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Just seen on another board that Lowrance will be unveiling their side scan units, that are adaptable to the new HD units. Its about time, now maybe the price of those Humminbirds will come down where people can afford them. Apparently all you have to do is buy the side scan transducer, and attach it to the HD unit.
Well they must do it some other way then cause, Hummingbird has the patents cause I've been waiting for Lowrance to step up.
Just heard it too they are going to make the official annoucment at the classic with some demos.
I could be wrong on this but I think Humminbird only had patents for a set period of time for the side imaging used in fishing units. Several Goverment agencies use the imaging sonar to look for bodies, wreckage etc. and those units are not made by Humminbird. I think Humminbird had the rights for 5 years in the fishing industry and then it would be available to be marketed by the other companies.
[QUOTE=skeeter11008;355341]I could be wrong on this but I think Humminbird only had patents for a set period of time for the side imaging used in fishing units. Several Goverment agencies use the imaging sonar to look for bodies, wreckage etc. and those units are not made by Humminbird. I think Humminbird had the rights for 5 years in the fishing industry and then it would be available to be marketed by the other companies.[/QUOTE]
Maybe the time ran out, but all the Lowrance Pro's are saying that it will be introduced at the classic, but who knows where all the rumors start. Also my understanding of the patent was the transducers, and not the actual side imaging, because there are a few people that do the side imaging now, there is a company that maps Kentucky Lake, and you can buy their imaging to down load onto your GPS units. I guess we will all know for sure in a few days, I am hoping its true, maybe we can get a 5" side imaging unit for under a $1,000.00 that would be nice.
i thought that lowrance was the leader in technoligy now they are trying to copy humminbird. i know people who have lowrance and all they have is proublems out of them, so when i got one i got humminbird and it has ben great now i have three and i would not trade them for anything. i have the 1197si, 797c, and the 695 b/w. every one works great and have had no proublems and any questions i have had when i call humminbird i get a rep. right off the bat and they answer it then. no hold or waiting. if you are going to spend any money on a unit what ever the price i would make it a humminbird.
chuck