another humminbird vs lowrance ????????

[guest]

My old eyes cant see the screen on my X15 anymore , gonna go to a colored screen , have been lookin @ the HDS Lowrance units and cost comparable Hummingbirds .

I have always run Lowrance stuff with very good luck , the HDS screen is , well its real nice , I like it better than the birds screen for viewing , Now , onto my question , I am seeing / hearing a whole bunch more quality issues with Lowrance than I care to , likewise the new Hummingbirds are getting a lot of praise , as is their quality and customer service ........ so , maybe those of you that have had good or bad luck / service etc . would want to chime in with your own personal experiences .

I really dont want to start any kind of a bashing thread here , just honest oppinions & results

Thanks for any and all replies :)

[stinkycat]

Never had HB's but I did have 2 LCX27's last year that I had numerous problems with. This year I have 2 HDS7's and so far they are absolutely great! I have only been out 3 times with them so far but can not be happier!

[manitobawalleye]

My old eyes cant see the screen on my X15 anymore , gonna go to a colored screen , have been lookin @ the HDS Lowrance units and cost comparable Hummingbirds .

I have always run Lowrance stuff with very good luck , the HDS screen is , well its real nice , I like it better than the birds screen for viewing , Now , onto my question , I am seeing / hearing a whole bunch more quality issues with Lowrance than I care to , likewise the new Hummingbirds are getting a lot of praise , as is their quality and customer service ........ so , maybe those of you that have had good or bad luck / service etc . would want to chime in with your own personal experiences .

I really dont want to start any kind of a bashing thread here , just honest oppinions & results

Thanks for any and all replies :)

So far I really like my HDS units.
Have had them out 5 or 6 times, no problems.

[soon to be former]

you have answered your own question!!! I can only attest to one side of your equation.... I have walked 1,000 miles in troubles with one of the 2 units you reference

[guest]

Thanks for the replys guys , keep em coming ......

[Stripehunter]

I went to humminbird last year and have never been happier. It still blows me away how their techs make themselves available to internet forums and actually listen to what customers have to say. Can't tell you how many things I have seen people ask for on boards, only to see them show up in the next software updates. Wonderful products, wonderful support, what else can you ask for?

I used to druel over the top end lowrance units, until it neared time to buy one and I started researching. Maybe they've gotten their act together with the HD units; for their sake I hope so. Given their recent reputation, it will take a lot of good years for them before I even consider one of their units again. Likely a bird man for life now.

[DaleGilbert]

I have had Lowrance products for about 30 years. I currently run a 112c, a 38c HD, and an HDS 8 on one boat and a 332c and a HDS 5 on my river boat.

I have been frustrated at times when trying to contact the tech support people, when waiting on hold, but when I get a tech, I have been very satisfied with their help. I have always gotten my questions answered and any issues resolved. I have actually been quite impressed a couple of times with people who would work through an issue or question with me -- in a manner that I could understand.

The new HDS units are pretty awesome. I fished last summer some with a friend who had the HB units because I was curious about how they worked, etc. Bottom line, for me it is easier to stay with Lowrance and something I am more familiar with.

It will be interesting to see how the new StructureScan works that is supposed to be released this week.

I like being to network the units to share waypoints and digital depth data between the units. I also really like the new Insight maps that the new HDS units have -- they are awesome. You lose the 3 dimensional viewing when you zoom in, but otherwise they show the depths much better than the old Lowrance maps did. If you can go and see one at a dealer -- that might help you with your decision.

The other thing that is a plus is the 2 year warranty Lowrance now has.

The new HDS units (8 & 10) with the menu keys on the bottom are really nice and make it a lot easier to make changes without having to go through the full menu process. I also really like the larger screen since my eyes are getting older too.

Good luck on whichever way you go -- just my two cents worth.

[Shellback]

I've had a Humminbird 931C for a couple years now, not 1 issue with it, great performance!

[B-lou]

Last year my lcx 37 went poof one month out of warrenty.....contacted lowrance with proof of purchase date then sent the unit in for repair and one week later a brand new Lcx 37 showed up with no charge on the ticket so it is not always a horror story with lowrance customer service......I was still on hold for 30min though.....B-lou

[Tony Shirley]

My old eyes cant see the screen on my X15 anymore , gonna go to a colored screen , have been lookin @ the HDS Lowrance units and cost comparable Hummingbirds .

I have always run Lowrance stuff with very good luck , the HDS screen is , well its real nice , I like it better than the birds screen for viewing , Now , onto my question , I am seeing / hearing a whole bunch more quality issues with Lowrance than I care to , likewise the new Hummingbirds are getting a lot of praise , as is their quality and customer service ........ so , maybe those of you that have had good or bad luck / service etc . would want to chime in with your own personal experiences .

