Are there ANY happy Lowrance HDS users out there?

[Pond123]

Decisions decisions.

I pick up my new boat on Friday and need to decide on a combo GPS/Fishfinder. I will mainly be fishing Port Phillip bay, which is fairly shallow (30 meters or less).

Apparently (and I am a complete novice, so this is only what I have heard), the bay is pretty much flat with little structure. However, if you can find structure, it often holds fish.

Soooooooo, the idea of the Lowrance structure/side scanning is quite appealing. However, I am put off by the horror stories I keep hearing about faulty units.

Now I work in the tech industry and when you hear these stories, you sometimes have to take them with a pinch of salt. Reasons being:

• If a unit outsells its competition, it will, almost certainly, have a higher number of faulty units. In percentage terms it may not be worse than any of its competitors, but in terms of overall numbers it will be.
• It has been known for manufacturers who have been ‘outclassed’ by their competitors to start rumors about the quality of the units that are outclassing them. I am wondering if this is the case with the likes of Furuno etc.
• New products tend to have more issues than established technology. The HDS were new, but are now a few years in to their lifecycle so they should have most of the early glitches ironed out

I am torn. The ‘safe’ bet seems to be a Furuno unit, but if I go that route I will not have structure scan.

So, my question. Are there any Lowrance HDS users out there who have NOT had problems with their units?

Also, if anyone could comment on how useful the structure/side imaging is in PPB I would be most grateful.

[leelee]

Mate I can give you an honest review on my HDS and structure scan but can’t help with PPB sorry.

I have been using the HDS units since they came out and basically the same with the structure scan. My first unit was a HDS7 and unfortunately it broke not long after receiving the unit, but on a positive side it was replaced with a brand new HDS unit within 5 days (Thanks Pete). I sold the HDS7 later on and updated to a HDS8. Best move I ever made.

I love my structure scan and downscan and love using it is it gives me a better clearer picture in the depths I fish, which is really nothing over about 40m.

There are horror stories but honestly people only ever complain when things DON’T work, you don’t often see a post stating that someone is HAPPY when the unit works the way it was intended to. Your comment regarding units sold versus faulty units is also a comparison that people fail to understand.

Go with what your heart tells you and if you are dead set wanting structure scan and will use it, then the choice is pretty obvious.

I would suggest you get the biggest screen possible and do not look at anything under the HDS8 as the resolution and quick keys are well worth the extra $’s.

Cheers

Lee

[LittleSkipper]

Pond123

From what I've also been reading through these forums Lowrance's after sales service for repairs etc has become well; lets say?....not quite up to scratch! I'm going Humminbird shortly for that reason and got positive feedback from the Humminbird boys at the recent Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. If you go Humminbird the unit's have Side & Down Imaging incorporated into the unit together with the transducer.If you go Lowrance HDS series you have to purchase the Structure Scan unit separately to the HDS unit.Check out www.chsmith.com.au. These guys are in Victoria. Great prices and free postage.Good Luck!

Regards

Wayne.

[74fpv01]

Hi, another amateur user here.. I have nothing but good things to say for my setup. Hds7 with structure scan in a 4.5mtr savage safari alloy runabout. Installed myself ( no prior exp) and worked like a charm. The fine tuning and understanding all of the info is the challenge but I assume this is with all of the latest units. Would love to one day move up to the hds10 , but I guess I will need a bigger boat. Cheers jason

[Pond123]

Thanks Guys.

Wayne, just out of interest, are you using the Humminbird in the Salt? Most references I see for them talk about using them in freshwater as opposed to the sea.

Lee. Good to know it worked out well for you. If you google 'problems with ipods' you get loads of pages back but mine have always worked ok.

Jason - thanks again. Exactly the kind of info I was after.

So, so far, two owners, both happy.

[LittleSkipper]

From what i can gather Humminbird units are good to use in both salt & fresh water environments, accordingly you change the frequency to suit the environment, I'm no hum ding expert,just what I've been reading from other Ausfish members and doing my own research on different models and making up my own mind at the end of the day.At one stage I was going to buy a U.S model (sure you save heaps compared to purchasing here),but could not justify paying for something that was designed for the U.S market as these units have U.S base maps already installed in them, U.S measuring system (Imperial) and some settings like time zones can't be changed once it reaches our shores. Do a search on Humminbird here under Electronics and you will understand a little more.

Regards

Wayne

[Stressless]

Hi Pond123

I have a HDS7 in the tinnie, wish I'd bought the 10 (eyes aren't what they used to be), and am amazed at the capabilities of what detail the unit shows around the Barra haunts I fish.

Never looked at the Hummingbird, so can't comment, but they too must be great units.

I've had a Lowrance Global Map 6500 in the reef boat and it hasn't let me down around the reef in Cairns.

Would I buy Lowrance again? Yes I will be. This is just my opinion, I've never had a problem with any of their products, going back to my second sounder, a x55A that I still have on the relics shelf in the shed.

I've also found Navico good to deal with, and will never knock a good product.

Now, who has bought a new Ford or Holden totally crap itself within 6 months, I have, and it wasn't operator fault!!!

Regards
Steve

[La Vida]

mate I have a hds8 and structure scan on my boat and have heaps of friends with them.. we all absolutely love em and I have to say the backup from lowrance has been pretty good in the last year.. I have had many lowrance and humminbird units over the years and the lowrance hds absolutely kills the latest 998si unit as I have a very envious friend with one.. and he is kicking himself.. lowrance have had some major staff changes in the last year and have really got their act together now.. furuno while it works is great but if it has a problem well lest just say you may as well get a politician to tell the truth.. furno warranty are an absolute bunch of bottom feeders!!!! will never go back there.. do yourself get an hds they work well and have so many add on and system upgrades.. new 4.0 software is the the bomb..

I posted a thread in electronics a couple of days ago witha n aftermarket software to work with structre scan which enables you to build your own bottom maps and looks unreal

[trueblue]

I've just got my HDS7 stand alone GPS and LMF 200 gauge networked along with a fuel flow meter, and i'm very happy with the functionality so far.

[mac64pc]

This is quite topical for me as I am in the same situation at the moment. I have looked at the humminbirds si and although the look impressive just dont have the same functionality and the screen sizes are smaller. Positives for me were the hot keys and the extra sd slot

I have decided on the hds 8 its going to cost a bit more by the time I add structure scan but I think its worth the larger screen and getting the hot keys on the 8. might be able to con the wife into getting the structure scan for fathers day
I figure if the x65 and globalmap100 are still going lowrance cant be all bad.

Boat show is on june 9 in melb

[La Vida]

###### marine electrics have a 25% off lowrance until end of june..was posted at the gcoast sportfish club, a lot of ausfishers seem to be happy with them

[kinrosed]

Bad reports come from the vocal minority who have an axe to grind.
I started with a five, liked it so much replaced it with a 7 and 8 with S/Scan.

[Captain Seaweed]

I run HDS10's and I find them good. I did experience a few problems recently where the units were really slow to react to a button push and speed of sounder over ground was way to slow. I then realised I had a loose plug. A new update also came out which I installed and it has sped things up. Although I would still like them to react faster still to button pushing. I find when I have radar, sounder, gps all running together they process a little slow.
As far as after sales warranty or issues, I have Grand Marlin install my gear and he says if there is a problem he will quickly replace my gear and spend the time talking to Navico himself as he has a good relationship with the right people and speaks to the horses head.

Cheers
Marty

[Captain Seaweed]

I am also happy to have you on my boat for a run to see how they work if you want.

[novice23]

very happy with my HDS10 & structure scan- has put me onto alot more fish than the old hummingbird matrix 12