Mega Live VS Livescope

We are currently running a 93sv uhd with livescope, no issues yet and has a good image. Garmin just dropped the new transducer and update and we are also wanting a 12” screen… the rest of our boat is hummingbird helix 12”s and a minnkota Ultrex, from the looks of it the bird mega live has way less screen clutter and could link to our other birds plus getting rid of the black box. Opinions on which “new” system you would go with upgrading from the old one?

If you already have the Garmin then I would stick with it. I run all HB and have the Mega Live but it isnt the same quality as Garmin right now. I wouldnt have traded the Garmin for the Mega Live, but I didnt get FFS until this winter so decided to keep it all HB. There is rumor of an update to Mega Live in March, but I would personally wait and see before getting rid of the Garmin.

You arent losing anything having your FFS unit not linked to your other network, especially if you have another unit on the network sitting right beside it. I never mark anything on my live head unit, and I have never thought to need to view live imaging at my console.

My dad likes the idea of being able to view the live from the back that’s the only reason we would link.

Only reason to go it!

Let your dad up on the front deck with you............

I have a few buddy’s with the ML, it works well enough. Just be open minded going into it, that it’s not as sharp as Garmin.

I agree, ML works well enough. I enjoy my ML, but I wouldnt get rid of an already purchased, installed, and familiar Garmin setup just to get the MegaLive in its current capabilities. But, if dad is the one paying the note on the boat, and buying the new unit, then I would go with what keeps the money tree happy.

I would add that trying to view live imaging away from the trolling motor (assuming that is where the transducer is mounted) would be very frustrating for me. Your would have no control over the transducer position, and the angle would be off.

My mega live is ill. It's so crazy chasing bait with it and watching how stuff reacts to bait without clutter. Once tuned it'll bee even better. High contrast low Sen if you have 360 for less feedback.

Tried that once or twice, he still always ends up on back deck by his own discretion..

I had LS and a 12” Garmin, I just couldn’t get used to the menus in the Garmin. Too many years using Lowrance I guess. Sold the Garmin and bought the Active Target and have no regrets doing it. Dual graphs on the bow was a PITA for me, I like having 1 brand vs 2.

I say sell the Garmin and get the ML.

I've been researching adding some sort of LIVE system to my Skeeter and came across this video. I thought it was interesting. It may help me decide and right now it's got me leaning towards Garmin, but if either of the other two run a deal that made financial sense I'd go with HB or Lowrance. https://youtu.be/V6Rr5g7RXCk

Arguably the best FFS fisherman on the planet, the Oklahoma Assassin JJ, switched from Garmin to Lowrance.

I’m a bird guy, sure hope they come out with something that’s on the same level as the others on the market soon… it’s just not there yet IMO.

I’ll give the guy credit for taking the time to do that video, but it’s not a very accurate video. Turning on a system and just using it, doesn’t show what the units capabilities truly are. No mention of ghost tree in the video makes me wonder if he was using the newer updates at the time of filming. Now the lvs34 potentially has solved that issue and if so, then Garmin is definitely the best. Just makes no sense to me to make a video and not tune the graph to show the best possible view that it’s capable of giving.



Jacob Wheeler has a good video comparing the technology, not sure he covered the ML though.

From what I’ve heard hummingbird is putting out a update for the mega live in march that should help it out a lot too

I had nothing but problems with Mega live, fought it for a month. I switched to Garmin, and chose the 1222. It’s been really great and have it dialed in pretty good. I run a 12 helix up front for 360, and the 1222 for live scope. It’s been awesome! Going through the settings on the Garmin is cake.

If you can l9ng-term loan me your Live, I'll see if it can be dialed in and report back my success or failure. It'll be a Win-Win!

Both Lowrance and Garmin use a black box for processing of the Livescope / Active Target signals. Humminbird does not. I think you can see the results. Garmin offers a non black box option with their newer Echomap series, but the results look like Mega Live. I presume Humminbird will be going the black box route.

If you have the appropriate Garmin with WiFi, you can connect to an iPad and watch from anywhere in the boat.