best depth finder/ fish locator

[Issy1]

Toolman were I'm I off, please explain, I have the HDS10 & 8 on my boat my brother has Humminbird 997c & 858c on his boat, I have use them both. The prices came from Bass Pro shop.

[Embrey]

You are right about if you want your HDS unit to have structure scan and down scan, you will have to buy the LSS-1 unit which has its own transducer. Most install a tru-hull transducer and install the structure scan transducer on the jack plate. The Humminbird has a external gps antenna, the HSD units don't, which I like so I don't have to drill a hole in my boat to run the antenna cable and mount it. Both have to have there trannsducers on the outside of the boat for the sidescan to work, so when on plane the humminbirds sonar will not work were as the tru-hull on the lowrance will up to about 65 mph, a good reason to have two. The cost difference between the to if I would have bougth the units, HDS10 & 8 w/LSS-1 $5100.00, humminbird 1198c & 998c w/interlink $4929.00, so thats $171.00 difference I would pay $171.00 not to put a hole in my boat to mount the antenna. I know not everbody will buy the type units I have but think the lowrance is a better unit and I dont think they are hard to use, but that's just my 2 cents.

Gary

humminbird also has units with internal gps antenna...i know this because i have one

[basshuntin]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Currently Im using both a Humminbird 200 series and a cheap Eagle unit. No problems with either one. Looks like Im probably gonna stick with Humminbird, most likely the 898 series. Who knows what I may come home with after I look at all the differant ones and see them run in demo mode. Cant wait for warmer weather!!!!!!

[basshuntin]

Any differance in performance with the external or internal antenna for the GPS?

[Embrey]

Any differance in performance with the external or internal antenna for the GPS?

i cant see why...my internal had no issues in a year though