And KVD knew he was going to collect $250K at the end of the year. I'm sure that deal was going on before the end--say ICAST. I need to call him and get my Football picks this weekend and Lottery picks.LOL

I think that there is a little misconception out there about this 600.00 unit or add on. When you package the HDS and the Structure Scan the price will be comparable-----BUTTTTTTT when you NETWORK two HDS units together, one on the Console and one on the TM you just saved $600.00 bucks--HB doesn't have that TECHNOLOGY--Buy TWO HB Side Scan units to get the same results. That's the"old Technology".

Here's something else I don't understand. Since HB has had the SI technology for however long, your telling me without a HARDWARE upgrade that now you are capable of giving us FREE software to upgrade the DOWN VIEW this year? This Technology has been availble all this time and it wasn't released earlier?? But now that the market has become equal HB needs to release something that they have had and not released?? I guess that just good marketing!!!

Hope the next upgrade is for the Navionics Bundle. The capablities to upgrade the mapping software to current releases with out having to spend $200 for each region to get current and updated mapping. Let us be able to send our HB units in and get the Navionics bundle reloaded for a $100 bucks or so ever couple of years. Lets really get into the customer service business.

This is really cool that HB is providing this at no charge. Looking so forward to having this added feature.

Please explain a few things since I am not to bright. First this was a thread just to let people know that this is going to happen for the bird users that have the models that it will work on. Then its turned into a bird vs lowrance.

Mrppl2 you may be able to explain since you have this down and know alot about lowrance. You say HB cant network the units and this is old technology. Well how does everyones HD units work on the side scan when linked together. Due they show this at the same time and is it accurate?? Oh, Im sorry the lowrance units are comparing their side scan that is not even out yet. I have heard it was coming out back during the classic but still dont know anyone using it. I guess questions cant really have an answer with out it being sold yet. I guess we can call customer service at lowrance and check this for a date to come out with side scan but they dont seem to pick up the phone much. Last question though on the Networking side. When you network the units together and you get a little rain will the networking keep the units from taking on water and shorting them out?? A friend on here said he might come out with little umbrella's to sell to put over the lowrance HD units to keep water out but I just told him to call customer service.

No offense to the lowrance users on this forum. Just got a giggle out of this thread and had to post. The topic is about HB and down scan and not about who is better. Everyone has their view on products and experience with one or the other just like our boats. So this one being hi jacked opened a door for a little humor.

Hey Eddie is it possible that HB could make the 797 owners some kind of upgrade deal so they can get the full benifit of the HB SI and DI?

The 797 community has spoken and the issue is being looked at hard.
That's all I know at this point. If I hear anything I will post it asap.

My units networked together work just fine. I fished 3 days in the rain three weeks ago, Revo Big Bass, Texoma Sunday and Mon. in the rain and they're still ticking.Maybe my favorite saying--USER ERROR. Just plugged in the cords, but didn't tighen them. I'm guilty of that too. If you get water in the connections, all units could short out, but nobody believes that.

All you have to do, for new HDS users is to buy the ethernet cable, hook them up and share away. Hook the LCX units to it and it shares also. You mean you don't have your Structure Scan yet?--it was working last weekend on Lake Eufala and alot of people got the DEMO- and the pictures have been posted here on the site a month ago.

Not trying to high jack the post, just trying to understand y the technology hasn't been released before Lowrance announced their release?? But finally to asnwer all conspiracy theorys, come FEB we will finally be able to compare side by side.

BTW-- Just to be fair-- HB will be updating some of their units with Ethernet ports and software so they can network and share.

Since you seem to know a lot about this stuff, enough to tell us that they are using "old" technology, I want to ask you a question. Can you tell us about the results of the test that the State of Oklahoma did a while back ?

You see, the State of Oklahoma was getting ready to buy 100 new units for their search and rescue, so they set up a test to determine which company's units would perform the best. But I'm sure you know all about it. You know, the test where they had both companies out on a lake and showed them a 300 yd stretch of bank where they were given the task of finding a sunken car and 2 divers(bodies) with their respective Side Imaging technology.

Would you be so kind as to let us know which company's unit found both the car and the divers in about 9 minutes and which one couldn't find either the car or the divers ??????

EWWW EWWWW I know his answer. User error.

Lets us know the outcome of that smoke....

again Lowrance has it going on. I agree. I hear that this widget will network and be ready sometime in the future. And customer service will be alot better in the near future.

Again lets see if HB anounced this update for Jan 2010 in a few months and if they take a year to show results. LOL I doubt it.

tight lines and Mrppl2 you have a blessed day sir.

From reading the thread above, there seems to be some misconceptions.

Humminbird units have been network capable for a long time, with two units sharing one GPS antenna, WeatherSense data, and waypoint creation and deletion. The ethernet port referred to above is a CHANGE in the way they are networked, not ADDED capability.

I be a gentleman and give Mrpp12 the opportunity to tell you. If he doesn't, I'll tell you later.

Thanks Eddie.

Stop the presses! Humminbird's software updates according to Humminbird will be out by January 1st. Why the need to wait until February? Has the other release date for Lowrance changed or are you allowing time for them to work out the kinks, you know that is if there are any?

Mrppl2, I did check about the water getting in the units with a few folks this happened too. One man even had his that was flush mounted in the front of the boat get water in the screen and short out. But I assume no one is really going to say that they did not connect the connections tight and caused it. So human error could still be the cause.

and how did you get so lucky to get the units to network together and show the side scan on both?? Most have not been able to get the side scan yet to see how it works.

Looked it up and nitro 898 is dead on. Thanks dude.