Do you think down scan is enough of a improvement to warrant buying over the basic depth finder like the 27C??
I am thinking side scanning may be more than I want to deal with and wondering if down scan would be worth the cost over the 27C’s I have now??
No hurry to change units, but I figure the LCX27C’s will break sooner or later and it appears lowrance ain’t fixing them.
tia
Al
SideScan is worth every Penny. And Down Scan is also a nice plus. It is nice to see every branch with Cranks hanging off them like a xmas tree when you pass over it!
If you upgrade from an LCX-27C I would go with an SI unit. That will give you downscan as well.
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Do you think down scan is enough of a improvement to warrant buying over the basic depth finder like the 27C??
I am thinking side scanning may be more than I want to deal with and wondering if down scan would be worth the cost over the 27C’s I have now??
No hurry to change units, but I figure the LCX27C’s will break sooner or later and it appears lowrance ain’t fixing them.
tiaAl
If I was only allowed to run one of the 3 (side scan, down scan, and 2d) I would choose side scan any day of the week. Of course I can’t use this at high speed. But I feel it delivers the most information to my brain any given day on the water.
I’m running Humminbirds by the way.
All I can say is …..Bird’s the word!!! 
I used to be a lowrance fan but have recently converted to the winning side of fishing. I use side and down scan all the time. Down scan is way more accurate than 2d sonar.
Thanks guys, I really haven’t looked to see if there is a big difference in cost between SI and DS so it may not be much of a issue, but I’m wondering about the learning curve, hate to end up with a unit that the screen just looks Greek to me.
At 63 the learning curve seems to take way longer than days past..:)
Be nice to get out this spring with someone who has all this and maybe they could show me what’s going on.
Wade, past poor lowrances customer service has me leaning to wards Hummingbird too, but I need to go look I guess, screen size is important for these old eyes too.
Al
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Thanks guys, I really haven’t looked to see if there is a big difference in cost between SI and DS so it may not be much of a issue, but I’m wondering about the learning curve, hate to end up with a unit that the screen just looks Greek to me.
At 63 the learning curve seems to take way longer than days past..:)
Be nice to get out this spring with someone who has all this and maybe they could show me what’s going on.
Wade, past poor lowrances customer service has me leaning to wards Hummingbird too, but I need to go look I guess, screen size is important for these old eyes too.
Al
If screen size is an issue, it may really be an issue when looking at Side Imaging. With that being said, I’d recommend the 10″ screen.
Lowrance’s customer service is what made me go with Birds. 3k – 5k may not be a lot of cash to some guys. But most of us expect exceptional customer service before, during and after plunking down that kind of cash for a luxury accessory.
If the lowrance model HDS10 is a down scanning unit, the same sized HB is almost a grand more?????
Not sure for me, whether side scanning is worth a grand more.
May have to go hit the lottery..:)
Al
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If the lowrance model HDS10 is a down scanning unit, the same sized HB is almost a grand more?????
Not sure for me, whether side scanning is worth a grand more.
May have to go hit the lottery..:)
Al
I hear that. I’m not sure Side Scan has put $1000 worth of fish in the freezer. However now that I’ve been using it for 2 years, it wasn’t even an option (in my head) to not order it on my new rig.
It definitely has put more fish in my boat vs. if I hadn’t had SI.
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screen size is important for these old eyes too.
Al
Tell me about it. 
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of paying $2500 for a depth finder. I have the 797c2si there is a bit of a learning curve, not operation wise Hbirds are so easy to run compared to LR IMPO. When it comes to SI screen size is way important, for interpreting what it is showing same information on a smaller screen but more spread out. At this point I could not go with out SI especially when searching for fish. 
If and when you upgrade, goto Humminbird. I did and Iam not looking back. Lowrances disposable units may be for someone but not I. 
I don’t think the HDS10 has DI without adding the LSS-1 Structure Scan for an additional $600. Then it would have both SI, and DI. That puts the HDS10 at $2900. The 1198 humminbird is $2800 that unit comes with both DI, and SI. They don’t give either 10″ unit away. I have the older 1197 and it is great. My old eyes need the bigger screen.
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If the lowrance model HDS10 is a down scanning unit, the same sized HB is almost a grand more?????
Not sure for me, whether side scanning is worth a grand more.
May have to go hit the lottery..:)
Al
seeing fish with down scan is a lot easier then seeing fish in side scan…
Side scan uses a very narrow beam transducer and with the down scan you use the cone in the transducer..
So the learning curve is greater with the side scan then it is with the down scan…
Chevy/Ford
HB/HDS
I won’t say it doesn’t matter…The only one it should matter to is you…
I love the learning curve… I caught myself out for hours on end not even fishing…just watching my graph and seeing what was really on the bottom of the river..
