Topic: help me decide!! 798, 899, 999??

[mbfish]

Well, I have been eye-ing Humminbird for a long time.   I really like the idea of side-scan, but have zero experience with it.  I live in Canada and I didn't like the fact that you get no base map with good shoreline detail with the units, however I can cure that with Autochart now.  Now I can create my own depth charts - very cool.

Now, on to the decision time.  I like the 999 unit, but wonder if I really need something that big.  No idea why I'd get the 899, I mean it's physically the same size and the 999 but with and smaller screen.  I'm wondering if the 798 is what I will get the best bang for the buck out of??  How do people like the display on their 798's?  Has anyone compared the 798 and the 999 in real-lake situations?  Is the 800KHz display that much better resolution?  Does the 798 use and accept the Autochart data? I guess this is all the stuff that I need to know and decide on...

[Bob B]

With SI you will find out that screen size matters.  Go with the largest display that fits your budget.

The 798 is older technology now.....I would go with the 899 before the 798.  Benefits to having the 2014 units are starting to come into play.......for instance, the ability with the 2014 units to share a SI transducer on a non-si unit.
For example, you could have a 859 at the bow (2D) unit and a 999 at the console, and the 859 can share the SI transducer on the 999.  True, the SI would be at the other end of the boat, but still a huge benefit.
This is only available on the 2014.....99,59 series units.

[sfw1960]

Bob is spot-on, I have a 798, 899 and 998 - the 798ci SI is going to be used just for mapping, along the 899ci HD SI @ the bow (for SI) and the 998c HD SI stands alone @ the dash.
The 2 bigger machines will be networked (waiting for the AS EC QDE adapter to come back in stock) with my heading sensor GPS and SD cards are cheap so updating way points amongst units is easy....
If my 798 needs repair, I will likely place an 859 along the 899!
As the GREAT Wayne Purdum says:

BIGGER IS BETTER.
Get a 999 to start!

[Goosedwnr]

When looking units for our boat I started just as you are. I told myself I didn't need the bigger screen.  I don't need that fancy SI or DI or 360. As the weeks progressed I ended up with an 1198 SI and a 998 SI. The only reason I did not go with 2 1198's is my budget. After having these for a year now I am regretting not finding a way to get the second 1198.  Point being, bigger is better when it comes to viewing SI in my opinion. If your budget allows for the 999, i would do that.

-Cory

[mbfish]

Okay.  Thanks for the replies guys.  It looks unanimous! 

It looks like I have some time to get it all together, there's still lots of snow in the yard and three feet of ice on the lakes. 

I think I'm going to go with the 999.  I'm sure it'll take a bit to get proficient with the unit.  I only know one person that owns a SI unit.  He says it's crazy how effective it is in helping to find fish.  I guess I have lots of time to research techniques and settings and so on.

Woo Hoo! New toy!!

[sfw1960]

Doug Vahrenberg  knows SI, he's a HB Sponsored staffer - Go here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass/videos

It will get you a grasp of using the machines, and you're 101% right how well you can locate fish - we still have days it's a tough bite, but getting on them & feeding them something good makes for some great days!
I would love an 1199 - but I can "get by" on my stuff for now....LOL
G'Luck with your new 'Bird - get it hooked up & sit in the boat with the simulator running, it will help you to play with the settings, find your way around where stuff is located to adjust, and then to see what looks best to you!

Robert

[Trout Bum]

Had a 798, sold it and bought a 998.

Bigger is always better, especially with SI.

[mbfish]

Trout Bum,

Would you say there were big benefits going from the 798 to the 998, being worth double the price tag?  Is the image on the screen that much better?   Does the SI on 800KHz give you a better image?  As I understand it, the 800KHz should give a better image but only to a certain depth because the signal will lose strength faster that the 455??  That said, I don't think I'll get to those depths.  The deepest water I see is just under 200 feet, with most being under 100.

[mbfish]

Well, I pulled the trigger!!

Ordered the 999 yesterday.  It should be here within a week.  There's still plenty of snow and ice on the lakes so I guess I have lots of time to install the hardware and play with the simulator to get familiar with the menus.

YEAH!!!

I think I'll be getting Autochart as well as I'm very excited for both the side imaging as well as the prospect of contouring the places I fish.  They are likely the last thing on the list of anyone contouring lake depths as they are about as remote as they get.  Very big Walleye, Pike and Lake Trout.  Some lakes I only get to a couple times per year and I'm anticipating my understanding of these lakes will by greatly advanced once I get proficient with the new humminbird unit.

OOOOOHHH YEAH!!!

[Goosedwnr]

Congrats!! Hope you are on the Water soon!

-Cory

[mbfish]

That is a nasty story.  Sure hope you can get that issue straightened out.  That's wierd that is got messed up on your trip and somehow recovered when you got home - brutal. 

I got my new 999 on Friday.  I'm super-excited to get at it.  However, being north of 55 degrees latitude, there is still lots of snow on the ground and ice on the lakes. 

[N9Phil]

You are going to like your new Humminbird.   Since you have time before you get on the water, do as someone said earlier. Practice using the simulation mode.  You can also do a Google search for Humminbird side imaging and you will find a lot of U Tube clips that show how to use your unit and don't worry if it is for another model than yours because most of the info that you learn will work on yours.

Have fun

[mbfish]

OH YEAH!!