Mega Live opinion

[Tone357]

Ok, I've had mine for about 3 weeks, been out with it several times. To be honest, I'm not impressed with it. I keep hearing that it will get better with future software updates but I wonder if it will ever rival Live Scope. I was really hoping that this thing would do the trick but it has me considering whether to forgo one of my bow units, both are Humminbird and replace it with Garmin. I like having D/SI and 2D at the bow, but I do not want to add a third unit under any circumstances. Maybe Humminbird will come out with an update that changes my mind, I surely hope so. Just thinking out loud here, any opinions welcome.

[Hydro870]

Did you have a Garmin previously? If not, you really don’t have a real world basis for comparison. Watching videos to make comparisons doesn’t mean much. Perhaps you are just having trouble interpreting live sonar in general and with time you will get better at it? Guys that have actually owned and used both are reporting more similarities than differences, with some liking Mega Live better and some liking Garmin a little better. There are guys who can break down every detail of a lake on side imaging and other guys who will look at the same images and have no idea what they are looking at. I have Mega 360 and I am still advancing in my understanding of what I am looking at, especially when it comes to marking fish. My first several times out I had no idea when I was picking up fish, now I am much improved, but I know I still have more to learn.

[Tone357]

Did you have a Garmin previously? If not, you really don’t have a real world basis for comparison. Watching videos to make comparisons doesn’t mean much. Perhaps you are just having trouble interpreting live sonar in general and with time you will get better at it? Guys that have actually owned and used both are reporting more similarities than differences, with some liking Mega Live better and some liking Garmin a little better. There are guys who can break down every detail of a lake on side imaging and other guys who will look at the same images and have no idea what they are looking at.

I don't know how you can say the videos don't mean much! They are taken by the devices that we are talking about. As much as I hate to admit it, LiveScope is better. And I'll believe that until I see convincing evidence to the contrary. Seeing is believing.

[pfisher]

Ok, I've had mine for about 3 weeks, been out with it several times. To be honest, I'm not impressed with it. I keep hearing that it will get better with future software updates but I wonder if it will ever rival Live Scope. I was really hoping that this thing would do the trick but it has me considering whether to forgo one of my bow units, both are Humminbird and replace it with Garmin. I like having D/SI and 2D at the bow, but I do not want to add a third unit under any circumstances. Maybe Humminbird will come out with an update that changes my mind, I surely hope so. Just thinking out loud here, any opinions welcome.

I'm lucky enough to have spent considerable time with all three live sonar units. The ML and LS were side by side with a very experience live sonar user operating them and it's not even close in the real world. If you are just looking for fish all three will do that. If you want to swim a crappie jig down into an opening in a brush pile only LS will allow that. The fine detail, or lack of fine detail, on the ML is really disappointing to say the least. For my style of fishing it's a no brainer. I am a loyal HB si user but LS will still be on my new boat.

FWIW to you I use one Solix for mega 360 and mapping and an 8612 for LS on the bow. I removed one of my HB units to get rid of the clutter. Unless I am fishing where the 360 is needed I only use my Solix for mapping.

[CatCanDoo]

For me, it is not all about the videos but…. too many showing LS vs ML point to LS being far superior. Not really a surprise as LS has been working on refining their product for several years. HB is too good of a company to not make changes. I’m hanging with HB for another year assuming they will be making updates along the way. I am obsessed with M360 which brought me over to HB.

[Tone357]

For me, it is not all about the videos but…. too many showing LS vs ML point to LS being far superior. Not really a surprise as LS has been working on refining their product for several years. HB is too good of a company to not make changes. I’m hanging with HB for another year assuming they will be making updates along the way. I am obsessed with M360 which brought me over to HB.

I love my Birds too, but they are behind the 8 ball on this. They are going to have to make major improvements or risk losing market share.

[woppercatcher]

After about 10 trips with mine I really like it. Yes the structure can be a little blobby but I know it's there and can see my lure hitting it and fish if they are moving which is all I need at this point. I was never going down the Garmin road since I've already invested way to much money in HB and I didn't want 3 units at my bow and have to add more power. It's already helped me catch a few more fish and that's all I can ask for.

[bmwnc2]

I think what everyone is missing is....

people can say "I really like my ML"
That is great, ...... But will i "really like my ML" or will i be much happier with LS.
If I am spending the money, I want to be wowed, as much as possible.

