Garmin or Lowrance

[David Dionne]

I was all set to get a Garmin EchoMAP UHD 93sv with the 54 Transducer.

 

But, I have a Motorguide Xi3 trolling motor...ugh, interoperability can be frustrating.  I saw a video of some Russian anglers (boatlab.pro) controlling a Motorguide with a Garmin but the details just weren’t there.

 

Lowrance is the only vendor that official supports and is supported by Motorguide Autopilot (MGA).

 

It looks like the Lowrance Elite Ti2 and HDS support MGA

 

The time I’ve invested in researching Garmin’s HD down and side imaging makes it frustrating to now have to try and compare them...so I’m reaching out for guidance.

[David Dionne]

No one?

[Smokinal]

It's Ford vs Chevy my friend.

 

Really, it's such a personal debate; Garmin, Low and Bird are the leaders in sonar so it just depends which platform you prefer to use.

[Scott F]

My Garmins don’t communicate with my trolling motor but I’ve never felt that to be an issue. The lakes I fish have very irregular contours so I don’t think the motor would have an easy time following them, nor do I want it too. Not having to purchase extra map chips for the Garmin was my main reason for choosing it over Humminbird or Lowrance. Other than the pre loaded maps, there isn’t much difference between them.

[RoLo]

 

Sonar technology is fast-moving, and I've been out of that market the past couple years.

All I can offer is my overall opinion throughout the years. Lowrance is my favorite brand overall,

based on hardware, software, chart availability & endurance.

 

Garmin has always offered the most solid, user-friendly software, probably due

to their military contracts.  (I might add, I prefer the old MapSource over BaseCamp). 

My only beef with Garmin is chart availability (e.g. An upgrade that disables competitor charts). 

 

My least favorite Sonar/GPS is Humminbird, which I've owned from their battery-operated

portable up to their side-imaging Onix. I wish it weren't so, but all of them disappointed

in one way or another. Sorry I couldn't address your specific issue; good luck with your decision

 

Roger

 

 

[DogBone_384]

2 hours ago, Smokinal said:

It's Ford vs Chevy

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This

[Boomstick]

I'm not sure about the Motorguide issue, but as far as which way to go, chances are that at the end of the day, you're going to be happy either unit other than maybe controlling your trolling motor through it.

 

I just ordered myself a Garmin EchoMap UHD 93sv to mount on my kayak. The reason I went with the Garmin is because they are easy to use and don't require a whole lot of tweaking in different water. They also have pretty good scanning, and they tweaked the cone to make it wider at higher frequencies while sacrificing depth - 70 ft is more than enough for me though. Lowrance units are also known to be fairly easy to configure, and I was strongly considering the HDS-7 until I saw the power consumption - I camp often for 5-7 nights at a time, so I want a battery that is gonna last me as long as possible, and with twice the power consumption, that ruled that out. The Elite would still be a good unit.

The other unit I was looking at was the Hummingbird Helix 7 CHIRP Mega G3N. The imaging on those units is fantastic.

 

Finally I will add that Lakemaster is said to have more lakes than Lakevu, but when I look up the lakes I fish on any semi-regular basis and plan to fish up in the northeast, they seem to both have the same lakes and be missing the same lakes.

[David Dionne]

Thx everyone, I know this is a well worn conversation, so I really appreciate the kindness.

 

I can’t foresee me fishing anywhere over 100’, and 90% of the time it’ll probably 50’ or less.  From what I’ve been able to gather, Garmin, appears to have targeted this better than Low.  I think birds megaimaging is using the highest frequency so theoretically it should have the highest definition in shallow (2’ - 60’) water.  But since autopilot is important to me I’m not even considering them.

 

I’m now leaning towards either a Lowrance HDS-7 Live or a used HDS-9 Live (if i can find one).  I’m still trying to determine if there’s a better transducer for shallow water than the one they bundle with it...one that sacrifices depth for detail, like i think Garmins 54 does.

 

Anyway thx again.

[gim]

I have used Lowrance since 2001.  Over that time period I have become very familiar with their operating system.  They have introduced new technologies just like everyone else has.  I think humminbird and garmin are just as good, however, it would be a whole new learning curve if I switched and I feel like my 20 years of Lowrance experience would be flushed right down the toilet.  So that is the reason I continue to use them.  If I was new to the electronics game, I would pick the best one for my boat and go with it because at that point I'd be learning a new system anyways.

[David Dionne]

Thanks gimruis, i totally know what you mean and can completely understand and appreciate that.

 

Do you have any input/opinion on motorguide/Lowrance autopilot integration?

 

What unit(s) and transducers are you currently using?

[Boomstick]

2 hours ago, David Dionne said:

Thx everyone, I know this is a well worn conversation, so I really appreciate the kindness.

 

I can’t foresee me fishing anywhere over 100’, and 90% of the time it’ll probably 50’ or less.  From what I’ve been able to gather, Garmin, appears to have targeted this better than Low.  I think birds megaimaging is using the highest frequency so theoretically it should have the highest definition in shallow (2’ - 60’) water.  But since autopilot is important to me I’m not even considering them.

 

I’m now leaning towards either a Lowrance HDS-7 Live or a used HDS-9 Live (if i can find one).  I’m still trying to determine if there’s a better transducer for shallow water than the one they bundle with it...one that sacrifices depth for detail, like i think Garmins 54 does.

 

Anyway thx again.

All units run on multiple frequencies, Hummingbird included. The higher the frequency, the better quality of imaging and typically the narrower the cone and the deeper the max depth is, since it's a focused cone. For this reason I wouldn't make too big of a deal about mix-matching the transducer. With recent advancements, the imaging quality at lower frequencies is pretty good too.

 

[gim]

2 hours ago, David Dionne said:

Thanks gimruis, i totally know what you mean and can completely understand and appreciate that.

 

Do you have any input/opinion on motorguide/Lowrance autopilot integration?

 

What unit(s) and transducers are you currently using?

My console has a Lowrance HDS7 Carbon that I bought on clearance last year and its connected to a new Totalscan transducer at the transom.  When new units come onto the market, generally the previous years models go on sale.  This was the case with the 2018 carbons when the live units came out in 2019.  I'm still learning it as I go this season because it has features that my previous Lowrance HDS7 did not have.  I wish I could mount a bigger screen at my console but a 7 inch screen is the biggest that my flush mount will allow.  My eyes are still good and I'm young so I can see it perfectly fine for now.  On the bow I have a Lowrance Elite 5 (year 2015) attached to my minn kota maxxum.  Had the ultrex been introduced one year earlier, I probably would have bought one of those instead.  I can't justify removing a 5 year old maxxum without any issues to fork over $2500 for a new ultrex at this point.  The really nice feature of using humminbird is that it links up with your minn kota bow mount now if you have an ultrex, ulterra, or terrova.

[Jig Man]

I am one of those guys who wants all of my stuff to communicate as much as possible so I buy products that work together.  I am currently running birds as they communicate very well with my Minn Kota Ulterra.