I really dont want to start any kind of a bashing thread here , just honest oppinions & results

Thanks for any and all replies :)
Had an 1197 hummbird after using my lcx 110s and 111s ,Went backto lowrance hds 10 simply awsome

[1shooter]

I really like the Lowrance units but I have had nothing but problems with the LCX loosing bottom. I have also heard the the HDS units are having simliar problems.

I also think the problem I am having is isolated to aluminum boats.

That being send I would buy a Lowrance unit if I had a fiberglass boat. If you have a tin boat I would go with Hummingbird because for some reason they don't have this same problem.

[guest]

running a glass boat , & I need to work on the transducer on it , my x15 loses the bottom at anything past 1/4 throttle ...... the screen on the hds units sure does have me thinkin lowrance , but not sure i want to spend that kind of money knowing there is a good chance that i will have to use the warranty card

sounds as tho there havent been any probs with these units , but they havent been out long enough for " issues " to start showing up yet either

[1shooter]

running a glass boat , & I need to work on the transducer on it , my x15 loses the bottom at anything past 1/4 throttle ...... the screen on the hds units sure does have me thinkin lowrance , but not sure i want to spend that kind of money knowing there is a good chance that i will have to use the warranty card

sounds as tho there havent been any probs with these units , but they havent been out long enough for " issues " to start showing up yet either

I can not speak personally but to say there has not been any problems with the HDS units I don't think would be accurate.

[outdoorguy1]

Well............... I've had Lowrance/Eagle products for 20 + years.
For the most part they have been trouble free. In the past few years the issues and resulting customer service have been frustrating.
I still own 4 Lowrance units but must say I no longer even turn tem on now that I have the Hummingbird 997c si. Sonar (in my opinion is better) Side Imaging is great for structure and finding bait fish suspended. I had a couple issues with the GPS module at first and Customer Service was Great and fast !

[Shamrock]

I have had and still have both Lowrance and Hummingbird. My X97 went down and Lowrance could not repair it, so they gave me $ to upgrade to a 350A, the 350A went down, again $ from Lowrance to move to my 18C, 18C went down, same thing again $ to move to my new HDS8. If Lowrance had not provider $ to upgrade I would have went for the Bird Si. I now have a Hummingbird 797C2, Lowrance X125 and HDS8. Of the three current units the Bird 797C2 is the only one that I have problems with. It keeps loosing the GPS; some times I have to power it off to get it to work (I still like the unit). With that said I fish 100 plus days a year rain or shine 90’s down to the teens and have had similar problems with both Lowrance and Hummingbird. I like the units I am using now and am blown away by the HDS8 it has made a marked difference with my fishing success.

[Albertan]

I have three HDS units on my boat...a HDS-10 at the console as a dedicated GPS/mapping unit, a HDS-8 at the console as a dedicated sonar, and another HDS-10 on the bow pad doing whatever I need it to when I fish up there. All of them are networked with the new LGC-4000 antenna through a NEP-1. I took the time to read the manuals and haven't had a single problem with any of them. And the units can do more than all but the most tech savvy angler will ever attempt. I was planning on getting an 1197Si until I saw the StructureScan technology. Now I don't see a need.

Whatever you decide, just make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Lots of people are upgrading their old Lowrance units to the new Si units from HB and saying the HB unit is 10X better. Well of course it is...it's 10X newer technology. Compare a Si 'bird to a HDS unit with StructureScan. I think HB's side imaging advantage is about to go *POOF*. :)

Anyways, based on your comments on why you are shopping for a new unit in the first place, I say get the biggest HDS unit you can afford. Your eyes will thank you every time you go out. Happy shopping!

[tubejig]

After owning Birds and Lowrance for some time and now having Raymarine at the helm. I have to say that the Ray units out perform both. But after thinking about what Albertan had to say, I have to agree wih him when he says that the manual needs to be read before operation. This is probably one of the biggest issues that most owners have with their units.

[karpbuster]

Hey I just ask Mexico what is the best, he tries everything.

I have a hummingbird now, just got it for Father's Day. I really like it, easy to see for my semi-old eyes.

karpbuster

[skidood]

I have a HDS 7 It layed down on me 2nd time out it has been 1 week and no contact from lowrance

[hondo]

I have a HDS 7 It layed down on me 2nd time out it has been 1 week and no contact from lowrance

Your best bet is to wait on hold to talk to someone there, or do an on-line return authorization. I would not wait for a return call or email.