Home Forums Fishing Freshwater sonar/ gps combo advice

Looking to buy a new sonar/gps combo unit.
Fish mainly inland lakes in Michigan.
I'm thinking either Humminbird or Garmin.
Just don't know if the extra money for the 7" screen is required, over the 5" screen.
Any advice or recommendations is appreciated.
Thanks

The bigger the screen the more detail.

I bought a new 5" Hummingbird last year. Prior to that i had 2
seperate units on a different boat. I prefer the seperate units
but feel the 5' is adequate so long as im not on split screen.

I run 4 on the boat, usually only 2 at a time.
I have 2 - 5's 1 - 7, and a 10.



The 5's have the same detail as a 7. Generally the pixels would be 480 height X 640 width on a 5" screen, and 480 height, and 800 width on a 7"screen. The things that a 7 gives you is more "History" when running sonar (you can see what you went over for a longer period of time), and bigger displays (windows) when you are running split screens such as GPS mapping, and sonar at the same time.
A 10" would have about 600 height, and 800 width.

These pixel counts are for Humminbird, but others are relatively close for comparison.

I use a Lowrance HDS 7 (Gen 1) in split screen between GPS and sonar.

If you are interested in the Minn Kota I-Pilot Link you probably want to go with the Humminbird. Lowrance is paired up with Motorguide for the Xi55 w/Pinpoint. The two are not interchangable if you want the trolling motor to run depth contours from your sonar or GPS locations. I don't think that Garmin links with either brand of trolling motor.

I bought my unit before the Minn-Kota/Humminbird alliance was formed (or at least solidified) or else I likely would have gone with the 'bird.

Bigger screens typically have more "hot keys" as well so you can navigate menu options faster.


SS

Spend the money to go bigger. I use (humminbird 787 - 5") split screen with depth and navigation. Hard to see and follow contours when zoomed much in navigation. My next one will be bigger . .

Thanks for the advice.