Thread: Jumping into the SI market?

I've been following the discussion regarding the HB SI technology for as long as it has been talked about here at Crappie.com and the Yahoo Groups SI site....

There have been a great deal of opinions...good and bad...that truthfully scare the b'geebizz out of a potential SI owner.....especially when the units cost in the $2000 - $3000 range ...and then.... the extra costs of high accuracy antenaes... and interlinks.... and cables... and every thing else needed to actually get this system set up on one's boat....

That's a lot of jack to not be totally...and I mean TOTALLY satisfied with this product.....

Although I'm confident that HB will eventually get all the bugs worked out of the technology to satisfy most all complaints from it's customers....and I'm also confident that HB customer service, Greg, and Joby will be available for support....

My questions are to you HB SI owners at this point in the technology growth of SI...

1. Are these HB SI units finally to a point in the technology growth curve where a new SI owner could be confident that this product would work satisfactorally...right out of the box...?

2. Would you advise a potential SI owner to jump in now or wait until the
new 1 second GPS refresh rate comes already installed in the units
from the factory...?

3. Would you advise a potential SI owner to wait until the DI (Down Imaging)feature is
standard on the units and the bugs worked out of that
technology also...?

I have had a 798SI for about a year & have had no problems with it at all. I do not have it linked to other units since I have mine on a swivel mount. I just installed update 4.700 & the clarity & definition is awsome & with the GPS refresh rate of 4 times a second you can go right to a waypoint even at slow speed.
Like anything it is a learning curve & you can gather loads of information from all of the forums.
Jason Haflen on this forum has some excellent suggestions so I would recommend you read his articles. Greg@Hummingbird is also a very great source of support as is also the Hummingbird tech staff. In my opinion the 50 channel reciever that comes with the new units is very good & do not see any need for the High Accuracy GPS.The downimaging is just going to be like a free Christmas present & I will install it as soon as it is avaliable.
I would not hesitate at all to purchase a new unit at this time.
All of the updates will be here for the 997 in Jan. along with the new 998.

Tough question for me. I'm still goofing around with a second-hand
797, and it is starting to act squirrely, crashing, locking up and stuff.

I think the days of buying something and never having to at least do
software updates on it are behind us. Love technology

But I guess I'd go for a 798 or 998 if and when mine goes out for good.

rnvince
My questions are to you HB SI owners at this point in the technology growth of SI...

1. Are these HB SI units finally to a point in the technology growth curve where a new SI owner could be confident that this product would work satisfactorally...right out of the box...?

2. Would you advise a potential SI owner to jump in now or wait until the
new 1 second GPS refresh rate comes already installed in the units
from the factory...?

3. Would you advise a potential SI owner to wait until the DI (Down Imaging)feature is
standard on the units and the bugs worked out of that
technology also...?

1-Yes for the most part, but there is a kinda large learning curve to use all, but if U scan book u should have great Si picts within U first 1/2 hour on lake
2 & 3-together I would wait for 2010 models because they R gonna have bigger/better processor(898,998 &1198?) & 998 will also get video out jack
these will be better units & I assume will take more years of updates.Plus they should arrive will all new upgrades already there so U as newbe won't have to do much for a while, by that time U be a expert. From 3 years of riding a 997, that's still looking for its waypoints???:D

I have had the HB 797 since shortly after they came out. I found ways early on to overcome the slow refresh rate that has been talked about so much. I just ordered a new boat and putting 1197 on it couldn't even imagine fishing without it anymore.
There were some rough spots in the SI technology but the positives well outweigh the negatives and the tough times are really behind us on this technology (at least with HB) I think.

I have an early 997 and love it. I am not the most technically advanced fisherman by a long shot. The learning curve was steep but I am a whiz now! (or at least I like to think I am ) I would wait for the new units. The technology is changing so fast the new ones will be outdated before you know it. Go for it. You will never be the same!

Originally Posted by jaxsprat

1-Yes for the most part, but there is a kinda large learning curve to use all, but if U scan book u should have great Si picts within U first 1/2 hour on lake
2 & 3-together I would wait for 2010 models because they R gonna have bigger/better processor(898,998 &1198?) & 998 will also get video out jack
these will be better units & I assume will take more years of updates.Plus they should arrive will all new upgrades already there so U as newbe won't have to do much for a while, by that time U be a expert. From 3 years of riding a 997, that's still looking for its waypoints???:D

So, even if I wait until the 2010 models come out how do I know I won't be getting one of the "leftover models" that don't actually have the 2010 features...??

If its a 998(old997) or a 1198(old1197) it will be a 2010 model with better processor- A 898 I don't have a answer

A friend of mine has been talking about a new fishfinder for at least 10 years now. Seems like he makes his mind up about one and then some other manufacturer comes out with a little better one. I suspect another 10 years will go by and he will still be using his old one if it lasts that long.

Computer buyers also put off because as soon as they buy its obsolete. My reasoning is whatever I buy is going to be better than what I am presently using.

Perfection will always remain an elusive goal. Suffice to say get a unit that will find you fish , keep you from getting lost and be reliable. Buy from a company that has an excellent reputation for customer service. Get the one you can best afford and I doubt you will be sorry.

Originally Posted by hays47

A friend of mine has been talking about a new fishfinder for at least 10 years now. Seems like he makes his mind up about one and then some other manufacturer comes out with a little better one. I suspect another 10 years will go by and he will still be using his old one if it lasts that long.

Computer buyers also put off because as soon as they buy its obsolete. My reasoning is whatever I buy is going to be better than what I am presently using.

Perfection will always remain an elusive goal. Suffice to say get a unit that will find you fish , keep you from getting lost and be reliable. Buy from a company that has an excellent reputation for customer service. Get the one you can best afford and I doubt you will be sorry.

Well put. If you wait for the latest and greatest, you will wait forever.