Does Garmin Have a Humminbird Problem? - Mega Live 2 - Xplore Series

[@wendellfishing]

🔥Want more from Wendell Fishing? Check out www.WendellFishing.com for the podcast 🎙, merch 👕, business inquiries, and links to all platforms! 🔥

[@SendItVibes]

If my yak is ever found on the water with anything more than a flasher on the screen, you have my permission to throw your biggest lure with triple treble hooks at my face; because that ain't me! ❤

[@darenwendell]

I didn’t expect that response 😮

[@XploreAz]

Isn’t a flasher for ice fishing?

[@Shaun_millertech]

Mega live 2 is a 8.5 out of 10 garmin still is the best at live. Maps and waypoint management is a 10 on humminbird. I've got images from my Garmin that shows how good DI and SI can be on garmin. I think it's a wash for that. Humminbird left a lot of anglers angry with the helix snub ! I would stick with Garmin 100%

[@halphilstandish8758]

@@darenwendell what would be the forward or down range of the mega live 2?

[@wendellfishing]

I mean.. they had their chance to move the needle. If they miss, it’s on them.

[@TheBeefSlayer]

I did the Black Friday sale. I’m not mad about it. I got a great deal. What I bought will work great for me for the next 15 years or so I hope. 2 units and a mega lv all for less than 2300. Most people get one unit for that. I’m ok with it. Can’t wait to try it out on the old tracker. 👍 I’m not trying to fish out of something that cost the price of a decent house.

[@nrthfish]

I own 2 Helix G4 and they have now screwed Helix owners. Garmin is simply a better system and company, and now HB has given longtime customers a reason to switch to Garmin. One of the dumbest strategic moves a company has ever made. Just look at HB financials, they’ve got problems. Switching to Garmin.

[@wendellfishing]

Ugh…. Sorry man. But welcome to The Garmin Fam!

[@maxcole3930]

The Helix's are most popular units, with them not being compatible with new explorer or ML-2, people have to buy new units & start over. Alot people not gonna b happy about that! Might as well but a Garmin anyway

[@wendellfishing]

Oh yeah, I heard another comment 40%. Couldn’t corroborate it but that’s quite a bit of your users if true

[@fr8cture]

thats like getting mad your 1998 pc cant run windows 10.

[@maxcole3930]

I bet they wish they bought a Garmin

[@fr8cture]

@@maxcole3930 not me I bought a higher tier graph then the base model.

[@maxcole3930]

That's good, then you can upgrade to ML-2. It doesn't really matter what you have these days, Garmin, Lowrance, hummingbird. Their all excellent, they each have areas they shine in. Main reason I went with Garmin was because of sales. I saved ton of coin. I got my entire set up for little under $2800, with sales, coupon codes. 10" echomap ultra 106sv, Lvs34 system, steady cast heading sensor. Which has been awesome on the kayak

[@bb-hr9dg]

Hummingbird playing catchup

[@dennisgriffin6742]

I bought a Helix 10 2 weeks before this backhanded announcement. I thought it was your typical Holiday sale, not a discontinuing sale. That’s not a way to conduct business in my opinion and I’ll never patronize HB ever again because of that and how easily they said “F you” to the loyal HB fans.

[@wendellfishing]

Get ya with the Black Friday Sale and then Boom.. Yeah, you are not alone on that one. Sorry boss

[@benj3911]

Return it. I bought Helix from Cabelas and returned it.

[@wendellfishing]

@@benj3911 There ya go

[@ramunasjuodeska1475]

Too much promotion without any proves. After ML1 we must have real proves. pls. make video where we could see normal size bait for at least 80ft, even 70ft is enough.

[@wendellfishing]

Will definitely have to see once it hits the masses next year

[@FishinwithGRAMPS]

LOL, you might want to check the internet. Folks are fuming at Humminbird and Garmin is still king.

[@wendellfishing]

That silly internet… Guess we will have to wait until the masses get a hold of it.