Well I will put my 2 cents in here, I switched back to Lowrance after seeing the the performance of both, I will not get into a brand bashing fest. If you get an HDS unit you need to get the Structure Scan module or LSS-1, this then allows you to have both Down Scan and Side Scan. Both Down Scan and Side Scan use a narrow beam vs the cone of 2D. Learning to use this new technology takes some time behind the screen to learn it and to find the optimum settings. But it an awesome piece of technolgy.
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seeing fish with down scan is a lot easier then seeing fish in side scan…
Side scan uses a very narrow beam transducer and with the down scan you use the cone in the transducer..
So the learning curve is greater with the side scan then it is with the down scan…
Chevy/Ford
HB/HDSI won’t say it doesn’t matter…The only one it should matter to is you…
I love the learning curve… I caught myself out for hours on end not even fishing…just watching my graph and seeing what was really on the bottom of the river..
At close to 3k for either, it’s nothing I’m going to rush into, but a combo unit probably makes sense, I can use the down scan for the most part and maybe play with the Side scan when things are slow.
Hopefully the 27C’s will last another year or two and I’ll have time to deal with the decision.
Al
After seeing both operate side by side Lowrance has the clear edge in clarity. I also like the ability to add on the DS/SI at a later date if you like with Lowrance, an option you can’t get with HB, you have to buy it all at once.
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After seeing both operate side by side Lowrance has the clear edge in clarity. I also like the ability to add on the DS/SI at a later date if you like with Lowrance, an option you can’t get with HB, you have to buy it all at once.
Another factor that I don’t think anybody has mentioned, if you have more than one unit in your boat, the cost of the Lowrance should be much lower as you don’t have to buy the SI/DI again, it is networked.
While I doubt I’ll switch to Lowrance due to customer service concerns.
Lowrance does support Radar which HB does not. There are a number of times a summer I would love to have radar on board.
Lowrances customer service is back on the rise, much much better than even a year ago… That was never a concern for me when buying a new unit last fall and not a factor when I add a 2nd unit this year.
That is most likely because you have been lucky enough to not have to deal with Lowrance when their customer service was terrible. If it had happened to you, I would guess you would have a different point of view. For me customer service is huge.
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Lowrances customer service is back on the rise, much much better than even a year ago… That was never a concern for me when buying a new unit last fall and not a factor when I add a 2nd unit this year.
Nope been using Lowrance/Eagle products for over 20 years, have used their CS once and was quickly taken care of.
I bought two hds last year and couldn’t be happier. LSS-1 is a definate add-on.
DC vs SI. Both are important to have because I use them as two different tools. The SI is more for finding structure and spots to fish. If you expect SI to show fish everywhere – it won’t. The DS is what a use more for showing me fish. It shows a clear image of the bottom and has very good fish target separation. It is very easy to distinguish fish from structure.
HDS or H bird. As the person said above it is really a chevy/ford debate. Go to the store and stand there and play with both a hds model and a bird model, see what one you like better. That is what I did. As far as lowrances customer service, I heard it is a lot better now.
I sure am curious why all you lowrance haters are patroling the lowrance forum. If I didn’t care for something I wouldn’t go to a forum that is specifically about a product that I don’t care for.
Jeremy
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I sure am curious why all you lowrance haters are patroling the lowrance forum
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Can’t say for anyone else, but for me, it’s not the product, in fact I really like the 27C’s I have and have no problem with them.
It’s the fact lowrance customer service admitted they had problems with their transducers and still basiclly said to me “to bad, but you can buy three more if you like from us”.
lowrance had a gal named (if I remember right) Linda Colt, she was a pleasure to deal with, the two times I contacted previous to the transducer problems she went out of her way to help, appears they dumpered her, and customer service quality.
THAT is what I’m hating.
Try a few of the other forums, you’ll find I’m not the only one who has doubts about lowrance, I hope they are getting it together but it’s to bad they got off track to begin with.
Al
I’m not going to touch the side scan or down imaging debate here, but I do feel a need to share my experience.
Facts:
* Linda Colt was not dumped. She quit.
* Lowrance customer service was pretty bad at best.
* Over the last year Lowrance has taken great strides in rebuilding their service reputation.
* Hold times have been reduce.
* Many more trouble shooting tips are on their website
* Lowrance has people like Ken Sauret visiting websites helping people BEFORE they have to call in. The fact is that in many cases we don’t have to make that call…the answer is right here. Just ask the question.
If Lowrance Customer Service hasn’t surpassed bird yet, I’m confident they will very soon. After all, as quoted from the President of Navco “Our goal is to have everyone of our CS staff to be a Linda Colt”.
How about you cool it, Al.
