New fishfinder

[ron1337]

Ok i want to get a new fishfinder for my boat...
It doesn't have to be a combo unit as I have a lowrance hds5 already to use for gps. 
Can anyone suggest a good unit for 600-700 or less that will be good?  There are so many units available with so many options just not sure which way to go...side imaging? Chirp? Total scan?
Any help would be great

[mwardncsu]

Given you have an HDS now, there is value in another HDS as you can network them together over ethernet which gives you some flexibility in what you display on what screen. I'm a big fan of side-imaging, which I believe you can only get in the HDS line for Lowrance.

You can get a HDS 7 Gen2 Touch on the upper end of your budget - or find a used one - this has integrated StructureScan (though you'd need the SS xducer) which gives you side and downscan.

I'm not sold on CHIRP for SML as of yet.

The Elite and Hook series are very good units if you don't need side-scan



There are equivalent offerings on the Humminbird side, but if you know and like your HDS then there is value in staying with Lowrance so you don't learn two interfaces.

[ron1337]

Well im not really used to it as it came with the boat and the transducer is not working properly so I have not had a good chance to really see it work properly.
I was kinda looking at the lowrance ti model. I thought it had side scan but I might be wrong



ote author="mwardncsu" source="/post/32540/thread" timestamp="1464292373"]Given you have an HDS now, there is value in another HDS as you can network them together over ethernet which gives you some flexibility in what you display on what screen. I'm a big fan of side-imaging, which I believe you can only get in the HDS line for Lowrance.

You can get a HDS 7 Gen2 Touch on the upper end of your budget - or find a used one - this has integrated StructureScan (though you'd need the SS xducer) which gives you side and downscan.

I'm not sold on CHIRP for SML as of yet.

The Elite and Hook series are very good units if you don't need side-scan



There are equivalent offerings on the Humminbird side, but if you know and like your HDS then there is value in staying with Lowrance so you don't learn two interfaces.[/quote]

[mwardncsu]

Ahh - the Elite Ti DOES have sidescan and downscan..... the Hook looks to just have down....

So, if you don't want to ethernet network to the HDS, then the Elite Ti is a good little unit. One benefit of networking with the HDS - running GPS on one and Sidescan or sonar or whatever on the other is you can scroll the cursor across the sonar and it will move the cursor on the GPS, allowing you to know where to turn and run back to in order to get over that bait or fish, etc

[smlfishing]

I put a elite 7ti on my TM and it has worked very well. The bonus is it is all in one transducer.

[ron1337]

After looking today at gander mountain
I really like the humminbird helix 9 si
Anyone have this unit and what are your thoughts. Im also considering the 7si

[mwdilday]

I have the Humminbird Helix 7 SI with Lakemaster chart. I like it so far. Have not used anything else.

[ron1337]

Well im still looking at models and features. The 2 I'm stuck between are lowrance hds 9 gen 2 touch and the Humminbird helix 9 si... anyone want to chime in on this? Both cost a good bit and I don't want to go the wrong way..lol

[mwardncsu]

Both are excellent units. Sort of comes down to religion. I like the sonar of the Lowrance units better than the "Surefire" or whatever sonar on Humminbird but that's just my opinion. Lowrance has some benefits / Hunminbird has some others.

The Lowrance is a bit more expandable with things like stereo, CHIRP sonar, radar. The Helix has buttons AND touch I believe - and you can network to minnKota trolling motors with iPilot Link. If you were talking a Gen3 Lowrance then id say get Lowrance but you're comparing Humminbirds latest to Lowrance's previous gen.

[ron1337]

Yeah I realize that but the cost is so much more for the gen 3

[ron1337]

Other than the added buttons on the side what are you really getting from the gen 2 and the gen 3. And for the larger price tag what benefits would I get going with the lowrance over the Humminbird? I actually thought the screen was much better on the Humminbird but I guess that was just me..idk

[striperjohn]

Imho Lowrance is better in just about every category. I have older units, some date back into the 70s that still work. To me it is like the difference between a high end car and a low end, you get what you pay for. Lowrance gives you much more flexibility in building a total bow to stern system for catching bait and finding fish. Just my 2 cents.

[mwardncsu]

Jun 15, 2016 7:54:44 GMT -5 striperjohn said:

Imho Lowrance is better in just about every category. I have older units, some date back into the 70s that still work. To me it is like the difference between a high end car and a low end, you get what you pay for. Lowrance gives you much more flexibility in building a total bow to stern system for catching bait and finding fish. Just my 2 cents.

The newer Humminbird Helix units are top-notch and very comparable to the HDS - not the little "birds" that a lot of us 1st got to know years ago.... so I can't knock it. Just like Lowrance has low to high-end lines, so does Humminbird and the Helix is their top-end line. You can network the Humminbird Helix units together so that you can how bow to stern setups as well (not sure if the Helix would network with the previous gen units or not.... that is one nice thing with Lowrance is you can use the latest HDS on the console but then pick up an older HDS Gen 1 off eBay or somewhere for "cheap" and drop it up on the bow for bait catching but network them).

