Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

[Supersportster]

Hey.

I am going to replace my older Humminbird Fish finder that came with the boat.

I've narrowed it down to either the Humminbird 788c or the Lowrance Elite 5 gold combo.

I am leaning towards the Lowrance, just looking for input before I spend the money..

THanks!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

Here is my 2 cents

Humminbird - Decent sounder I've been told but.......until they get rid of proprietary interface and offer a NMEA 2000 interface so you can communicate with the outside world, they are off my list.

Lowrance ? Not a bad sounder, but they change models quicker than you can keep track of them. I do not want to spend good money on a sounder only to find out its obsolete and unsupported within 36 months of purchase.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

My 2 cents:

Make sure you don't buy something with features you don't want. My boat came with a Lowrance x-125 and it's great as well as several years old. I bought another Lowrance (LMS527-iGPS) with all the bells and whistles for like $800 2 yrs ago and really don't use 90% of what it can do. I boat on a small lake that I have been on for over 30 yrs and could find my way around blindfolded in the dark, so in retrospect the GPS is a waste. I moved the x-125 to the trolling motor and use the other on the helm. If I had to do it allover again I would just buy another regular fish finder for 1/4 of the price.

And get the extended warranty. My expensive one blew the backlighting and they're repair/replacing it for me. Well worth another $90 from West Marine IMO. On the other hand my dad has a very old Humminbird that has been disrespected every way possible and works fine, albeit out of date, as the pixels are about 3mm each.

Good luck.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I bought the Lowrance as soon as it was available, which was just a few months ago. No problems works great and is easy to use.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I have the 788ci and I agree with the previous poster who said that it cannot communicate with the outside world. That really sux. The only thing you can do is export your data files to an SD card, then use their Humminbird PC software to read it. The Humminbird PC only lets you do a couple of things. You can delete tracks, routes, and waypoints. And you can "View in Google Earth".

My biggest problem with that is I don't have Windows, I use Linux and HPC does not work using Wine (the windows emulator). I have not had my 788ci that long and I am still down low on the learning curve so it may be able to do some things that I don't know about yet, but my communications with Humminbird support are not good. I don't mean to say that their support is bad. They do a pretty good job of responding and trying to answer my questions (I use the email method). It's just that the answer I am getting from them is not what I want to hear.

As a depth finder, fish finder, and gps navigator all is good so far. I have no experience or knowledge about the Lowrance, but I wish I had researched them a little better before buying. I don't know if I would have changed my selection, but in hind sight it sure might have.

Just a quick look at the Lowrance website shows me a couple of things. One - the Elite-5 has "only" 16 channel gps whereas the HB 788c has 50 channel. Two - The Lowrance is compatible with Lake Master Charts, Navionics, PLUS Fishing Hot Spots? which I think is Garmin is it not? The HB supports Lake Master and Navionics, but not Fishing Hot Spots. Three - I didn't find any reference to NMEA-2000 output on the Elite-5, but if it has it you should definitely check into it to see if it would be of any use to you.

Just my $0.018793687 worth,


Wayne

 

[dingbat]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

Just a quick look at the Lowrance website shows me a couple of things. One - the Elite-5 has "only" 16 channel gps whereas the HB 788c has 50 channel.

50 GPS channels? There are only 24 satellites in the GPS constellation. You only need three to get a fix.

What are heck are you going to do with the other 26 channels? Search for extraterrestrial life?

The Lowrance is compatible with Lake Master Charts, Navionics, PLUS Fishing Hot Spots? which I think is Garmin is it not?

