Humminbird MEGA Live

[Rodney Smith]

I agree with many if these posts regarding the up image quality. I was expecting it to be better than Garmin. My fever has cooled. Now I’m wondering if there is any chance Garmin refreshes the Panoptix this year…

[Further North]

On 6/9/2021 at 12:01 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

Finally imaging to prove it exists. A huge disappointment in imagin if you ask me, but it exists nonetheless

 

Why are you disappointed?

The only hype I've seen is from folks on the internet...HB didn't release anything...

 

On 6/10/2021 at 4:19 AM, 12poundbass said:

All the hype, and all they have is Garmin technology from 5-6 years ago. 

So...Garmin is much better now?  Just askin'...

On 6/10/2021 at 1:50 PM, A-Jay said:

Agreed ~

Looks more like 

Humminbird 'EH' Live

A-Jay

Let's be objective.

1. Greater range.
2. Three modes.
3. Interacts with other HB and MK gear.
4. Eliminates an extra hunk of gear on deck.

I'm gonna call that positive...

On 6/10/2021 at 6:10 PM, 12poundbass said:

From my reading Garmin holds the patent for live technology, so anything that comes from Humminbird and Lowrance is ‘rented’ technology from Garmin and you know Garmin isn’t going to be out done with their old technology so that’s why this isn’t knock your socks off, and doesn’t look as good a Livescope. 

I'd love to see a reliable source for that.

I've seen the same thing, but every time I've asked about the source, it's been something like, "I read in on a FB post from some guy who said his sister's brother's Uncle Bob heard it from a guy in a bar who used to work with the guy who's third cousin Melvin bought a kitten from the guy whose uncle's son Sue (Johnny Cash reference) done said he heard it from the guy who used to service the elevators at the HB headquarters but done got fired two years ago for stealin' candy from the receptionist's drawers."

 

[12poundbass]

5 hours ago, Further North said:

Why are you disappointed?

The only hype I've seen is from folks on the internet...HB didn't release anything...

 

So...Garmin is much better now?  Just askin'...

Let's be objective.

1. Greater range.
2. Three modes.
3. Interacts with other HB and MK gear.
4. Eliminates an extra hunk of gear on deck.

I'm gonna call that positive...

I'd love to see a reliable source for that.

I've seen the same thing, but every time I've asked about the source, it's been something like, "I read in on a FB post from some guy who said his sister's brother's Uncle Bob heard it from a guy in a bar who used to work with the guy who's third cousin Melvin bought a kitten from the guy whose uncle's son Sue (Johnny Cash reference) done said he heard it from the guy who used to service the elevators at the HB headquarters but done got fired two years ago for stealin' candy from the receptionist's drawers."

 

I posted a link to a press release saying that Lowrance uses the Garmin technology and did say that it does not mention Humminbird, and said @Dirtyeggrollcould very well be right that they’re using the technology from the company he mentioned. 
 

I’d say for right now Garmin is better when is comes to the Live sonar. I’m not saying that because I’m a Garmin guy, I’ve said forever that Humminbird is better when it comes to MEGA imaging, though I think Garmin has closed that gap with their GT56 transducer release a few months back.

 

I say Garmin is better in the Live imaging because typically when you release promo videos you release the absolute best you can come up with under the absolute best conditions possible and it doesn’t look any better than Garmin. If Humminbird is better then they failed with their initial video. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

8 hours ago, Further North said:

Why are you disappointed?

The only hype I've seen is from folks on the internet...HB didn't release anything...

 

Let's be objective.

1. Greater range.
2. Three modes.
3. Interacts with other HB and MK gear.
4. Eliminates an extra hunk of gear on deck

Humminbird actually did release something, a video of LIVE in action that was disappointing.
The initial video they posted did not seem to be even close to on par with the other brands.

 

New videos have since been released and are not disappointing.

 

Regarding the objectivity.

 

1. Greater range means little to me without detail. Compare 455 kHZ to MEGA kHz on side imaging.

2. The other brands also have 3 modes.

3. Yes the fact that it can integrate into existing HB gear is great, but in a vacuum doesn’t do much for me. 
4. I don’t mind a black box if it generates a much superior image.

 

Based on some of the new videos my excitement for LIVE has been reinvigorated.

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

 

Based on some of the new videos my excitement for LIVE has been reinvigorated

I’ve seen some new videos of it posted but they’ve been from Facebook and I don’t have Facebook. People seem to be more impressed with the newer videos. 

[Tennessee Boy]

Debates about which company has the best technology are interesting.  The practical fact for me and many of us is this.  If I want live sonar I have to get it from Humminbird.  If I buy another brand, I have to buy a new fish finder to view it with and accept that it will not be integrated with my network.  Another very expensive option would be to replace my Ultrex TM and all of my Humminbird equipment with either Garmin or Lowrance products and give up 360 imaging and LakeMaster maps in the process.  
 

Once I see evidence that MEGA Live works reasonably well,  I will be buying one.  Getting a Garmin or Lowrance is not something I’m considering.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with my Humminbirds.  They are unacceptably buggy but they offer 360 Imaging which I love and they have LakeMaster maps which I cannot live without.
 