[@FishinwithGRAMPS]

@@wendellfishing right, but my issue with this thumb/title is someone getting electronics for the first time or upgrading from say a Stryker 4 may INCORRECTLY think this system is better than a Garmin... and it isn't. It's one thing to do a First Look type of video, which this is.

[@wendellfishing]

I agree the thumbnail is a bit much and I was thinking of updating it last night so good feedback.

[@FishinwithGRAMPS]

@@wendellfishing maybe two UFC fighters or wrestlers facing each other

[@SergiusPaulus-1]

I had the Humminbird 997c si, and I kept it inside when not in use. The inside melted into a goo, disabling some buttons. Past warranty, so they told me to take a hike. When i could afford it, I put 2 new Garmin 12" & 9" networked ffs units on instead. Never looking back at Humminbird again. I was loyal since my first flasher unit in the 80's.

[@wendellfishing]

What in the world…. That’s wild 🤪

[@jpt2525]

Humminbird screwed everyone that just bought unit in the past few months Garmin 100% all the way

[@wendellfishing]

:)

[@Steve16346]

Does this come with a regular transducer if to opt to get the live at a later time?

[@wendellfishing]

Yes, I know on amazon you see the option with and without a transducer

[@jjohnston6645]

Hummingbird Helix owners are pissed, not supported

[@wendellfishing]

Yeah... That likely won't be received well :)

[@armandsvebrualis]

Garmin lvs34 is almost 3 years old 😂

[@armandsvebrualis]

I mean ,the lvs34 is still better in 2024 than ml 2 😁

[@larsvegas1505]

@@armandsvebrualis Its always going to be btter the ml2 is hoping to be better then a lvs32.. dont see it.

[@Gappy4420]

I’ll take HB over Garmin all day. Had nothing but nightmares with Garmin products

[@jasonandrews4750]

There’s a reason the Hummingbird sponsored teams are choosing to still run Garmin in 2025.

[@wendellfishing]

who is doing that?

[@caseysaunders2137]

$4K. Wtf. that's nuts

[@wendellfishing]

Yeah…. Outside my budget… that’s for sure

[@craiglivingston5441]

No it’s better but it’s still just not as good as garmin lvs 34 and garmin shows fish on the bottom better than anything out there period still hands down the best

[@kybluebullet]

Being one of their consumers with a boat load of fairly new obsolete equipment. I can say humminbird has definitely pushed me straight to Garmin.

[@wendellfishing]

Yeah, that’s rough... I feel ya

[@JohnEastonFishTecCharts]

What are you smoking? LOL

[@andrewlandon3582]

They don’t. While better, it’s not compatible with their lower level model units. Add to that, the image just surpassed the PS-22 level from Garmin. hummingbird still years behind.

[@Gappy4420]

LVS32 isn’t any better that an ML1. Image is equal, HB has far better mobility and Target lock. Nice try 🤡

[@andrewlandon3582]

@ disagree, target separation is still better with LVS32 than ML1. Garmin has done two models since and the best ML2 could do is the “2 versions of Garmin ago” Having experiences with multiple different units doesn’t make me a clown, it makes me one with a better informed opinion. Maybe your 4 subscribers to your channel would agree. 😉

[@ryanlundy2519]

Nah, Garmin is a major government contractor. They get all of the best tech way before all the others. Garmin will be just fine.

[@wendellfishing]

Now that's a point I haven't heard argued before... solid

[@mikelafontaine8464]

Stop with the anti livescope clickbait titles/thumbnails lately. I've enjoyed a lot of your content but this is just annoying.

[@wendellfishing]

Hey brother, thanks for the feedback, I am not Anti Livescope and I 100% delivered on the title and thumbnail.

[@Jackson101Az]

Word

[@cchrisfish773]

Humminbird will be going out of business soon. Lost 44 million last year.

