I know there are some advantages to having either one. But I was wondering if the Hummingbird graph was as detailed in the maps like Lowrance is?

Does hummingbird have a system like lowrance where you can put a navionics chip into the unit to get better detail of the map of the lake?

Also can you install these on your boat by yourself?

which one of these units are the most user friendly?

yes you can use navionics chips in some of the fish finders. im considering the 757c and have spent a long time researching this.

i fyou cant figure it out on the install, I will come help you. i find my humminbird with the "soft keys" more user friendly than having to scroll through several Pages to set up my old lowrance. i prefer the humminbirds over the lowrance.

yes the navionics chips will work in the birds with card slots.

Go withthe Bird. Regular sonar is outdated.

post one of those 997si pics Tim!!!! that one of the bridge barracades on Fork

ask any guys at basspro they know all the details but u can pm me if you want and tell you about it.. i did a lot of reasearch between the two before i got mine... i went with the humminbird and am extremely happy i did it.. i also installed mine myself and got the navionics chip

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He can go look here.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...442#Post2179442

If you go with the Bird (you really should), you might as well upgrade your front unit to a Bird as well. Get the 997cSI, a 787c, and an Interlink sytstem. The isntant data sharing is awesome. I can mark a hump while sitting at the console, then hop on the TM, and go right back to it.

I was wondering if you could do this!

Is Hummingbird sonar as good as Lowrance? Not trying to start a fight or debate just curious.

i think the gap is closing.

i am finding my conventional sonar to be very easy to read, and it picks up everything down there. the screen isnt as tight as lowrance, but my 957 is picking up a LOT more of the brushpiles that the X-16ci I did have.... i am very pleased with the birds. it took about 2 months for my brain to get used to reading the bird as opposed to the lowrance.

can you see big gar, and catfish on with the SI? i remember i once heard a story about a 1000lb catfish on the pines. do you think you could see that with the SI?

fish show up as white dots. the larger ones show up as larger white dots. system works off the shadows left from the sonar.... 1000pound catfish would look like Jabba the Hut!

I've had my 997si for about a year now, and I can't believe I ever got along without it. It just gives you more 'context' out on the water, especially in terms of how the structure is actually oriented undeneath.

But I could talk about it all day. Pictures are what matters - here's a small set, all taken on Lewisville last fall. I'll try to put a meaningful caption with each one.

1. Entering the old lake cut going eastbound on the east side of Lewisville lake. The "smoke trail" is actually the underwater prop wash from a boat heading west; it also shows up as the clutter about halfway across the standard sonar half of the screen.



2. The old fish hatchery. This is not too far to the east from the cut in the dam. You can clearly see the old dirt berms and the a road between the ponds.



3. It DOES work at speed. I was sitting on a hump, which is visible at the bottom of the SI image, and accelerated sharply 52 on the GPS. Image isn't very good at speed, but it is still useable, just very noisy. (Notice the abrupt noise transition when the boat gets fully on plane and really accelerates.)



4. One of my favorite humps. Sorry, no GPS coordinates. <grin> The map side was zoomed to show 1' contours (with the Navionics chip). Notice the abrupt change on the back side of the hump as seen on the lower right side of the SI image.



5. Shad, more shad, with Sandies and Hybrids underneath. What a beautiful sight! Schools of shad are the blobs showing up on both sides of the water column on the SI image and scattered around them are both sand bass and hybrids. Note: Unless I'm really looking for structure, I generally run the screen in split view, with the standard sonar on the left and the SI image on the right - that way I feel like I get the best of both worlds.



Hope these pictures were helpful. If you see me on Lewisville, Hubbard, or Lavon, give me a shout and I'll be glad to pull over and show you what's on the screen right there in the lake. I'm in a green/white Procraft with a 150 Merc. Tight lines!

Great pictures Harv.


Here is a shot of the rip rap by the RR tressel on Lavon. You can see the fish and their shadow.

Unbelievable!!!!!!! why did i spend $1500 on 2 lowrance lms's

I like the 2D Lowrance better than the Bird, but I had no problem adjusting to the difference. It was a small price to pay for being able to share data though.

Once while in the bay, we saw some dolphins. We drove by and they started following our boat. As we slowed, they swam past and they showed up as seven pictures of dolphins on our side imaging. It loked like they do when just looking at them normally. I think they were turned sideways while swimming. It was AMAZING!! Most fish show up as white dots, but you could probably see a 1000 lb catfish real well. If you catch him, let me know. haha

Sorry Ronnie, but most of us in the BPS marine dept do know our stuff. May not be the expert you seem to be, but we work hard to stay on top of things.

