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I think this info was just released today. Didnt take long!! Looks great and you dont have to buy a new unit or ducer. Free upgrade for
existing units and ducers as long as they have the normal side imaging capabilities. Nice!!
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.
Highly Popular "Side-to-Side" Picture-Like View Now Includes View Below the Boat
EUFAULA, Ala. (Sept. 28, 2009) - Expanding on an impressive list of sonar capabilities, Humminbird® announces the addition of Down ImagingTM Sonar to its groundbreaking Side Imaging® technology.
"Humminbird's goal continues to be to provide anglers with the most innovative technology and Down Imaging is the next step in that process," said Dale Logue, product manager for Humminbird. "Adding Down Imaging to Side Imaging, and our new SwitchFireTM Traditional Sonar, the opportunity to find highly productive fishing spots is unprecedented."
Like Humminbird's innovative Side Imaging Sonar, which revolutionized the marine electronics industry, Down Imaging presents picture-like images of the bottom. Down Imaging views are focused directly beneath the angler's boat, giving a detailed look at structure and the water column. Down Imaging and Side Imaging together give anglers an incredibly detailed, full 180° view of the bottom.
Split-screen viewing options provide the ability to view Side Imaging, Down Imaging and SwitchFire Sonar separately, in groups of two, or all three at once.
"Humminbird created an entirely new category with Side Imaging, and now Down Imaging uses that same technology to give anglers an advantage like no other," said Logue.
A free software upgrade to add Down Imaging will be available in January to current owners of Humminbird models with Side Imaging (except 797c2 SI) by simply registering their product at Humminbird.com. No new hardware or transducer is required. All new Side Imaging models (998c SI and 898c SI) come standard with Down Imaging capabilities, with existing models (1197c SI and 798c SI) adding the feature as a running change in 2010.
For more information visit humminbird.com, contact Humminbird, 678 Humminbird Lane, Eufaula, AL 36027, or call 800-633-1468.
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics LLC consists of the Humminbird, Minn Kota and Cannon brands. Humminbird® is a leading innovator and manufacturer of fishfinders, fishfinder/GPS combo units, chartplotters, marine radios and digital depth gauges. Minn Kota® is the world's leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as offers a complete line of battery chargers, Trim Tabs and marine accessories. Cannon® is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Middle image: Down Imaging/Side Imaging split screen view
Bottom Image: Down Imaging/2D sonar/ Side Imaging view
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
Team: EAT-SLEEP-FISH---~ <)))))<
Trying hard to become a 1%er www.ramseydoor.com www.raynoroverheaddoor.com
After spending the last 4 days on the water with DownScan, and being totally blown away by it, I wondered how long it would be before Humminbird replies. And reply they did - FREE UPGRADE, Jan 2010!
Hmmm, I've often wondered how intricate the brain of a porpoise must be to actually "see" using their clicks (sonar). Now, I have a great idea of how it must work.
We humans take nothing but arrays of receptors for photons of various wavelengths (eyes) and then translate those myriad signals into vision. The porpoise does the same but with sonar, I guess.
I wonder when we will see them overlaying the color data from the 2D sonar info on the "down scan" screen. You would get the image of the tree and the color fish arches on the down scan view. Would be a real boon to fresh water usage as you would be able to pick the fish out of the trees and brush (look at the samples in the down scan press release - you can see what appear to be fish arches standing out in the 2D view at the tree, but they are easy to miss in the monochrome view of the down scan). Not sure if the graphics processor would require an upgrade or if it would be a firmware flash like this next update.
Now that would be a game changing modification I think (and the free upgrade to down scan is a shot directly across Lowrance's bow already).
I wonder when we will see them overlaying the color data from the 2D sonar info on the "down scan" screen. You would get the image of the tree and the color fish arches on the down scan view. Would be a real boon to fresh water usage as you would be able to pick the fish out of the trees and brush (look at the samples in the down scan press release - you can see what appear to be fish arches standing out in the 2D view at the tree, but they are easy to miss in the monochrome view of the down scan). Not sure if the graphics processor would require an upgrade or if it would be a firmware flash like this next update.
Now that would be a game changing modification I think (and the free upgrade to down scan is a shot directly across Lowrance's bow already).
I agree......they could have very easily made their customers buy new 2010 units to get the down imaging or at the very least a new ducer.
I am thinking that to get the down image on the screen of an existing SI unit is easy but to be able to use the same ducer?? Maybe they already had the technology and waiting for the right time to unvail it??
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
Team: EAT-SLEEP-FISH---~ <)))))<
Trying hard to become a 1%er www.ramseydoor.com www.raynoroverheaddoor.com
Of course one of mine is the 797. Not included. Oh well, still good news.
According to the yahoo side imaging site the 797 does not have enough memory to add the down imaging.
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
Team: EAT-SLEEP-FISH---~ <)))))<
Trying hard to become a 1%er www.ramseydoor.com www.raynoroverheaddoor.com
I don't think a new ducer was needed because there is nothing new hardware wise. I believe this so called down scan thing is just how the software, processor, draws the picture on the screen. It is inverting and zooming in on the SI. The pictures appear to be the left side. But there is some internet speculation it is overlaying both sides into one view.
All the pictures that I have seen from both Lowrance and Humminbird show side images. The trees and the bus. If it was truly down scanning, it would be showing the top of the trees and bus. This and the fact Humminbird can turn your side imaging into down imaging with just a software package is what I base my opinion on. An opinion that could be easily changed with proper guidance.
New humminbird down imaging 