I 'really liked' my HDS carbon Sidescan compared to the garmin gt54 transducer. It was like, holy efff.....
well i "really love love love" my MSI on my helix units compared to any side imaging I've seen.

You can say you are really happy with ML, and again, that is awesome. But that isnt the point many of these guys are trying to make.
You want the best images..... you are dropping Garmin and LS on your boat right now, thats just fact.

You want images that are plenty good enough and stay HBIRD specific? You are going ML, and that is fine.

To the guy who said the videos dont matter?
Umm..... disagree. As a marketing major.... if your video cant cut it, if your live demonstration doesnt cut it, and if the BEST videos your users can produce dont compare to the competition (in terms of image quality in some peoples oppinions) well that other team won the battle. Thats all it is.


That is not saying things wont change..... thats not saying Garmin tech guys dont leave and go get paid more by Hbird, that isnt saying this employee and developer shortage doesnt hault Hbird for the next few years.
I dont know the history of Humminbird, but I would think Garmin has been in the tech field / gps / radar / plane tech and has a much bigger wallet.

To steal some of Garmin guys and send them to the fishing unit.... I bet Garmin gets stronger, and Hbird becomes the laggard.
Thats just how i see it, and if i had to bet on it.

But again- I think lots of guys lose the point people are trying to make.
I am not buying the $1500 ML, and I would rather pay $2,000 for a LS setup with the headache of more units on my boat..... but thats just me!
I think I would find more value in Mega 360, so from everything i've seen so far comparing the top 3 Live images, I will wait on that tech.
Note: I have never even seen Mega 360 in person, but if its side imaging in a circle around my boat and the image quality is the same as what my side imaging gets me now? Sign me up.

[Royt]

I have both LS and ML.
I've had LS for over 3 years and used it allot.
I've had ML now for a few weeks.
Within 40' forward I actually prefer ML over LS.
Over 50' forward LS is better.
I have no problem seeing and swimming my jig up and over and drop down in tree limbs within 40' once I got my ML dialed in. Turn your contrast settings way down to around 4 for better detail and bait tracking. This works for me. Most times I can track my 1/16 jig out to 40' fishing 5 to 20 feet deep.
No excess clutter with ML, no ghost tree with ML, and very small dead spot with ML compared to LS.

[Tone357]

I have both LS and ML.
I've had LS for over 3 years and used it allot.
I've had ML now for a few weeks.
Within 40' forward I actually prefer ML over LS.
Over 50' forward LS is better.
I have no problem seeing and swimming my jig up and over and drop down in tree limbs within 40' once I got my ML dialed in. Turn your contrast settings way down to around 4 for better detail and bait tracking. This works for me. Most times I can track my 1/16 jig out to 40' fishing 5 to 20 feet deep.
No excess clutter with ML, no ghost tree with ML, and very small dead spot with ML compared to LS.

I'll give that a shot! Thanks!

[Hydro870]

I have both LS and ML.
I've had LS for over 3 years and used it allot.
I've had ML now for a few weeks.
Within 40' forward I actually prefer ML over LS.
Over 50' forward LS is better.
I have no problem seeing and swimming my jig up and over and drop down in tree limbs within 40' once I got my ML dialed in. Turn your contrast settings way down to around 4 for better detail and bait tracking. This works for me. Most times I can track my 1/16 jig out to 40' fishing 5 to 20 feet deep.
No excess clutter with ML, no ghost tree with ML, and very small dead spot with ML compared to LS.

Exactly my point. All these opinions and freelance YouTubers making videos and drawing conclusions doesn’t mean much to me. I have seen way too many videos on side imaging and other features where it’s so obvious that their transducer placement is garbage and their settings are garbage, and then they put up a video and spout opinions that influence prospective buyers. Even from some of the best known pro anglers. I know people who are absolute electronics gurus who have used LS and now ML, and they really like ML. I’ll take their verbal recommendations over a YouTubers video who doesn’t have the same knowledge. Seeing is NOT believing, there is an old adage in computing called GIGO, Garbage In Garbage Out.

[Tone357]

Exactly my point. All these opinions and freelance YouTubers making videos and drawing conclusions doesn’t mean much to me. I have seen way too many videos on side imaging and other features where it’s so obvious that their transducer placement is garbage and their settings are garbage, and then they put up a video and spout opinions that influence prospective buyers. Even from some of the best known pro anglers. I know people who are absolute electronics gurus who have used LS and now ML, and they really like ML. I’ll take their verbal recommendations over a YouTubers video who doesn’t have the same knowledge. Seeing is NOT believing, there is an old adage in computing called GIGO, Garbage In Garbage Out.

