I'm considering purchasing a Humminbird 997c side imager and was hoping to get some feed back from current user. Does the unit paint a picture of the bottom like you would want it to or is it a lot of hype??? Would you purchase one again??? I plan to. use it mainly on St. Clair and Erie to locate small rocky areas, and schools of fish in the deeper sections of the lake. Can it do this effectively or is it a waste of money???
BUY ONE!
No hype. This unit is the "real deal". The returns on "hard" items (rocks/boulders, stumps, trees, man-made debris) are extremely detailed and clear. I haven't even scratched the surface with mine, yet, and I just finished the second full year with it.
I'm really excited about the upcoming "Down-Imaging" down load that is supposed to be available in the near future. That should add another very useful dimension.
I too am looking at getting am H-Bird Si before spring. I understand the bigger screen on the 1100's is worth the money. Any feedback on this? Everyone I have talked to loves the SI.
How about a 997 SI with the NVB for $1700. Anyone interested? It's my last one. Shipped for free.
Mike
Mikesmiph--Bigger is always better when it comes to Side Imaging because it makes things easier to see. Just think about how much info gets compressed in to a smaller screen. That's not saying the smaller 700 series is useless, but if you can afford it go with the biggest screen you can. I ran the 1197 at the console the past 2 seasons. It makes the 997 I have on the bow look small!
Buy it. Period. The bigger the better but you won't be disappointed in a 798.
Mine has seriously taken away fishing time...In a good way. I do spend a lot of time driving around looking at stuff, it is incredible. I can guarantee that I would have really struggled on the lakes up here if it were not for the SI.
Here's a video I made, it is compressed so maybe not as clear as on the unit itself:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/th_TommysRock.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/?action=view¤t=TommysRock.flv)
And here are a few pictures. Note that all of these were taken with 455Hz which shows less detail than 800. 455 has a broader beam and is better for searching for objects whereas 800 shows more detail. I didn't know that until recently so if I get a chance I'll pull some pictures from the unit soon that were taken using 800. These are all waypoints and when you are looking at a lake and moving the cursor around these pictures show up so that you can see what each waypoint is when you highlight it.
Isolated rock pile:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/S00168.jpg)
Fish on something, maybe a log:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/100.jpg)
Bridge submerged in Ford Lake:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/108.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/85.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/87.jpg)
Car in Ford Lake, actually I found three there:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/79.jpg)
Fish on the bottom:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/99.jpg)
The Navionics Explorer software was probably the best money I ever spent for fishing with the 997 a close second even though it was expensive.
shhhhhhhhhhhhhh! don't tell everyone our little secrets???
catching bass without you is hard enough!
jj sniper
be carefull fishing around that car. I have heard stories about fish getting hooked swimming inside the car and rolling up the windows to cut the line.
sure would love to use one on my lake to see what is down there...
Quote from: Waterfoul on November 17, 2009, 04:07:19 PM
How about a 997 SI with the NVB for $1700. Anyone interested? It's my last one. Shipped for free.
Mike
Hey Mike, does that include the transducer?! How about the warranty? Not sure if I can get prior approval from "Mrs Penny-pincher" but it's worth a shot.
Scott
Complete unit... transducer and all!! Warranty starts when you buy it. One year manufacturers.
Wish I had it
Riding around in Bender's boat this past year I found the unit amazing.
He's right, we would spend some time cruising scoping things out. But, when we'd see those little white indicators on the screen we'd stop and catch fish.
When I finally get my boat, I'll actually give up horsepower on the outboard to be able to afford the SI. I don't need to scream around at high speeds, as I don't tournament fish. But, when I take my young grandson out to go fishing, I know how important it is to put him on fish quickly.
Heck, forget the kid, I need it too.
With that unit, when you find a spot with that cursor, can you mark a way point and then move the boat right over the top of it?
Yes. You can mark a spot with the cursor anywhere on the screen, then go back to it. I don't have one, but I have found the opportunity to get in several boats that have them and I'm amazed by the things you can see. No doubt.
That's a log. That's a bunch of bedding bluegills. That's a tree. That's a sunken boat. That's a big rock. That's a sunken bridge and there's a log sticking out of the edge... Almost no guess work needed anymore.
Quote from: djkimmel on November 22, 2009, 11:12:00 PM
Yes. You can mark a spot with the cursor anywhere on the screen, then go back to it. I don't have one, but I have found the opportunity to get in several boats that have them and I'm amazed by the things you can see. No doubt.
That's a log. That's a bunch of bedding bluegills. That's a tree. That's a sunken boat. That's a big rock. That's a sunken bridge and there's a log sticking out of the edge... Almost no guess work needed anymore.