[@wendellfishing]

Humminbird is one of the top three fish finder brands globally, with a market share in the range of 20-25%. Being owners by Johnson Outdoors, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

[@joeljaros4509]

@@wendellfishing Humminbird is most certainly not one of the top 3 globally. Maybe in the US, but how many saltwater vessels do you see with the bird? Also the CEO of Johnson Outdoors has stated they are "going to reduce waste in our company" IE layoffs are coming. Market projections show Humminbird is on pace to show a huge loss again this year. For the third year in a row. Not sure where you get your confidence Humminbird will be around for awhile, particularly with this subpar release. No matter what anyone says, features wise or innovation wise the Explore is par at best to garmin or Lowrance.

[@Zee20-b2m]

@@wendellfishing When you f#$k 40 to 50% of your business that not good might take some time but see ya Humminbird. Heading to Garmin

[@carlknight7469]

I hope china starts selling a knock off that I can afford

[@wendellfishing]

Right... still outside of my budget

[@rebbull11b]

No they don’t.

[@JonR35]

I heard it wasnt any better than the mega live from a guy who tested it over on another channel in the comments. Im curious to see it, though. I just picked up the 93svuhd2 and ultra 2. I have a demo on them side by side if anyone is curious on my videos and a short.

[@wendellfishing]

You have some solid units!

[@jason6325]

I'll stick with Garmin. I can use my old 93sv and hook up any of the live transducer. Plus Garmin customer service is really good. These hb units are way over priced and sounds like they screwed they're customers over by not making it compatible with the most common units. What a scam. I'll defintly stick to Garmin. They are the leader in ffs

[@KyleCase117]

So the company that has dominated Livescope since its inception should be afraid of a company that just released a product almost on par with theirs but alienated 40% of their customer base to do so? I’ll take my $2500 scope and graph setup over the new $4000 all day

[@wendellfishing]

True.. the Helix move is not going to sit well but is there any other way to make up ground. If the tech is not compatible and needs to be in order to compete, they are going to have to take hits to the chin to make up ground. One thing is for sure, it's fun to watch. Also, where did you get that 40% number from as I am curious where you heard it. If it's true, then that is a very interesting stat.

[@KyleCase117]

@ I forgot who mentioned that stat. But it was comprised of the number of helix and solix owners that were affected. Given that those are the more popular graphs used by most Humminbird users due to the cost. I would say 40% is a conservative number. The only way they can make up ground is to offer something more affordable. Lowrance did that with the eagle eye. Humminbird decided to go the other direction. I love Humminbird for their mapping and 360. But removing affordable options won’t move the needle in the right direction IMO

[@wendellfishing]

@@KyleCase117 I am surprised that they didn't choose the gap measure as well. Eagle Eye 9's are a great gateway FFS unit for what most people are able to afford to your point.

[@joeljaros4509]

@@wendellfishing As a Electrical Engineer I can tell you the removal of the ability to network with the Helix was a management decision, NOT a hardware requirement. In my opinion this was a cash grab to mirror what Garmin has, but they forgot the Echo series was a new release not a change of their existing product line. Please tell me one single time Humminbird released a new product and it worked well? Did 360 work well? No had to buy Mega 360, Did Live 1.0 work? Nope had to wait 3 years to be kind of decent. What about innovation? Yes, Humminbird was the first at 1.2hz sonar in 2016 but what have they done since besides copy their competition? I would be careful what product you push without reviewing it yourself. KZbinrs who push bad product tend to fade away, but do not take my word for it. Keep posting rumors and watch your subscribers tell you what they think of that. I generally liked your channel until this video. Clickbait title.

[@dennisgriffin6742]

The problem isn’t with HB catching up, it’s how they did it. They could have easily announced the discontinuation of Helix and Solix units and cut prices accordingly. Thousands upon thousands of people would have bought them as a stand alone mapping unit or side scan. But to learn that they are obsolete the moment you walk out of the store and to get current, you gotta walk back in and buy another 4k worth of crap? It’s as if they think the average person has expendable wealth.