Humminbird Or Lowrance

[urp]

I run both Humminbird and Lowrance. Lowrance has the better 2D return but I believe in all other aspects Humminbird is superior.

Also, I have in my garage 4 defunct Lowrance GPS units. Admittedly accumulated over several years, I'm still beginning to wonder about Lowrance.

[K_Mac]

I am not sure if you're asking for comments or just giving your opinion. If you want to know my preference it is Lowrance. I have an older Lowrance and an older HB that are "defunct" also. To compare either of those units to the latest technology of my HDS units is apples to apple pie and ice cream. The new units of either company are amazing. It's all good.

[RoLo]

I've been a Lowrance advocate for as long as I can remember (both freshwater and saltwater)..

I must say though that their GPS device was my first and only disappointment by Lowrance.

I've owned several Humminbird depth sounders and prefer Lowrance, but have no exposure to Humminbird GPS units.

The reason being, I use Garmin hardware in conjunction with Navionics software.

Roger

[Wayne P.]

What is the best EPE (Estimated Position Error)for the Garmin and Lowrance units?

[Sam]

I have two old Lowrance units that Lowrance refuses to repair.

I found Marine Electronics of Hartfield, Inc. who sells and REPAIRS Lowrance units and they are very nice people who do outstanding work.

I took both units to them this spring and the units now work great.

Hartfield is east of Saluda, Virginia. Their address and contact numbers are:

11007 General Puller Highway

Hartfield, VA 23071

sales@buygpshere.com

804.776.9802

I also spoke with some guys who have the new Lowrance and Hummingbird side imaging units and they they all say the units are excllent. I guess it is your personal preference to purchase a unit made in the USA or out of the country.

[Quillback]

I've heard Humminbird customer service is far superior to Lowrance.

[Quillback]

I've heard Humminbird customer service is far superior to Lowrance.

[scbassin]

I had Lowrance units for years. A few years ago I bought 2 new Lowrance units & after 2 months I needed some help, When I called I was told they no longer serviced those units, they had switch to the HDS units. I just needed some help to understand how to use a feature but the service person would not help. I'll never owned another Lowrance product or have anything good to say about them, their customer service is terrible.

[urp]

I have two old Lowrance units that Lowrance refuses to repair.

I found Marine Electronics of Hartfield, Inc. who sells and REPAIRS Lowrance units and they are very nice people who do outstanding work.

I took both units to them this spring and the units now work great.

Hartfield is east of Saluda, Virginia. Their address and contact numbers are:

11007 General Puller Highway

Hartfield, VA 23071

sales@buygpshere.com

804.776.9802

I also spoke with some guys who have the new Lowrance and Hummingbird side imaging units and they they all say the units are excllent. I guess it is your personal preference to purchase a unit made in the USA or out of the country.

[urp]

Thanks for the heads-up. If I decide to repair one of my Lowrance units I'll try there before Lowrance. Jim

[NateFollmer]

I've never seen the cold hard facts on this, but I've heard that Lowrance's Side/Down Scan is hardware based, where as Humminbirds is software based (bascially the Lowrance gives you a true 'what the hardware' sees image, while Humminbird's software takes a guess and makes the image try to look what it thinks it sees). I've also seen that Humminbird is moving to a hardware based system with this years models, but again, can't prove it.

A lot of forums say Humminbird has better customer service. I never called them, but I have used Lowrance's CS and had absolutely no issues with them at all.

I feel that Humminbird has better models for how I fish (mainly small craft and kayaks), but if I ever get a 'bass boat', I'll probably be putting a Lowrance in it.

[CWB]

for me, the Bird is the word.

[RoLo]

I've heard Humminbird customer service is far superior to Lowrance.

Maybe it's me, but I never give technical support much thought, instead I place my entire bet on selecting the best unit available.

As for tech support, I'll muddle through the owner's manual before engaging in an hour-long tirade with some newbie technician.

Believe it or not, I've never owned a Lowrance unit that's ever required any service or support..

Life is short and my fuse is even shorter, so if any unit malfunctions it's going into the local dumpster, which produces a feeling of euphoria that's hard to explain

Roger

[Catt]

I’ve owned both Humminbird & Lowrance since they were invented; both have their pluses & minuses. My 14 year old Lowrance mounted on my console just recently went out & I’ve had Humminbird’s last as long. The one thing I like about Humminbird is the ease at which it can be removed when trailering.

Like Rolo I’ve never owned either brand that needed any required service or support but then again I never buy new fandango electronics the first year they come out.

My next unit will be a Lowrance Mark-5x DSI because I like simplicity & prefer down imaging over side imaging. I don’t feel the need to spend $1,000-3,000 on something to tell me how deep the water is.

As for a GPS I’m still young enough to remember where I am, where I’ve been, & where I am going!

[Wayne P.]

I've never seen the cold hard facts on this, but I've heard that Lowrance's Side/Down Scan is hardware based, where as Humminbirds is software based (bascially the Lowrance gives you a true 'what the hardware' sees image, while Humminbird's software takes a guess and makes the image try to look what it thinks it sees). I've also seen that Humminbird is moving to a hardware based system with this years models, but again, can't prove it.

A lot of forums say Humminbird has better customer service. I never called them, but I have used Lowrance's CS and had absolutely no issues with them at all.

I feel that Humminbird has better models for how I fish (mainly small craft and kayaks), but if I ever get a 'bass boat', I'll probably be putting a Lowrance in it.

Nate, here is the "cold hard facts". The Lowrance LSS-1 accessory transducer uses crystals for producing the Structure Scan and Down Scan. The Humminbird transducer uses crystals for 2D sonar and Side Imaging--it uses software to produce the Down Imaging view from the Side Imaging crystals.

Both companies have other units that are down imaging that use a dedicated down imaging crystal. The Lowrance DSI units are Down Scan only. The Humminbird DI units are Down Imaging and 2D sonar.