I'm changing my unit to one of the big screens and am debating if i should go with the 112c or the 113HDc.

Does anyone have any input on the HD models ecspecially if they are more prone to problems versus the non HD units.

Remember they are ~ 1 year old , nothing 2008 as the Digital Sonar Box came out this year.

2009 new models are coming out.


I have lots of Map Chips Lakemaster & Navionic's so I did not purchase the Hard Drive. If you use the Sonar Recordings it might be nice to have a Hard Drive ~! 1 med a minute. But the larger 2, 4 and up GB SD cards haver helped resolve it.


Some like the Basic maps on the Hard Drive and still use High Definition Lake maps of the SD cards too.


Remember these a re like portable computers and 2 years will help improve over the 2007 models in 2009.

Wait until Boat Owners World or someone else closes them out this fall. The price should drop by 40%.

I understand the new ones are coming but lets say you only fish in MN and LOTW and have Lakemaster chips for both areas for your non HD unit.

Since you have the chips would there be any advantage to have the HD unit?

No, just a bunch of useless information. This is only a benefit for those that travel and need multiple maps.

[QUOTE=toolboy;1048055]No, just a bunch of useless information. This is only a benefit for those that travel and need multiple maps.[/QUOTE

Thanks. Thats exactly what I was wondering. My other question is do the HD models have any disadavtages over the non HD units?

The LCX-27, LCX37,LCX112 are non hard drive units. but they come with pre loaded maps so what is the difference between the non hardrive and hard drive ? I was at Cabelas last night and pulled up lake maps on all three of these units, and they did not have a chip in them . So why buy a hard drive unit ?

As a general rule, when the complexity of a device increases, so does the risk of failure. If you don't have a good use for the extra complexity, why pay more and have the increased risk? I bought a 27c instead of a 28 HD unit for exactly that reason.

So, the question, do you need the hard drive to do something that matters to you? If not, avoid it.

When you do a "Sonar Recording", to later review it on your computer. The Hard Drive is Quicker and bigger than the SD cards. So that may be a reason to get the Hard Drive.

Very nice to later review structure that you missed. It does record the GPS information to later go back.

As a general rule, when the complexity of a device increases, so does the risk of failure. If you don't have a good use for the extra complexity, why pay more and have the increased risk? I bought a 27c instead of a 28 HD unit for exactly that reason.

So, the question, do you need the hard drive to do something that matters to you? If not, avoid it.

That's was I was thinking too but i ran across a deal where I could get the HD for the same price.

For the same money...get the hard drive it has faster processing and more storage. You might not need it right now but when you learn more about your unit youl have it.

I have the hard drive and believe it's worth the small cost differnce, Also I have never heard of anyone having a failure with a hard drive unit. Have you? Ken

I'm in the market,too.Is the GPS module an internal part of the unit in HD models? If so does it work as well or more prone to fail?

The hard drive units don't have any advantage over the non hard drive units except they have pre loaded maps. There is no extra storage or faster processing. You can't use the hard drive yourself, it is factory sealed with the map info. I have had both, and if you have lakemaster map chips or similar chips there is no advantage. Just my .02.

Pete619
The HD units certainly do have accesible storage that is what a hard drive is.
When you save a file you can choose to save the file to either the hard drive or on to a MMC chip you insert in one of the drawers.
As an example I have a seperate file for each lake I fish. It contains the waypoints,icons, trails and any contour mapping trails I have made for that particular lake.
I then name them appropriately and store them on the hard drive. When I go to a lake I only upload (from the harddrive) that particular lakes file so I am only scrolling through a small number of waypoints when navigating to a spot as opposed to scrolling through a list of every waypoint I have ever made.
This can be done using an MMC card also (but dont forget it or loose it..)
If during the course of the day you find a couple new good spots and make new waypoints these will be added to the lake file when you resave it at the end of the day.
If you go to Hightechfishingcom there are lots of tips and info on how to get the most out of your Lowrance unit from Doc Bruce Sampson. They are an amazingly under used tool that with just a little effort are easy to use.

The hard drive in the hd models is not useable. Call lowrance and ask them. The hd has the same amount of storage as the non hd units. The hard drive is pre-loaded from the factory with extra maps. That is all that it is.

That's was I was thinking too but i ran across a deal where I could get the HD for the same price.

I work at a fishing store and the HDs only cover great lakes and coastal areas. There is no point on getting a HD when the detail is going to change soon.

I work at a fishing store and the HDs only cover great lakes and coastal areas. There is no point on getting a HD when the detail is going to change soon.

My 28HD has all kinds of inland Michigan lakes on it, not just the great lakes.

Havent looked at the other maps on it since I havent been anywhere else but to Mich with it yet.

lots of conflicting information in this entire thead...

