humminbird 788ci

[lil skeeter]

im looking to buy a new depth/fish finder and am leaning towards this one. i dont have a clue to what i need as far as maps. it says its got chartplotting with built in contourXD base map. what is a base map and is that all i really need to have or will i need to upgrade to the hot map. also, is this a good one to get? thanks for any answers.

[Les Young]

You can go to Navionics.com & click compatible. It will show you what maps this unit will accept. If your fishing around here get the maps for the eastern region.

[BassBandit35]

Try this site, they'll answer whatever you need to know about Hummingbird!

http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=279

Btw the 788ci should be at my door tomorrow, can't wait!

[kydog]

I have the 788ci it will do everything the 798 will do beside's the side imaging. The pre loaded maps are just basic map's with about 15ft contour lines, very little detail. I just bought the navionic's premium map's east and it has alot of the local lakes in hi-def (nolin,rough,tville,barren,c-land,dale,kentucky,barkley,and I believe green and laurel). The gps is a must especially on a lake like kentucky and barkley, if not just for the safety factor of seeing the channel's, but it make's finding those ledges and ditches very easy. I wish i could have gotten the side imaging, it's awfully sweet, maybe the next one will be and can link them up.I'm very happy with mine so far.
Kydog

[smuckey41]

i have the 788ci and it is well worth it and i would up grade to the navionics hot maps east. it gives a better detel of the lakes as far as the contour lines and markings.

[lil skeeter]

thanks for your responses. thats what i was wanting to know. later

[00SKEETER]

This is the same unit I want to get for my bow. Good to see good reveiew about it. Does anyone have the NVB (Navionics Bundle)? I think it's an extra $200. Is anyone familiar with the NVB?

[smuckey41]

This is the same unit I want to get for my bow. Good to see good reveiew about it. Does anyone have the NVB (Navionics Bundle)? I think it's an extra $200. Is anyone familiar with the NVB?

i dont but i would say it has all the hot maps lakes in the u.s. would be my guess and it is proubly the same as the chip but built in to the unit.

[BassBandit35]

Does anyone have the NVB (Navionics Bundle)? I think it's an extra $200. Is anyone familiar with the NVB?

I don't. The NVB is 2006 Maps pre-loaded. Doesn't include a card. I bought a 2009 East hotmap last year for my handheld so now I can use it on 788ci.

[00SKEETER]

I want to get this unit and install it on my bow in the console. Will the Internal antenna work if I do this or should I go with an external antenna?

[winner88]

just bought the 798ci si for my boat don't get the bundle the maps are for 2006 I bought the 2010 chip it adds more ky lakes in HD than even the 2009 much better value and the internal antenna will work as long as you have it mounted with a clear view of the sky.

[Ky Trophy Fish]

Just got done installing a 1197c SI Humminbird on my boat.Waiting on satellite weather receiver to finish the install. Dealer had Humminbird rep at store doing seminar on Saturday,really helped to start to understand all the things this machine is capable of doing.Now starts the learning curve to get up to speed on locator.

Has anyone broke off their sidescan transducer ? Rep said Humminbird had problems with failure at high speed(60 + mph). Rep said to mount transducer on jackplate or above bottom of hull to prevent this problem. Just make sure it has clear line of sight on left/right/down, make sure puck is in water.Puck will function properly till boat gets out on planeThen put a skimmer puck on back of transom to get high speed reading on normal locator mode

Been a Lowrance man for many a year,but they have some issues now.Hope this Bird works out,if not -Just another expensive life lesson!!