Humminbird sidescan vs Lowrance Hds with structure scan - which one?

[Maccas]

I am looking at a Humminbird sidescan (798csi) or a Lowrance HDS5( plus structure scan when available) for my dinghy which is used in rivers and estuaries for bream. Is the sidescan or structure scan worth it and how good a sounder do you need for these waters given that the max depth is about 30 metres but mostly much shallower than that. Does the sidescan help you find fish and what screen size is adequate given the bigger screens cost more.
All opinions welcome.

Thanks,

Maccas

[Mandurah Marine]

Sounders are for finding structure. Side imaging will cover a large area in one sweep - you don't have to drive over something to see what's down there. In January all of Humminbird's side imaging range except 797 will be able to be upgraded free of charge to include down imaging also which results in serious definition on a 640x640 resolution screen. I recommend you go to a Lowrance dealer and touch feel see the unit and do the same for the Humminbird. IMO screen size is just a wank factor for a sounder as you are just getting more history (what you have already driven over) on a bigger screen. I prefer a compact unit on a small boat.

Compare screen resolution and target separation to give you a good idea of "HD". . . . . . . .

Oh, yeah, and beware of bias opinions

[Shortytheyakker]

Just stick your transducer on the side of the hull to get side scan.

[Ben]

Thanks to Ryan ive done alot of side imaging this year and must say the humminbird unit is top notch and with the new downwards upgrade is an impressive structure finding unit

[Dell]

IMO Humminbird have played with side imaging for 3 or 4 yrs now while lowrance have just added them to their units. Pretty sure humminbird have the side imaging worked out cause of their 3 yr experience with the technology while lowrance haven't had them very long on their systems. I certainly know which brand i'd be choosing.

cheers

[Shauno]

here is the good oil...

I am in the market for a new sounder for my new boat, I have owned the humminbird 797si and love it, but I thought I would consider the new lowrance technology so here is how they stack up...

screen size humminbird 5" Lowrance 5"

screen resolution humminbird 640x640 Lowrance 480x480

Side imaging inc down scan: humminbird already has side image, downscan and menu streamlining upload available Jan completely free....

Lowrance sid image and down scan available Nov

The humminbird unit has three quick keys enablingquick selection of the main creens wanted, lowrance doesn;t offer this feature in the HDS 5 or the 7 (only HDS8 and 10 models).

Now keep in mind that the lowarnce products require a black box enabling down and side scan at a rrp of $999. thats on top of the unit cost.

down in addition to this both the lowrance unit and black box need a power source, and in further addition the lowrance will require a second transducer on the transom.

Humminbird requires only 1 power source and transducer.

In further addition to an addition the humminbird offers a quick disconnect bracket (in the size unit and $$$$ I am looking at) which makes removal of the unit much more convenient.

So IN THE PRICE BRACKET I am looking at it makes much more sense to stick with Humminbird rather than Lowrance...

[Maccas]

Thanks guys for the info. It helps but I would like to know what the Humminbird is like as a normal 2D type sounder. People talk about the clarity and detail with Lowrance broadband technology but as Shauno has pointed out the Humminbird has a lot more pixels so should be a very clear picture.

At the moment I can get a Humminbird for $1800 which is cheaper than the Lowrance by over $300 and is available now whereas you have to wait for the Lowrance structure scan. The Humminbird is easy to connect to your PC, not sure about the Lowrance. All things considered I am starting to think the Humminbird is the one especially since their technology is proven

Does anyone know what the minimum depth that sidescan will work to spot fish and structure.

Cheers,

Maccas

[cleetus]

I've driven over a sunken hull on purpose just for that reason and got a great pic- that shallow the leg hit the hull

[Mandurah Marine]

Maccas - 65mm target separation on the HB.
HB also have TVG - Time Variable gain. Other brands do not have this feature but you can turn TVG on and off with HB. Check these points out also.

[Maccas]

What is the minimum depth that the sidescan will work in real life like say a shallow creek. ill it show you fish in 0.5m or .25m anyone had any experience?

[will10]

I too are in the same postion as you guys , but the thing that keeps pi$$ing me off is that we seem to be getting the rough end of the pinnaple again , i'm keen on the 798 but to buy the unit here in aus for rrp of $1990 aud or get one from the us for $985 us ,now at the current exchange rate the cost aud would be $1089 plus freight , pretty sure i would have no problems getting it here and back a few times for any warrenty issue's that may arise for the difference.
I understand all the comments this may bring about buying local , support the people that support the game we play , but with the price of the toys avaliable now , ie ; lures ,rods , reels , boats and electronics it is just getting to hard to do the fishing i love, and dont talk about the cost of fuel and accomadation thats without time off work , to do the comps i would like , without ending up single sadly my pay hasn't increased in the same way
As i type i just got an e-mail from a mate about buying sx 40's 2 for $30 or $26.95 local and another for VX's for $18.95 or $23.95 local all are Australian stores , where would you buy your lures from ??
Sorry bout the rant but with the items above they come out of the same place and the freight is not that much different , i know as i import a few parts from different parts of the world for my work , it is a small world these days, can have parts from the US to Southwest Victoria in 3 days , yet the same time from Sydney.
I am more than happy to buy from an australian agent for Hummingbird , but at a common sense price


Chris

[palaran]

I have the 798ci unit. I was looking for a while and went to the boatshow but was only shown the demo model details etc, but I wanted a real demo out on the water.
Not long after I jumped in a mates boat who has the 797. After about 5minutes of hiting the Blackwood I was sold......
As Ryan says above its about finding struture but the fish standout like Dog balls when you find them.
The unit is user friendly considering the amount of features and I use mine for both estuary/river- inshore and offshore applications and can not fault the unit running it under its operational limits. The 2-D sonar is fantastic and learn to use the sensitivity function and dont forget you can choose between fresh and deep/shallow saltwater. The three quick save buttons work wonders when you are underway. And remember you can move the cursur and mark any point on the screen without returning......just so easy!!
I have been out on numerous occassions here with a mate who was guiding in the NT for years and he was blown away by the unit. Other mates just stand there transfixed.
For me it suits my fishing style perfectly and i would never go back to standard 2-D, why would you for the price.
Yeh I imported mine from the US as I had saved for ages and $$ was tight.
Highly recommend the humminbird and looking forward to uploading in January.
For its size the screen is definitly sufficent especially with the three quick save buttons and the definition is sweet.

[Maccas]

So what's the disadvantage of buying in the US. I have read somewhere that they make different units for the US market and the Australian/European markets. Different time and different units of measure for distance/temperature. Of course there is also the warranty issues and future upgrades.

[palaran]

one can order/purchase an international model from the US which allows for the metric units etc. its the same model you get here anyways.......
it cost an extra $100 for the international model from the domestic and you get more features. the international sounder provides more options for units in temp/distance etc. I thought it was worth it myself
the price when I bought it was up to $1000 cheaper than equivalent $$ in Australia at the time though.

you lose 1 year of the warranty but at that kind of saving I can afford to send it back a few times......

the dollar value may sway your decision presently and shop around.

[BlackBreamer]

Becareful i got stung by customs when i purchased my Garmin GPS, but it still worked out $300 cheaper than buying it here...

Sounders are different, buying o/s you will pay to have it fixed + freight....
I wouldn't buy Lowrance, personally i have had too many drama's witht their sounders.... I know guys that have the new HDS sounders they love them but there is a moisture problem getting inside the unit, the screen fogs up Cheers BB