The Humminbird 798ci HD SI offers the high tech features that you need to make the most of your fishing excursion. With 4000w of PTP power output and a user-friendly interface and menu, this fishfinder is ideal for the angler of any skill level. Don’t miss a minute of the action with instant image updates. Take a screen snapshot and send it directly to the memory card so that you can save data as you encounter it. You can even save your favorite views with three programmable buttons available for the job.
Down Imaging on the 798ci HD SI takes you directly beneath the boat to see fish, structures and the bottom in crystal clear detail. View below the surface up to 100ft deep. With Side Imaging, your view expands to 240ft to the left and right. Sonar snapshots are taken of the area below and to the side. They are then combined to offer you a detailed 180 degree picture of the bottom. You can easily mark the GPS location of structure and gain an accurate representation of where to drop your line.
Take advantage of the DualBeam Plus Sonar to expand your coverage using both the narrow and wide beams. Combine them together and gain highly accurate returns in depths of 1500ft. Alter the returns based on fishing and water conditions using Switchfire technology. Choose to display detailed returns or only the fish and structures. With a 640 X 640 resolution display on a 5” color screen, your returns will come to life before your eyes.
The screen on the 798ci is one of the best in the 5″ display market. The key to the display is the use of 640 x 640 pixels. By using that many pixels the fishfinder has exceptional brightness, clarity and color. One of the advantages of such a clear resolution is that when zoomed in maps and sonar images are very sharp. Another nice screen feature is the ability to view sonar images and maps at the same time. One of my favorite uses of that ability is to use lake maps and the GPS to get into my fishing spot and using the side view sonar at the same time to find my favorite structure on the bottom. You can get a great deal on Humminbird 798ci HD SI here.
| Lowrance HDS-7 | Humminbird 798ci SI | Humminbird 858c DI | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Screen Size | 6.4 in / 163 mm | 5 in / 127 mm | 7 in |
| Screen Resolution | 480 x 640 pixels | 640 x 640 pixels | 480 x 800 pixels |
| Display Type | 16-bit color Full VGA SolarMAX PLUS TFT | 256 Color TFT | 16:9 Color TFT |
| Imaging | 2D | 2D and Side Imaging | 2D and Down Imaging |
| Transducer Type | Transom Mount/Trolling Motor | Transom Mount/Trolling Motor | Transom Mount/Trolling Motor |
| Transmit Power | Max 250W Broadband, analog equivalent 30000W and 32W Broadband, analog equivalent 3750W | 500W RMS 4000W Peak-to-Peak | 500W RMS 4000W Peak-To-Peak |
| Sonar Frequency | 50/83/200 kHz | 83/200 kHz 2D 455 kHz Side Imaging | 200/455 kHz 2D 455/800 kHz Down Imaging |
| Maximum Depth | 5000 ft / 1524 m | 1500 ft 2D 100 ft Side Imaging | 600 ft 2D 250 ft Down Imaging |
| GPS Antenna Type | Internal, high-sensitivity GPS+WAAS | Internal | Internal |
| Waypoint Storage | 5000 | 2500 | 3000 |
| Routes | 200 | 50 | 50 |
| Plot Trails | Up to 10 trails - up to 12,000 points/trail | 50 w/20,000 points each | 50 w/20,000 points each |
| Background Map | Expanded U.S. BaseMap or Insight USA | Humminbird ContourXD | Humminbird Contour XD |
| MSRP | $1119.99 | $1109.99 | $1199.99 |
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| Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
One of the nicest features of the 798ci is that there are two sd card slots. When using a loaded map pack there are two choices Navionics and LakeMaster. Since there are two different card slots both of the map packs can be connected at the same time. When starting up you need to select which you would like to use, having that option is nice in situations when one map pack has better information on a particular area. Another feature is the i-pilot, which turns a trolling motor into an autopilot that is precise enough to follow contour lines on lake maps. Humminbirds Cannon link lets the fishfinder connect to the compatible Cannon downriggers. The Cannon link allows for auto adjustments that will adjust the depth based on how deep the water is and can follow bottom contours. Another feature is the internal GPS antenna, which saves buying and installing an exterior antenna. One of the drawbacks is that the 798ci is not NMEA 2000 compatible, however there is no shortage of connectivity without NMEA.
The sonar on the 798ci has many options. There are three different modes that are used the first is side view sonar, second is the sounder and third is the 200 and 83 kHz DualBeam Plus. The first is one of the main attractions to the 798ci, the ability to see ultra clear side view images. The side view uses 455kHz, which works to 100 ft deep, and gives a 180 degree coverage under the boat. By using such a high frequency the images that are displayed are extremely detailed. Humminbird uses 200 and 83 kHz, which are good settings for both shallow and deep water. The 83kHz beam is used for sonar images up to 1,500 feet deep. When in shallower depths the 200 kHz allows for a crisper and more detailed image. The addition of Switchfire allows for precise calibration, along with a user friendly interface while adjusting sonar returns for many factors such as rough water and water temperature. One of the best features which was introduced in 2012 is the 360 degree imaging. By using a transducer which is not mounted on the transom, but instead dropped below via a pole images are rendered underneath the entire boat. The clarity is impressive, along with the viewing since now the sonar picture includes area forward of the transom.