Humminbird 798ci si Questions

[CoachCarter]

I am purchacing a new fish finder and am looking into the Humminbird 798ci si. Does anyone have any personal experience with this unit? My main concern is the side imaging and the size of the screen. I have heard that the 5" display is too small to really take advantage of the great detail provided by the side imaging. Any feedback would be great. If I dont go with this unit, I am thinking about the 788ci. Feedback on that unit would also be helpful.

[Wayne P.]

I'll be checking out the Down Imaging feature tomorrow. Here is a 798 Side Imaging screen shot:

[Wayne P.]

Here is the 798 SI with both sides:

If you want to see it actual size. Adjust it on your computer screen to 3 5/8" X 3 5/8"

[CoachCarter]

Thanks for the images Wayne. I understand that it captures great images. In your opinion, how well does the image show up on your actual unit and was it worth the extra money for the si.

[Wayne P.]

It looks good to me. My choice of that unit was because of the screen resolution being the highest in the industry ( approx. 31,170 pixels per square inch). Knowing that the SI is a secondary function for fishing, I wanted a true high definition screen for 2D sonar. The next best screen resolution of any brand in any size screen is about 17,533 pixels per square inch.

With only using it two times, on familar bodies of water, yes it is worth the price for that technology.

Actually for image sharpness, the Lowrance HDS/LSS-1 units seem better.

[tkite16]

   I have the 797si and I'm very happy with it. When I run the side imaging I only run it one side at a time to get good clarity on the screen. That said yes it is still worth it.

   I went thru a 2 mile deep creek at Lake of the Ozarks one day and marked every dock with brush piles under it. It would take years to do that with a regular sonar.

   I'm really excited about the new down imaging as well. Looks like it will really help find brush in deep water.

   Is it worth the upgrade over the 788?  Absolutely.  But your not going to get the same results as an 1197 with it either.

[skunked_again]

Thanks for the images Wayne. I understand that it captures great images. In your opinion, how well does the image show up on your actual unit and was it worth the extra money for the si.

the screen looks just like the pic. i have mine mounted right in front of my face @ the console so its real easy to see.

[Jim45498]

I have a 797si and have zero problems with it. The si is great and the down image is going to be available for this unit for free from HB.

Getting another next month..the new 898side image with the new down image and Navionics installed.

[Wayne P.]

Jim, the Down Imaging for the 797 was released this past Thursday.

[Jim45498]

Jim, the Down Imaging for the 797 was released this past Thursday.

Yes, I know that

[Wayne P.]

Jim, I posted about the down imaging date because you stated yesterday "the down image is going to be available for this unit for free from HB."

[Jim45498]

Yes, it is going to be available from Humminbird

[Kenny418]

Yes, it is going to be available from Humminbird

Jim, Wayne is trying to tell you that down imaging for the unit is available. Go to Humminbird and get it.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks,  Kenny

The word was and the words going to be seem to have gotten lost in the messages.

Yes, the 797 upgrade has been available for 7 days now.

[Jim45498]

Yes I have had the download since it was realeased.

It is available for all the si at Humminbird

[Crankhead]

CoachCarter, I've always had Lowrance but had so many problems the past couple of years that I switched to Humminbird. I've got the 997si combo (console) and the 788ci w/quadra beam (trolling motor). They are fantastic units. skunked_again's picture of the down imaging unit mounted at the dashboard shows the correct location for that unit since you need to be moving straight @2-4 mph for the down imaging to work at its best. If you want another forum to help understand HB's side imaging, go to: http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/. Good luck!

[Wayne P.]

The Side Imaging can be used successfully on the trolling motor and some report they use it to keep up with schooling fish while fishing for them. Some Humminbird reps state forward speeds of as low a .5 mph can be used as well as up to 35 mph. While sitting still, just the rotation of the transducer will provide a satisfactory scan for one side of the side imaging. Adjustment of the scrolling speed is all that is required as long as the transducer is mounted to allow higher speed operation.

I have my 798 set up for console and bow use which is quite easy to transfer with the plug-in mount.

The Side Imaging Group at Yahoo.com is the best source of information for that technology since it has existed almost as long as SI has been available.

