Humminbird or Lowrance

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forgehunter
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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby forgehunter » Fri Apr 10, 2015 4:31 am

pitz0022 wrote:I have no experience with Bird, but My father in law had a Lowrance HDS10 last summer that wouldn't boot. He took it to Reeds who sent it back to Lowrance for him. That was June. He got a new unit back in the end of August along with a bill for $1,000. I think it overheated and fried something, but I don't have any evidence to support that. I was surprised that they charged him a grand to replace it and that it took so long.

Not to badmouth Lowrance as that is the only bad experience I've had with them, but I swore I would remember his experience with it when it was time for me to upgrade. I am also intrigued by the birds capability of interfacing with the iPilot. I'm paying attention to this thread too.

this is not a surprise to me at all. i have heard mant stories and Lowrance CS and it is NOT good. I sell both products where i work and i will tell you that i hear far more stories about this with Lowrance than Bird...
He would hve been better off not repairing the unit he had and buying a new on for that kind of repair cost .


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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby bigwoodsmn » Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:00 am

I haven't even taken my Generation 3 HDS 9" out of the box yet. It's such a tough call to go with Bird or Lowrance.
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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby forgehunter » Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:44 am

bigwoodsmn wrote:I haven't even taken my Generation 3 HDS 9" out of the box yet. It's such a tough call to go with Bird or Lowrance.

Let me know if you want to talk a little about it. i sell them both and talk to a LOT of people that use both. I get nothing for selling either one, but there is usually only one I will reccomend to guys...
Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.
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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby bigwoodsmn » Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:54 am

forgehunter wrote:
bigwoodsmn wrote:I haven't even taken my Generation 3 HDS 9" out of the box yet. It's such a tough call to go with Bird or Lowrance.

Let me know if you want to talk a little about it. i sell them both and talk to a LOT of people that use both. I get nothing for selling either one, but there is usually only one I will reccomend to guys...


I decided I have $2400 to spend after tax (if not online purchase) and shipping. The unit I got is touch (also has regular button menus added back in Gen III), CHIRP sonar, broadband sonar, SI/DI/Struct Scan. I don't need a unit that has cruise control / steering features like this one does (my boat isn't hydraulic steering, etc). I do have a MinnKota V2 with the old iPilot ... would love to link a Humminbird to it. Not currently able to spend the $ on iPilot "Link" right now. Was thinking about buying an Motorguide Xi5 If I keep the Lowrance.

Thoughts?

Can you PM me?

Thanks
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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby Wlog » Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:57 am

No Simrad or Raymarine fans here? I have a Raymarine dragonfly that I love.

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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:02 pm

Have a review to share bigwoodsmn? I'm in the process of buying another boat that is already equipped with an hds 5 and the iPilot system. I'm debating upgrading to a larger screen unit with structure/side scan instead of adding the structure/side scan only. Curious to hear your thoughts.

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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby dirt nap giver » Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:27 pm

BassBoysLLP wrote:Have a review to share bigwoodsmn? I'm in the process of buying another boat that is already equipped with an hds 5 and the iPilot system. I'm debating upgrading to a larger screen unit with structure/side scan instead of adding the structure/side scan only. Curious to hear your thoughts.

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I am in the same boat and am leaning more toward Humming Bird because of the programming capabilities with the I pilot.

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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:33 pm

dirt nap giver wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:Have a review to share bigwoodsmn? I'm in the process of buying another boat that is already equipped with an hds 5 and the iPilot system. I'm debating upgrading to a larger screen unit with structure/side scan instead of adding the structure/side scan only. Curious to hear your thoughts.

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I am in the same boat and am leaning more toward Humming Bird because of the programming capabilities with the I pilot.

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Stay in your own boat! :lol:

This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to run the older lowrance as a slave on the bow with a hummingbird master with the link?

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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby bigwoodsmn » Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:13 am

I couldn't be happier.

The StructureScan down scan and side imaging works the same as they did in Gen 1 - they're great. However, the sonar, processing speed, and touch screen are amazing. The CHIRP sonar is crystal clear. The marks are perfect. I can tell fish sizes and separate marks even when they're on top of each other. I can see light marks on the edges of the cone like never before. The unit has a very fast processor. The touch screen is amazing. It's so easy to work through and learn the menus when using a touch screen. It still has physical menu buttons in case you are wearing gloves.

I haven't tried the feature where it wi-fi broadcasts to my tablet or phone. I have not purchased a Motorguide trolling motor yet for link integration but I will. I almost bought a Humminbird so it would link with my MinnKota. I'm happy I gave Lowrance another try - I need a new trolling motor at some point anyway.


... Other thoughts:

Get the largest screen you can. I know that's cliche. I went with the 9" Gen III because that's what I could do. $2500 "total" was my pain point. The next pain point (12" screen) was $3500+. The 9" works great for side imaging because of its horizontal screen layout (similar to Humminbird). I had a 5" and an 8" Gen 1 in the past. I used the 5" for GPS and sonar and the 8" for side imaging. I'm going to look for a good waterproof tablet made for outdoors (maybe Panasonic still makes one) and control the Lowrance Gen III with it.

I haven't heard how well Humminbird and "iPilot Link" (not just "iPilot") work together.
I haven't heard how well Lowrance Gen II and Gen III work with Motorguide Xi5 w/ Link.
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Re: Humminbird or Lowrance

Unread postby dirt nap giver » Wed Jul 22, 2015 6:24 am

BassBoysLLP wrote:
dirt nap giver wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:Have a review to share bigwoodsmn? I'm in the process of buying another boat that is already equipped with an hds 5 and the iPilot system. I'm debating upgrading to a larger screen unit with structure/side scan instead of adding the structure/side scan only. Curious to hear your thoughts.

[ Post made via Android ] Image

I am in the same boat and am leaning more toward Humming Bird because of the programming capabilities with the I pilot.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


Stay in your own boat! :lol:

This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to run the older lowrance as a slave on the bow with a hummingbird master with the link?

[ Post made via Android ] Image

Too funny! I thought about that after I submitted the post.

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hard work trumps talent, when talent fails to work hard


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