hds5x versus humminbird 798c si

[mcq]

i am about to lay out the cash,so,just want to get peoples opinions on the best of the two.the hds will have structure scan added in a few months if i buy it ,so what i really want to know is which sounder combo with both 'normal'sonar and 'structure scan'/side imaging is the best.most of the places i fish vary between 1 to 6 metres of water where i don't even feel the need for a sounder as i know them off by heart now.it's the deeper water 6-20 metres that my present sounder is crap at.i'd prefer the opinions of people that run these two sounders but all info is good info.cheers,paul.

[__MATT__]

Can't help from personal experience but this threads probabily worth sussin out;

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27276&highlight=shauno+humminbird

[lewa]

Mate i cant comment at all about about the humming bird but i run a lowrance with structure and have been totally blown away by it.



check these threads out.

some good info on both sounders in the first link

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29168&highlight=lewa

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30854&highlight=lewa

Pitty you missed out on the unit nabs was selling, 600 was cheap.
If you decide to go lowrance you should be able to get the combo with structure for 1500

[mcq]

Mate i cant comment at all about about the humming bird but i run a lowrance with structure and have been totally blown away by it.



check these threads out.

some good info on both sounders in the first link

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29168&highlight=lewa

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30854&highlight=lewa

Pitty you missed out on the unit nabs was selling, 600 was cheap.
If you decide to go lowrance you should be able to get the combo with structure for 1500


hanks for the info,some good stuff there.wish i could see it on the water before buying but that's not always possible.anyway,i found the 798 for $799us online,just have to look into it a little more first.i've bought a lot of stuff from the us before and not had any problems even after sending things back under warranty.cheers..

[Powerbream]

Lowrance, No question. Far better technology and far better images because of that.

[DanielO]

just check with both lowrances and humminbirds marketing departments and they all claim fun and exciting features. But at the end of the day they all do the same thing. Humminbird was the first to bring side scan/structure scan to the recreational market and it took Lowrance years to catch back up again but in the meantime tried to dazzle us with broadband and digital technology. i maybe a little biased toward Humminbird but most units still run on the same technology they just don't try and give it fancy titles but you still should be trying to support an aussie dealer with your purchase otherwise your sponsorships for local comps will start to dry up.

[Mandurah Marine]

I still haven't figured out how broadband and digital technology travels from the transducer to the bottom and back. Oh well must just be the transfer of info 'tween xducer and head unit and all the other guff Lowrance put in between that can go bang.

You might say I'm biast because I'm a HB dealer, but when you are using normal 2D sounding, I would still want 65mm target separation and the ability to use both dual beam frequencies at the same time to take best advantage of the 640 x 640 screen up to 500m depth with the standard supplied xducer etc. So I'm not too convinced on the "far better technology" when HB have been doing this for over 5 years, the reliability is well proven, the images are astounding (especially with a higher definition screen - 640x640 - you do the math) AND 65mm target separation.

MCQ check out the different ways of installations (eg networking other transducers, other head units bow to stern), different plug and play acessories (weather info, downrigger control etc) etc and go for what suits you now and in the future.

As for buying a "grey" product, consider that buying locally for example with a HB product, there is fantastic backup, double the warranty and 3 day workshop turnaround. If your grey product went down, you would be without it for a long time.

[Jack Mauger]

On our boat we have a 798c si at the console and a lowrance hds5 up the front, I find the hummingbirds gps is easier to use but the lowrance is easier to read, but i like the lowrance better because its simpler to read.

[mcq]

I still haven't figured out how broadband and digital technology travels from the transducer to the bottom and back. Oh well must just be the transfer of info 'tween xducer and head unit and all the other guff Lowrance put in between that can go bang.

You might say I'm biast because I'm a HB dealer, but when you are using normal 2D sounding, I would still want 65mm target separation and the ability to use both dual beam frequencies at the same time to take best advantage of the 640 x 640 screen up to 500m depth with the standard supplied xducer etc. So I'm not too convinced on the "far better technology" when HB have been doing this for over 5 years, the reliability is well proven, the images are astounding (especially with a higher definition screen - 640x640 - you do the math) AND 65mm target separation.

MCQ check out the different ways of installations (eg networking other transducers, other head units bow to stern), different plug and play acessories (weather info, downrigger control etc) etc and go for what suits you now and in the future.

As for buying a "grey" product, consider that buying locally for example with a HB product, there is fantastic backup, double the warranty and 3 day workshop turnaround. If your grey product went down, you would be without it for a long time.yep,it's all pretty complicated trying to figure out the best one to buy,getting through all the marketing and blurb to find what's best for you.if i was single i know what i would be buying,if i want to stay happily married then that's another story.as for the "grey" product,i know what you mean.if it was just a rod or a reel i had to send back to the us,i have plenty more that i can use,but being without a sounder for a month or so would be a pain.i think i am heading toward a hds5x and buying here but still keeping my options open,unless i see something in that price range that suits me better.cheers.