 

[12poundbass]

Just now, Tennessee Boy said:

Debates about which company has the best technology are interesting.  The practical fact for me and many of us is this.  If I want live sonar I have to get it from Humminbird.  If I buy another brand, I have to buy a new fish finder to view it with and accept that it will not be integrated with my network.  Another very expensive option would be to replace my Ultrex TM and all of my Humminbird equipment with either Garmin or Lowrance products and give up 360 imaging and LakeMaster maps in the process.  
 

Once I see evidence that MEGA Live works reasonably well,  I will be buying one.  Getting a Garmin or Lowrance is not something I’m considering.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with my Humminbirds.  They are unacceptably buggy but they offer 360 Imaging which I love and they have LakeMaster maps which I cannot live without.
 

 

I would get rid of my Garmins for 360, that does impress me. The Live technology I have no desire for. 
 

I did see a new video just now on YouTube and the thing I was impressed with was the Landscape view! Too bad that part of the video was about 5 seconds long. ?

[Further North]

20 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Debates about which company has the best technology are interesting.  The practical fact for me and many of us is this.  If I want live sonar I have to get it from Humminbird.  If I buy another brand, I have to buy a new fish finder to view it with and accept that it will not be integrated with my network.  Another very expensive option would be to replace my Ultrex TM and all of my Humminbird equipment with either Garmin or Lowrance products and give up 360 imaging and LakeMaster maps in the process.  
 

Once I see evidence that MEGA Live works reasonably well,  I will be buying one.  Getting a Garmin or Lowrance is not something I’m considering.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with my Humminbirds.  They are unacceptably buggy but they offer 360 Imaging which I love and they have LakeMaster maps which I cannot live without.
 

 

That sums it up pretty well for me...though odds are good I won't get MEGA Live because it requires a switch from my Ulterra to an Ultrex.

The idea of an extra unit up front to run Garmin's Livescope is a  non-starter for me as well.  One fish finder up there for fly line to wrapped around is enough.

[Tennessee Boy]

I placed an order for MEGA Live a while back on Tacklewarehouse.   When I check the status on the order they're still saying they expect to ship December 1st.   I'm starting to think it could happen.  I wouldn't bet on it but it could happen...maybe.

[12poundbass]

11 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I placed an order for MEGA Live a while back on Tacklewarehouse.   When I check the status on the order they're still saying they expect to ship December 1st.   I'm starting to think it could happen.  I wouldn't bet on it but it could happen...maybe.

Quite possible. I know more and more are being delivered. 

[Tennessee Boy]

I ordered a MEGA Live unit last fall for my Christmas present.  When I placed the order with Tackle Warehouse the ship date was Dec 1, 2021.  Then it changed to Jan 1, 2021.  Then Mar 1, 2022.  I just checked the order status and it now says Sep 1, 2022.  I hope I get it by Christmas.  ?

[12poundbass]

21 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I ordered a MEGA Live unit last fall for my Christmas present.  When I placed the order with Tackle Warehouse the ship date was Dec 1, 2021.  Then it changed to Jan 1, 2021.  Then Mar 1, 2022.  I just checked the order status and it now says Sep 1, 2022.  I hope I get it by Christmas.  ?

Yikes, I’ve heard of plenty of guys getting theirs. The Humminbird faithful love it, others, not so much. 
 

To be clear I’m a Garmin guy. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

The initial release of Mega Live was a let down. A software update, 1.150, has been released and it’s amazing. Watched this one take the jerkbait at about 70 feet out!

[Tennessee Boy]

15 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

The initial release of Mega Live was a let down. A software update, 1.150, has been released and it’s amazing. Watched this one take the jerkbait at about 70 feet out!

So how long did it take for you to get yours?  I ordered in October and TW has the expected delivery date in September.

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

So how long did it take for you to get yours?  I ordered in October and TW has the expected delivery date in September.

I got mine back in November.
 

Where did you order? With a fair amount of confidence, I think I can get you one within a couple weeks.

[Tennessee Boy]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I got mine back in November.
 

Where did you order? With a fair amount of confidence, I think I can get you one within a couple weeks.

Tackle Warehouse.  They're showing in stock in September.  They may actually ship sooner.  I'm not sure what to think.

 

[TnRiver46]

17 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

The initial release of Mega Live was a let down. A software update, 1.150, has been released and it’s amazing. Watched this one take the jerkbait at about 70 feet out!

Nice! 

[BayouSlide]

I saw a HB Mega Live available from a retailer a few weeks back and jumped on it!

 

I was happy with it before the software upgrade and like it even more now. Able to find the HB Ethernet box and another Helix 10 so everything is networked and both Mega 360 and Mega Live hang off the Ultrex, feeding 2 Helix 10s at the bow. Seamless integration with other MK/HB products was why I was waiting for HB's iteration of live imaging. I live in landscape view because most of the water I fish is less than 4 feet deep but the mounting bracket allows easy switching to each of the different views and the software in the Helix automatically switches to the correct orientation.

 

How detailed is it? The other day I watched my chatterbait bop a gar in the tail and his immediate backflip to escape ??

 

I find it more useful in shallow water than Mega 360 for what it's worth.

 

[txchaser]

Anyone seen a comparison of the mega with the new software vs livescope+ (the new one)?