I'll agree the Humminbird screen seems to be a bit "sharper" or something - it may just be the glass they use being glossier than the Lowrance which is a bit more of a matte finish (which should help some with glare). It may also have a bit better pixel density on the screen, not sure.... either way, I'm still ont a fan of their sonar - does not seem to be as good as the old-school Lowrance or the "broadband sonar" in the HDS - but I've only used it on a buddy's boat and never fully tried to tweak his settings and such

Jun 15, 2016 6:58:31 GMT -5 ron1337 said:

Other than the added buttons on the side what are you really getting from the gen 2 and the gen 3. And for the larger price tag what benefits would I get going with the lowrance over the Humminbird? I actually thought the screen was much better on the Humminbird but I guess that was just me..idk

Check me on this by reviewing the product pages, but if I recall, the big differences in the HDS Gen 2 Touch vs the Gen 3 are:
- integrated WiFi (you can add this as an external module on the Gen2 Touch) - this lets you display the fish-finder screen on your smartPhone or control it via a tablet.... this maybe useful if jigging around the boat and can strap your phone on your wrist, but not a huge must-have in my book
- integrated CHIRP sonar - can be added to a Gen2 Touch via the "Sonar Hub" module). CHIRP is the "latest" in sonar technology and various the frequency of pulses across a range to, in theory, result in better return images. Mixed feedback on the value of CHIRP on SML
- Gen3 Touch unit is "ready" for addition of the 3D StructureScan module - can't use the 3D SS with anything but the newer Gen3 Touch.
- a bit faster interface due to more memory / faster processor

Both have the same overall interface (the Gen3 has the external buttons to use the unit as well, which could be nice in winter or rough seas) - and both have integrated Broadband sonar and integrated StructureScan (down/sidescan - though pay attention to what bundle when comparing prices as not all come with the SS xducer).

You are right that there is a LARGE price diff right now as Lowrance tries to move out the remaining Gen2 Touch units - $1750 vs. $3100 for the 12" screens (before any rebates) - that's a major difference.... and a dang good price on a 12" unit if you don't care about Wifi, CHIRP, etc (just keep in mind that if you want to add CHIRP to a Gen2 Touch that it would be around a $600 adder for that module - before accounting for the CHIRP transducer which you'd need in either case) - just know you're buying "old" technology and that future upgrades will be limited (i.e. like not being able to get the 3D StructureScan module, etc)

[ron1337]

That was very helpful to me and thank you for the reply. It's still a hard decision for me. Thats alot of money to part with and don't want to regret my decision.but thanks for the advice

[Pete D.]

Ron,

Good on you for thinking this one out!!!!

I started off with a little pixellated POS that was basically only a depth finder.

Then, I graduated to the Humminbird 898 with side imaging. It was a great unit, had excellent 2d sonar, and the side imaging was second to none IMO. I could see things in 2-5ft. of water that I am just not picking up on my lowrances. Mapping (contourXD) is complete garbage and you NEED to add a mapping chart. So add that to your expenses unless you already have a card.


Anyways, I had two of those units and the only issue is that I felt like if I wanted to use the side imaging I had to use the ENTIRE screen just for SI. The 7" screen is too small to use sonar, chart and side imaging.

Fell in love with the touch on Hammer's boat, and HAD to have one. Also wanted a larger screen than the 7", and didnt want to add two units to the console. So, I bought a HDS 12 touch, with the sonarhub (chirp). I love the 2d sonar. Best I could ask for, actually. The Humminbird has super 2d sonar, but the lowrance just looked better to me. I also had an HDS-5. Honestly, for sonar only, it is PERFECT. Just too small to start adding subscreens. I used that on the front of the boat for bait. On my new rig I throw off the stern, and can see the 12 just fine from there, so I sold the 5.

Lowrance side scan is excellent also, but in my opinion, it does not compare to the humminbird at SHALLOW side imaging/scan. For the deeper SS, I like the Lowrance.

They are both top notch. I agree with Mward, and say get an HDS gen 2 and link it up to the hds 5. The totalscan, from what I have seen, is great, and perfect if you don't want a ton of ducers on the boat. But, I like the two ducers, because you can keep the 2d lower to read on plane, and the LSS up higher so you dont smack a $300 ducer on an all too famous SML log.

I have a TON of screenshots on my humminbirds and lowrance units. Let me know if you want to see anything and I would be happy to show you. You can also check this site for good used electronics www.bbcboards.net/forumdisplay.php?f=12 It is moderated and I have NEVER had an issue here. Great deals for sure!!! And there is a ton of screenshots on their imaging section with lowrance, simrad, humminbird, garmin, raymarine etc.