Well i have had my 997 for three years and it has never worked right and now it finally died. I cant decide if i want too spend more $ on the bird ,that never really worked or get a new lowrance. My dad got an hds7 and we tried it this last weekend and it amazed me ,it worked the way i thought my bird should have. The thing keeping me away from lowrance is i herd if it quits ,it takes 7 months or longer too get it back. What is the latest news on lowrances turn around?

Turnaround time for Lowrance is lengthy. Humminbird turnaround time is speedy.

Not 7 months lengthy, that's just stupid talk. Why buy a graph from the same company if the first one didn't even work right? Does bird offer a instant 2 year warranty? Nope, only if you sign up for a special program. Answer seems logical to me, one is awesome and the other never worked???

I had two occasions to use Lowrance CS last year. In both cases my units were returned/replaced quickly. In one case, I shipped my unit to them on a Monday and had it back by Friday.

C.

I don't think I would be putting more money into a already bad investment. Even if I wanted to stay with BIRD, I would haft to try a new one.

My brother and I own 4 HDS's between us. He had to send one off to be worked one (HDS-5, Gen-1), within 3 days of mailing it in, they called and told him they could fix it for $200, or for $300, they would send him a refurbished HDS-7, Gen-2. He had the HDS-7 on his boat in another 3 days. That was 6 days total, including shipping time.

We had heard the same nightmare stories as you are talking about, but the few times we have had to call for information, someone picked up the phone, and got a answer, and this was the only maintance issue we haave had with lowrance after 4 years of owning HDS's, and we have not found one thing to complain about.

I bought the HB-1198 off of the advise of this site, and was not happy at all with the images on the Si and Di. Had HB Rep come and set it up for me, and was told this was as good as it would do. It wasn't BAD, but with my brother already having HDS's on his boat, it would not compare to the HDS Images. Sold the 1198, and went to a HDS-10, and have been happy ever since. Both have their plus's, but images was what I needed, and Lowrance was the way to go for me.





keith

Yeah, but if you sign up for that "special offer," you get the benefit of an ongoing stream of e-mails informing you of exciting new offers, developments, promotions, etc.

I don't know HB policies but with Low lots of times you can take a defunct unit and trade up for a lot less than a new unit price.

If I were you, the first thing I'd do is call HB and see if they would consider a trade-in. If they do then you have a cash basis for making a decision.

Humminbird does not have a trade-in program. They can actually fix your unit even if it is more than 3 years old-unlike some other companies.
They are manufactured and serviced in Eufala, Alabama--USA.

Think i will talk too hb and see how they want too handle my dead bird. Then i may keep using the 997 if it is able too be fixed . Then after i use it awhile and the lowrance touch screens have been out in the real world for awhile i will make my decision on two new units.

Gotta admit that the shots posted by HB "pros" look pretty sharp. Surprising, though, that casual and occasional users so often voice the plaint that they just can't seem to get their units "tuned in." Must be an art to it.

I'm no "pro" and I have no problem getting good images. I don't even try to do so. When I see something on the display that looks interesting, I just push the Mark button to save a snapshot of it. My use involves fishing, I see stuff as I am fishing. All it takes is making the effort to learn how to operate the units.
"It's so easy a cave man can do it"

Wayne is being a bit modest here. He is actually a walking encyclopedia on sonar, as witnessed by the multitude of authoritive insights he has left not only here, but on BBC, WMI, Bassresource and other such forums. When he speaks, amateurs listen.

Yeah if Wayne isn't an expert then nobody is. Wayne, other than Doug name someone who can answer every question asked about birds.

And I have zero sympathy for the complainers who allowed themselves to be persuaded that HB could trump the LSS technology with a "software upgrade."

Does that statement mean that you don't install any of the Lowrance software updates as they are released?

Do you know that Lowrance did a software upgrade for the HDS Gen 1 units so they could copy Humminbird Side Imaging with their Structure Scan accessory?