Garmin supports their own map sets. Garmin is not dependent on thrid party suppliers, i.e Navtroincs, for their map products.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

50 GPS channels? There are only 24 satellites in the GPS constellation. You only need three to get a fix.

50 channel GPS receivers have more correlators in them and can really reduce acquisition time. Its not that the fact that each channel is devoted to one satellite but its because multiple channels are doing correlation in parallel when the GPS is searching for satellites. All the newest GPS chipsets coming out are the 50 channel ones.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

50 channel GPS receivers have more correlators in them and can really reduce acquisition time. Its not that the fact that each channel is devoted to one satellite but its because multiple channels are doing correlation in parallel when the GPS is searching for satellites. All the newest GPS chipsets coming out are the 50 channel ones.

So, should I replace a Furuno NAvNet 3D system with a Humminbird? The Furuno only uses a differential ready, 12 parallel channel, WAAS capable receiver.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I guess if you have channel envy!

I'll take it off your hands.

 

[Supersportster]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

Thanks for the input!

Can someone explain what NMEA-2000 output is?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

http://www.google.com/search?source...ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS320US320&q=nmea+2000

For my Lowrance unit, the receiver is on the nmea 2000 network along with a fuel flow sensor. I can get fuel flow displayed as MPG on the head unit.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I guess if you have channel envy!

I'll take it off your hands.

I don?t think I?m quite ready to trade the quality and reliability of a Furuno to knock 5 seconds or so off my acquisition times.

I?m surprised that they are marketing a 50 channel receiver yet don?t give any specifications to boost the claim. Perhaps they're implementation is not as good as they imply.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I don?t think I?m quite ready to trade the quality and reliability of a Furuno to knock 5 seconds or so off my acquisition times.

I wouldn't either. Probably more of an issue if you trailer your boat from lake to lake and even then not quite necessary. You asked why there were 50 channels...I answered your question.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I've got a Humminbird 7oo series GPS/Sonar combo with an external 12 channel GPS antenna.. I like it allot but admit I am partial to the way humminbird controls work too. I like simple and this unit is very simple to operate. It's also simple to set up with options I like and keep it that way. I also love the quick release/ totally adjustable mount too.

 

[John_S]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

Hey.

I am going to replace my older Humminbird Fish finder that came with the boat.

What is your old HB unit? You might be able to use it for a 2nd station for the 788. Post and would let you know what the options are.

 

[Supersportster]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I'll have to look for the model number on it, but the boat came with little eagle up front that does the trick nicely for a second finder.

I went to a lowrance dealer and a humminbird dealer today to look at the two, and I came home with the Lowrance. $620 Can$ and I like everything about the unit!

I have to spend tomorrow afternoon installing it.

My next question is, I have to move the transducer over two inches to the left from the Humminbird location, when installin the Lowrance transducer (in order to be in the proper position according to the instructions, and because the old location hits my bunk on my lift.)

Should I just use some 3M 5200 on the holes and put the old screws back in?? That will be water tight enough?? Or is the proper way to get some real small wood dowl and knock it in , then JB aluminum weld the holes??


Thanks again for the help everyone!

 

[John_S]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

3M 5200 and the screws is plenty. Just make sure you let in cure pure instructions.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

Should I just use some 3M 5200 on the holes and put the old screws back in?? That will be water tight enough?? Or is the proper way to get some real small wood dowl and knock it in , then JB aluminum weld the holes??

Contrary to popular belief, 5200 is not permanent. The stuff dries out and cracks after several years.

If you want to fix it right, you can fill the hole like you said with a piece of dowel or you can use a SS flat head screw. When filling holes like that, I countersink the hole to give me a little more ?meat to work with? around the hole.

I then use marine epoxy to bond the plug in the hole. Make sure the plug does not extend past the bottom of the counter sink. Once dry, fill the countersink with Marine ?Tex or gelcoat and let dry. Sand to finish.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

I use marine epoxy as well like West System to fill holes in my transom. I usually fill the hole with an epoxy mixed with a small amount of colloidal silica and then put a piece of tape over the hole to keep it from running out while it cures.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Upgrading Fish Finder- Lookin for some input

50 GPS channels? There are only 24 satellites in the GPS constellation

. . .for now.


Wayne