texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,565
TexDawg 119,510
Bigbob_FTW 94,875
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,259
Bob Davis 81,465
Mark Perry 72,280
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,798
Posts13,934,681
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Electronics- best bang for the buck? #13203971 07/03/19 09:42 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
J
JPPlemons Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
J
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
I haven't fished much in past 6-8 years. Recently bought a boat that needs an electronics upgrade, but I was wondering, in this day and time, if you buy 2 year old technology and 7" to 9" screen size, what would you wind up spending and what would you get? I understand it improves each year, but I'm not trying to out-do A-Mart or EE. I just want to know where I'm at on the lake and see some what's under me

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13203978 07/03/19 09:53 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 23,384
J
J.P. Greeson Offline
the janitor
Offline
the janitor
J
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 23,384
I think the Lowrance Elite series is a good bang for your buck. You can still find the last generation Lowrance Elite Ti or go with the latest Elite Ti. I'm running both generations on different boats and am very pleased with them.


The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be. --John Gierach

[Linked Image]
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204051 07/03/19 11:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,167
S
SteezMacQueen Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,167
I can HONESTLY say that my HDS7 and HDS5, both gen 2, when used with the LSS box have 95% as good an image as my Carbons with Actuve Imaging. The big differences are screen brightness and some user interface upgrades. As for finding structure or fish arches, theyre almost the same, in my opinion.

If I was budget conscious, Id look for a gently used 10 for the console and/or a 7 for the front. And get a used LSS box. Probably could get it all for the price of one 2019 7 finder.

Come to think of it....I happen to know where a gently used 7, 5, LSS, and all the stuff to make it work is. (My garage ) bolt


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204187 07/04/19 01:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 580
M
mossyback75 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
M
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 580
While I agree with the poster above that the Lowrance Elite series are a good unit for the money.....I would caution using navionics or other high capacity topography chips in them. They accept them but their processor just isn't fast enough to keep up. They will eventually load but only after a frustrating delay. This was my experience with mine anyway. From what I have read....the HDS units process data quickly and efficiently. Other than that the Elite series with chirp show a good picture of detail below. Have since switched to Hummingbird and no complaints there.

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: mossyback75] #13204217 07/04/19 01:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11,968
tmd11111 Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11,968
Originally Posted by mossyback75
While I agree with the poster above that the Lowrance Elite series are a good unit for the money.....I would caution using navionics or other high capacity topography chips in them. They accept them but their processor just isn't fast enough to keep up. They will eventually load but only after a frustrating delay. This was my experience with mine anyway. From what I have read....the HDS units process data quickly and efficiently. Other than that the Elite series with chirp show a good picture of detail below. Have since switched to Hummingbird and no complaints there.


I have two Elite 9ti's on my dash, one has a Navionics card and it only takes a few more seconds to boot up then the one without it.

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: tmd11111] #13204225 07/04/19 01:55 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 580
M
mossyback75 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
M
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 580
Originally Posted by tmd11111
Originally Posted by mossyback75
While I agree with the poster above that the Lowrance Elite series are a good unit for the money.....I would caution using navionics or other high capacity topography chips in them. They accept them but their processor just isn't fast enough to keep up. They will eventually load but only after a frustrating delay. This was my experience with mine anyway. From what I have read....the HDS units process data quickly and efficiently. Other than that the Elite series with chirp show a good picture of detail below. Have since switched to Hummingbird and no complaints there.


I have two Elite 9ti's on my dash, one has a Navionics card and it only takes a few more seconds to boot up then the one without it.


Hmmm. Maybe mine was an older version. The loading of the map was relatively quick but the constant reloading of the map as I moved around was delayed.

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204290 07/04/19 02:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
S
sarcazmo Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
S
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
Take a look at the new raymarine element. Touch screen, but looks to be awesome image quality, reasonably priced, and good customer service.

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204469 07/04/19 11:32 AM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
J
JPPlemons Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
J
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
Anything specific to stay away from?

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204486 07/04/19 12:02 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 175
M
Moose364 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
M
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 175
The older big screen Humminbirds are hard to see in bright sun, Im not sure about the Helix or Solix in the sun, but my 998si is impossible to see, I never realized how bad my humminbird was until fishing out of my sons boat which is running lowrance HD9 and HD7 you can see very good and my Garmin 93sv does good in the sun,


1657 Triton Stick steer W/ 50Hp Mercury, Terrova 80, I-pilot
Tracker Pro 190 TX W/115 Mercury
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204572 07/04/19 01:56 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,551
F
Frank the Tank Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
F
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,551
Helix is LED backlight. No problem in sun. Older birds like 999 are hard.


Jesus loves all of us
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204728 07/04/19 04:30 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
J
JPPlemons Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
J
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
I appreciate all the information.

Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: JPPlemons] #13204841 07/04/19 06:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 384
C
Capt. Bryan Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
C
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 384
I would look at Garmin echo map series 73sv and 93 sv


Skeeter FXR 21
Yamaha
Humminbird/Garmin
Lews
Re: Electronics- best bang for the buck? [Re: Capt. Bryan] #13204856 07/04/19 06:54 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
J
JPPlemons Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
J
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
Tell me why??
Originally Posted by Capt. Bryan
I would look at Garmin echo map series 73sv and 93 sv

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3