Sounder advice
Hi guys
Im in the market for a new sounder for the boat.
Have been looking around at many many different makes and models.
Currently i have a Navman 4500 sounder, matched with a Navman 5600 tracker.
The GPS itself, ive been looking for new charts for (Ryan charts not maps :) ) Ive since found out that Navman or Northstar now, use c-maps, which released a new chip with new maps a couple of years ago. The chip in my gps is an older type and have since been updated. Now the updated charts apparently dont have much more detail than the older ones (i did look at both on a gps at the shop).
So in a nutshell, i can either buy the older charts for WA, or buy a new GPS and get the new charts. Have to take into consideration the size cutouts in the dash on the boat.
For sounder:
Been looking at the Furuno 585's and the 295's with the 1kw tranny, which seem quite reasonable, and from the reports ive got from people who use them, are very reliable, and clear.
Since then, i have had a look at the Lowrance Sounder / GPS units. In particular this one.\
HDS-10 Fishfinder/GPS Chartplotter
The finest of new Lowrance fishfinding and GPS navigation technologies with massive, high-definition 10.4”/26.4 cm Super VGA color viewing. The new SolarMAX™ PLUS display renders brilliant detail in sunlight with the best wide-angle viewing ever available, while advanced pure-white LED screen/keypad backlighting fully adjusts to zero-dim for night fishing.The unique new FlyWheel™ dial and command soft keys give you easier and quicker control of Broadband Sounder fishfinding and satellite navigation precision via the built-in 16-channel GPS+WAAS antenna.
HDS built-in cartography choices include Enhanced U.S. Basemap, or the amazing, life-like and new Insight USA™ with combined Inland and Coastal coverage (Americas) - Or Navionics World Background map (non-Americas). Plus, this HDS is now fully compatible with all Navionics® chartcards* – Platinum+, Platinum, Platinum HotMaps – with two high-speed SD card slots. Fully ready to build your complete stand-alone or networked onboard system.
Specs:
Now heopfully some people on here might be able to shed a little light onto this for me.
The advantages Ive noticed to something like the HDS-10 is
1. Uses Navionics charts (way more detail than c-maps)
2. The guy at the shop who showed me the unit explained the Sounder to me. It only requires a 600w Tranny due to it having an in-corporated Broadband unit and the response time to the bottom and back is 8 times quicker than a normal sounder. He did state there would be no issues seeing in great detail any bottom info out to atleast 1000m (anyone used one??)
3. Can be upgraded to do 3d imaging of the bottom (not sure if id ever use that).
Does anyone have a Broadband unit on their boat?? how does it rate?
Does anyone know what or if any other brands use navionics charts other than lowrance and humminbird?
Any suggestions / ideas would be appreciated!!
hds-10 is about 4k installed with platinum charts.
Cheers
Blank Cheque
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 28/03/09
Just finished the same project
Bodie feel free to pm your number and ill give you a call.
I went with Furuno
Its a little late to head home early
brenz
Posts: 2182
Date Joined: 15/06/06
is that wedge in the
is that wedge in the background?
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
nup
nup
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
rotto
Its Rotto aye !
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
yeh it is.
yeh it is.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Raymarine also uses
Raymarine also uses navionics and they have a good local dealer over at challenge. I smoked mine once and they lent me the demo until they got a new one in under warranty.
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
3 points!
* Stay away from Combo units, you need maximum screen resolution and maximum screen size reading when disecting ground....especially indepth info!
* Dont beleive the 1000m stuff, whats said and what happens is two different things. "Half" what they say and thats accurate i've found when testing many units & transducers!
* The navionics is a great chart plotter software ("charts" not maps). As for sounders, the Furuno is a standout for many reasons!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Yeah Ryan, if they had a
Yeah Ryan, if they had a chart plotter on its own i would be happy. the ones they do are to small, and dont fit the size hole in the dash, or are $$$$$$$$$$$$$
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
sounders
Bodie , my preference is to keep sounder and GPS units seperate, if you loose one unit at least the other is still operational and you may get by if your on a trip, you will struggle to get a similar unit to fill the hole in console, i purchased the lowrance with additional broadband , the new lowrance units i viewed today are available in 3 KW HD series 10 " my money would be to spend more on a good sounder rather than trying to match with the same in a GPS, as itwill be the sounder will locate fish with ease and GPS will get you close to the location , second preference would be Furuno