Humminbird 798 Vs 898

[Crankhead]

My buddy has a Humminbird 997 on his console and is looking for a Humminbird for his trolling motor. I have the older model (June 2010) 798ci SI Combo NVB and think it's a great unit. So I suggested buying the same unit. But he's leaning at getting the newer Humminbird 798ci HD SI Combo and also looking at the 800 series. The only problem in the 800 series is that there is only one unit (898c SI Combo) that has both side & down imaging. There must be a reason why Humminbird came out with one unit (858c Combo) that has no down or side imaging, one unit (858c DI Combo) that only offers down imaging and the 898c SI Combo that has bothe SI & DI. Any thoughts on what you would suggest to buy & why? The cost difference between the 798ci HD SI Combo ($950) and the 898c SI Combo ($1280) is a big one for me. Any help?

[Wayne P.]

Side Imaging on the trolling motor is a very useful tool.

For the bow, a larger display is better since you are farther away from it than when at the console. The larger display makes returns larger in size with the same settings on both a smaller and larger model.

There is only one 700 series Side Imaging unit for 2011 so that is the same as the 800 series.

For the 2012 model year, the 858c DI was introduced which is basically the equivelent of the 788ci HD DI in the 700 series. There are other 700 series DI units with lesser features, but SI is way more useful than DI due to the coverage it has.

I use Side Imaging on both ends of my boat, but use the bow unit probably 95% more than the console unit. I'm on the water for fishing so the bow is where I spend most of my time. Since I have learned how to use SI, I rarely even use DI or 2D sonar any more.

I have the 798ci SI and the 1198c SI units. I prefer those models over the 898 or 998 due to the digital data boxes taking up the left side of the display on the 898 and 998. I want a full width display for SI and multi-views.

[Crankhead]

Any more thoughts other than Wayne P? I'm still trying to decide if I want to get the 898c SI Combo, I'll have to sell my 798ci SI Combo NVB unit first. Lots of thinking to do.

[Under the Radar]

Any more thoughts other than Wayne P? I'm still trying to decide if I want to get the 898c SI Combo, I'll have to sell my 798ci SI Combo NVB unit first. Lots of thinking to do.

Crankhead, help me out here please. are you talking about a front end unit for you or your buddy.

I'm running a 898c HD at console and 798ci HD SI at bow. IF I had it to do over again. I think I'd go with 798ci HD SI at both stations. The 898 is nice and my first unit. BUT in bright sunlight (we have a lot of it here in Central FLA) the 798 is a much better display, and as Wayne said the digital readouts at the bottom of the screen is a big plus.

[alexofoakton]

I just purchased a Humminbird 798ci HD SI Combo to go next to my console. I haven't used it yet. I will use my older Humminbird 587ci at the front position. My plan is to swivel the 798ci HD around so that I can see it from the front chair. Now I won't be able to read either unit when standing up and, maybe, not that well when sitting. It's a tradeoff. On a river or large lake, I think I want to have the side imaging capability next to the console.

[Wayne P.]

I just purchased a Humminbird 798ci HD SI Combo to go next to my console. I haven't used it yet. I will use my older Humminbird 587ci at the front position. My plan is to swivel the 798ci HD around so that I can see it from the front chair. Now I won't be able to read either unit when standing up and, maybe, not that well when sitting. It's a tradeoff. On a river or large lake, I think I want to have the side imaging capability next to the console.

alex, copy one of my 798 screen shots to your computer desk top and use a picture viewer software like Windown Photo Gallery to open that file. Use the Zoom feature to make the image 5" diagonally in size and then move away from the screen at a distance you would be between the consold and bow.

A good set up for you would be what I was doing all last year with my 798ci SI. I had a mount at the console and at the bow. I had a SI transducer on the trolling motor and on the transom along with a power cord at both positions. It took less than 10 seconds to switch the display positions. Those snap-on mounts are great for that. The internal GPS antenna model is another plus for that type of setup without having to purchase another GPS antenna or use a AS SYSLINK cable to share an external antenna between locations.

IF you had gotten one of the last years 798ci SI models, you could have used the 587ci mount and switched both units around. The 587ci will use the 2D part of the SI transducer.

[alexofoakton]

Wayne P - thanks for the advice. I haven't installed my new 798ci HD SI yet. So you suggest that I get another compatible quick mount and then switch the 798ci between the mounts (which I have done with my current Humminbirds frequently). But I have a Minn Kota Fortrex with Universal Sonar 2 - will i need to disable it to prevent interference?

[Wayne P.]

Wayne P - thanks for the advice. I haven't installed my new 798ci HD SI yet. So you suggest that I get another compatible quick mount and then switch the 798ci between the mounts (which I have done with my current Humminbirds frequently). But I have a Minn Kota Fortrex with Universal Sonar 2 - will i need to disable it to prevent interference

Yes, dual MS-700E mounts.

You can leave the 587 on the bow and the built-in tranducer hooked up, BUT you cannot have both of them operating at the same time. The 83/200 frequencies will cross talk.

The easiest trolling motor SI transducer to install is the Compact SI puck style XTM 9 SI 180 T. Large one in this photo:

The best one to use is the HDSI transducer:

[alexofoakton]

Yes, dual MS-700E mounts.

You can leave the 587 on the bow and the built-in tranducer hooked up, BUT you cannot have both of them operating at the same time. The 83/200 frequencies will cross talk.

The easiest trolling motor SI transducer to install is the Compact SI puck style XTM 9 SI 180 T. Large one in this photo:

The best one to use is the HDSI transducer:

Wayne P - please clarify one thing. When I turn on my MinnKota Fortrex, the built-in Universal sonar 2 doesn't automatically start transmitting unless a fish finder is connected and turned on too?

[Wayne P.]

Wayne P - please clarify one thing. When I turn on my MinnKota Fortrex, the built-in Universal sonar 2 doesn't automatically start transmitting unless a fish finder is connected and turned on too?

The built-in transducer is no different than one that is not built-in. It functions when a sonar unit is connected to it and that sonar unit is turned on. The motor itself has nothing to do with the sonar function/transducer function or its operation. It just houses the transducer as a convenience rather than having to install one on the outside if it.

A transducer does not provide or produce any function alone, it is a combo speaker/micorphone for the sonar unit to transmit and receive a radio frequency pulse (ping).

[Wayne P.]

I'll add another comment based on the way you asked that question.

If you see some effect on the sonar display as a result of you running the motor, you have a RF interference issue.

[alexofoakton]

Thanks for the info Wayne P. You're helped me change my plan for using my new 798ci. With two mounts (and transducers), I can use it where I need it, which actually is in the front of the boat where I spend most of my time.