Thread: Lowrance or Humminbird

As you already own a 1197 ask yourself if it has served you well and met your needs. If so get 1198. If not go HDS. If you go HDS you will have both and then you will really know which way to go when you upgrade again. Glad to see people give opinions without bashing. I run Birds bc they were best bang for buck when I was in market. If Low was cheeper then I would probably have them. I think Low has better DI and I think Bird has better SI.

Lowrance Ethernet cables kinda stink. The cables are real stiff and somewhat hard to pull thru boat belly. The cables are solid conductor twisted pairs. The cable will break near the connector if you connect/reconnect often. Be aware of this.

Wonder why they used a solid wire for a marine (boat) environment? Humminbird uses 24 AWG stranded copper wire in our Ethernet cables - basically CAT 5e cable.

But don't assume just because it is labeled "CAT 5e" that the cable is stranded as it is available in both solid and stranded.

All of them "hose" us on these cables. OTC RJ45 connector cables are available in waterproof configurations.

Originally Posted by slimeyslab

Ford vs Chevy type deal.

I agree both Humminrance and Lowbird are good products but I would never drive a Chevy.

Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg

Wonder why they used a solid wire for a marine (boat) environment? Humminbird uses 24 AWG stranded copper wire in our Ethernet cables - basically CAT 5e cable.

Penny pinching I guess. billbob had an intermittent network problem. Cable was broken at the connector neck. That is how I found the solid conductor cable. This I believe to be somewhat amateurish in design.

Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

But don't assume just because it is labeled "CAT 5e" that the cable is stranded as it is available in both solid and stranded.

I didn't. It lists a stranded wire on the Engineering drawing for the Ethernet cables.