Ordering my Nitro Friday. I had been decided on an HDS gen2, but with the new 360 imaging Humminbird will have available to us in October, I'm really torn, as I think that's something I'd HAVE to have! Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Humminbird with 360 Imaging will give you all 4 Sonars. Switchfire 2D, Down Imaging, Side Imaging and 360 Imaging. Humminbird has been leading the way with innovation and is so simple and easy to use and has a more coverage. Plus the ability to operate LakeMaster Maps adds even more features. Compare and decide...it's your money. Both are good products for me Humminbird offers more features for the dollar.

Thanks for your input Doug. That's pretty much my thinking- both are excellent products. The 360 imaging I think will be the tie-breaker.

I've been torn with this also. Currently have an HDS 8 on the console of my older boat but, just bought a newer boat and plan to leave the old HDS on the old boat and get a new unit for the newer boat. Was going to go with the HDS 10 but, with 360 coming, and knowing Lowrance will be months, if not years away, I'm leaning towards an 1198.

What kind of fishing do you do? If you're fishing in timber or where anything at all is under the water, you won't be able to use your 360. The transducer sticks down below your motor and can easily be ripped off. I think HB started a cool thing, but I wouldn't make that a tie-breaker at all. It's is going to have to be made into a more use-able package if it's ever going to be useful for anyone who isn't fishing in completely open water (i.e. striper fishing or deep-sea fishing). If you're already comfortable with your HDS unit, stick with that. Get the new Gen 2 with the new LSS-2. Higher def and it runs faster than the gen 1 units. Lowrance still has the better picture, and it's a no-brainer if you already know how to use it. The only disadvantage to Lowrance is the learning curve, and that doesn't apply to either of yall.

OTOH, if you are mainly a striper fisherman or spend 90% of your time in open water, find Doug's post about the 360 from a few weeks ago and it should make your decision really easy. I just don't think the 360 is useable enough for 95% of fishermen to justify the extreme cost. But if you've got lots of money and you don't fish in the shallows or the trees, then go for it.

Why won't 360 Imaging work in trees?

It's no different then hanging transducer on the back of the boat or off the trolling motor. One thing about 360 Imaging is you can control the depth of the transducer deployement in heavily timbered areas you dont have to deploy completely if all you want to view is what's ahead of you...just need to get barely below the boat and not all the way below the motor. Like these image are forward looking. You can isolate the sweeep from 10� to and degrees and direction up to 360� of coverage.









Plus the 360 Imaging is built strong. The Imaging Dome can be repaired by Humminbird if you inflict too much damage. Humminbird has been testing for many years and is putting the system thru it's pace in a variety of conditions. With 360 Imaging you still have all other 3 Sonars to use too 2D, SI and DI. So you have alot of options to choose the sonar type you need for the applications you are fishing.

This is my home lake and I will be using 360 Imaging on it and will be in the trees for sure...that's all I have to fish.

Plus another thing is with the new iPilot Link from MinnKota you can now operate the iPilot from the Humminbird and use spot lock and follow trail from the Unit plus the new Contour follow with LakeMaster. iPilot Link has me finally switching from a cable steer motor. This is goign to be the ultimate in boat control and only works with Humminbird. I think you will see a big increase in electric steer motors with this feature. Being able to let the trolling motor steer so you can fish a depth contour is a huge bonus for me.

Plus another thing is with the new iPilot Link from MinnKota you can now operate the iPilot from the Humminbird and use spot lock and follow trail from the Unit plus the new Contour follow with LakeMaster. iPilot Link has me finally switching from a cable steer motor. This is goign to be the ultimate in boat control and only works with Humminbird. I think you will see a big increase in electric steer motors with this feature. Being able to let the trolling motor steer so you can fish a depth contour is a huge bonus for me.
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/ipilotlink/

You can absolutely use it in trees. I just don't think it'll stay on the boat very long. Just my opinion. I doubt very many of us who fish deep in the timber have a normal transducer that hangs down below the boat either. there are a million posts on here about how to mount your transducer so you can get good pictures but not have any of it below the hull. I personally mounted mine about 10" above the bottom of the hull and still get great pictures without the risk of having to buy another transducer if I run into a tree the wrong way. The jackplate-mounted TD has become very popular.

I would just be very nervous about spending $2000 for a 360 unit if I was fishing in the trees very often at all. If you've got it below the boat, you're bound to lose it.

Here would be my determining factor: if you have a pitot-tube speedometer that hasn't been knocked up by a tree, you're probably fine using the 360. If yours has been kicked up, the same thing is probably gonna happen to your 360 transducer.

I think it's a very cool idea by HB and the images you've posted obviously show how useful it can be in putting fish in the boat. Regardless of what some other Lowrance-lovers on here say, there's very little debate about that. I just think they'll have to make a more practical deployment system before it'll go as viral as SI has.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
If the price for the 360 is anywhere near correct at $2000 and assuming you can still fish timber as Doug says, why would you spend that much money to see what you are going to see anyway, simply by waiting a few seconds for the boat to go over the same area that is shown with the 360? I love the idea, just don't believe I would ever spend that much for so little.
Just my opinion, not knowing more detail.

You can see the same thing an SI unit will tell you with a DI-only unit (just takes multiple passes), and those $2k units are flying off the shelves. It's all about making the game easier to play. I'd love to be able to see a fish 20' in front of my boat. Once my boat's on top of it, I'm going to have a harder time catching him.

I guess the difference is that I only fish for crappie...brushpiles, timber, condos and dock shooting.
Doesn't help me that much to see in front of boat, just need to locate structure. I have DI on my TM now and a 788 HDDI on the bow. I may convert to an 1198 on the console and have the 788 still on the bow. I just don't see two grand to see in front of me. I could be wrong. Hope someone can give me justification for the cost.

Transducer hanging below the boat? What about below the trolling motor? That's more succeptable to damage on the front than the rear in my opinion for what it's worth.



Your going to be going forward 90% of the time and the boat is going to have to go over the structure first to inflict damage but if you watch 360 Imaging it's going to show it too you first so you can raise it. Sinace 360 Imaging looks all the way around it can tell you what's coming before you get too it.

You can Clearly see the stumps...so if in danger raise the 360 imaging until you clear them.






This is one of the biggest advantages of 360 Imaging is seeing the fish move or their position from the boat...works the same on structure too. You will be able to cast towards the structure or fish with having to pass over it without having to move the boat and have chance of spooking them

The new iLink will be sick...

Here is one of the Best Videos on the Humminbird 360 System with operation and hardware details! "Wild Bill" is one great asset for Humminbird - glad he seen the light and made the switch to Humminbird!

http://youtu.be/an5XH7YNzvg