Hi All,

My situation: I won't bore you with the whole story, but I have two Humminbird 898c SI Units and one Lowrance HDS 7 w/insight. I don't have the LSS-1 at the moment. I'm going to keep two of the units for the console and bow of my boat and send one of the units back or sell it.

The HB units cost me $1299 each and the HDS 7 cost me $499.00 from Lowrance because my X27c was fried and they traded it up for me.

I've read a lot about the SI/DI of HB and Lowrance. Some people like the HB better and some like the Lowrance better. I could have the best of both worlds or I could go all HB. I thought about putting the HB 898 at the console for SI/DI and putting the HDS 7 at the bow without the LSS-1 for now. I would have $1800 in this setup with no SI at the bow. I could purchase the LSS-1 later and end up with $2300 in the setup. Or, I could use both HB units now and have $2600 in the setup.

What would you do?
Would I miss much without having the ability to interlink the units?

Any advice is appreciated.

lowrance up front. I am back to using lowrance. I really enjoy seeing my bait while I am fishing it under the boat.

put the bird/si on the dash, and the HDS7 up front. best of both worlds

miss the best of interlinking?? not really- it takes a simple push of the waypoint button up front to mark your spot.

Ronnie,

Thanks for the reply. That's what I'm thinking also. I can mount the HDS 7 now and get the LSS-1 later. I think I can bend over and save the waypoint on the front if needed.

Do I mount the HDS 7 now with the transducer included to get the 2D Sonar and swap that one out with the LSS-1 transducer when I decide I want to upgrade? I've got the thru hull transducer for my HB SI/DI and I got the 2D ducer to put inside the boat for high speed 2D. So, I think I have that one figured out.

Here's some info from T Mike on BBC on settings to see your lure:
Sonar 200/83khz (dual beam)
Split Fire max
Sensitivity High.

Key thing here is sensitivity. You gotta crank it up some from your normal settings. MOST people have sensitivity too low ie no clutter. You want some clutter in your pics. If your filtering out clutter your filtering out your spoon and other important details ie arches, bait etc etc.

Actual spoon used jigging it at 150 ft plus:


I definitely would not let that problem steer me back toward Lowrance units.

Awesome Information. Thanks for posting.

I really think both units are capable and it might be nice to have the best of both worlds. I've never run any of the newer units, so it'll be a learning experience for me.

The best Vertical Fishermen that I know insist on Humminbird for the 2D Sonar and Side Imaging is a bonus to them. Why because of the precise sonar beam from Humminbird and the ability to position their lure dead on the fish. Just like flippin in a latdown or bush it's location, location, location to make the fish bite. If you missed a flipped by several feet do you think you would get bit?

Here's what Humminbird can do and if you look you can see his drop shot at 38' from one of the best drop shot vertical fishing specialist on Table Rock Lake.



These are with factory default settings - straight out of the box.







Look at the similarity between all three sonars and how well this bridge is shown the same in all...it's not a psychedelic array of color in 2D that's the precision of Humminbird Sonar.

You will love the Structure Scan and Down Scan once you get the LSS-1 for the HDS.

Thanks Doug and John for your comments. I really do appreciate you taking the time to offer up information.

Doug, the information you showed is fantastic. I'm so excited to get the SI/DI setup. I really do think it will make me a better fisherman.

Hi All,

One more question and I'll have all the information I need.

The HDS 7 w/insight came from Lowrance without the transducer. I'm going to put this unit on my trolling motor and plan to get the LSS-1 later in the year.

What transducer do I need now?

Is there a transducer for LSS-1 that will work with the HDS 7 in 2D?

Do I have to buy a seperate transducer now to operate in 2D and replace that transducer with the LSS-1 transducer that will give me 2D/Structure Scan/Down Scan??

Thanks.

Part 106-72 is the 2d transducer you will need. The LSS-1 will come with its own transducer.

Thanks for the reply.

Will I need to mount both transducers on the trolling motor once I get the LSS-1? I went to BBC and looked at install photos. I think I saw one photo that looked to have both the 2D and LSS-1 transducer mounted at the same time, but there was no description to confirm.

Two lakes ,
that is correct, one reason why I have not bought an LSS-1
for my bow unit.

I don't want/need two ducers hanging of the tm

MO

Ps
I've had HB on the console and lowrance on the bow for
a couple of years, I will replace the bow unit soon and
link the 1197 from the console to a bow unit , probably
a 798.

MO

You could sell the HDS 7 to me and get you another HB. LOL! Enjoy, whichever way you choose.