Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

[Kesh]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Newbie as I am, I purchased a Humminbird Wide128 fish finder, I think it was the cheapest model. And yes, sometimes it loses reading when running, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it shows fish only small fish very near the surface, all the time. I dont believe there is nothing more in the big ocean. So, I guess I got what I paid for. Anyways, I use it all the time just to have an indication of depth when fishing near shore or rocks.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I agree I am sorry to say I still own a HumminTurd 300tx. Mine came with the boat had nothing but trouble. Finally bought a Lowerance X-15 CT. The old HumminTurd sits in the garage.....but if I need more room for my kid's tricycle out it goes... Save your money and buy a Etch-o-Schetch with a sinker and line and drop it over the side ...it's far superior

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Hummingbird 200 DX, No problems yet. Had it for a few years. Maybe just lucky

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Humminbird Wide Portrait, 4or5 years old... It's been dropped on the concrete driveway a few times, saltwater/saltspray, rain, and generally beat to death.. Installed the transducer correctly, works perfect... Never skips a beat... <br /><br />It does'nt mark fish or read bottom hardness very well and the lens fogs up once in a while, but I can still find the spots I'm looking for.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I think the Hummingbird's are a child's toy when compared to Lowrance/Eagle. However, I do have one reserevation about the latter: you need to spend big $$$ to get a powerful one for deep water or high speeds. I don't know the science behind the frequency the transducers use, i.e. lower vs. higher frequencies and the advatages/disadvantages. I have owned three Lowrances and all suffer the same problem, depending on water clarity, once I'm doing a decent cruise, I lose signal at say 25' or more. Like I said though, in a clear lake that might be as high as 80'. This is due to the fact ( I presume ) of my peak power of 600 watts. This is usually substantially lower than comparitively priced units from other makers. Lowrance is smart in that you have to spend a few hundred bucks more to get a more powerful unit that offers this very important trait.

 

[jimchere]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

A pitch for my Garmin 160. Got it at walmart for less than 200 with xducer. It easily tracks past 150' depth in saltwater at 25 mph once I got the angle on the xducer right. Very happy with it.

 

[Wellcraft 89]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Let me say this about Eagle, their customer service sucks!!!!!!<br />Too slow,charge up the butt! <br />and don't repair anything over 5years old!<br />What good is that!<br />I have H -birds and never had a problem,I don't leave them on the boat either.<br /><br />Just my thoughts<br /><br />Rich

 

[Ray 2000]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

yeap, I've had them all the worst is the Hummingbird. Not even a close call there!<br />Eagle/Lowrance & Garmin are much much much better!

 

[Kesh]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

ok...I got tired of my Humminbird... this weekend, it started to behave erratically, sometimes showing an endless row of fish on the surface ...sometimes showing 1 ft reading in open ocean where 180 ft is the actual. I have the xducer glued with epoxic slow cure to the hull, inside the bilge area, in a place carefully selected before glueing it. Maybe the xducer got loose, I dunno, but I'm so upset that I dont' care and I just want to throw it over board. BTW, before these problems, the unit seemed to have a good reading even at 25 mph or more. Sometimes it seemed to lose the signal, but generally speaking it seemed to work ok at high speed in most occasions. The rare thing is that in many spots (open ocean) it doesnt detect anything, but a flat bottom, and sometimes a "hill" in the bottom. Very hard to find "structure".<br /><br />Question: I want to buy a new unit. I am not clear if I should buy Eagle, Garmin or another more pricey brand. any suggestion ????

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

if you run a search(link at top of screen) you'll probably get all the info you ever cared to read. my HB probs were resolved with better voltage regulation & an upgraded xducer. JMHO<br />- i think garmin & eagle are more popular

 

[Kesh]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Hey ebb, I would like to know more about the voltage issue and the upgraded xducer. Let me do a search on HB. If you can please give me more details.

 

[Kesh]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

I have checked the voltage using the fishfinder diagnostics menu, and it is 14.5 Volts all the time, same reading on console gauge. So it is not a voltage problem. The unit passed OK the self test, and the transducer is connected and firmly glued in the bilge. What else can be the problem ? I guess the transducer is damaged, but I think I wont spend any money for it. Instead, I will try to buy a newer, EAGLE unit. Since new, my Humminbird has made me doubt, because I have rarely seen any fish near the bottom or in the middle of the screen...very strange, as I have been in open ocean, near the coast, near islands, etc.... now it is clear for me that the unit has detected the bottom but it is unable to detect fish properly....in addition, now the unit is behaving like crazy...sometimes shows 1 ft...sometimes loose reading... all fish are on the surface, sometimes in an endless row....etc... what a crap...

