Hummingbird confuses me

[tugger]

Can someone please tell me the difference between the two models below? Seems Bird has a lot of overlapping product line but perhaps I just dont understand it yet, seems way more confusing than LOW.

These two look the same to me. LOL?????

597ci HD Combo


788ci HD Combo

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

I'm with you Tugger. I've been looking at these two models myself and been trying to learn the difference.

The 597ci HD Combo features a Best in Class brilliant color 640V x 640H 5" display with LED backlight. Down Imaging® and DualBeam PLUS™ Sonar with 4000 Watts PTP power output, Precision internal GPS Chartplotting with built-in UniMap cartography, a card slot for maps and saving waypoints and a Tilt & Swivel Quick Disconnect Mounting System.


The 788ci HD DI Combo features a Best-In Class High Definition 640V x 640H 5" display with LED backlight, DualBeam PLUS™ and Down Imaging® sonar with 4000 Watts PTP power output, GPS Chartplotting and advanced Fishing System capabilities. In addition, it includes dual card slots for maps and saving waypoints, as well as three programmable preset buttons to save your favorite views.

The best I can tell you get some programable preset buttons and an extra card slot. I've not been able to tell if they both have the same ethernet capability.

[Jason Halfen]

Nothing confusing there at all.

Both are 5" screens.

Both are GPS chartplotters (internal antenna) with dual beam sonar

Both have 640 x 640 screen resolution.

597ci HD:

1 SD card slot

No networking capabilities

788ci HD:

2 SD card slots....record snapshots or movies while running your LakeMaster map chip.

Full networking capabilities....ethernet or interlink.

3 hot keys for fast switching between your favorite views

Hope that helps!!

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Thanks Jason.

So for $150 you get some present buttons, ethernet capability and an extra card slot.

[tugger]

Thanks Jason....big help....I see the favorites buttons now...that's a big deal.

[mrwalleye5]

I also beleive that the 597 does not have the capabilitiy to connect an external antenna if need be, where as the 788 does.

[Jason Halfen]

Originally Posted by tugger

Thanks Jason....big help....I see the favorites buttons now...that's a big deal.

I agree!!! I'd rather push that programmable button once than scroll through all of the available views using the view button.

[Jason Halfen]

Originally Posted by Wade B AKA: Ruger2506

Thanks Jason.

So for $150 you get some present buttons, ethernet capability and an extra card slot.

That sums it up pretty well.

I would look to the 500 (or 300) series units as being stand-alone units on smaller boats, or rigged up as portables for use in canoes or the like. I'll be using my 385ci on canoe trips this year.

As part of a multi-unit system....I'd lean strongly towards units that are network capable.

[tugger]

Jason

Bird really has too many models for me to understand it all. If it weren't enough that each series has overlapping screen sizes they also go from HD to no HD.....Can you tell me what the differences are between HD and non HD.

I thought I found a great deal on 788ci only to find out it was the Non HD version.

Also, does anyone know if there is transducer interference when running bird and Low on the same boat? Thanks again.

[Jason Halfen]

The most significant differences between the two are:

1. Age. The non-HD units are older, the HD units starting coming out in 2011.

2. Ethernet compatibility. The non-HD units are interlink only, the HD units are interlink or ethernet.