Electronics Lowarance or Hummingbird

[McAlpine]

Which do you prefer and why?

I have looked and I like the Lowrance but have heard the Hummingbird is more reliable.  About to purchase and interested in some other opinions.  Specifically I am looking at a 7" display with side imaging, gps and other normal functionality on the back and a 5" display with down imaging, flasher and normal functionality on the front.

Thanks!

[Jig Man]

I chose Low because I know how to use them and can barely turn a Bird on.

Consider your placement.  You are a lot closer to the console than you will be to the bow unit.  A 5" screen on side scan from 4' away is not going to be very eye friendly when you are looking for specifics.

[Carrington]

i prefer humminbird because it is just better and more reliable.  I know an elite series pro who i dont want to name due to the fact that he is sponsored by lowrance and he personally swear that lowrance is not even on the same level as hummingbird and that the only reason he uses it is because they are a sponsor.

[birdman78]

im in a similar situation but my decision my be based on the mounting of the transducer.  I just bought a 2000 Javlin Venom its a 17 footer with a 115 Johnson I'll post a pic when i get one that does it justis . The hull of the boat at teh stern is a little different.   So I may need to put a "through the hull transducer" in.  Javlin and Stratos are very much alike, do you know anyone with a Stratos that mounted the transducer thenselves?

[Wayne P.]

birdman, I think that boat has a triple step hull. You will need a two transducer setup no matter if you get the Humminbird Side Imaging or the Lowrance with LSS-1 for the best performance for on-plane depth reading.

You do not want a thru-hull transducer with that hull.

With the Lowrance HDS, you get a 2D transducer that you can use as a shoot-thru and the LSS-1 transducer can be mounted beside the motor mount.

With the Humminbird SI unit, you will need a XP 9 20 transducer for shoot-thru and the supplied SI transducer mounted beside the motor mount connected together with the AS SIDB Y cable.

[Blue Streak]

I would go with Humminbird right now because The customer service from Lowrance is just awful at this time. Hope they can get it fixed.

[McAlpine]

went with Humminbird.  596 HD DI on the front and 898 HD SI combo on the back with y cable, regular xducer and high speed.  After looking at what it took to get SI And DI with Lowarance, lack of info on their website plus I couldn't get ahold of them after repeated tries...the Humminbird sold itself to me.  Oh well, now I just have to wait for the boat to get here.

[McAlpine]

Also, I went into our local bass pro and looked at both companies units. The processors on the Lowrances are painfully slow...guess that's why they have to add the extra box for DI and SI for number crunching.

[Tpayneful]

I have a 798c SI at the console. I have a transducer switch to change from the SI transducer when using SI then to a thru hull transducer while on plane. I also have a 788ci at the bow that is connected to the 798 via an interlink module so they can share waypoints. It works well but I still have SI withdrawl on the front of the boat. I can mark something on SI and find it with the 788ci up front.

I want to buy a 998c SI for the console and move the 798c to the bow. Just need $1000 to do it.

Overall the whole Humminbird (Ford) vs Lowrance (Chevy) is up to the individual. They both have good technology and their advantages and disadvantages can be spun one way or another.

I have always been on the Humminbird bandwagon so it was an easy pick for me. My partner has a Lowrance and Eagle on his boat and both have had to be returned because then leaked and water got inside. He just bought an 898c SI will be selling both of the Lowrance products for Bird on the bow.

Do your research and buy what you like.

[Pa Angler]

I never had Hummingbird but I have had four Lowrance units that have never needed repair. LMS 480, LMS 334C iGPS, LMS 520C with the 3000 GPS module & LCX 17m GPS module. My new boat has the HDS 7 & 5 I hope my results will be the same.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler