Woe is me - and my Humminbird

[Fawkinnae]

I bought a fancy Hummingbird depth finder/GPS and I think this is the third summer I've had it. Paid about $700 bucks for it. Well last August everything blew up on it and had to send it to Hummin... to the tune of $280 bucks (I think). Well 2 weeks ago my exit button quit working (so I'm stuck in various windows) and power button won't turn it off. Call Hummindicks and they said they would do me a big favor and only charge me $180 to fix the thing. I'm pissed.

So looking at new units. I have a couple Humminbird map chips for it too $130 each. Makes it a bit tougher to switch to Lowrance. Any thoughts or suggestions? Just got back from Cabela's, HB 859 is $649, HB 559 w/ down imagingin $699, Lowrance HDS-7 $899.
I can sell the chips. The chip for Lowrance for North America (or US) is $100 I was told.

Not too happy with Humminbird!

[The General]

Dang sorry about your luck.  I've always been a lowrance fan but my h2o was a junk product from them.  However with bird and Minotaur hooking up together I'd say go with the bird but make sure it's i-link compatible.  HD I think has the down low on that info.  If not that just send it in and get it fixed again and hope for the best that this time it won't break again.  Hurry up though your going to need it soon 

[HD]

I'll tell ya anything you wanna know....did a lot of learn'in on these when I bought mine. If your linking it to the trolling motor it gets complicated. The graphics on the Lowrance were less than that of the Humminbird because of the down imagining. (if you care about that) The down imagining does not work with the Minkota transducer (you have to purchase a separate one)

The chips for the Humminbird are 124.99, (either lakemaster or navionics) The Lowrance, are about the same. (maybe a little less)

[deadeye]

Bad news for sure.  You'd expect to get more than a couple years from a piece of equipment like this.  I don't know which is a better brand but I am interested in the side imaging stuff they have now. 

[DDSBYDAY]

   I have always had Lowrance but with HB purchasing Lakemaster
 I would stick with them.  I could see upgrades coming that will not be compatable with Lowrance.

[HD]

I, myself, think that the Lowrance has / had better map graphics (going by what I have on my hand held and what I have on my new Humminbird) But, I do not know what, if anything, has changed with the new Lowrance mapping.

[DDSBYDAY]

  These new electronics are just circuit boards.  The standard warranty is one year from date of purchase.  They are forced to manufacture them with low lead solder to keep the greenies happy so the boards do not hold up as well.  Just leaving it on your boat in the hot sun can cause a solder connection to let loose.  At least the children are safe if they decide to  take one apart and suck on or eat the circuit boards.   

[corny13]

Bummer Fawk...u looking for the combo units I assume. If just looking for depth finder I would suggest u look at the old Vexilar Edge with their double transducers.  I have added one to my tiller.  They are much better at getting rid of all the non fish arcs u see on the lowrance or bird.  The Linders have them on their boats.  Vexilar has the best record of all for reliability and warranty.  I use my lowrance for the map only except for occasional use of the down imaging.  Before u buy a new one call Reed's in walker they will usually beat any price even the box stores.  Ask for Corey.  I spent a couple hrs on the water a couple years ago comparing lowrance vs bird side finders I personally could read the lowrance better. Would be nice to have the I link with your trolling motor though.

[HD]

You can link a Lowrance (just different cables)

[corny13]

You can link a Lowrance (just different cables)

But with a bird and a lake master chip can't u program your I pilot to follow a set contour depth?

[HD]

Only if it's "Ipilot linked" capable, not just an "Ipilot"

And to a certain extent, you can do that with a Lowrance. Just make the trail on the Ipilot and program it to follow that same trail again.

[Fawkinnae]

The saga continues...

Got a new unit last August. Similar to what I had. Went out fishing with Wyofish on Sunday. He hooked it up while I backed the boat in. MOFO doesn't work. No screen. Brought it to Cabela's to see if it had to do with my wiring. MOFO doesn't work. Son-of-a-bitch. What kind of crap are these idiots selling!

So let's see, I got about 6 months of use out of it. I'll let you know how things go when I contact Humminbitch tomorrow.

[The General]

Sorry to hear fawk.  Hope it works out.

[Lee Borgersen]

  man. That's really sucksville!

[dakids]

Bet it made you day "fawkinee" 

[snow1]

Hope the bird isn't goin the way of lowrance!which has the worst customer service bar none.Like everything else the low end stuff is just that,guys I fish with on the tour swear by the bird,but for $2k it better work!Just a step down in the 9 series you get a larger screen and great quality.

[Fawkinnae]

Hey! Good news! Humminbird says they will repair the unit for no charge!
I've spent $450 bucks on repairs in the last 2 years. I'm happy and I'll mail it in tomorrow.

I appreciate your support and comments. 

[The General]

Glad to hear.   

Lowrance has always done right by me.  I guess I only ever had to call them on an H2O 2 times (boy that was a crappy product) and they made it right.  Everything else has never broken.  I honestly can say the people I personally know with lowrance depth finders have never had a problem, which is maybe 5 or 6 guys.  The guys I know (fawk and hunter) have birds and they are at 50%.  Not a big sample size and wouldn't make me choose one over the other.

[Fawkinnae]

Got the unit back today!