The A70 DOES network. It will interface with nmea 2000 or seatalk. It also has solid 0183 interface capabilities and uses 0183 version 3 vs lowrance still being on version 2. This means you can locate your buddy using ANY radio vs needing a lowrance radio to do it on the hds. It will also accept AIS over the 0183 wires. I don't Know if lowrance does. My guess is it doesn't since it won't buddy locate using dsc but I could be wrong.
As far as the sonar goes, the more I play with the A70 the more I like it. It's every bit as good as the Lowrance BBS I had installed and later removed. It is not a re-hashed version of some old sonar.
You are corrrect that the A70 will not do radar. Lowrance has the edge there. The installed maps on the hds are nice also. If you buy any unit I think in time you will end up buying a chart chip but the lowrance seems to have a better out of the box map. I guess it depends on which version you go with. I don't know if the hds units can use the navionics platinum yet ?
As far as Raymarine being overpriced I'm going to have to say that you get what you pay for.
I have had lowrance and now raymarine and I'm not going back any time soon.
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I'm out of Beer !!!!
Last edited by edyer; 05-11-2009 at 04:23 PM.
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