My skeeter came with humminbird electronics already installed. I got a good deal on the boats so I figured I could learn how to use the HB stuff easy enough. Well I am a lowrance taught guy and I am finding it hard to self teach myself the HB electronics. I am thinking of installing a Lowrance HD 8 SI on my consol. Will these to different type of electronics operate side by side without interference????

I would like to keep using the HB for basic stuff and use the Low8 for side imaging. If I mount the standard thru hull lowrance puck in the bottom of he boat next to the HB puck will they interfere with each other??? I realize the SI transducer is mounted on the jackplate.

Thanks for the info....

Not really sure why you want to keep the birds if you are not comfortable using them? Does the bird already have side imaging? Are you wanting to use it for just mapping? Two options I recommend, 1) if the bird has side imaging then just buy the Lowrance GPS only unit for mapping.
2) if not, buy the Lowrance for sonar and disconnect sonar on the bird and use it for mapping only. I believe you will get interference if using the sonar side by side.
BTW, the new HDS gen2 is fast!

Before buying read this post JERSY DANS HDS POST

Yes, they will interfere with each other.

Yeah, funny how Jersey Dan is the know all of graphs? You don't think there are bad customer service stories from each side?

I have 2 HDS's and they are easier for me to operate than the bird, just couldn't get clear pics from demo birds (too much fiddling I suppose). I have also heard they will cause interference with each other. Each has pros & cons.

I keep hearing the lows are barely waterproof if they are.

Since you're in the planning stage I would check out any threads concerning both brands until you get a good hold on the unit you want the most and just pick one brand and stay with it.

Customer service with Lowrance was pretty bad a couple years ago when Linda Colt was fired. She would it when people had bad experiences with other service reps. I don't know about them since then as I have Bird units.


Either way If I was going to use the HDS units I would only keep the Humminbird in there as a backup unit. If you do it for redundancy you would not have both units on at the same time.

I would go to the bass boat central fourm and reed the reviews on each.
The main advantage to the bird is no lss-1 module to leave on the boat or get stole.
Donnald Borris from Borris marine recomends the removal of a sonar while trailering.
I keep my graph in a soft case and in the room or truck with me.
I love the tulsa made Lowrance I own 5, they are now made in mexico and have poor quality!

My old lowrance flasher interferes with my HB 1198. So yea if its the same frequency you will have interference. Whats so special about the lowrance? Your still gonna use the H/B for side imaging? I allways found the lowrance function keys to be worse.

The Birds came installed in the boat from Skeeter. I got a good deal on the boat so I just left the birds there. They DO NOT have side imaging. They are both 787ci at the dash and on the bow. I was going to purchase a Bird 1198 with side imaging so all the units would talk with each other (some what), but I find it hard to learn these darn Birds. I have only owned Lowrance and feel much more comfortable with them then the Bird. I can work the Birds some what, but not as well as the Lowrance.

I haven't purchased anything yet and plan to work with these birds I have and see if this old dog can learn them before I make a purchase.

Thanks for all the input guys.