Guys, I would like to get your comments and side by side image comparisons on our sonar vs our competitor. I have a lot of people say they like our sonar better and don't change a thing. But, I think the concensus on this forum is that Lowrance downlooking is better hands down. We listen to your comments and suggestion and take them to the water for side by side comparisons. We want to do whatever it takes to make Humminbird's sonar the best out there. Please list your likes/dislikes and images. Include how the Humminbird is setup up i.e. 200kHz 200/83 etc.
Thanks for your input!

Hey Eddie, thanks for your support and customer opinion query.

I have a 797 and like it although its got a small display it works great. I am going to think this through a little but the screen layout or the combination of different screens may be a problem I have with the unit. I'll get back with you on that.

Thanks for the interest.

David

I have both on my boat. The lowrance shows more on the screen at factory settings but the humminbird is easier to determine what you are looking at. Both units are higher end units. The humminbird is the 997 and the lowrance is the 28c. I have always been a lowrance fan but with the new side imaging and multi frequency down looking sonar I am switching to humminbird. Both are great units but humminbird seems to have improved to a new level lately.

eddie- i sent you a PM. click the little envelope that is flashing next to the "my stuff" link above.

I just bought a new boat that has all Humminbird electronics including SI. My former boat was all Lowrance. SI aside, I think the Lowrance downlooking was far superior. The Humminbird does not have the separation that I had before. My experiences echo those of LTBama that posts on the BFHP. He has some great screen shots he has posted.

I appreciate you asking for input.

I have four depth sounders on my boat, Lowrance X100c & X75 and Humminbird 797si & 777c2.

I have always been a fan of Lowrance����. until HB brought out the 700 series, I run the 797 on side imaging all the time and have the 777 as the traditional sonar unit.

IMO, the HB units have far superior displays than the Lowrance units (albeit they are old bits of kit), thus they have been relegated to the front of the boat for visitors to utilise.

I am a 997 user and I think the better resolution and target separation is the default Lowrance user answer to the SI units. I would like to see some screen comparisons of each. When fishing on other boats I dont see the Lowrances to be any better.

I crappie fish so I'm often looking for structure, and fish. It seems like the Lowrance provides better definition on brush piles and condos. That is echoed by a number of fellow crappie fishermen as well.

The GPS portion of the Lowrance units seem to react a lot quicker in turns and such. This is especially helpful for driving to for instance a small crappie condo. The reaction time for the boat icon is more delayed on the Humminbird.

I've had a 997 SI since they first came out.

Click here to see separation issues.

http://www.wmi.org/boards/electronics/message.html?message_id=300396

See the bass busting through the shad on the Lowrance, splitting the baitfish ball. See the "something" on the HB.

I could see my dropshot bait and weight in 30 ft on my Lowrances. Not so much on the HBs.

I have the 997 and Lowrance LCX-25c on my console. for the traditional 2D sonar, I love my lowrance. but as far as target seperation, the humminbird is great. The biggest reason I got my humminbird was for the SI feature. I have located things I have forgotten about on a lot of lakes around here.

Eddie,

I've never had occasion to use Lowrance Technical Support, but I have had to use Humminbird's several times. Your documentation and web site are substandard by any measure. It is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to even reach your tech support at times. I believe the problem is the lack of information in your product manuals and in the FAQs on your web site keep the phone support techs busy with low level "how to" calls and answering questions that should be in the doc's. I have written about this over in the Yahoo Group, as have others. Has anyone from Humminbird ever directly contacted folks with support issues to find out what the issue was and help solve their problems? I know I've never been contacted. I am NOT talking about getting support from "Unofficial" sources, I'm talking about support directly from the manufacturer, where it should originate. Or was this just a marketing survey? If you really are interested in improving a good product, the major changes you need to implement are not in the hardware.

Roger S.

wow.. i have experienced just the opposite.... I have had a couple issues with universal sonar 1 compatibility with a couple newer units... the tech and I discussed how to get around the automatic bootup of the unit, and later discussed possibility of switching out the transducer. i was very impressed with the knowledge of the tech, thier willingness to help while I was freaking out, and general concern that I was satisfied before they hung up. I went to the website, clicked on the contact info and had a number within seconds....


The main reason I switched to humminbird was Lowrance tech support and not being able to repair one of thier units... then getting a minicsule amount of credit for upgrading to a unit they would support!!!!!!!

Never owned anything but Humminbird. 1985 model boat came with LCR 4000 on console and I put TCR ID-1 on bow. (I still have both and they worked fine when I took them off the boat.)

I now have 997 on console, 787C2 on bow, and have never had a problem getting getting any issue I encountered resolved through Humminbird's service department.

Since I've never owned a Lowrance unit I cannot comment on the service issue but I have fished on boats owned by others which were equipped with Lowrance and/or Garmin units and frankly cannot see a lot of difference in the 2d sonar information displayed on any of them once they are properly adjusted.

I wanted to share a recent experience with humminbird tech support. I was having an issue with the GPS on my 787 and so called customer support. Not only was the person very polite but also very knowledgable. They walked me thru a few checks to make and I was able to find and correct the problem quickly and for free! I was impressed with the level of support they provided.

Humminbird Eddie,

I really had not used the 2D on the Humminbird 997 SI all that much. I still have a Lowrance (LCX-28) on the console along with the Humminbird 997 SI.

I run the 997 on SI all the time other than to Mark/Wpt fish/cover while on SI and then split screen the SI with the GPS/Map page and then navigate back to the Mark/WPT (IE. to get back to the Mark/WPT (fish/cover) on the SI).

So yesterday I played with the Lowrance on 2d (200KHZ) and put the Humminbird on split screen showing both of it's 2D's, one side on the 200khz and the other side (split screen) on 83khz (wide angle 2d). I was amazed how much more shows on the HB 83khz rather than either the Lowrance 200KHZ or the Humminbird 200KHZ. That 83 KHZ (wide angle 2d) is a very good weapon/tool.

As to the quality of the Lowrance 200 KHZ versus the Humminbird 200KHZ, I really didn't see much difference.

It's just when you are use to the Lowrance 2D, at first the Humminbird 2D looks different.

I think it's really just what you are use to, that is really the only real big difference (of course other than having the 83khz 2d and the SI also working for you on the HB side).

As to Customer Support on the Humminbirds, it is Unsurpassed!