Lowrance SI VS. Humminbird SI

[K2]

I was wondering if anyone else was holding out for Lowrances new side scan to see how it matches up with Humminbirds? I have seen the Humminbird SI demos and testimonials and I am convinced that I need it. BUT; I have Lowrance electronics now and I would hopefully be able to interface my 520 with the new HD stuff. Do the new HD units interface with my old (2 years!) stuff? Will the price point be more affordable if you purchase it complete with sidescan? Thanks for your help.

[VaGuy]

A well respected Lowrance employee said

the side viewer will be here in the fall and it will " blow h-bird away".

I would tend to believe her. HDS is cutting edge technology, I
would think "side viewing" will be to. Time will tell.

Lowrance has made it clear so far that it will only be for the HDS units. Although you can share all sorts of info (GPS, Sonar, Fuel, etc...) between the new HDS units and the older units over a network, I suspect that at a minimum you will have to have at least 1 HDS unit for the SI to work. Even then, there is no guarantee the SI function will display on the older Lowrance models and Lowrance has not gone out of its way to say that it will.

As far as price ... I suspect the SI will be in the $500-700 range like the broadband module, otherwise they will be priced quite a bit behind the HB units. I assume by 2010 they will start to package units with SI.

[CoolfinIE]

I'dthink previous post is a bit over the top cost-wise.

Assuming that a Lowrance HDS has the necessary hardware already inside, and they say it does, and that a cost free software update activates it, then all that is required is to purchase the new SI transducer.

Now the Humminbird SI transducers come from $175 - $250.
So shouldn'd the new Lowrance SI transducer be comparable in cost? That's what Lowrance said after all.

Middle figure to upgrade is $200 = my best guess in anticipation of the product release. Of course you still have the old xducer to do with as you like, or sell off.

[KHedquist]

Humminbird just came out with a nice software enhancement for their SI units, sharpness and enhanced sensitivity upgrades, looks good

[SimilarIsland]

My dealer was told that the Humminbird attorneys are eagerly awaiting Lowrance's entry into the SI world.

You have to be joking, If you think a company the size of Navico did not do their legal research first before spending money developing this consumer technology.
Lowrance had side imaging in the past, so I am sure they held a patten or have documentation stating the first time they developed side imaging.

Also there is lots of companies that offer side imaging technology in the commercial fishing and shipping industries so I can't see how Humminbird would have any exclusive rights.

[SimilarIsland]

Nope, not joking. That's what my dealer said the Humminbird reps told them. Last I checked, Humminbird was owned by a large enough company they could afford an attorney or two also - lol!

Maybe Lowrance will take Furuno or Raymarine to court for using 2D sonar, Radar, NEMA2000 and color screens to help off-set the court cost with Humminbird.

[SimilarIsland]

Attorneys don't have to be right to win do they?