Humminbird 587ci HD DI Review
Humminbird 587ci HD DI has an average rating of
3
out of 5
based on 4 user reviews.
The Humminbird 587ci HD DI is a combination GPS and fishfinder that includes Humminbird’s trademark Switchfire and Dual Beam Plus sonar technologies as well as their Down-Imaging system all displayed on a high definition 256 color 4.5 inch 640×480 resolution screen that has brightness levels that can be adjusted to read clearly even under direct sunlight. Switchfire brings to the user two modes of sonar viewing. The first is a maximum mode that brings incredible detail of the world below to the screen. Not only the expected cover and bottom, but also water current as well as thermoclines. The second is a clear mode which is for those times when the water is shallow, murky, or filed with sediment. These are times when getting every detail simply fills the screen. Clear mode filters out the unnecessary noise and gives you a clear picture under these challenging situations. Switchfire technology gives the user a detail option under conditions that make other sonars useless. Dual Beam technology sends a 20 degree 200 kHz and a 60 degree 83kHz sonar beam under the boat. The wider beam covers an area that is as wide as the depth of the first beam. These beams can be viewed side by side or in a combination mode thus giving the user a picture of the bottom as well as the surrounding area allowing the sonar to pick up all fish in the immediate area.
Down imaging is added to the feature packed Humminbird 587ci HD DI. Down Imaging is a sonar system that focuses thin slices of sonar waves below the boat in order to produce a detailed image of not only the surface but all cover, structures, and details of the area below.
In addition to these features the Humminbird 587ci HD DI also has an internal GPS system that can track 3,000 waypoints, 50 routes, and 50 channels and includes chart plotting, built in Uni-Map cartography, and an SD card slot for saving additional maps like Navionics and LakeMaster as well as additional waypoints and routes.
The unit is mounted on the included tilt and swivel quick disconnect mount has 2400 W peak to peak power and drop in replacement capability. This is an all in one unit that is affordable, versatile, and a solid budget minded choice.
User Reviews
Posted by TommyJ
4
I was able to buy this model before they discontinued it. I was looking for a smaller unit with Down Imaging, 597 was too big for my boat and my budget. It took only about 1 hour to install but then I spent several hours figuring out all the menus. I have everything setup now and it works great. The background maps don’t have lakes that I frequent so I had purchase a Navionics card but that’s the only downside to this awesome fishfinder.
Posted by Pat A
5
This fishfinder is smaller than HB 597, only 4inch screen. But that means you can fit it easier on your dashboard. I bought it for ocean fishing even though Humminbird specializes in freshwater electronics. The sonar works just fine, it stays on the bottom. I used a Novionics card for the GPS and that allows me to navigate through a shallow bay. Overall, I’m pleased with the purchase.
Posted by Steven D.
0
I bought a navionics card for my humminbird 587 ci HD DI, but it will start laying out the contour lines on my unit and then it just shuts off and says loading on the screen. I cannot get it to load up the contour lines, roadbeds, etc. for the lake. Could it be that I am not in a part of the lake with good reception? I have been on Toledo Bend on the south end twice and it will not load up like it is supposed to do. It shows the bouy markers, which it loaded from my house over 60 miles away, but will not load up the good stuff. Any help would be great for me to get this information loaded on my unit.
Posted by G DOYLE
2
The product itself? well… the product I think is ok… but customer service? terrible
I only used this unit for 35hrs before it crashed after uploading an update… yup… black screen with green letters.. “Matrix System version 4.300″… couldn’t turn it off without disconnecting power and it just rebooted to the same black screen
Humminbird said I would have to send it to their repair depot…. I expressed my displeasure with the whole situation of uploading THEIR RECOMMENDED UPDATE and it crashed my unit… they said they would contact the repair depot
So…$55 to ship…. $35 minimum service charge (obviously it was a very easy fix cause it took less than 2 hrs from time of delivery to time or email saying it was fixed) AND THEN THEY CHARGED ME TO SHIP IT BACK TO ME?
So naturally I contacted Humminbird and was told there was nothing they could do about it as it was already paid for and “I HAD AGREED TO PAY FOR IT” so what happened to them contacting the repair depot? Obviously that didn’t happen
And to add insult to injury?
After being firm… but polite to Humminbird customer care…. AND apologizing for any negative publicity they may receive due to this issue… their response?
WGARRETT
“It was a pleasure working with you today. Have a great day!”
After 30+ years of owning humminbird do yourself a favour… buy a Lowrance or a Raymarine….
Posted by Mark A
1
I have had this unit for several years. Bought it for a 19′ center console fishing boat. We have used/tried to use it dozens and dozens of times with poor results. For background, I’ve been using fish finders since 1976 (thermal paper roll units) and GPS since it first became available, and have had many units over the years.
Since new this unit has been troublesome and undependable, and has concsistently failed to live up to Hummninbirds claims. First, the mount/base is clunky at best. Inserting the unit into the base works ok, but removing it from the base is very difficult. The push to release latch simply does not work. Contacted Humminbird and was told that I must not be operating the release correctly. It’s supposed to be a simple push-to-release unit, but simple or dependable it is not. You have to push and pull on the unit case and vigorously work the release button to get the unit out. Next, the unit base is plastic, but it is not U/V proof or even U/V resistant. After limited exposure to the sun the base plastic became brittle, and shattered into pieces when stressed. It took some of the pieces and easily snapped them between my fingers, totally weakened by exposure. Contacted Humminbird and was told that it is not designed for prolonged exposure to sunlight. The point of a removable unit and permanently installed base is to allow the sensitive unit to be stored out of the elements then quickly/easily installed when needed. Replacement base $40 plus $19 shipping.
Next, the GPS functions poorly and intermittently, and often will refuse to recognize the nav-chip installed. Humminbird insisted it was a faulty navionics chip. Replaced the chip with a new one, same result. Both chips work fine in my Garmin Montana. Humminbird answer- send it in for recalibration/repair, all at my cost. $55 each way to ship it to them, and no up-front estimate of the repair cost. Minimum fee to bench test $35. $145 minimum plus $59 for a new base. Over $200 to see if they can make it work?
Lastly, the fish finder function simply does not work well at all. Will not identify or differentiate fish from weeds or structure, will not work at all above idle speed, and the other functions do not work any better. Humminbird suggested that I abandon the transom mounted transducer and go to a through-hull installed unit, indicating the transom mounted units often have these problems. New transducer cost? $129.
This was a $500 unit new, and Humminbird answer to issues with the unit is to spend well north of $300 to get it working.
No more Humminbird products for me. Their customer service is simply atrocious.
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