Nice comparison. I have Lowrance and Garmin. I added the Garmin for livescope. I prefer the Lowrance interface and flexibility for overlays. I noticed today the Garmin downscan is ever so slightly more sharp than Lowrance, but both were more than adequate. I still need to compare the mapping. I think Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird are to the point where it will just come down to user preference and like you said what unit has a good sale price.
Never use mapping on the head unit. Why spend $2k on a unit and take up the screen space with a map? Buy a used iPad with 3g or 4g and it will have a gps built in and run your maps off the tablet. Better resolution and you can run other apps like battery meters or if you have mercury vesselview mobile
I'm just asking = It would be great if you make a video with those two fish finders seeing walleyes on the bottom of the lake, (they are so hard to see sometime). With the 2D sonar and with the down image, so we will all be able to compare them. Thank you
Great review. GT56 transducer has improved side imaging a lot. No disputing Humminbird has great side scan. I am actually thinking of doing the similar thing to you. Garmin Echomap Ultra 10 inch on the console and Humminbird Helix 8 on the front.
I have played with the 56 recently. On the 9” is was minimal difference imo. On the 10” it was much better. I can still get a much better image on the bird. Could just be me but I have played with them a lot.
Thank you for this great video I like it a lot. I have a couple of questions if you like to answer them. 1- If you had to buy only one fish finder, Which one would you buy? - - Between a new Humminbird Helix G-4, maybe Solix, or a Garmin next-gen ECHOMAP Ultra 2 series. 2- Would you rather buy two 10-inch than one 12-inch fish finder? 3- Is a nine or 10-inch big enough to see every detail even when you cut the screen two? Have a nice day to you all. Gerald
I bought the Helix 7 MSI GPS G4 last week. I’m sending back because I want backlit keys and the 8 & 9 Helix have Mega plus and backlight. So I use this on. 12 foot kayak for salmon, trout, sturgeon, and lingcod. I fish rivers, lakes , bays, jetties, and open salt here in the PNW. Now I’m thinking about a farming because of the touch screen. If you were in a yak and had to choose the garmin or Helix which model would you pick? I need GPS, Si, Di, livscope in the future. I can spend about 1100.00 so which model do you think would be your choice.
So there won’t be interference as long as frequencies are different? Bc a lot of the forums I asked this question on, the responses were that it would cause interference
Correct. You just have to run different frequencies. I don’t get any interference except on 2d when I am in 70’ or deeper water and that is caused by keeping both units in chirp. I have both transducers right next to each other.
just looked up to see why the 9 inch garmin was only $699 and i think its cuz its an older model... now would u recommend getting the older 9 inch for $699? or getting the new model in a 6-7 inch? (for kayak) im assuming the new model has better image quality, but id have to get a much smaller screen cuz of price. any suggestions would be appreciated :D
For better quality you have to step up to the Ultra series. The 9 inch Echomap UHD like I have has been going on sale on and off for a few years. Bass Pro had the 10” Ultra on sale for $999 last week. They do a lot of flash sales. 9” is plenty big but the bigger the better.
Nice comparison. I have Lowrance and Garmin. I added the Garmin for livescope. I prefer the Lowrance interface and flexibility for overlays. I noticed today the Garmin downscan is ever so slightly more sharp than Lowrance, but both were more than adequate. I still need to compare the mapping. I think Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird are to the point where it will just come down to user preference and like you said what unit has a good sale price.
Agreed 100%. I love 2d on Lowrance compared to Garmin and Humminbird. They are all good.
Never use mapping on the head unit. Why spend $2k on a unit and take up the screen space with a map? Buy a used iPad with 3g or 4g and it will have a gps built in and run your maps off the tablet. Better resolution and you can run other apps like battery meters or if you have mercury vesselview mobile
I disagree but we must use them in a completely different way.
I'm just asking = It would be great if you make a video with those two fish finders seeing walleyes on the bottom of the lake, (they are so hard to see sometime). With the 2D sonar and with the down image, so we will all be able to compare them. Thank you
I have had them all. Garmin is just easier to use and is the leader in marine technology.
Great customer service if needed as well.
Great review. GT56 transducer has improved side imaging a lot. No disputing Humminbird has great side scan. I am actually thinking of doing the similar thing to you. Garmin Echomap Ultra 10 inch on the console and Humminbird Helix 8 on the front.
I have played with the 56 recently. On the 9” is was minimal difference imo. On the 10” it was much better. I can still get a much better image on the bird. Could just be me but I have played with them a lot.
Thank you for this great video I like it a lot. I have a couple of questions if you like to answer them.
1- If you had to buy only one fish finder, Which one would you buy? - - Between a new Humminbird Helix G-4, maybe Solix, or a Garmin next-gen ECHOMAP Ultra 2 series.
2- Would you rather buy two 10-inch than one 12-inch fish finder?
3- Is a nine or 10-inch big enough to see every detail even when you cut the screen two?
Have a nice day to you all. Gerald
Buy the biggest you can afford. 10” is big enough imo. HUMMINBIRD if I could only have one.
I bought the Helix 7 MSI GPS G4 last week. I’m sending back because I want backlit keys and the 8 & 9 Helix have Mega plus and backlight. So I use this on. 12 foot kayak for salmon, trout, sturgeon, and lingcod. I fish rivers, lakes , bays, jetties, and open salt here in the PNW. Now I’m thinking about a farming because of the touch screen. If you were in a yak and had to choose the garmin or Helix which model would you pick? I need GPS, Si, Di, livscope in the future. I can spend about 1100.00 so which model do you think would be your choice.
Probably the Garmin if I could only have one.
Note you have a GT54 and its dam close to bird But if you put GT56 on i bet same or better
GT56 would be a better transducer to use with the Garmin
It definitely gives more range.
It provides a lot better side imaging picture too. At least on the 106
Gt 56 is better than anything from bird or lowrance..
@@bobbarnhill8557That is what I plan to buy. GT 56 for sure.
So there won’t be interference as long as frequencies are different? Bc a lot of the forums I asked this question on, the responses were that it would cause interference
Correct. You just have to run different frequencies. I don’t get any interference except on 2d when I am in 70’ or deeper water and that is caused by keeping both units in chirp. I have both transducers right next to each other.
just looked up to see why the 9 inch garmin was only $699 and i think its cuz its an older model... now would u recommend getting the older 9 inch for $699? or getting the new model in a 6-7 inch? (for kayak) im assuming the new model has better image quality, but id have to get a much smaller screen cuz of price. any suggestions would be appreciated :D
For better quality you have to step up to the Ultra series.
The 9 inch Echomap UHD like I have has been going on sale on and off for a few years.
Bass Pro had the 10” Ultra on sale for $999 last week.
They do a lot of flash sales.
9” is plenty big but the bigger the better.
The incredible lag on Garmin is absolute disqualifier. It’s disgusting.
You can’t compare side view at different frequencies..
What’s the model of that hummingbird?
Helix 9 Mega si +