As for the original question, go with Lowrance unless you want the sidefinder. The sonar clarity, and gps simplicity as well as map speed is really slanted in the favor of Lowrance. BUT the side finding tech is awesome for those willing to put in the time to figure it out. Also, with the SI yu have to run a 2nd transducer if you want any readings on your sonar while you are running.

mattman,
PM sent

I will let everyone know....I will have a 997 here in a few weeks. It will be mounted right next to my trusty lcx-25c. But here is the question...
will it help me be as good as Randy Taylor or Ronnie Manning claim to be

I mean we all need to be as great as both of them

Mine works fine at speed!

Hi Matt,

If you work in the BPS Grapevine marine dept, I might have bought my 997SI from you. I know this, you guys sure were patient while I looked, and looked, and looked, over many months. I sure appreciate all the help I got from you guys, that's for sure.

The 997SI will work at speed though. Check out my 3rd picture (52 on the gps). The image isn't great, but it's still useable. I do think some guys use a second high-speed transucer with a switch, though, which gives a better 2D image.

Harv

Everything we are hearing (even from the Humminbird reps) is that you have to use a 2nd tranducer to get even a 2d reading on plane. If ya'll are getting a bottom reading at speed, where are ya'll mounting the transducer. Really interested in this, this is news to me.

Hi Matt,

Good question. Give me a few minutes and I'll post a couple of mounting pictures.

Harvey

I agree with mattman on this.

Lowrance also has their version of the SI coming out in 09'.

Hi Matt,

As promised (since others are probably curious as well), here are some mounting pictures. Basically, I was careful to mount the transducer so it meets the hull at the exact midpoint of the transducer. Also note that it has a (very slight) downward tilt, per the manual, which helps prevents cavitation (I believe) just in front of the transducer.

Left view - close up



Left view - wide view The transducer sits on the right-hand side of the pad, near the edge of the step.



Right hand view Note the jack plate. I think the six-inch offset I get from the jack plate makes an enormous difference in the amount of turbulent flow seen by the transducer, since it backs the prop that much further away.



Close-up of mounting underneath console. I included this picture because I think for large units (including the large Lowrance units), the recommended mounting hardward is totally inadequate. Typically, you're supplied some stainless steel wood screws and expected to mount the unit with them. Don't do it! Particularly if you use a configurable mount, such as the Ram-100U that I use, you need a MUCH more substantial mount. I used stainless bolts with aircraft-style teflon locking nuts. This is a mounting arrangement that will hold up under vibration.



Hope the pictures are useful to you.

Harv

I have one and I am not getting anything at speeds. So I dont know what those guys are talking about.

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if your transdcuer is mounted so it comes out of the water on plane... you wont see anything. two options. mount a thruhull transducer, or run an A-B switch with a puck style epoxied in the hull.... you can flip the dash mounted switch and Voila...

Dont even need a switch .Humminbird make a y cable, 1 end to si transducer, and the other to a puck in the hull, for depth at speed ,and 2-d. Works automatically. I have it in my boat works great.

Wow Ronnie, at first I just thought you were a bit egotistical. I had no idea you were a complete @$$. You don't have a clue if you are saying the hbird map is faster on the update than the lowrance. I guess next you will be saying that the GPS on the bird puts the Garmin Gps to shame as well. Not sure why you are so pom pom happy about the bird, but a little objectivity to peoples serious questions would go a long way. Also, maybe you should re read my earlier post. I referenced a 2nd transducer so you you can see the regular sonar view on plane. THX to jvan and harv for some ligit info...

Like any tool, both types of units have their place.

I still have the powdered sugar all over my tackle and clothes...

Yes-- I would like to know how the SI reads at 52. Mine doesnt, nor does the 2D with out a 2D transducer. Also --Lowrance maps will NOT read in the unit.

My transducer is mounted on the transom step (ranger) just slightly right of center. It performs very well and only loses signal sporadically in rough water same as any other outside the hull transducer.

I mounted my transducer right under my jack plate. I don't want it flipping up every time I run across a stump. I use a second transducer with a switch (before the Y cable was available). It is really simple to switch transducers. I usually leave it on the ducer inside the hull unless I need the SI.

I know the Lowrance may have a little better 2d resolution, but who cares? They both distinctly show fish and the SI cant be beat.


If you run a split screen with traditional 2d and SI, you will see what is really down there.

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if you mount the transducer sideways can you see in front and behind the boat with si??????

In theory yes, but you have to have a clear view from the transducer. The motor would be in they way and possibly the front of the boat.

Wow again Ronnie. Thanks for proving my point. and as far as my previous post goes, when you don't know something, a normal person finds answers. Not only did I ask here, I also got to speak to some real experts from Humminbird(as opposed to web superstars) as well as several pros I have access to thanks to my "part time gig", and got as much info as possible. Why are you so bitter?

sorry about that Mattman. had a bad deal with getting an answer from a store around here. I shoulda asked another associate, instead of stereotyping all. the guy was probably new and was still learning. your knowledge would really be beneficial to the equipment section here on this forum, and we could all benefit from learning a little more.