Choice of Sounder/GPS combo
Submitted by bsir on Mon, 2011-05-23 13:12
My Lowrance sounder (GPS combo) appears to have packed it in. Its an LCX-26HD which is about 6 years old.
The only way to diagnose the problem is to install a new transducer as they cant tell if it is the head or the electronics in the screen.
Anyway, given that I havent been entirely happy with the Lowrance sounder, I've managed to convince the missus that we should just buy a new unit for the boat. I know its expensive, but a blokes gotta have his toys.
I was considering swapping to a Furono (GP-7000F) or a Raymarine (c-series), but am interested in other optinion of combos units and how these units would stack up against a new Lowrance unit (HDS-8).
Looking to spend around $3k but want to make sure I get a good unit.
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
for that money
i would be buying a furuno 620 for the sounder and a hds 7 for your gps thats if you have the space on your dash! either that or a hds8 and 1kw transducer!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Teflon Coated
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 28/03/11
Good choice available
http://www.chsmith.com.au/GPS/Marine-GPS-Fish-Finder-Plotter-Combos.html
RUSS - Another punter in the Pilbara!
The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Check out the Raymarine units
Check out the Raymarine units they are brilliant and really easy to use.
JohnF
Posts: 2838
Date Joined: 07/07/10
I have Raymarine
I have Raymarine combo.....very easy to use. If going HDS, only go for HDS8 and above that have the extra soft keys, as the smaller ones require goin through the menu's, which is OK on shire, harder bumping around in swell.
Not sure I like the Furuno combos....my old man had a top end one (a bit older) and the sounder part was excellent but the combo hard to use. I think Furuno have the best sounders, Raymarine the slickest combos, although these days they are all pretty good to be honest.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Furuno
Thanks for the comments guys.
I had a look at the Furuno 620, which led to looking at the 585. I found a good video comparing the 585 to the HDS-8:
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l269/honda900_uw/?action=view¤t=20110126_112646.mp4
To me the FCV-585 looks a lot better picture. Anyone else done a direct compare between the 2? I am pretty interested in the quality of the sounder because Not sure how i will go for dash space not using a combo unit.
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I've got the HDS10 and the
I've got the HDS10 and the Furuno 585 side by side and the 585 absolutely shits all over the HDS in the sounder department. It is a great GPS/plotter though.
I was in your situation last year deciding between a HDS10 and 2 seperate units (585 and seperate GPS). I ended up buying the HDS10 and after a few months got a 585 as the HDS was a lousy sounder in my opinion. I wish I'd just gone 2 seperate units from the start, I wouldn't recommend anything else now.
If space or $$$ don't allow a HDS8 and a 585, then consider a 620 and maybe a HDS7, but I'd make sure that a Furuno sounder is in there. Remember, a GPS only puts you on a spot, the sounder finds the fish so send more of your money that way and you'll be right.
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
furuno vs hds
i have a 585 and a hds 7 which i use as a gps but got the transducer for just for a backup! the furuno is miles ahead heaps clearer and easier to read! i wouldnt even put them in the same class
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
JohnF
Posts: 2838
Date Joined: 07/07/10
Hey tim, do you have the
Hey tim, do you have the Furuno and HDS talking so you can go back over the sounder recent history and ping lumps and fish?
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
they are talking but it's all
they are talking but it's all one way. The Furuno accepts GPS input from the HDS so you can move the cursor on the 585 and mark it as a waypoint but it will not send this waypoint back to the HDS. It is a bit frustrating but you can always bring up the coord on the 585 screen and enter it manually on the HDS. There is no scroll back either, if the lump moves off the screen you can't scroll back to it so you need to be quickish. Otherwise just turn around and resound the area.
ccrowy
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 14/11/09
how come no one is talking
how come no one is talking about a humminbird? i am thinkin of buying a 798 combo unit form the states but it seems that no one on here talks about them? does that mean they are shit? I thought i would like the idea of the side imaging and down scan? has anybody used one of these, or can they givew an opinion????
I am so sick of catching wrasse!!!!!
carps
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 01/03/10
Humminbird
Hi mate,
yeah i have a Humminbird 858 which is a good unit that i'm happy with.
With that said I have used quite a few units including the HDS, the furuno and the ray marine units. All of these are good units that do the job, however I think I would go the furuno if I had my choice again for the sounder but the humminbird is good in shallow and very simple to use. The side scan and down imaging functions, (not on my Sounder) are bloody good however for the style of fishing I do it wasn't neccessary so I didn't go down that track. From memory I think Hlokk has this sounder so it might be worth getting his opinion about it. But for $3000 you can get some good units and make sure you shop around as it can be worth the $ you save.
Cheers
ccrowy
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 14/11/09
yea thanks for the advice. i
yea thanks for the advice. i man.y do fishing between hillerys and rotto, so im not to deep. im thinking that this should be perfect. anyway i will try and get in touch with this hlokk and get their opionion. thanks mate
I am so sick of catching wrasse!!!!!
carps
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 01/03/10
no worries.If you are
no worries.
If you are interested in seeing the 858 unit let me know and i will be mor ethan happy to show it and a few of the different screen captures i have taken.
Cheers carps
marble
Posts: 778
Date Joined: 03/09/09
Found out the other day that
Found out the other day that Furuno dont make the gp7000 anymore, sorta sucks because the next size up is the 10.4 inch navnet at a fair price hike. They are a very sexy unit though
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
I've seen the GP7000F in
I've seen the GP7000F in action and was very impressed with the sounder capabilities, far batter than my Lowrance. Thats what got me headed down the Furuno path. Was almost considering a 7000F but kinda pricey since I still have a GPS that works, and if they are coming out of production, that may impact serviceability.
From what i have read, i will probably go with the Furuno 620. The 585 will take up too much dash space. Dont know much about the Hummingbirds.
ccrowy, I work between Hillarys to Rotto more often than not. Thats the other reason I was thinking the 620. I dont need a 1000W transducer (that the 585 can be used with).