gps / mapping graphs - Lowrance or Humminbird?

I took the ledge class with Dave Stewart a couple of weeks ago (awesome class - BTW) and realized how much I live under a rock sometimes when it comes to fishing and new and improved things. Dave has a Lowrance graph with the Navionics chip and where as I have the Hydrographx computer maps and a hand-held GPS these mapping graphs bring it all together on one screen -- the same screen you are looking at while fishing in the boat. So I started researching my options since I am kind of due for a fresh graph up front any way.

The first thing I realized is that the LMS-52x models have been discontinued being replaced with Lowrance's new HDS line. Although the LMS-520s and 522s are still sparsely available from many sources as I looked at the glossies for the HDS-5 it was their latest thing and not much more expensive than the LMS models. But as I looked further it appears that the HDS line new this year has been having a lot of trouble. I found a lot of threads ranting about issues including filling up with water and many others on glitchy behaviors although most of the threads were from earlier this year. My first question is have the HDS issues settled down since they were introduced this spring? Are they truly worthy to be considered in terms of reliable, solid, graphs?

Further, in many of these threads the latest Humminbird line was mentioned as a good alternative. Now I get the feeling this thing is kind of like the Chevy / Ford / Dodge truck discussion where everyone wears their colors on their sleeves but what are the impressions of the latest Humminbirds? I am looking for a unit up front so the 788ci or 798ci SI are what interest me. I fish KY / Barkley heavily and really would like to get out away from the bank and explore the ledges, creek channels, and off-shore structure more. What about the SI (side imaging) on the Humminbirds? I started off wanting to add gps/mapping to my world and now this side imaging feature popped up. I read somewhere where Lowrance will have that add-on this November but it is going to be another $500 or so extra so the Humminbird would be more cost effective than a HDS-5 with the SI if I go that route.

Finally, one question I haven't gotten answered from Humminbird is on dimming the screen. The X-85 I currently use has a "cold cathode" LCD screen that allows me to adjust the backlight. I really like that feature for night fishing in that I can turn down the screen and it doesn't blind me so bad. Do the Humminbirds have this ability?

Thanks in advance for your replies. I am a pretty technical guy but it is difficult at best to figure out all this new technology and how it will best fit so I find feedback from people actually using the devices most helpful...


kc

I can't really comment on the humminbirds (the ones I own don't have GPS ) but I'm very happy with my Lowrance LMS 520C . Hope that helps.

I'm a humminbird guy Love the side imaging. Own the 798cisi and new to using sonar period. But in this year a lone can not see how you can live without. It has a dimming feature and also change color. At night I change the color and go black blackground and it not as bright then low my light level. Gps is very good maps are very good. Also uses Navionics offers HD maps which gives great detail. I have the one for the bird and one for comp I sit here add spot for the forum then down load to the chip and in it goes. There is a guy on youtube that has a video of side imaging for his unit and he goes over it very good. tapout64 is his user name and he has about 3 videos. Good luck!!!!

I have one of the new hds series lowrances and it a peice of crap im better off with out it.

I appreciate the feedback. I am torn on whether to go for an LMS-520 which can be had a good prices right now along with the Navionics chip which gets me into a color graph and mapping for the ledges. Or spend a fair amount more to get into the side-imaging of the 798 si which gets me into color graph, mapping, and side-imaging. At this point with everything I have read about the HDS units there seems to be more people having problems than those saying their units are OK and that spooks me. I think the HDS units may need some more tweaking before they will be ready for prime time. Plus although the side imaging is an attractive feature SI on the HDS series is going to be a pricy add-on. Another twist would be to do an LMS-520 up front now and add a side-imager on the console later. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the responses and I'll post back in time after I take the plunge...

kc

Thanks for the response on the screen dimming. I could not find that info anywhere on HB's web site and I emailed them twice and they have yet to respond on that particular question. I love to night fish in the summer but when it is a dark night looking at a bright graph kills your night vision but fishing drops and structure away from the bank you gotta have a graph to position. The Hummingbirds are attractive units -- both the 788 and 798 and are definitely an option for me...

kc

I recently got a Lowrance HDS-7 and am very happy with it. Lowrance did have a recall on these units but the issues are supposed to be resolved now. I haven't been out in a driving rain yet, but overall I have been pleased at the detail. I have the insight features on mine and that eliminates the need for chips. It is pretty cool, but more expensive.

No one has mentioned this yet, so it may no longer be an issue. But I asked about using the SI up front, and was told you had to be going at least 2-5 mph to get it to work correctly, and therefore was better to be mounted at the driver's console with the transducer mounted outside the boat on the jack plate.

That advice came from folks on this forum also. This has me eliminating the SI until I upgrade my boat...LOL.. so basically for many more years!!!

Good luck, and let me know what you decide, because I too am wanting to add a front GPS to my boat. I currently have a 2003 model Garmin 168 at my console, and it would be nice to not only navigate to spots with it, but be able to stay on the spots using a front unit.

tight lines friend,

hdf

I think they rain is what got mine cause not much afetr I got it I went to cumnerland and it rain like no other. I havent never recieved any recalls on mine so who knows maybe it just a fluke.

I have read that too about the need to be moving at a steady clip to get a reading off of SI. On HB's site there are a series of videos promoting their SI and all of them they are cruising and scanning with the big motor running -- scouting is the way I look at it.

As far as my decision I am leaning towards picking up an LMS-520 with the Navionics chip and putting it up front in place of my X-85. It will be a pretty good learning curve in itself to get used to gps mapping and a color graph. The 520s are still readily available on the internet for $500 or less. Interestingly the 522s (internal gps antenna) are as hard to find as hen's teeth but the external antenna on the 520 is not a problem by me. It is just another install step that you wouldn't have with the internal.

From there I think I will sit back for a while and watch SI units evolve and look to pick one up for my console sometime in the next year or two as things settle and I learn more about them. Prices tend to improve after a new technology gets out and settled for a while and SI units carry a pretty good premium right now...

kc

KC you have the same problem I had after going out with Dave this year, you saw how accurated his was when comming up to a spot and the contours are spot on!!! My problem is worse I already have a 520C on the front of the boat and a humminbird SI at the console!!!! After going with Dave I was about to swap and still may, in fact I think I'll sell the SI get another 520 and link them together!!! yeah that's the ticket. I had also bought the navionics bundle for the humminbird and the "2006" wasn't made aware to me until 3 months after installation, also the mapping is a nightmare I keep having to offset the maps 2 or 3 times each trip because there mapping overlaps!!! Geeze......

Get the 520 or 522 and enjoy!!! to many headaches for me and I can honestly say that because I have both on my Ranger right now!!!

I really appreciate your feedback. This is what I meant that I get more from those with experience than ever trying to visualize how something will work for you based on only reading product information. SI sounds neat I am sure it is good technology but I got a feeling I should take it on later. But the GPS mapping is it and the 520 is priced right so this pretty much makes up my mind and now all I got to do is swing some cash to make it happen. Thanks!!!

kc