Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Hello all,

I am currently trying upgrade my electronics.
Here are my choices.

My budget is around $2200.

I was thinking about getting the HB 998c si combo which costs about $2000 and just keeping my Lowrance HDS-5 at the T-motor. ( maybe purcahasing another HB somewhere down the road)

My other option was getting the 898c si combo for the console and the 788ci hd di combo for the t-motor.

i don't have much exp. with any HB units at all.
1 question i do have is that if i decide to go with option 1 will i have any problems with having a HB and lowrance as far as interference and things like that go?
Also if I go with option 2 is it ok to just leave my HD-5 hooked up at the console and hook up the new HB?
Lastly is HB the way to go for SI and DI units........I mostly fish Erie smallmouth.

Thanks for any input guys.

You can't go wrong with those two units and you can connect both together. Do your homework before you buy and install since different installations require accessories such as cables, different transducers, extra transducers etc... and location of transducers.  I was getting interference on HB installation of my 788 on the bow because TM and HB was wired to a control panel on the bow. I had to rewire directly to battery. Still I have a lot to learn about the units. I t was he__ installing one of the transducers inside the boat in my gas tank, pump area. Customer service is better at HB  too. Running all three units  plus pumps and other gizmos may drain batteries too.

The 898 SI unit is just fine for the dash area.  I started out with a garmin in dash and the 898 on the ram mount next to it.  I would use the garmin for high speed sonar since the transducer that comes with the 898 won't read at those speeds.  There are advantages and disadvantages to this.  Later I bought a Y cable and another in hull puck for the unit.  Now I just use the HB and never turn on the Garmin. 

I don't have experience with the Lowrance HD units. 

I do have the 788 HB on the bow.  One reason I did was so that it could be interlinked together with the dash unit.  This feature is nice. 

I can tool around with the big motor using SI to locate structure.  When I see something worth noting I can mark the way point.  Later, I can turn off the gas, get on the tm and the way point will be on that screen as well. 

It's been a couple of years but it seems to me like I did all that I did for about what your budget is.

The 898 is a wonderful unit, and with what you save going with that you can get a nice DI unit for up front also.  You really don't need the SI up front anyways.  I have a pm for you.

1jav

I have the 998 and 788 units and love them. I would call Humminbird and ask if the have any refurbished units available. They generally come packaged like new and you won't no any difference, and are about 75% of retail cost.