Lowrance HDS 7 Carbon Transducer advice?

 Was in BCF the other day and they had the new carbons on display but the price tag was for the old HDS 2 units at $1080 so I thought I would try the shop assistant and ended up getting it at that price so couldnt resist. 

 

The unit came with a total scan all in one transducer, are these any good? Will be fishing in depths upto 50m max but usually 15 - 30m. What would the bsst transduced be for this situation? Would prefer to stay at a 600w rather than going to 1000w.

 

Also with the SD card slots, do the chart and storage cards go on left or right side or doesnt it matter? Noticed it isnt labelled.

 

Cheers.


Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 And just going for a transom

Mon, 2017-09-25 09:27

 And just going for a transom mount transducer.

daze out's picture

Posts: 75

Date Joined: 07/09/11

good win

Mon, 2017-09-25 13:42

I'm still trying to figure out if this post is just to brag about you scoring a HDS carbon for a grand :-)
I've been on a couple of boat running the total scan transducer and it is fine. Especially for the shallow depths you're talking about. Placement is key to get good readings at speed so if you get that right it will be great!

gruntre69's picture

Posts: 533

Date Joined: 15/10/16

 I tested a total scan today

Mon, 2017-09-25 17:48

 I tested a total scan today on an NNS7 Evo3, it was really crap out there but I was keen to try it. It was really good under 10Kn and poor after that. I'm not sure if it's placement but it probably is and I need to play around with it. I'll get it back in the water when conditions are better. That is a very good price for that unit which I believe is the same sounder module as the Evo3 in in a different package.

From what you are saying, the totalscan would probably be OK for you...

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Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 It was 50/50 to brag and ask

Tue, 2017-09-26 14:29

 It was 50/50 to brag and ask for advice haha! 

 

Yeah from what I've been reading the total scan seems okay.. I might end up forking out another grand and get the 3D Module and 3D transducer because the 3D videos I've seen look really good as long as the conditions are calm.

 

I've got an old Furuno FCV600 aswell that will be good for deeper water fishing etc. Decided to keep it hooked up aswell as the new Lowrance.. So once get the 3D hooked up will have 3 transducers hanging off the back...

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

You won't have time to put a line in the water

Tue, 2017-09-26 17:15

You will be too busy looking at screens and tweaking control knobs to be sure you are getting the best out of the sounders, that is unless you take a crew of half a dozen techos to keep things ticking over for you.

Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 Yeah I think you are right.

Thu, 2017-09-28 15:46

 Yeah I think you are right. Took it out for a test run on the estuary yesterday and it took a bit of playing around just to get the carbon to read the bottom and then more playing around to get it reading "properly". I like the side scan can't wait to see what its like on the ocean.

 

Glad I kept the old furuno because I think its going to be a while before I have any idea what I'm doing with the new unit. Will have to do some playing around with it over the demersal ban.