I need recommendations on which side imaging unit to buy, with $$$ being a large part of the considerations. Am I better off to go ahead with the extra $1000 and buy the 997 vs the 797 for screen size? Is the internal GPS receiver any better than the external one? Are the Navionics Gold & Hot maps that much better or will the Unimaps work for most lakes? So many options and choices! Any help form those who have them will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

you will need a navionics platinum or premium chip. lowrance maps wont work in birds.

you will want the bigger screen if you get the smaller one... check around ebay and the humminbird factory store (www.humminbird.com) - you should be able to find a good deal out there somewhere.

Ronnie: Per Humminbird's web site, the 997C SI Combo NVB shows it comes with the Navionics Gold and Hop Maps Permium charts preloaded. The 997C SI Combo includes GPS chartplotter with build in Unimap. What is the difference between these two map sets and is the extra $200 for the Navionics maps worth the money?

Thanks for your input.

I recommend to get the biggest HB SI unit you can afford.

I don't really think the screen size makes a flip on the 2D's units, as long as your eyes are pretty good (5 inich is really enough to get the job done on 2D).

With 2D you're seeing 1/3 the total depth of the water you are in, so what does it matter how big the screen size is (not at all really). Only consideration on 2D is with GPS and a split screen (Sonar and GPS/Map). But really 5 iniches is enough for that.

But, in the side image world you're looking at lot's and lot's more area to see fish and cover/structure. So Size does matter.

Your effective range on the 797 might be, say 70 feet left and right (that's a huge difference to the 2d's that see 1/3 their depth, in 21 feet of water you're seeing only 7 feet of coverage). And on the 997, perhaps your effective range to see fish and stuff is like 110 feet left and right and then the 1197 is like 150 left and right.

SO Size in the SI world is a huge difference, as opposed to the 2d word.

Get the biggest you can afford and justify for the amount of fishing you do.

As to Maps, I recommend to NOT get the pre loads (and have to pay extra for older, outdated maps). Get your own Map Card and then update or trade in as they get updated/changed.

+1

If you can afford it, go big. I hope the prices come down a little.

From Basszone.com, note LindaC's input.

HUMMINGBIRD GRAPH GPS by GOOFY, 9/19/2008 13:15 CT
Category - General Info

What is the real scoop on the newer graphs from Hummingbird that have side view that suppose to work this time well. Do they have GPS. I have never liked Hummingbird and am a Lowrance person. I usually don't listen to commercials much but to this one is bugging me. Are these real and do they really work as they say? If they did I would believe every pro would want one because Lowrance does not offer this.


re: HUMMINGBIRD GRAPH GPS by Captain Obvious,9/19/2008 13:38 CT

It does, and they do.
Call Humminbird and tell em the Captain sent ya!
re: HUMMINGBIRD GRAPH GPS by Green back,9/19/2008 13:38 CT

That hummingtird unit is not as easy as it looks to set up and get the settings just right. The transducer is HUGE and you can't get a reading at plane speeds(for the side-imaging that is). I suggest you stay with the best(Lowrance) and i guarantee you they will have a side-imaging one day, and once they do, there will be no Hummingtird or Garmin.

re: HUMMINGBIRD GRAPH GPS by LindaC,9/19/2008 14:07 CT

"STAY TUNED!!!!"

they better hurry= i know 2 people who are price shopping for 1197Si, because they are tired of waiting for lowrance to market thier "new" product.

I had the 10.4" screen lowrance, and it was a great unit. But I can tell you the SI Humminbird is phenomenal..... I have only had mine a short time, but the clarity is fantastic. I found all kinds of structure this past weekend on LBJ, including a jetski on the bottom. With my lowrance, It would have looked like a hump on the bottom.
I have always been totally committed to lowrance( still running a LCX 25 on the bow), but Humminbird has the advantage right now.

I understand that Hummingbird has patented SI so tighly they don't believe Lowrance will be able to get around it and if not, HB will be in the drivers seat from now on. Plus, I have been a Lowrance fan for a long time and feel their products are just not the quality they once were. Go to BP and look at the displays and look closely at the Lowrance vs any other product out there. The keys don't fit the holes and tend to stick, little things like that that never were a problem with Lowrance a few years ago. Just my 2 cents worth, I don't have SI yet, but, it's on my wish list and I will get one soon!
Okie Bob

Catsalesman,

Which unit do you have?

They are falling behind in the game, I know when I worked the PAA tournament on Fork, I saw one on nearly every Pro's boat. 1197.

I just put an 1197 on my boat last week. Within the first five minutes on the water after getting it installed, I determined it is worth every penny spent.

My Lowrance unit on the helm gets used for GPS and two dimensional work while the 1197 gets used for side imaging and big readouts from the Navionics 08 premium chip. The old saying "bigger is better", in this case, it holds true.

I Have the 997 Ram mounted on the console area. I have an in dash lowrance that I use for the Navionics and the 2D sonar. Very Happy so far !

Anyone networked two SI units from the console and bow?

I would certainly be in the market for a front display
hooked up to my console unit. I am talking about a display
screen only. It could work off the video out on the 1197.

Is there something like this out there ?

Mo

I've got the 1197 on the console (along with an additional 2D unit with GPS/Map). And the 997 on the bow/TM.

I've got the Humminbird INTERLINK but have not networked them together just yet.

And really I'm not sure I will either.

You've got to have an additional unit (say the 997 or the 797 upfront), you can not just have some dumb (just a display) terminal up front and share info.

It don't work that way. Sorry.

This is what I am looking to do.