I am the oldest, most un-technical, nothing is user friendly person on the earth. I have two graphs. Humminbird 898c at my console, and a Lowrance Elite-7HDI up front. Do either or both of these have both side imaging or down imaging? Will they "sync up" being two different brands? Who can help me set them up properly? Please, I am definitely NOT smarter than a 5th grader...keep it simple. Thanks!!

898 might have side-imaging capability. Is a 898c-si?

7HDI should have down imaging with the correct transducer

You can't network them together.

898Csi correct. I thought if they had side imaging, they would also include down imaging as well. Incorrect?

So does the Elite-7 HDI have both side and down imaging available?

The Humminbird and Lowrance transducers with conflict with each other, but I think there is a connector you can buy to make them use a single transducer and "talk to each other". I haven't actually seen it work, but I saw one the other day in a box. Those should both have down imaging hence the DI in the Lowrance and the 898 is a DI unit. Depending on which 898 it actually is, it may have side imaging. There should be more to the name, it should have HD SI at the end. The Lowrance does not have side imaging I don't think.

As for using them, there is a guide on Fork that is supposed to be really good at teaching sonar. You can also google "you tube sonar fish" and will find tons of informative information. The videos will get you started and then just put in some time cruising around a local lake. Then go back and watch them again. For some samples look in the Crappie section of this forum and there is a post at the very beginning that says "Crappie Graphs". Look at those, they are very informative for what you are looking for irrelevant of the fish. Also, remember that most of those pics are from a computer and the resolution on your graph will not be quite the same but it should give you an idea of what you are looking at.

The 898C SI is a side imaging unit if you have a si transducer. It should be about 2.5" wide and 4" long. It cannot be mounted in the boat. If you have it on, on the lake and cycle threw the view you will have choices of map, sonar, down, and side. As well as combinations of all of those together. Your side image will be a screen that has a line running vertical from top to bottom and left and right sides should be somewhat a mirror image of each other depending on how close to the bank or structure you are. Hope this helps. You should look up your unit on YouTube and watch some videos on how to use it.

They are both garbage. Send me those and get you some garmins

898 is a good unit if set up correctly.

So if I were to ditch one or the other so I could sync them up, which one should I ditch?

Lowrance, because I think it is slow. The sonar is better imo but I am fond of the Birds

When I read the subject I just knew you was gonna be making fun of me!!