[Tpayneful]

I just purchased a new boat in October and I got it rigged with a 798c SI at the console and my external GPS antenna is on the back deck. It is interlinked to a 788ci. Having used both I would state that I should have purchased TWO 798c SI units! The side imaging is worth the money and I would recommend purchasing an SI unit!

I did not purchase the Navionics bundle but I just got a Hot Maps Premium 2009 East card. It has more detail than I would have gotten with the bundle in my area.

Once you have decided you want SI you have to decide what size you can afford. I wanted either the new 898 or the 989 but they were not available when I bought my boat. The bigger screen would be helpful if you want more detail over a smaller area or if you scan in 20+ feet water. The blank area in the middle gets wider the deeper you are. You can mitigate that effect by scanning to one side.

Here is an example of what you can see, this is a creek channel bend with downed trees in the outside bend:

[Bigs]

I did not purchase the Navionics bundle but I just got a Hot Maps Premium 2009 East card. It has more detail than I would have gotten with the bundle in my area

I live not too far from you and I have the navioincs bundle package on my 798, why do you say the Hot maps premium east card has more detail for our area ? Oh and how do I go about gettin the down imaging and is it free ? Shoot I have had mine for probably 5 months now and still havent even installed it yet. I kinda bought it out of impulse since no one else on ebay bid on it, I got it new in the box for $850 shipped, sells most places for 1100-1200 or at least it did at the time. I'll be having it installed late february.

[Wayne P.]

_Steve_

If you registered your 798, the free software upgrade is already in your account. All you have to do is download it to a blank SD card, put it in the 798, turn on the power and answer the questions to load it.

It has been avaliable for the 798 since Jan 12.

While you are at it, download Humminbird PC for management of waypoint, tracks, and routes.

[Wayne P.]

Tpayneful, if you decide to put a SI unit on bow, get the internal antenna version and you will have your antenna where the trolling motor transducer is without having to mount an antenna.

In the 798 model, the internal antenna model # is 798ci SI. That is the one I have.

[Tpayneful]

Wayne,

  I have the 788ci on the front right now.  I figure that my next move will be to add an 898c or 998c to the console and move my 798c to the bow.  When I make that move I will have to mount a GPS antenna in the bow.  That isn't a big deal for me:o)

Steve,

   My understanding is that the contour lines on the Navionics bundle are at 5 feet intervals but the HOTMaps Premium East 2009 has smaller intervals Like 1' or 2' for some lakes.  I think Lake Anna is one of those lakes.  Other guys on here may know the complete details.

[Wayne P.]

If you check the Navionics website, you can see what bodies of water are HD surveyed. Anna is one of the few in Virginia. Even the 1' contour HD waters do not have that range all the way to the shore except at some isolated areas.

Not all bodies of water even have 5' contours, some have 10' contours or some other range depending on what source is copied.

Briery Creek Lake has 8' contour lines and Sandy River Lake has 10' contour lines.

[Tpayneful]

I just did a lookup to compare the number of Virginia lakes in the Humminbird Navionics Value Bundle (NVB) vs the Hot Maps Premium East card that I have and there is a big difference. The NVB has 10 Virginia lakes while the Hot Maps card has 44 Virginia lakes. On my card Anna is listed as an HD map while it is not an HD map on the NVB. This is just from their website I have not compared the two on the water yet. The accuracy of the HD may not actually be as good as 1' contours can provide.

I have a friend in Florida that has the the 797c. He gave me advice to not buy the bundle. He suggested that I could get an east and south card for the $200 I saved and get more lakes. I not only took his advice but I ended up buying almost the exact same boat as well!

Since this thread is orginially about SI here is another screen shot of bluegill beds:

[Adam G]

Hey everyone,

Yes the side imaging is a must do.  I run the 797c2 on the console and couldn't live without it.  In regards to the card, if you're getting a 797, there's only one slot so you can't take recordings or screen caps if you've got the card in.  The newer units have two slots though, so no issue.

FYI, I just tried to update my 797 and 777 following all the instructions and they've both crapped out.  Even did the 797 while on the phone with 'bird's customer service to make sure I was legit.  "Firmware error...white screen of death...Return authorization number"

Cool thing is that they're fixing them and said it will be a 3 day turnaround!  That's awesome service for RMA!

Do your service in the winter, not during the prespawn!