Why did you decide lowrance or humminbird?

[Sakakawea]

I have only ever used Lowrance, and am seriously looking at the HDS 8. But everytime I go look at the HDS 8, there is this very nice looking Hummingbird staring me down saying just give me a chance.

It might sound crazy, but I have a Vexilar FL-18 flasher next to my 520C lowrance. I don't think I could own another boat without a vexilar in it. I really want to try the Vexilar Edge 3 too. If a guy only had 3 boats to try all electronics out haha.

That being said, I would have no problem trying out a bird, but I have heard the Lowrance GPS side of things is much better. Anyone else find this to be true?

[Burr]

Along the same lines of trying to decide Bird or Lowrance - I'm really thinking about the question - is this choice a mutually exclusive decision?

I'm really considering running both a bird and lowrance. The I-Pilot link to the Terrova is enticing. The 360 ducer is something I want to try on the ice - putting a bird unit on the boat would spread some of the cost.

I really don't like bird sonar, and much prefer lowrance sonar display. The networking with engine systems, satellite services, Lowrance is preferred for me. Myself, I always preferred the Navionics chip to LM anyway.

So why would one choice have to rule out the other? Waypoint management might be a bit more challenging. I might be putting a Bird on the bow by next year.

[mcbreth]

I have always been a Lowrance user, but my last boat came rigged with an 1197(SI) and a 958, which were very nice units. I rigged my new boat has (2) HDS-8 G2s with LSS-2. I like the Lowrance display better and, contrary to others, find the menus to be more intuitive and the functions more customizable. You can probably attribute this to a lot more experience with Lowrance dating back before the LMS-350 came along.

You really need to try them out on the water to see which one you like best....

[lowtech]

Originally Posted by Sakakawea

It might sound crazy, but I have a Vexilar FL-18 flasher next to my 520C lowrance. I don't think I could own another boat without a vexilar in it. I really want to try the Vexilar Edge 3 too. If a guy only had 3 boats to try all electronics out haha.

I don't think you're crazy at all - I had a Marcum in the front of my boat for a while and loved it for vertical jigging, but I used the ice transducer on a float instead of the boat one. Now that I'm used to HDS, I do appreciate the history of the graph. Still, that flasher has been ridiculously reliable over the years even with my constant stupidity and still hasn't failed me yet.

[Bigstorm]

late last year, I went with the Bird 597HD CI DI for 2 reasons, 1st is that I wanted the Lakemaster Chip, and second becasue of the amount of negative comments I could find on the Lowrance customer service. Granted people have had problems with customer service at HB too, but not to the level is Lowrance

[black white face]

I have one comment here---- CALL THE 800 NUMBER TO HUMMINBIRD AND TELL ME HOW LONG YOU WAIT FOR THAT SUPERB CUSTOMER SERVICE I HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT

L O W R A N C E all the way!

I link! Ha! let's see if it works first- oh... did we talk about interference issues yet????

get on google and do searches for issues problems with both and I would suggest going on a boat ride with people of have both because that is a huge investment to make and you not happy.

Humminbird- great mapping software- sonar, not the best
Lowrance- mapping software- so so-, Sonar- unbeatable

JMO- I have both BTW

[nicko]

Well I have called the 800 number and low and behold someone actually answered before I fell asleep.

This is a classic Ford vs. Chevy issue. I had Lowrance (LCX-111c HD, LCX-110c and LCX-15MT). I now have an 1198 and an 898HB. I see very little issue with 2d, downscan and sidescan. Granted, I haven't used the HDS's much, but I see no quantum leap in either. Your splitting hairs. Everyone talks about Lowrance's networking being better, but I found the opposite. HB is a breeze. I move units around my boat, I share GPS, transducers etc etc. very simple and easy. they all do that now.

