HB vs lowarance customer service and product breakdown

[LaJ10]

  I am finally going to step up and get SI or structure scan .I have been searching thru the forums for info and comparing .I have found alot of posts on Lowrance having leakage and customer service problems .Most of these post have been a couple of years old .Has anyone got any relatively new experience with the HDS units and water leakage .Has Lowrance customer service improved any ?
  How do the two technologiess compare ?I would like to get the most bang for my buck but ,I dont want to have to have the unit repaired because it got rained on and or have a customer service nightmare .
  Thanks in advance for any input .

[Triton Mike]

If Doug or I can help you with Humminbird with anything specific let us know.. 

[coldfront]

  I am finally going to step up and get SI or structure scan .I have been searching thru the forums for info and comparing .I have found alot of posts on Lowrance having leakage and customer service problems .Most of these post have been a couple of years old .Has anyone got any relatively new experience with the HDS units and water leakage .Has Lowrance customer service improved any ?
  How do the two technologiess compare ?I would like to get the most bang for my buck but ,I dont want to have to have the unit repaired because it got rained on and or have a customer service nightmare .
  Thanks in advance for any input .

fwiw:  I've never used HB products...

as for leakage:  I purchased an HDS7 about two years ago...this was my second season of use...(bought it at BPS at a store)...and when I took it off this fall, I noted water sloshing about.  I turned it over to attempt to dry it out...some water did come out...and then put it back on/hooked it up:  it no longer worked.

I called Lowrance Customer Service...was on 'hold' approximately 2 minutes...got a person explained the situation...they sent me an RMA (return authorization number) to include when I sent it in...said they'd either fix/replace the unit...and that it'd take about 2-3 weeks...

the new unit arrived about 10 days later.


This is my personal view:
I really like the Lowrance products...but was very very close to pulling the trigger on an HB as Side Imaging is just that critical of technology...when Lowrance indicated they were going to release their version.

About the time I was 'waiting' Navico purchased Lowrance...and in the transition from one company to another, there were some problems noted...especially in customer service...

From my personal experience, other than waiting on hold for up to 45 minutes...I've never had a BAD customer service experience with Lowrance...

there are plenty of folks on here however, who will share their bad experiences...and even more who will share bad experiences of a 'friend of a friend'...


if you can get to a store like a Cabelas/Bass Pro...you should be able to see up front and personal the two units...and the screen outputs...they both do most of the same things...but it's the '5%' different that may drive your choice.

I'm happy with my choice of Lowrance...I'm betting that whichever way you go you too will be happy with your choice...

[LaJ10]

so it would seem that Low has made strides in solving the leaking problem from what I have read .I have a 18.5 ft stratus and want to either put a hds 7 or 898c SI on a rack mount to the right of my windshield For now I will only get one unit .I would like to know what all has to be purchased to make the Low to make it a structure scan unit ?It seems that if I get a 898 I will have everything I need in one purchase ,but if I get the Low I will have to add the structure scan .
  If down the road I want to add another unit that can be just wired to the Low structure scan .Can this also be done with the HB ?
As far as transducers will I have to get another for either unit Than the one for structure scan or SI?As of now I have a old Low on the boat but it is a very old one that may have come with it .It has a hull thru transducer on it I assume since I dont see one on  the boat .I want to also be able to read temp .Will this be a add on or does it come with either unit ?

[LaJ10]

Also forgot to ask with either unit can a transducer be mounted at the transom or thru hull and one on the troll motor and switch between the two according to where you would like to pull the signal from ? If so can they both be a side imaging transducer ?

[DougV]

If you want to see what Humminbird Customer Service is like just pick up the phone and call 800-633-1468 or here's an interesting poll of those that have had to experience it: (Link Removed per Moderator Request) most are seeing complete turn around in less than 7 days including shipping  :shocking:That means they are in shipping longer than at Humminbird getting service.

Humminbird offers a complete package when you purchase a unit. GPS, Head Unit and Side Imaging Transducer all bundled together. So you don't have to mount any extra components to get Side Imaging or Down Imaging. For 2011 they have announced Ethernet Networking that will allow you Networking two units via a single cable and sharing GPS Receivers, Transducers, etc.So yes it will be possible very, very soon. But why not put transducers at both locations and get the huge advanatage of getting the data from the location you are using Console from the transom and Bow Unit from the Trolling Motor? Side Imaging on the Trolling Motor is so incredible because you can see structure and fish away from the boat - where you are casting.

Let us know if you have any other questions on Humminbird. They have been innovating new features and enhancements to High Frequency Sonar since 2004 and have alot of experience. Look at the new features Humminbird Owners are getting as part of the free software update programs they continually offer. Humminbird is even providing these to owners of 987c since 2004. So the investment you make today is still going to be updated with new features as long as the limitations of the unit can handle them.

