04-28-2010, 01:12 AM
Im not sure which 'problems' your talking about with the HDS. I know there was a problem with a batch of them last year that had seal problems. There was also Navionics issues with the first models, but that has been corrected. As far as my set up, two HDS5s with Stucture scan and a LMS527df. I will tell you that I spend alot of time using my electronics on the water and my electronics have helped me have 100+ walleye days and 15+ tiger musky days. That being said, I LOVE the HDS units. Let me give you some comparisons between the two (elite/HDS) that i feel are important in a fishfinder. First and formost is the built in broadband sounder in the HDS. The elite still has the 83/200khz capabilities but no broad band. Learning how to read and use the colorline on any unit is critical but especialy with the broad band. The broad band clearly defines transitions from hard bottom to soft bottom better than non broad band sounders (walleye love to hold those bottom transition points. Also, the target seperation on the broad band sounder is second only to the down scan. It is very easy to distinguish fish from the bottom or fish in weeds. You will not find these capabilities in any other souders(sorry, had to throw my shot in at the humminturd guys[laugh]). One advantage of broad band is the ability to sound at high speeds. I can mark fish at 47mph and get a GOOD readable picture at 35mph with the HDS.
As with just about any computer aged thing these days, updates are inevitable. My LMS527 was just what i wanted a few years ago, then I found out lowrance had some updates done to fix some problems (none of wich they listed i had). So I downloaded the updates, and to my suprise, they added ALOT of features to the software that made the unit that much better than the original software. The finder has MORE usful features than when I bought it, which I think is good to get more than what you paid for. And I have updated the HDS units also (had to for the use of structure scan) and that has put more features on then when I bought it. So dont think having to download stuff is all that bad, it can be quite useful.
One other huge advantage of the HDS over the elite series is the network abilities. I have all of my units networked together through the ethernet cables and i can see any transduecer from any screen on the system. Also, when i mark a waypoint on one unit, it is trasfered to the other units. And, if you buy an elite series, you will never be able to upgrade to the structure scan. Buy an HDS now, spend a 150 bucks more now, then when your ready you can spend 600 buck on structure scan vs 1300 bucks to buy an HDS and stucrure scan.
As far as screen size, I would love to have an HDS10 but..... my blue collar job only alows for a few toys. The screen on the HDS and the elite are very detailed and easy to read even with a 5 inch screen. Some of the very useful features they share are... Both have the trackback feature to rewind your sonar and gps screen to mark a waypoint on fish you may have seen a ways back, also, both share the duel frequency transduecer set up to give a wider angle and eliminate interference when using two finders or fishing close to some one else on the same frequecy. I know you said you dont care about the structure scan right now.... but, after using it first hand I can tell you this will help put alot more fish in the boat. One example is out on Willard this last weekend, using the sructure scan i found a rocky break about 90' to the right side of the boat that had 6 fish (yes, it is detailed enough to COUNT the fish) laying on it right off the bottom. I used the curser to mark a way point right on them then drove over there and pounded two wiper out of the school. I kept seeing the other four down there but they wouldnt eat. Now, with the strait down sonar, i would have never seen those fish and never caught them, so it realy has its advantages.
Hope this helps!!
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As with just about any computer aged thing these days, updates are inevitable. My LMS527 was just what i wanted a few years ago, then I found out lowrance had some updates done to fix some problems (none of wich they listed i had). So I downloaded the updates, and to my suprise, they added ALOT of features to the software that made the unit that much better than the original software. The finder has MORE usful features than when I bought it, which I think is good to get more than what you paid for. And I have updated the HDS units also (had to for the use of structure scan) and that has put more features on then when I bought it. So dont think having to download stuff is all that bad, it can be quite useful.
One other huge advantage of the HDS over the elite series is the network abilities. I have all of my units networked together through the ethernet cables and i can see any transduecer from any screen on the system. Also, when i mark a waypoint on one unit, it is trasfered to the other units. And, if you buy an elite series, you will never be able to upgrade to the structure scan. Buy an HDS now, spend a 150 bucks more now, then when your ready you can spend 600 buck on structure scan vs 1300 bucks to buy an HDS and stucrure scan.
As far as screen size, I would love to have an HDS10 but..... my blue collar job only alows for a few toys. The screen on the HDS and the elite are very detailed and easy to read even with a 5 inch screen. Some of the very useful features they share are... Both have the trackback feature to rewind your sonar and gps screen to mark a waypoint on fish you may have seen a ways back, also, both share the duel frequency transduecer set up to give a wider angle and eliminate interference when using two finders or fishing close to some one else on the same frequecy. I know you said you dont care about the structure scan right now.... but, after using it first hand I can tell you this will help put alot more fish in the boat. One example is out on Willard this last weekend, using the sructure scan i found a rocky break about 90' to the right side of the boat that had 6 fish (yes, it is detailed enough to COUNT the fish) laying on it right off the bottom. I used the curser to mark a way point right on them then drove over there and pounded two wiper out of the school. I kept seeing the other four down there but they wouldnt eat. Now, with the strait down sonar, i would have never seen those fish and never caught them, so it realy has its advantages.
Hope this helps!!
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