HDS7
Submitted by NORUN NOFUN on Fri, 2012-06-08 19:17
G'Day fella's,
I am thinking about putting two Lowrance HDS7's into the tub, one as a dedicated fish finder, the other as a gps.
The fish finder will have a 1kw transducer, and the gps will run the LSS-2 structure scan that can overlay onto the existing Navionics chart.
I have a Barcrusher560c with sealed floor and do not have access to put down a wet box/thru hull transducer.
Does anybody have any reviews of the Lowrance HDS7, with the LSS-2 structure scan and 1kw transducer or the 50/200 transducer ?
Or alternatively, any reviews of other setups - I would have liked to run the HDS8 or 10 but it is all getting very expensive and nearing the 3 g's.
Jayden20
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 29/08/11
I have a hds 7 and structure
I have a hds 7 and structure scan on my kayak :)
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Why would you get two
Why would you get two lowrances? Total waste of money, they're an ok GPS but if you want a good sounder just buy a furuno to go with it.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
each to there own jamie, i
each to there own jamie, i have a 8 & 10 and love em.
i also belive furuno(585) is not that great as people say, i have used both and much prefer the hds, i think it comes down to understanding what you are seeing and for me it was clearer with the hds.
in real terms i think they are as good as each other in the non comercial stuff.
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Hey Till
I have been used to Lowrance sounders on the boats I have owned and am asking for advice.
What actually stands out so much that you would think they are a waste of money ?
Have not made any commitments yet, still just looking !
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
lack of understanding
those who say the hds are inferior simply dont fully understand them simple as that and lets face it there wont be to many on here that have used both consistantly enough to be able to say with valid argument that one is inferior than the other sayings like "I went out on a boat once with one on" dosent qualify as having used one enough to judge.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Sounders
We have done this one so many times but still enjoy debait on it .I can see both points of view I agree with till on why buy two units that do the same you are paying for a backup you may never use .I have the first hds which was a 110c then got 112 c first with broadband then hds10 so have some idea they are great gps I had the structure scan to me was a waste because I didn't fish shallow .I have had furuno jrc koden raython and have raymarine at moment . But unless you want real fish deep most are ok Just thinking back over the years and gear the old paper sounders like furuno were great used to look back at scroll end of day like reading a good book but now we all try to get that little edge me Icluded
fishing fanatic
Posts: 809
Date Joined: 01/05/09
go check out one of the
go check out one of the finnish ones. the nss7 by simrad is a sweet unit.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I have been on the same boat
I have been on the same boat using the same ground and the same transducer install, just swapped between a HDS10 and a Furuno FCV585 and the different is chalk and cheese.
The lowrance work ok, but if you want great, then go the Furuno.
The whole thing about they need a different fw version, or special tweaks, or some other bullcrap just cracks me up, just means they're an inferior unit.
... and why get two?
Jamie
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
A while ago a thread was
A while ago a thread was started about HDS as a sounder & the OP asked what settings would best be used, bemused the shit out of me when nobody responded esp. those guys who are quite vocal in their capabilities.
In saying that I have been on a forum member's boat who had his HDS10 settings pretty sweet but it took a hell of a time to get it sorted. I have the HDS as a GPS & a back up sounder whilst using the 585 as primary, the 585 is by way ahead for me when I run over ground & compare the units but hey each to their own.
My theory on this is a heap of posters have put up settings for their 585 to help other members get the best out of it, time for the lowrance boys to put up?
Ps. Those simrad units look sweet
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
HDS and Furuno
This conversation goes on and on.
I have installed a Furuno 620 and HDS7 sitting side by side in my boat. It was a bit of an expensive experiment, but I wanted to see the difference for myself,.
The Furuno wins hands down on useability, the nobs make it quick and easy to change modes (bottom lock, dual frequency, gain etc), rather than scrolling through menus.
In terms of reading the bottom, the Furuno looks much better at the moment, but I have spent more time learning how to use that rather than the HDS -maybe with more time/experience and tuning the HDS will read as well, but for my money the 620 seems better.
If I see a spot and I want to mark the waypoint, I simply put the HDS onto sounder mode and go back and mark it (pretty handy feature on the Lowrance).
I do have the Furuno connected to the HDS so it will save the waypoint position if I want, but this is a bit of a pain as you then have to manually enter it into the HDS.
And as Forest would say -thats all I have to say about that!
Dreamtime
Posts: 658
Date Joined: 21/09/09
hds5 gen2
i just got a hds 5 gen 2 for 600 bucks. yay
carps
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 01/03/10
Something Different
Hi Guys,
Just to throw a different train of thought in there, I run a Humminbird 858 with a Airmar 1KW TM258 and it is very simple to use.
I use it for dropping cray pots in 30m (as well as a lot of deeper fishing) and it works a treat for me. I think because it is different alot of people are sceptical of it but I'm glad I went the way I did.
With all that said it is different strokes for different blokes.
Cheers
Rick