HB has had some real innovation with it's 360 Deg scanning and IPilot which Lowrance doesn't even touch. Lowrance has weather, HB does not. For me it comes down to features I like, performance and customer service. After having been screwed by Lowrance on service for several years, I made the switch. Lowrance is run like a typical conglomerate. Reduce costs, raise prices. Service suffered. If it weren't for HB cleaning their clock the last few years, Lowrance would still be lacking in Customer service. Because HB raised the bar, Lowrance had to respond. They had no choice, their rep was so bad it was killing them.

I choose to do business with companies that support me after the sale. HB does, Lowrance is improving. Choose the units that work for you, offer you the features that you consider important and that matter to your style of fishing.

Just remember, none of this actually catches fish. You do. If you can't interpret what the tools tell you, might as well buy nothing and save the money.

N

[oldschooltiller]

I went with Lowrance for a few reasons. And I'll be swapping for a few others.

Lowrance at one time had FAR superior products when comparing price points.
For instance 7 years ago a $500 Lowrance product to me seemed much better than a Humminbird product at $500.

$500 was my price point.


Since then, I've sold those units, and bought higher end, but older/used Lowrance products.
Again this goes back to a time period of 5 years ago and older. Lowrance owned the market as far as performance goes IMO.

Pro's for current Hummingbird products:

• Then at some point Hummingbird upped their game a bunch.
• Lowrance went from rock solid reliable to problematic
• Customer Service @ Lowrance went down the tubes
• Hummingbird passed up Lowrance for performance/dollar.
• The Performance/$$ of the 898 is unbeatable and I can't wait to get at least one.

[LWinches]

There is another factor in play here. There is a tendency for people to root for the underdog, particularly when the underdog does something that outshines the big dog. Lately that has been the case with Humminbird coming from behind and now leading in innovation. First with side imaging, 360 and ipilot link. The underdog is beating the big dog up. While all this was going on Humminbird has gotten a free pass on lots of criticism. It just wasn't popular to beat them up. Don't get me wrong. There are quite a few of Hbird products that I believe are the best on the market, but when they do it wrong potential buyers deserve to know. I'll give a couple of examples.

1. Until the recent offering of the 1198 type screens their viewability in direct sunlight was a disaster. When the 997 and 1197 were the latest offerings I read everything I could find on boards all over the internet. Nobody mentioned this deficiency. NOT ONE. I got a 997. In direct sunlight I had to take a cape and raise it over my head and the unit to see it. What a way to operate!!! They got a pass on that for a long time.

2. On the lower side of the scale there are major issues with screen condensation. I've owned and used 525, 560, 565, 777c, Matrix 47, Matrix 37, and 748 3D. Every single one had problems with condensation. One of the Matrix 47's I've owned had a spider crawling around inside. Can you imagine the outcry if these had been Lowrance units. But since it's Humminbird, the underdog that is trying harder we're supposed to give them a pass. They've been getting a pass on this for years. Let me say it this way. Based on the number of Humminbird products I've owned if you buy a 700 level or lower unit and use it for one year, there is 100% chance of having condensation inside the screen blocking part of your view. Now I know you may not have this problem but I'm saying I've had 9 or more units and every one of them within a year showed this problem. If you only fish once every couple of weeks you may never experience the problem, but I fish 250+ day per year. My units get a pretty good workout in all precipitation conditions and temps from 20 to 100.


There's more but I'll hush for now and wait for my whupping.

[1shooter]

I currently run humminbird. I switched from Lowrance several years ago simply becuase the LCX 27/28 I was using I could never count on the sonar to work properly. Way too many fishing trips with my sonar flashing with no reading. The GPS portion worked very well.

I've heard the HDS units are much better.

If I had to make a decision today I would stick with my Humminbird for 2 reasons.
1. the lakemaster chip, where I fish navionics does not offer a good option
2. the ipilot-ilink. Way too cool.

As far as customer service both companies are going to have hold times during the peak season. While I was frustrated with Lowrance when I had their unit I dont blame their customer service department as it wasnt their fault. I can not testify for humminbirds customer service as their has been no need for me to call them.