Obviously you speak for yourself when you say seeing is not believing. Personally, I would have to suspend reality to say that Mega Live is just as good or better than LiveScope, after all. How can a self contained transducer produce more detail at greater or equal distance than a unit that requires a separately powered amplifier or whatever the LS black bow contains. You sound as if you have Johnson Outdoors stock, or you just need to be right.

[bobcoy]

Tone, Having a black box means very little. In the beginning all sonar needed a black box for anything but 2D sonar. Electronics has advanced in the past 40 years or so. Very few black boxes are used anymore.
It is all in the results. Not the number of box's something has. HB will improve ML or it will not be a success. Time will tell. It is too early in the game to make a reasonable decision. Like all new electronics there will be an adjustment period. Things are almost never exactly right out of the chute. JMO Bob

[Tone357]

Tone, Having a black box means very little. In the beginning all sonar needed a black box for anything but 2D sonar. Electronics has advanced in the past 40 years or so. Very few black boxes are used anymore.
It is all in the results. Not the number of box's something has. HB will improve ML or it will not be a success. Time will tell. It is too early in the game to make a reasonable decision. Like all new electronics there will be an adjustment period. Things are almost never exactly right out of the chute. JMO Bob

I'm not obsessed over whether there is a black box or not. But Lowrance (if I'm not mistaken) has one also. I hope that I'm wrong, but I suspect that having that extra power is central to having a device that is comparative to what's out there right now.

[Sirius Rich]

I wonder why Lowrance is still not using the LSS 1 or LSS 2? Could it be that processor technology has improved and size reduced? Is it possible Humminbird has better technology than the others?

[bmwnc2]

I wonder why Lowrance is still not using the LSS 1 or LSS 2? Could it be that processor technology has improved and size reduced? Is it possible Humminbird has better technology than the others?

possible, but show me one screen shot I prefer over the garmin ;)
I mean come on guys, you have them, can you pause the display by moving the cursor on helix or not?
that’s the only reason there’s no stills that get me excited?

I haven’t seen anything remotely good on perspective

[SLYDoggie]

possible, but show me one screen shot I prefer over the garmin ;)
I mean come on guys, you have them, can you pause the display by moving the cursor on helix or not?
that’s the only reason there’s no stills that get me excited?

I haven’t seen anything remotely good on perspective

I don't know about the Helix, but I can pause my Mega Live anytime I want on my Apex and Solix, simply by touching the screen... Then just hit the X button to resume.

I fail to understand what that has to do with anything though. I can also do a screen capture anytime I want and don't have to pause the screen to do that.

[pab1981]

I don't know about the Helix, but I can pause my Mega Live anytime I want on my Apex and Solix, simply by touching the screen... Then just hit the X button to resume.

I fail to understand what that has to do with anything though. I can also do a screen capture anytime I want and don't have to pause the screen to do that.

He is saying nobody is posting good screen captures from MegaLive. I tend to agree with him, I haven’t seen any screen shots or videos that make me want to buy it. I am sure it would be fine for a lot of people but I don’t see the detail necessary for my applications.

[Capw]

If you want to buy a new head unit to see fins, then go right ahead.

[bmwnc2]

If you want to buy a new head unit to see fins, then go right ahead.

you’re talking to the guy that’s changed entire brands 3 times in 4 years.
mostly due to boat changes. I have no problem buying a head unit ;)

I know we are just keyboard warriors with opinions,
but that’s kinda the point of forums I suppose,

I don’t need to see fins, but the tree in that video on ml looked like trash and looked like more fish than what LS showed.

I feel like you’d have to watch the ml screen constantly to interpret what might be down there.
I feel like LS you could glance down and get a better image. And that too would be important to me.

In the meantime it looks like myself and many others are waiting for more compelling photos abd videos (that don’t currently exist) to get us excited to buy. That’s all :)

hopefully Hbird monitors this forum and maybe another guy with ml will see this (cough cough Wayne cough cough)
and he will say “challenge accepted, I’ll show this guy some amazing photos and examples “

his mega side imaging would be enough to get anyone to buy.
ml = we can wait