lowrance 4 elite ice machine or hummingbird 386i ?

[fishhawk55]

Does anyone have any experience with either one of these sonar systems?
I would appreciate any opinions you have before buying.
Thanks!

[efka]

go with 386, easy menu and more power.

[jhepting]

Are you using it for just for hard water?  If you are I love the mar cum showdown and they only run you about $200.00 of if you have money to burn I would by the LX6.  i know its not the answer to the question but there are other options.  I ran my showdown for  two years no problem and then someone stole it out of my car.  Getting another one.

[fishhawk55]

I have a showdown and I really like it, but the wire from the transducer that goes into the boot that connects to the main unit is broke. It seems too fine to solder.

[matzilla]

Does anyone have any experience with either one of these sonar systems?
I would appreciate any opinions you have before buying.
Thanks!

is this the HB you're referring to?
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/386ci-Combo-Portable/

[fishhawk55]

The link didn't work, it just took me to the home page. But yes the ice 386i Combo was what I was considering.

[BlindIce]

I am going to run my HDS7 touch in my perm shack this year. Bought the ice transducer for it. Give me
Something to play around with and learn when fishing is slow.

[Icebubble]

I had just bought myself a lowrance elite 4HDI, can't wait to try it out.  Looks like a really solid unit for the price.

[dsab]

I bought a Lowrance Elite 4x Ice machine before last ice fishing season.  It was a compromise at $289 (on sale at The Fishin Hole) vs. spending $600-$900 on a Marcum.  I'm glad I bought the Lowrance.  It has been great.  The graph mode is excellent and it also has a flasher mode.  I won't fish without it now. 

I bought an open water transducer for it, and it works great for summer too.  It has various modes, and really shows good bottom definition.

I have never used a hummingbird, but wanted to let you know the great luck I have had with my Lowrance. 

[fishhawk55]

Thanks for all the input!

[Blue Strike]

I run the Lowrance Elite 4 with the ice transducer (basically the 4X ice). It was easy to use and I really enjoy the graph mode while ice fishing.

[Iceboy89]

I'm currently using an elite 5 ice machine which has been great except it doesn't work consistently in deeper water. I fish deep water often, 120+ ft.. And I have problems marking jigs at that depth. Have heard good things about humminbird and will be looking at getting the new helix portable unit when it comes out in a few months.

[ran7ger]

no issues with my ice 55 down to 110 fow

[DBK81]

If you can, spring for the Elite 5 ice machine, the extra power comes in handy when Lake trout fishing, and the history trail was enough for me to sell my Ice 55 and move to a traditional sonar.

[LUNKERONZ]

Just picked up the elite 4hdi. Tell me stories people. Is it all I'm thinking it will be?



Jig on!

[rayclargo]

Im like you too, just picked up a elite 5 chirp. Can't wait to use it.

[wittyman]

Have you guys been able to use the Elite 4x yet? I'm pretty much buying blind as there aren't too many places close to me where I can check them out in person.  I think my only concern is the screen size...any problems reading it?

[Warren_G]

I have selected the Lowrance Elite 4hdi for the bow of my boat. I added a casting seat and have been teaching myself to use a bait caster this year. Only problem is I cant see my dash mounted finder so I had planned on putting the Lowrance up front with the transducer on the trolling motor, so I too am interested in other's opinions on it. I also plan to upgrade my dash mounted finder as it is almost 10 yrs old now. My plan was to put in a Raymarine dragonfly in the dash, as it uses different frequencies than the Lowrance, so in theory they wont interfere with each other. A little off topic, but I do like to hear what others have to say about these units as well as what I had planned.