Pete, you are uninformed. Like Crankbaiter I too have separate files stored in the onboard hard drive accessible on all the HD models. My data is filed by state. Filing by lake as Crankbaiter would be the best. With the certain software updates, you have the option to save screen shots to the onboard hard drive in a jpeg format for later viewing. The onboard hard drive is a very useful tool for many.

PJ

Yes- it is exactly this confusion that Lowrance could address by better marketing of the products. When I was planning my purchase, I called their customer support line and got the "it's only useful for maps" answer from a support person who claimed to own a 28HD, yet I believe the posters who say the HD is much more useful than that- since it ought to be.

yarcraft,

Your right on the money.

There is a lot of confusion out there and not a lot of help from Lowrance.

Although in there defense it amazes me how many folks are willing to shell out the money to buy one of these but just will not spend and hour or two reading and re-reading the manual.
Its all in there, everything you need to know. I guess that old adage about when all else fails read the instructions...has some truth to it.

Folks who really want to understand and "master" one of these units would be smart to buy and extra power cord for 30 bucks and mount it on a ram ball mount in the car/truck. Use the darn thing everyday during the week to get to work, home, make trails, save waypoints etc.
Either that or just go fishing a lot more.....

Crankbaiter- I like your "go fishing more" solution. I've made a point of that this summer and I'm getting a lot more out of both my 334i and my 27c because every time I go fishing, I take something I've read in the manual or picked up from the web and I try it. Since I do lots of trolling in Saginaw bay, there is time to fiddle with electronics (except this year the darn fish have kept me very busy).

I am not mis informed. The hd models have the same amount of storage as the non- hd models. Sorry.

Pete, Pete, Pete,

I think your mind is made up but for the others out there trying to understand the difference between a HD and a non HD unit I feel responsible for adding confusion as opposed to sharing good info. I am no expert and if this is important to you I would advise calling Lowrance but here goes my last shot...

Keep in mind this post only is focusing on the difference in storage space between HD and non HD units, there are other differences/advantages/features.

Pete says: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not mis informed. The hd models have the same amount of storage as the non- hd models Sorry.

You are partially right Pete.
both HD and non HD units store the waypoints, trails and icons that you have created with the unit itself while fishing on what is called the "flash memory" So when you hit the waypoint button twice and "make a waypoint" that data is stored on what is called the flash drive. Both type units have one so they can save your waypoints trails and icons on the fly. This storage feature is equal on both units.

Both type units can also upload and down load data using the system set up menu to an MMC/SD card that "storage feature" is equal also, right again Pete.

However a HD unit has an additional file storage place called the hard drive.
The pre loaded maps that come with HD units are on that hard drive and they are "sealed" in so you can not delete them. This I believe is where some folks mistakenly think they cant access the hard drive. Those maps only take up a small portion of the hard drive storage space. You can use the balance of the storage of this 30 G hard drive that is not taken up by these factory maps for other files. You just cant tinker with those map files.

If your like me and have waypoints and trails from all over the place but dont want to have a super clutered up screen you might want to use Lowrances Map Create software to edit your waypoints and trails by lake and only bring and view the ones your using for the lake your on. The remaing files can be either stored on and MMC chip and uploaded when needed (both type units are capable of this) or on a HD unit you can store those extra files on your hard drive and access them when needed with out having to remember to bring the chip.
If you want to get more out of your Lowrance unit I would advise you take a look at Doc Bruce Sampsons web site hightechfishing.com. it is a very good resource.

Hope this helps.

http://www.vexilar.com/pages/products/products_lc-507c.html

Buy a quality graph! Lowrance has gone down the tubes. I will be soon having a slightly use X510c for sale or maybe I should just throw it away instead and sleep better at night.

So Lowrance is coming out with new models for 2009 ???? that must be why the coupons for discounts on purchases by Sept ???
Remember they are ~ 1 year old , nothing 2008 as the Digital Sonar Box came out this year.

2009 new models are coming out.


I have lots of Map Chips Lakemaster & Navionic's so I did not purchase the Hard Drive. If you use the Sonar Recordings it might be nice to have a Hard Drive ~! 1 med a minute. But the larger 2, 4 and up GB SD cards haver helped resolve it.


Some like the Basic maps on the Hard Drive and still use High Definition Lake maps of the SD cards too.


Remember these a re like portable computers and 2 years will help improve over the 2007 models in 2009.

whofan-

this has nothing to do with the topic.

please start a new thread.

if you are going to throw that 510 away please let us know as I am sure someone will want it instead of letting the garbage man take it

I just bought a Lowrance37c (NOT 38c HD) because it was $$cheaper and I won't travel the continent or download to computer; as others told me why bother w/Hard Drive, or Broadband if all I wanted is a good Lakemaster chip in a proven Sonar/GPS product. So many features the way it is that I maybe won't use, but I'll see in May. Wrong pick? I dunno. Locomotiveman