[coldfront]

Also forgot to ask with either unit can a transducer be mounted at the transom or thru hull and one on the troll motor and switch between the two according to where you would like to pull the signal from ? If so can they both be a side imaging transducer ?

can't speak directly to that...DougV can...but it's interesting he's 'not'? (just a friendly poke, Doug )

Doug?  I know you are a huge proponent of HB...any discussion of what HB 'can't' do?
It's my understanding they don't network like Lowrance...and as of this time, they still don't have true down imaging capability...but not sure that's a huge issue...and if I'm wrong, look forward to the correction..

you do end up purchasing the networking stuff from Lowrance...and yes, it can be a bit frustrating not having that information 'completely' understood up front...but from personal experience, what I struggled with even more was that the 'components' I needed for the network weren't all immediately available at the Cabelas/BPS store...stuff like the 'end resistor' needed for the network...

these are good things to know and ask the sales person about at the time...they SHOULD know about it...but not sure that they all 'will'...


In my view, they're both good companies...and Lowrance has been through a 'learning' phase in the past year/two... and have come out stronger...

[LaJ10]

Doug ,what I was wanting to do is put a transducer on the transom and  one on the trolling motor(both being side imaging) and be able to switch from one transducer to the other when in the drivers seat to when I was using the troll motor .I want to only use one "screen" on a ram mount that I can turn towards the front of the boat towards the drivers seat ,wherever I am at .
  I went to basspro tonight and talked to the guys there for a while about what I would like to do .I liked the looks of the humminbird somewhat better .It just did more for me quickly than the hds 7 .I did like the hds 8 ,but the price difference wasn't worth it for me.From what they told me most of it comes down to personal preference .They sell a package with the lowarance hds7 and everything for structure scan at a cost of $100 more than the HB 898c SI ,so its real comparable on price.I did notice that the lowrance has a years longer warranty and liked that .Can extended warranties be purchased for both ?
  From what bass pro said the HB should be able to use a switcher cable to change from the front transducer to the rear.That were not sure on the Low if you would have to buy a whole new structure scan unit or could just get a transducer .

[DougV]

If your only going to use one graph with two transducer you will need the TS2W Switch to switch between transducers. So you will not need network cables for Humminbird just the switch. The Humminbird transducer will have all the elements for Switchfire 2D, Down Imaging and Side Imaging no need for extra transducers unless you want to split out the 2D on the transom for high speed application and to mount the transom SI Transducer higher for protection.

Another option would be to set up second station for the bow and use one head unit and move the head unit so you don't have to keep turning around. I can make a shopping list of the accessories you need if you want to do that.

Humminbird is only one year warranty.

[coldfront]

  From what bass pro said the HB should be able to use a switcher cable to change from the front transducer to the rear.That were not sure on the Low if you would have to buy a whole new structure scan unit or could just get a transducer .

once networked, you can easily transfer data, waypoints between units.  and too, you can view either transducer from either unit on the network...

sounds like you have it figured out as to what your desires are and what will work best for you.

[bassindude]

Im pretty sure I read in another thread that if you plan on using 2 transducers for SI/DS, one in front one in back, on a Lowrance unit you will have to purchase a 2nd LSS-1 Module.  If this is not correct, someone please correct me.  Im a Humminbird guy, that was starting to lean toward Low because one LSS module will support two HDS units, and it will, and what I feel is better target seperation in 2D.  But then I read that the LSS unit will only support 1 transducer, so now Im kinda back to I DONT KNOW mode.  If a splitter will allow me to hook up 2 transducers to one unit, then Im leaning back toward the Bird.

[coldfront]

Im pretty sure I read in another thread that if you plan on using 2 transducers for SI/DS, one in front one in back, on a Lowrance unit you will have to purchase a 2nd LSS-1 Module.  If this is not correct, someone please correct me.  Im a Humminbird guy, that was starting to lean toward Low because one LSS module will support two HDS units, and it will, and what I feel is better target seperation in 2D.  But then I read that the LSS unit will only support 1 transducer, so now Im kinda back to I DONT KNOW mode.  If a splitter will allow me to hook up 2 transducers to one unit, then Im leaning back toward the Bird.

... on my LSS-1 unit, there are ports for more than one HD sonar unit...know you can get two on there...maybe as many as three...(see link:  http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Broadband-Sounder-and-Ethernetworking/StructureScan/ )

there's also a lot more going on...from the ability to use the network to also have satellite weather as well as many other things...but I'll avoid being an 'infomercial' for Lowrance...as many of those characteristics aren't necessarily what the average angler is seeing as a 'must have'...

[-Bryan-]

I won't share an experience other than my own (not a "friend of a friend").  My personal experience with Lowrance can easily be described as "trying".  For me they have been very frustrating to deal with and IN MY OPINION, their marketing can be deceptive.  I will say that BEFORE you make a purchase, make sure you read in-depth information on what you need for a specific product to work.

I have an HDS-8, HDS-7, Structurescan, and the new Sonichub.  The technology is pretty neat, but my Sonichub is still in the box because all the parts to make it work are not included (apparently I am not capable of understanding what is written on the Lowrance web site).  "Just hook up the SonicHub™ to your Lowrance HDS using the supplied NMEA2000 backbone, plug in the speakers and you're ready to Rock Your Boat™."  To me this means the NMEA 2000 backbone is part of the package...sadly, it isn't and this has led to my disappointment.

