to upgrade a 10 year old unit. My must haves were 7+ screen and SI. Scheels had Garmin, Lowrance, and HBird units. Their recommendation for me and my price point was the H-Bird Helix 7. The lakemaster chips for this area appear to be far superior to the others. That was the key differentiator.

I did learn though that there is a fairly wide gap in processor speed between the helix 9 and helix 7. Also the 7 does not network but the 9 does. But for $300 it did not appear worth it to me. Im headed to the sport show Saturday to see if I can beat their deal.

Rainbow, I have a 1198c SI and 1158c DI unit for sale if you are interested.

Put me on a body of water without my si fishing against myself with si, and the one of me with si will kick the other me’s arse every time on any species.

1 vote for SI or stay home

Hey fife thanks for the offer on the birds! I’m really leaning toward the helix 9 with si tho have been researching and talking with a lot of people about this and really like the auto hart idea of the helix! Tho i may still be interested in the units you have to replace the other two on my boat! Send me a pm and we can talk! Thanks

Here is some of 2015 close outs from Hummingbird.

http://north40.com/outdoor/marine/electronics?limit=25&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=N40_DP&utm_campaign=HumminBird%2BFishing%2BClearance%2B3.23

Fife I just sent you a PM