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Thread: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

  1. #1

    LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    I want to put in a new sounder gps combo.
    I have been reading as much as i can and the above seem to be very good.

    What would be the best way and which would be best.

    I mainly fish in waters from 1 met to 20 met.

    Whats with the structure scan and down image ? This appears to be an extra.

    All very confusing. If someone can explain in english, it would be much appreciated.

    Where is best to buy?

    Cheers
    Greg

  2. #2

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Apparently forthright price of a hds7 you can get 2 hds5 more screen space and a bit fancier.
    Or really annoy the mrs and get 2 hds10.

  3. #3

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    So are u saying use one as a sounder and one as a gps?

    From what i can read, u buy the side imaging and structure scan as a separate item. Is this a sepate box or something that plugsinto sounder. I have tried to find this but cant seeit.

  4. #4

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    I am really suring the net on sounders. I have just found articles comparing the huminbird 798 to the lowrance hd.
    Thers seems to be fors for both the lowrance struct scan and the huminbird down and side imaging.

    The more one looks the more confusing it gets. If oneis going to spend nearly couple grand, then u want the best unit.

    I cant be the only confused person out there.

    Where r the experts who can explain these units and point me in right direction


    Cheers
    Greg

  5. #5

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Greg

    I was originally going to get a HDS7, but on advice from Grandmarlin (Pete), I went for two HDS5s for a similar price. One is a X and the other a M model giving me a one as a combo and the other as a sounder only. The structure scan is a separate item (LSS) and has a seperate box (and transducer) that plugs into your sounder via a cable connector kit. In fishing mode in the creeks, I can use side scan on one unit and downscan on the other (or 2d sonar) or if needed in the bays/ocean, I can use one of the sounder configurations on one unit and GPS/Chart function on the other.

    Steve

  6. #6

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Steve,
    Thanks , thats a pretty smart idea. Just one question, do the sounder/ combo unit
    just click in and out of its base like the huminbird?

    Where did u get urs from. Maybe time to start shopping around.

    Cheers
    Greg

  7. #7

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    The other question is, do they read the bottom pretty good at speed.

    Cheers

  8. #8

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Quote Originally Posted by Seahorse View Post
    Steve,
    Thanks , thats a pretty smart idea. Just one question, do the sounder/ combo unit
    just click in and out of its base like the huminbird?

    Where did u get urs from. Maybe time to start shopping around.

    Cheers
    Greg
    Greg

    Mine are mounted in brackets on the dash, so it is a case of backing off the thumb screws and tacking the cables out the back.

    Mine reads the bottom ok at up to 30knots but gets a bit more limited at near 40knots.

    I got mine through Grandmarlin (Pete) on this site. I think he still does sell them but not install them anymore, so worth a PM to him, but a search on line will dig up the best prices if he is not an option. ###### have always been pretty sharp on price.

    Steve

  9. #9

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    OK, try that differently K E O G H S

  10. #10

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Seahorse,
    I'm not sure if you've seen other threads today but Lowrance have released new HDS models. There is a new HDS7 touch screen which has the structure scan built in. Here is a link to a shop in Melbourne, I've found them to be the best price on fishfinders in Victoria.

    http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/L...uch-Combo.html

    The only downside is the transducers are separate. From what I've been told, your depth of fishing you will need the 83/200KHz transducer which is an extra $185. Then there's the transducer for the structure scan which is $329 plus whichever maps you choose!

    Just another option for you!

  11. #11

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Went and had a look at the hd 5 and 7 today. Firstly the new touch is about $350 more than current models. Got that from n/side marine today.

    As apollo said earlier, 2 units would be nice but $949 for unit , incl trans x 2, 1 structure scan $639. Gets bit expensive.

    I then looked at the hd 7. Cost was $1949 which was for head unit, structure scan, transducers.
    Even 1 unit of hds 5 and struct scan would be $1588 so for an extra approx $360 u get the bigger unit and the scan is built in and no other unit to bolt in.

    I like the idea of having 1 unit just for GPS and the second unit for struct scan and sounder.

    I currently have a huminbird 700 series sounder/ gps combo in boat.

    What i was thinking of doing is leave it in the boat and use it for GPS only and use the HD7 for the sounder.

    I assume i could disconnect the huminbird transducer if i solely use it for GPS.

    If i left it there, then i would need 3 transducers out back.

    Do this all sound ok or am i going about it the wrong way. I dont really see the benefit of paying extra $350 for touch screen, when everything else is same.

    If i go the touch screen then i cant use my navonics card as new touch model has a micro sim card, thus another $379 for maps card.

    Let m know what u think

    Cheers
    Greg

  12. #12

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    does the lss1 transducer plug in ?

  13. #13

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Plugs into hd 5 but the 7 has it built in. Dont need the box in the 7, but still need trans.

  14. #14

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    Quote Originally Posted by Seahorse View Post
    The other question is, do they read the bottom pretty good at speed.

    Cheers
    The transducer is capable. Reading at speed comes down to hull design & fiddling with the transducer to suit. Though the faster you go the less meaningful the bottom reading becomes.

    this is 60.3mph

    I'm right 98% of the time - who cares about the other 3%

  15. #15

    Re: LOWRANCE HD 5 or 7 gen 2

    That looks good to me

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