The only person that can make the decision on where to spend your money is you.  You need to look at all the options as well as the points that are important to you.  Both companies provide a great product and there will be issues with each because these are some pretty advanced electronics, things happen.  Overall, I like my Lowrance products but if I had it to do over, I would probably go with HB instead simply because I don't feel like I got what I consider to be the best value for the dollar spent.  I have owned HB in the past and never had a reason to call customer service...everything worked as advertized right out of the box.  When I went to Lowrance they had the "newest" stuff so I went that direction and got so deeply invested it was too expensive to change back.

[DougV]

what I was wanting to do is put a transducer on the transom and  one on the trolling motor(both being side imaging) and be able to switch from one transducer to the other when in the drivers seat to when I was using the troll motor. I want to only use one "screen" on a ram mount that I can turn towards the front of the boat towards the drivers seat ,wherever I am at .

LaJ10  only wants one unit with two transducer locations. No need to set-up a network with one unit. With Humminbird you can do this via simple easy to install Transducer Switch. If he wants to add accessories like XM NavWeather, WeatherSense (Barometer) they can be hooked direct to the unit or daisy chained in line and no network is needed. Also he won't need extra hardware and two transducers for the trolling motor to get 2D and SI/DI since Humminbird it all comes in a single transducer. So a single TS2W switch will do it all.

[LaJ10]

I have to say that after talking with people here and looking at basspro that the HB is looking better for me .If there is no jack plate on my boat where would the transducer mount ? When I was talking to the guy at Basspro he said that there guys mounted them under the step in the transom straight to the hull  for the Low but was not sure on the HB .I like this idea because it will keep the transducer in my mind more out of the way of things than hanging off a mount on the transom .Doug do you have any views on this or where if anywhere might work better ?

[DougV]

If you mount the SI Transducer high on the transom, under a step or off jackplate you will need to get the AS SI DB Y Cable and a 2D Transducer to get on plane 2D sonar readings. It's less than $100 and will allow you to mount the transducer for better protection anyways...cheap insurance. You could mount it just like the Lowrance. Email me direct: and I will get you some links since I can't post links here per moderator. Or better yet send me some pictures of your transom and I can make suggestions or you can post them here too.

[LaJ10]

Doug feel free to post the pics I sent you

[bassadict69]

How is the gps on the HB units? A while back the main complaint I was hearing was how inaccurate & POS the gps was. I want to say that was the only complaint now that I think about it!

[bassindude]

... on my LSS-1 unit, there are ports for more than one HD sonar unit...know you can get two on there...maybe as many as three...(see link:  http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Broadband-Sounder-and-Ethernetworking/StructureScan/ )

there's also a lot more going on...from the ability to use the network to also have satellite weather as well as many other things...but I'll avoid being an 'infomercial' for Lowrance...as many of those characteristics aren't necessarily what the average angler is seeing as a 'must have'...

Yes, that is what I hear, and that is a great option.  What I think may be a better option would be if the LSS unit had a hook up for a 2nd Transducer so you could have one on th TM and one on the transom.

[-Joe-]

How is the gps on the HB units? A while back the main complaint I was hearing was how inaccurate & POS the gps was. I want to say that was the only complaint now that I think about it!

I have had the 997 for 2 years and so far can say I haven't had any problems with the GPS. I reads accurate on the mapping to where I'm actually at and no issues with getting me back on structure that I have marked.

[DougV]

I've never seen inaccuracy unless installation was in an area that the signal was blocked.The Humminbird offers the industries highest 50 Channel receiver that can track up to 50 satellites at one time if we had that many but it allows for faster lock on satellites and can hold satellites longer on the horizon. Providing more sources to get an exact fix.

Also Humminbird is standard with 4 Times per Second Refresh Rate per Second when the receiver is hooked direct in the unit for no additional charge or hardware needed. Most are  1 times per second.

I posted a thread on Humminbird GPS last summer and should be searchable here.

[LaJ10]

If you add the 2d transducer and y cable to the back will you have to run a switch betweeen the two or will the unit recognize which on it needs while on plane and off plane ?

[LaJ10]

Coldfront (or anyone else) is it true to run 1 HDS unit for 2 SS transducers I would need 2 lss1 units or can 2 transducers be pluged into on lss1

[coldfront]

Coldfront (or anyone else) is it true to run 1 HDS unit for 2 SS transducers I would need 2 lss1 units or can 2 transducers be pluged into on lss1

I a not sure...you might try calling Lowrance directly at 1-800-324-1356...shouldn't take long and the call is toll-free.

Let me know what they say

[-Bryan-]

Coldfront (or anyone else) is it true to run 1 HDS unit for 2 SS transducers I would need 2 lss1 units or can 2 transducers be pluged into on lss1

You will need 2 LSS-1 units, the LSS-1 can only support one StructureScan transducer but can support multiple HDS head units.