crzyjunyer Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 im hoping to get some opinions and comparisons from some of yall that have had experience with these units - i know the gen2 lowrance units are newer though. My dad and I have decided to break down and buy a side imaging unit for our boat and with our budget these are the 2 best units in it we have found. Right now i like the price better on the 'bird but we like the size better on the lowrance since the hbird unit is nearly a foot wide and kinda limits our mounting places. The mapping on either isnt a big issue since we plan to get navionics with either one. From my google research so far in a lot of ways its a ford/chevy loyalty fight it seems on these units so im wondering if anyone on here has any more insight as to diffrent features/detractions from these units from a more neutral point of veiw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I can't speak to the Lowrance units but I've used a H'bird 987 for several years and have liked it. One difference between the latest units may be Hbird requires a separate GPS antenna while the Lowrance has an internal antenna. That's not a big deal but it is an extra thing to install. My 987 has worked flawlessly for 5 yrs. It has a very intuitive user interface that required almost no learning curve. I also like that you can download software updates and fixes free for your unit from the Hbird website. I added the Down Imaging to my unit a couple of years after buying it. No, you aren't gonna install it in the dash of most bass boats. Mine sits on a Ram Mount on the boat's topcap right beside the console, which has worked fine. In fact, I prefer a Ram Mount since it allows you to tilt the sonar to the best viewing angle. To really maximize your sonar, you'll eventually want a compatible unit on the bow networked to your console unit and capable of displaying maps and marking waypoints, as well as working as a stand-alone sonar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzyjunyer Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 yea - we already planned on a ram mount (the $100 one) since our boat is too old for a in dash mount plus we plan to turn it around to face the front deck for now to see it while fishing since another unit isnt in the budget at the moment i think both actually have external gps antenna's and we have room to mount them no problem so its really a nonfactor for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROWINGADUBAY Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) Has anyone seen the first generation on sale anywhere? I Remember when Hbird changed the button color on there side imaging Gander had the older one on sale for over half price off they sold out real fast. And I have been saving ever since. Edited January 26, 2012 by ROWINGADUBAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 I run the Lowrance hds8 and have for a couple of years now. One of my friends runs a bird. I can't use his and he can't use mine because the function keys are so different. He says his is easier to use than mine but I can't tell. The hds units have built in antennas but the structure scan is a seperate unit called an LSS1. From my perspective the down and side scans are very similar on both Low and Bird. The difference I see is in the 2d sonar. I like mine a lot more than his. If you haven't done so, I recommend going to a store that handles both and spend some time with them and a good sales rep. Either one will make you a good tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzyjunyer Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Has anyone seen the first generation on sale anywhere? I Remember when Hbird changed the button color on there side imaging Gander had the older one on sale for over half price off they sold out real fast. And I have been saving ever since. i know right now they are runnin a rebate offer on them (til feb 12) of up to $200 back depending on which unit you get - rumor going around is that they are gong to offer a rebate on the new gen2 stuff mid-feb and possibly slash prices on the gen1 stuff - but i dont know for sure i think me and dad have decided on the lowrance unit - they just have some new features and i really liked the menu on it better myself when we went to bass pro and played with them side by side - we also like the more square design better plus a better warranty - cost between the 2 was only $100 on the best deals i have found online ($1250 bird or $1350 low) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I would pop for the extra money and buy a separate unit for the bow. You aren't gonna like trying to maneuver the boat with the trolling motor while looking over your shoulder at the helm sonar and holding a rod in one hand. The bow unit doesn't need side scan sonar - in fact side scan is not useful at the bow because the transducer is attached to a rotating trolling motor. But it would be very nice to have a networked sonar that can display mapping, mark waypoints, and see downlooking sonar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I have an HD5 on the bow, and a 997SI on the console. The HD5's built-in GPS works fine, and it's 2D high definitiion is a little stronger than the 997 on clear mode, but the switchfire on the 997 increases it's 2D dramatically. When Lowrance was bought by Simrad, or whoever it was, they converted their software language to whatever they use on their salt water stuff. I've use Lowrance for years, so it has been a struggle to become comfortable with the HD's software. But, then again, I struggle with most things computer. The 997's software is much easier to learn to use. I would recommend the biggest screen you can get. When it comes to seeing stuff, especially with a split screen, size matters. I have a Ranger 177, and I have a ram mount next to my console for my 997. It's great. Plus, when I'm fishing alone, I pivot it around so I can see it from the bow, and have two units to read. Makes holding waypoints on the 997's map feature easy while I'm fishing the bow. If I were buying new, on a budget, I'd get the HumminBird 997 for the console again, or their newer, bigger unit. To get the same size HD unit, you have to pay the additional $600+- for their LSS1 unit, which is needed to have side imaging on the Lorwance. I don't think you can go wrong, either way. For me, it's just a question of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzyjunyer Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 we already have an older hbird unit up front on the trolling motor for tempurature and depth so its not a big issue for us since the new unit will be for side imaging and gps mainly mark ive played with both of them in bass pro on demo mode and i liked the lowrance unit better to me - it may be becuase im more used to it from having newer toys like a driod, ipad, and such from what ive found i can get the newer lowrance unit for $90 more including the lss1 unit and me and dad both likeed the features and display on it better than the hbird one - we both really liked the display size (and over all size) and format better on the lowrance too - it just seems to be a better unit all around for what we wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