Lowrance haters was not directed at you. I guess my point is if a person doesn’t own a lowrance, why get on a forum that is specifically geared towards lowrance and reply? So they can bash them? I could see it maybe if they tried to write something of use.
I just get tired of it. I think that horse is dead.
So let me get this straight. You are “hating” because lowrance won’t replace your 4 or 5 year old tranducer for nothing? I don’t even think humminbird would do that.
Jeremy
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How about you cool it, Al.
Lowrance haters was not directed at you. I guess my point is if a person doesn’t own a lowrance, why get on a forum that is specifically geared to-wards lowrance and reply? So they can bash them? I could see it maybe if they tried to write something of use.
I just get tired of it. I think that horse is dead.
So let me get this straight. You are “hating” because lowrance won’t replace your 4 or 5 year old tranducer for nothing? I don’t even think humminbird would do that.
Jeremy [/quo
……
Cool it??
Maybe be a bit more specific on who you talking about then..?4 or 5 year old, hard to do when they were bought in late 07 and the first one went out before the end of 07, second one went spring of 08 and the last one either late 08 or early 09, but more to the point, they admitted they had problems with them and the newer version was suppose to be better.
Colt quit BK? from what I remember, there’s much more to that story, if I remember right she replied to a post on Walleye Central there were reasons if she quit.
Point on that was at one time lowrance customer service would bend over back wards to make customers happy, not so after she left.As far as lowrance customer service improving and they’re on the forum helping us now, I’ll wait and see on how well they do on the phone, that’s it really counts, not on some forum where they can look good for just a few.
Ya, I’m a doubting Thomas, but if anybody else had dealt with them after Colt left, you’d understand why.
Which like I said, is to bad, as I like my 27C’s alot.
Al
“Linda Colt, she was a pleasure to deal with, the two times I contacted previous to the transducer problems she went out of her way to help, appears they dumpered her, and customer service quality.”
The way I read this is you are saying your transducer problems started after Linda left. I believe she left spring 2010, so that puts your transducer problems starting after that. That is why i asked if you expected lowrance to replace your 4 to 5 year old tranducer.
One question, what ping speed are you running on your units?
Jeremy
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Colt quit BK? from what I remember, there’s much more to that story, if I remember right she replied to a post on Walleye Central there were reasons if she quit.
Check your memory. She resigned and was not fired. I’m not going to get into a debate with you over this Al. If I could get Linda here herself, it wouldn’t change your mind. So I’m not going to try. Besides she’s gone and isn’t coming back.
PS I’ve dealt with Lowrance Customer Service before and after Linda left. I’ll dig up my post. Not that it’s going to change your mind. 
Here’s my question to you. If you’ve had such bad service from Lowrance (I’m not doubting you) why are you back in the Lowrance forum asking questions about a new one? If it was that bad, shouldn’t you be in the ‘bird forum?
Just wondering?
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Colt quit BK? from what I remember, there’s much more to that story, if I remember right she replied to a post on Walleye Central there were reasons if she quit.
Check your memory. She resigned and was not fired. I’m not going to get into a debate with you over this Al. If I could get Linda here herself, it wouldn’t change your mind. So I’m not going to try. Besides she’s gone and isn’t coming back.
PS I’ve dealt with Lowrance Customer Service before and after Linda left. I’ll dig up my post. Not that it’s going to change your mind.
Here’s my question to you. If you’ve had such bad service from Lowrance (I’m not doubting you) why are you back in the Lowrance forum asking questions about a new one? If it was that bad, shouldn’t you be in the ‘bird forum?
Just wondering?
Why?
Like I’ve said before, I like the units, the 27C’s have worked well and are easy to deal with and use.
I’ve said this many times, it’s not the product, it’s the company.
And I guess I am hoping they get it together as the HDS8 looks like a pretty nice unit.
That’s why I posted here…hope springs eternal..:)
I work in the repair industry, companies do produce items that fail even before their planned obsolescence and the good companies stand behind their mistakes.
That’s what make people like me come back to their product.
btw BK you may change my mind, it’s been done before …sometimes ya just have to use a bigger club though..:)
But…the point was during Linda’s tenure at lowrance, it was a pleasure to deal with them, not so after wards.
Ping rate? Not sure what that has to do with the transducers going out as the 27C’s worked fine after replacing the transducers with either the updated ducer or the ducer on the Terrova.
I’d have to look at what their set at, probably either highest setting or whatever the manual said to use.
Ping rate is the rate at which the transducer sends out a signal. I believe I read somewhere if you set them high or max them out it is hard on your tranducer especially in shallower water and you will eventually blow your transducer out.
whether its true or not, maybe someone that has more technical knowledge could chime in and confirm/deny what I read.
Jeremy
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