I love my 997. Way cool. It is the real deal! I would like the 1100 series better, but the 997 does pretty well as I also have my Lowrance 520 beside it.
Quote from: Waterfoul on November 21, 2009, 08:38:53 PM
Complete unit... transducer and all!! Warranty starts when you buy it. One year manufacturers.
I talked to the Misses over the wknd and throwing around $$ figures between the 997 and the Lowrance SS to go w/ my HDS and she's mulling over the switch and she seems receptive so far. Any idea what the cost will be for Hummingbird's "Down Imaging" and when it may be available?!
Thx,
Scott
I heard it was going to be a free upgrade. Just download it off the internet.
I heard that too, just need to 2x chk. I was told the Lowrance SS was going to be $250 and now it's $600...
yup I think so
Quote from: mikesmiph on November 23, 2009, 03:30:47 PM
I heard it was going to be a free upgrade. Just download it off the internet.
Yep! And they have a new color scheme for the regular sonar that makes it look more like Lowrance - also a free upgrade!
When you purchase a 798, 997 or a 1197 all you need is a software upgrade from the Humminbird website www.humminbird.com to get the New Down Imaging. The 898 and the 998 will come with the New Down Imaging software. The software is free of charge.
Don't forget about Lakemaster compatability and an awesome waypoint management menu, also new for 2010! ;D
I love my Lakemaster chip too so that is great news!!!
I hope Joby doesn't mind that I swiped a copy of her message from the other thread over to here for those looking of Humminbird Side and Down Imaging:
"Here is a shot of the New Humminbird Down Imaging and the New Color Palette."
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn58/JobySmith1251/S00145.png)
Seth,
If it's not gonna interfere with your "competitive edge" can you tell me the benefits of having both the 520 and 997 "side by side"? I've got the HDS 5 and hate to just kick it to the curb at this time plus I look at my console and can't imagine having the room for both on the rail (I have my flasher in-dash and like that for top speed cruising depth).
Thx,
Scott
Sorry, more questions:
1) Does the 997 (or forthe coming 998) have the 3D or "Shaded Relief" picture like the HDS Lake Insight for depth contours?
2) Does the transducer need to be mounted to the transom or can it work "shoot thru"? Has anyone tried the XM Weather?
3) For the HDS, has anyone tried the Sirius radio and weather add-on?
Not trying to hijack the thread but I'm getting much closer to the switch or even using both and am listening to all sides.
River Rat--The 997 and 998 acccept the Navionics Platinum, which is 3D mapping, but to be honest I never use it. I haven't played with the Lake Insight stuff, but from what I've seen it looks similar to Navionics Platinum.
The HB Side Imaging transducer must mounted outside the boat, same with Structure Scan. It's just the nature of the technology. Pretty much all the bass guys I know are epoxying a standard dual beam puck in hull, mounting the SI transducer on either the jackplate or higher up on the transom, and using a y-cable to connect the two to the unit. What this does is give you 2D sonar readings at high speeds using ine in hull transducer, and SI readings from the SI ducer. By mounting the SI transducer on the jackplate or higher on the transom, it's out of the water at high speed and in a place where it's portected and less succeptible to damage. If you're already dealing with Lake Drive Marine, they know all about this rigging method.
XM weather works fine, but just know that it doesn't include Canada. Which is really ok when you think about it because you're going to see any storms over MI approaching Erie or LSC from the west.
Quote from: River Rat on November 25, 2009, 08:04:52 AM
If it's not gonna interfere with your "competitive edge" can you tell me the benefits of having both the 520 and 997 "side by side"? I've got the HDS 5 and hate to just kick it to the curb at this time plus I look at my console and can't imagine having the room for both on the rail (I have my flasher in-dash and like that for top speed cruising depth).
Scott- I use my Lowrance for storing all of my waypoints - it is networked to the graph up front, so it is nice to have it at the console. It also leaves the 997 screen uncluttered on the map view. Tx day I only load the waypoints I know I need on the 997. My GPS antenna for the lowrance is on the trolling motor, so I can be dead on with my waypoints. My 997 antenna is on the back, above the SI transducer.
I also like the conventional sonar better on the lowrance - I have not tried the new colors from HB, so we will see. It is just nice having the 997 on map for contours & SI, with the Lowrance on regular sonar & map with waypoints.
I would love to have another 997 up front to go with my lowrance up there. I love "video fishing" with the Lowrance, can't wait to see how it will work with the 'down scan'.
Seth
Seth - That all makes sense and I appreciate you sharing the information, thx. I'm going to take all that into account when I reconfigure my set-up this off season.
BryanP - Thx for the info on the equipment and set-up. If I make a go of it, I'll get the NVB w/ the unit and hopefully from Waterfoul if he still has it when I make up my mind.
Scott