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

yikes! sorry, i forgot to check back here. my unit had probs due to hiV from my old outboard. but HB worked on it. (i think they put in more robust v-reg circuit). then when i had the crazy reading like you mentioned, i tested with newer xducer that came with an indash HB flasher. the old unit didn't mention various xducers, but the new xducer had a 'crossover' chart that listed it worked on other units, incl my old one. <br />once connctd, the old unit had no problems with any depths in lake (@ 120) up to max planing speeds (@ 45mph). just what i found <br /><br />since HB offered free xducer swap (type of xducer -transom vs TM) i just swapped for same kind for old unit. and they also sent an ext vReg unit, but by that time i had sent unit back for bench testing, and never needed the ext Vreg. i can't remember the name. if its needed, i can find it at home.

 

[Kesh]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

ok...I will try to buy a new transducer before throwing the complete unit...

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

i would call or write the nearest HB service ctnr, and tell them how much hope you had for the unit, but its just not performing satisfactorily, and you really are disappointed in this product.<br />(that was what i did)<br />that way, you're not downright trashing them and you're giving them a way to win you back <br />i paid the bench fee (can't remember if it was $15/35)and they fixed it. you could probably get a xducer swap out of this arrangement also. <br /><br />i know - "win you back" is just a phrase...lol

 

[ri01rod]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Here is my 2 cents. Have owned a few hummers, now have a eagle and bottomline, and I sell all three plus Lowrance. I like the Lowrance and Eagle, so do my customers! <br /><br />All companies make a unit perfect for different situations. Bottomline for downrigger control but basic units do not offer the technology for the dollar spent, Hummingbird for the Walmart crowd (very easy to use though), Eagle for the step up and you will find a lot of eagle on delaer sold boats, & lowrance for the serious boater.<br /><br />HOWEVER! If the right unit is not purchased for YOUR APPLICATION Needs and everybody is different, the unit may not work as you would expect it to. ALSO the installation will dictate the overall operation of the unit. <br /><br />If you don't know, you should seek professional advice., visit your local marina, or ask on this forum.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Garmin in the dash, and the nose. I used a Lawrance X-85, but didn't like the way the bottom kept moving as well as the scroll. <br /> We sold Bottomline as well and I've got some time behind a Tourney 310 (older), and it will still out perform most newer "economy" units. <br /> I fish only fresh water so I can't say much of salt water, but I have fell in love with the Garmin....VERY easy to operate, very high deffinition-EXCELLENT factory support, as I had a transducer with my first unit that had an ear broke off, and after 1 phone call, the next day, I not only had a new (newer version) transducer, they also sent me a new, upgraded speed sensor-no charge, the very next day!<br /> Garmin is a world leader in Aircraft avionics, and I expect nothing but great equipment from them..........

 

[Jason Adam]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

If your serious about looking for a quality fishfinder, Good mid-tier units are the Garmins and Raytheons. High end units such as Simrad and Furuno will blow these others out of the water, but may be more than what your looking to spend. Eagles are alright for the shallow freshwater crowd. Hummingbirds and Lowrance are garbage. I've owned all of the above with the exception of the Furuno, and I can say that you definitally get what you pay for(unless you buy a lowrance, then you get an overpriced peice of crap)... My $.02

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Jason, Lowrance is the parent company of Eagle. Lowrance built the Eagle to compete with hummingbird price-wise.

 

[fireship1]

Re: Are Humminbird fish finders inferior?

Hello all, JUst my 02. cents worth. I purchased a Humminbird wide 100 unit from West Marine several years ago. I knew when I brought it that it was an economy unit and not as good as a Garmin, Eagle or other top of the line brand.I carefully installed the transdom mount transducer and followed the instructions to a tee. Believe it or not the unit works really well. The only gripe I have is that SOMETIMES very seldomly the unit will all of a sudden give a very deep bottom reading and then quickly revert back to the correct number. I agree 100% with the others in this post (especially JB he is very knowledgeable in just about every part of a boat!)that they are not the best units, but for under $100.00 and just to see the depth you are at and nothing more the price can't be beat.