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Fish finder confusion
#10747242
04/05/15 10:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,248
HumanSeine
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,248 |
I am a country boy trying to decide on an affordable fish finder /GPS setup. I just get lost with all the models. The Lowrance website makes my head spin. I would like to talk to someone knowledgable to guide me in electronics purchase. I have been to BPS and the hummingbird crashed three times during a demo.lol. I was not inclined to buy that Hummingbird. Is it possible to get a decent unit for less than 1k?
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747338
04/05/15 11:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,743
Phoenix_Ed
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,743 |
Lots of good units out there for under $1k. I have been using Humminbirds for over 7 years, no problems at all. The new Helix series appears to be a good bang for the buck. I would not base my decision on what happened at BPS, who knows what the guy was doing the day before or who set them up on the display. You will get lots of advice on here! Good luck.
Wishin I was fishin!! ..............>(((//*> 2021 Phoenix 819 - Mercury 200 4 Stroke - Ultrex Her name is Novia Número Cinco. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega DI - Helix 12 Mega SI - Mega 360 PB Largemouth - 9.51 - Toledo Bend - March 2014
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747345
04/05/15 11:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,449
JIM SR.
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,449 |
look at all the videos you can, youtube is full of videos on fishfinders. and yes you can get some great units for under 1K..
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747412
04/05/15 11:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,248
HumanSeine
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,248 |
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747502
04/06/15 12:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
Muzzlebrake
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665 |
I just bought a humminbird 688ci hd di kvd edition. Spent about $500 after the rebate. It came with a Navionics plus card. I like the screen size better than the Helix model. It has a bit larger viewing area. Have yet to use it on the lake. It was a hard choice between it and the Lowrance Elite-5 CHIRP Fishfinder/Chartplotter as each had some distinct features. I liked to Bird because it had the 3 favorite buttons that made it easier to find the screen view that I would use the most once set. The installation and setup on my boat was easy. If I were to get a side scan it would probably have been the Humminbird 899ci HD SI Combo. It comes with everything for just under a grand. The comparable Lowrance models cost a bunch more and I think you still have to buy extra stuff to make them work like the Humminbird 888
Last edited by Muzzlebrake; 04/06/15 12:30 AM.
From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."
Then He made the earth round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747516
04/06/15 12:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 147
DaggerDoc1
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 147 |
I just got out of the military and decided to cash out my military retirement and put the money towards a boat and a graph. Boat came with a very cheap hummingbird 165 grey scale. It was worth the $90 but that's definitely not saying much. I can relate to the head spinning on the web sites but I ended up going very high end lowrance hds 9 gen 3 bundle and quickly found myself overwhelmed with all kinds of crazy cool but confusing stuff. I def don't recommend doing that either lol unless you wanna spend a ton of hours on YouTube and emailing lowrance. If I could do it all over Id definitely go with a elite chirp series lowrance because it'll handle all your fishing needs and at a very reasonable price. Also despite what I originally though size doesn't matter as much as I thought a 4-5" screen will still get you on em in a hurry. Hope this helps ya out in your search.
U.S. Army Veteran Being out on the boat is my counseling and it's worth every second and every penny.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747529
04/06/15 12:38 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 147
DaggerDoc1
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 147 |
On a side note looking at all the graph pics on here it sure seems the hummingbird units seem to look a lot clearer than my lowrance but that may well be operator error.
U.S. Army Veteran Being out on the boat is my counseling and it's worth every second and every penny.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747620
04/06/15 01:09 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,155
bush hog
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,155 |
I've always used Hummingbird with no complaints and recently traded boats that came with Lowrance units. I upgraded to a touch screen Lowrance and really like it. It's like a Ford or Chevy, they both do the same thing, it's just that some like one over the other. While you looking don't overlook the Garmin. They've also got some nice units for under $1000. I will suggest this, get the largest screen you can afford.
Last edited by bush hog; 04/06/15 01:11 AM.
To whom much is given, much is required.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747823
04/06/15 02:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,743
Ranger-188-2007
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,743 |
I went from Lowrance to Humminbird I liked it better. However both are good units.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10747858
04/06/15 02:32 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 175
Moose364
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 175 |
I have a Humminbird SI DI Im very happy with, also have a Lowrance that I run my lakemaster map card on, it does not even have a transducter hooked to it anymore, and take a look at the Garmin also, all the pics Ive seen they look awesome,
1657 Triton Stick steer W/ 50Hp Mercury, Terrova 80, I-pilot Tracker Pro 190 TX W/115 Mercury
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10748483
04/06/15 01:53 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
Yes, you can get a nice unit for under$1000. As far as brand, that's more of a personal choice. I went with a humminbird 899 that I found on sale for 899 I think. I choose that brand because I was running the terrova trolling motor and I might want to use functions that needed that brand.
I would suggest that you buy the largest screen that you can afford. When you get into DI and SI, the larger screen really helps especially if you put up multiple screens on the unit at the same time.
It's basically the old Chevy vs ford debate
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10754824
04/09/15 12:14 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,604
spacejunkie
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,604 |
Might look at the brand that Tommy Horton uses also. Just watched his show and he gave a electronics lesson and seem his brand was easy to use. Just can't remember the brand name.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: Muzzlebrake]
#10755576
04/09/15 11:22 AM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 363
Fullofit
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 363 |
I bought the 899 hummingbird as well. I've only been out once with it and it will take awhile for me to learn what im doing.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: HumanSeine]
#10755594
04/09/15 11:31 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,466
papamark
Mini Tractor
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Mini Tractor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,466 |
Guys , after you buy it , call Slade, and set up a appointment to let him set it up and explain all the ins and outs , its well worth the money.
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Re: Fish finder confusion
[Re: papamark]
#10756031
04/09/15 02:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
Guys , after you buy it , call Slade, and set up a appointment to let him set it up and explain all the ins and outs , its well worth the money. +1 I called him and did the half day trip on my boat. He taught me everything that I needed to know about how to use the units. Now it's just water time to get better. Everyone I go out I see improvement on my reading the units. I want seeing that before Slade.
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