Thank you for your reply James, I was starting to get confused and mis-lead. I am a fish-a-holic, I fish 6 days a week in my boat from when the ice disappears until it forms back up. I just started hard water fishing last winter. I decided this year to get some electronics and I just ironically bought the Humminbird Ice 45. I only used it 3 times and immediately had great success “seeing” what was happening underwater. Maybe I’m too new at it to know any better about what’s the better unit, but that’s not the point. I AM HAPPY with it. On soft water I am in that 10% that catches 90% of the fish and I hope to learn more from you ice fishing pros on this site to join the 10% on hard water. Remember that when giving advice and don’t get too technical for us novices. Again, thanks.