Lowrance vs hummingbird

I have been comparing brands and I have come up with 2 that I like. I like the Lowrance HDS-5 Gen2 sonar/gps combo and the Hummingbird 597ci HD DI sonar/gps combo. I know the HDS-5 does not come with down imaging like the 597 does and I don’t want to spend the extra money for structure scan. The down imaging looks good but I have used it before. I also noticed the Lowrance Elite-5 DSI sonar/gps combo at a better price but I suppose not as good. Which one would you guys recommend? Anything to watch out for on these 3 models?

I have a 597 CI HD. Your gps speed will jump around with the internal antenna at lower speeds, other than that I really like the unit using a Lake Master chip.

HB, I checked many out and the one I want is the 597

Thanks for the information. Can i put on a small external antenna for the gps to more accurately measure speed? Or isn’t that an option?

Sure can. However the internal antenna checks in once every second.

I haven’t found a reason to add the external antenna yet except “because I can”.

Oh, sorry. You must be referring to the bird.

I have no note worthy info on that.

Ba ba ba ba bird bird bird, Bird is the word.

Why are we worrying about HB here? Buy the best LOWRANCE!!!

Then you don’t need to worry about all that other stuff HDS7 user with no problems &LSS too!

Stan

They are both good units. I run Lowrance, but have fished with guys with birds and liked those as well. Go somewhere that has them both and play with the menus and look at the demo modes. You will like one more than the other most likely. I stay with Lowrance because I have had great luck with them and have seen no reason to switch to bird, and I am comfortable with the Lowrance menus. But, to repeat my first sentence, they are both good units.

Exactly John, I agree with you.
I had Lowrance first and then this Down Imaging came out 7 years ago in the Humminbird 987. The more I was reading about it the more I was buying into the unit. So I bought one the next spring in 06.
Then one to two years ago Lowrance came with their units. Page load was slow I thought. Now with the Gen 2’s I don’t think that is an issue any more. Also the newest update for the gen 1 units seems to have cleared that up much better that before.

There are a couple of things that stands out with both manufactures that are only capable to be done by the individual company. Pick which suits and give it a go. You will not be disappointed. If and when you get one of the newer technology units you will not even wet a line for a few times, you’ll be watching the screen!