Which $99 Depthfinder Should I Buy?

[Jim Mac]

Garmin Echo 150

Humminbird 175

Lowrance X4 Pro

Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

It's a tie.

 

The Garmin seems to have the best display. No data for the Lowrance.

[BrianSnat]

I have an older model of Garmin in the same price range. Very happy with it so far and it's been about 5 years. I'm sure all will do the job.

[buzzed bait]

Nice timing on this post.  I am looking for a fishfinder in the same range for my kayak.  I think I'm pretty much sold on the Garmin 150.  I saw the Humminbird, Lowrance and Garmin yesterday in person.  The Lowrance just seemed absolutely too complicated for the simple use I'm looking for.  And the Humminbird display was not nearly as crisp as the Garmin.  So I think I'm ordering the Garmin 150 today.

[Jim Mac]

Nice timing on this post.  I am looking for a fishfinder in the same range for my kayak.  I think I'm pretty much sold on the Garmin 150.  I saw the Humminbird, Lowrance and Garmin yesterday in person.  The Lowrance just seemed absolutely too complicated for the simple use I'm looking for.  And the Humminbird display was not nearly as crisp as the Garmin.  So I think I'm ordering the Garmin 150 today.

 

Yeah, I'll probably get the Garmin 150 also.

[buzzed bait]

Yeah, I'll probably get the Garmin 150 also.

Just ordered mine on Amazon.  Couldn't find it in stock close by so I opted for the fast free shipping and no taxes....  

[Jim Mac]

The Garmin 150 displays fish as "arches" correct? I don't know if I like that. The Eagle I had since 1992 finally bit the dust, and I'm used to the fish symbol it has. Does the X4 Pro also display as "arches"? Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

All 2D sonar units display fish as arches--that is nature of sonar.

Do you know why fish are displayed as arches on LCR units?

Some units have a fish ID feature that assigns fish symbols to matter in the water column.

[Wayne P.]

http://support.lowrance.com/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&secureFlag=false&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=2967

[Jim Mac]

Thanks Wayne. So out of the 3 I'm interested in, it appears only the Humminbird 175 uses the fish symbol. Is that correct?

Garmin Echo 150

Humminbird 175

Lowrance X4 Pro

[3dees]

I can't understand why people say the Lowrance is too complicated. you can leave it in auto and it will do everything you want it to. that means just turning it on. if your looking for units that display fish symbols, you should do a little reading. when using this mode, everything under the baot will show as fish. anyone who knows anything about fishfinders will tell you to never use the fish symbol mode.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks Wayne. So out of the 3 I'm interested in, it appears only the Humminbird 175 uses the fish symbol. Is that correct?

Garmin Echo 150

Humminbird 175

Lowrance X4 Pro

 

 

I have no idea, but you can read the manual for the Lowrance on their web site and check.

I don't know if that is available on the Garmin web site.

[Wayne P.]

I can't understand why people say the Lowrance is too complicated. you can leave it in auto and it will do everything you want it to. that means just turning it on. if your looking for units that display fish symbols, you should do a little reading. when using this mode, everything under the baot will show as fish. anyone who knows anything about fishfinders will tell you to never use the fish symbol mode.

 

Evidently your sonar education is lacking somewhat.

Anyone that is familiar with Humminbird's use of the fish symbols will know it is a useful and valuable tool.

I keep that feature turned on all the time.

 

I saw this 2 1/2# bass in this school of shad and caught it.

 

 

There are a whole bunch of fish in this image and there are no fish symbols.

 

[3dees]

looks good in theory, but here is a quote from Lowrance manual. " fish ID is not the most accurate method of fish detection since structure and suspended debris may be shown as a fish symbol on the display". by the way, I have been reading sonars since the days of the Green Box. I may not be the best in thier interpetation, but I'm certainly no rookie. maybe HB does it differently. I'll have to read thier manual sometime. I have always heard and read that the fish symbols were for people who want an easier method interpeting the display even though it may false readings.

[Wayne P.]

looks good in theory, but here is a quote from Lowrance manual. " fish ID is not the most accurate method of fish detection since structure and suspended debris may be shown as a fish symbol on the display". by the way, I have been reading sonars since the days of the Green Box. I may not be the best in thier interpetation, but I'm certainly no rookie. maybe HB does it differently. I'll have to read thier manual sometime. I have always heard and read that the fish symbols were for people who want an easier method interpeting the display even though it may false readings.

 

Humminbird is not Lowrance.

 

Humminbird units filter the returns based on air bladder size. If the echo represents a large enough air bladder, it gets one of three fish symbol sizes. The 200 kHz detected fish get a Gold color symbol and the 83 kHz detected fish get a Blue color symbol.

 

These two images are about a month apart and the same location. I check that tree everytime I am at that lake.

One doesn't show any fish symbols so I passed on by. The other shows fish, I stopped and caught them. Bass

 

 

 

The FishID was turned when I took the screen shot of the big school of shad in my other post--no fish symbols were displayed.

[Wayne P.]

looks good in theory, but here is a quote from Lowrance manual. " fish ID is not the most accurate method of fish detection since structure and suspended debris may be shown as a fish symbol on the display". by the way, I have been reading sonars since the days of the Green Box. I may not be the best in thier interpetation, but I'm certainly no rookie. maybe HB does it differently. I'll have to read thier manual sometime. I have always heard and read that the fish symbols were for people who want an easier method interpeting the display even though it may false readings.

 Here is another one showing a bass that I caught. There are also small crappie here too (caught a couple of them), but those didn't get the fish symbols. The logs, stumps and limbs didn't get a fish symbol either.

 

[3dees]

I still don't see the advantage. everything your showing can be seen with the arches. plus with the arch  you can tell if the fish is coming into the cone, leaving it, or dirctly under it.

[Wayne P.]

I still don't see the advantage. everything your showing can be seen with the arches. plus with the arch  you can tell if the fish is coming into the cone, leaving it, or dirctly under it.

 

You have my sympathy.

[Bigbarge50]

As always Wayne's knowledge of electronics blows me away.  Reading your posts is so informative when it comes to how these units work.  These companies should pay you to write the manuals.