View Full Version : Hds - 5
I know that these units are new, but has anybody used one yet ?
All comments greatly appreciated !
Good Fishen
Rob
Rippin_Eyes
01-28-2009, 07:11 AM
Well since the units just shipped last week, we should hear a report on them soon. From what i've seen on the units we had for the mpls boat show they should be good. Although the 5 and 7's that first ship will need a software upgrade to run a navionics card. Navionics and lowrance dropped the ball on the timing of the software. It should be available with in the following weeks.
Mark O.
02-10-2009, 07:40 PM
Our local Scheels store had some on display. I played around with the HDS-7 with Insight mapping. Maybe I just don't know enough about them, but as I zoomed in closer, the 3d look got more pixelated. once you hit a certain point, the map switched to your basic 2D background map. Like I said, maybe I was doing something wrong. I was disapointed by this. The mapping did seem to redraw faster as you did certain things. I wasn't overly impressed with them. I think I'll stick with my X-27 for now. I'm actually going to purchase a Humminbird as a backup on my dash in case my Lowrance goes down. I wish Humminbird took Lakemaster chips and you could transfer Lowrance icon points to a Humminbird unit. I'd have all Humminbird then. I was very impressed with them when I was pre-fishing with Johnnie Candle last Fall.
SAMSAMSAM
02-10-2009, 10:08 PM
The review on that other board was in SIM mode. I don't think that is what people really want in a review.
Our local Scheels store had some on display. I played around with the HDS-7 with Insight mapping. Maybe I just don't know enough about them, but as I zoomed in closer, the 3d look got more pixelated. once you hit a certain point, the map switched to your basic 2D background map. Like I said, maybe I was doing something wrong. I was disapointed by this. The mapping did seem to redraw faster as you did certain things. I wasn't overly impressed with them. I think I'll stick with my X-27 for now. I'm actually going to purchase a Humminbird as a backup on my dash in case my Lowrance goes down. I wish Humminbird took Lakemaster chips and you could transfer Lowrance icon points to a Humminbird unit. I'd have all Humminbird then. I was very impressed with them when I was pre-fishing with Johnnie Candle last Fall.
Check out this web site http://www.gpsbabel.org/. I had a Magellan hand held that had all my waypoints in. When i bought a new Lowrance 522i, I was able to convert the format that Magellan uses, load it onto an SD card, and install it on the 522i. Not sure if that's what you're looking for or not, but might help.
1625Rebel
02-12-2009, 11:26 AM
I need a new transom mount sonar anyway and am considering the HDS-5x without the mapping. I have a H2Oc already and this will probably suffice. 3D mapping does sound cool, but I'm concerned about the comment above that it goes to 2D when zoomed in anyway.
I want to find out how much better the broadband sonar is?. I could pick up a 510c for mid 300's I would guess. Is the broadband sonar on the HDS-5x worth the $200 extra? For walleye fishing I would guess so, but I'd also be very interested to hear anyone's actual experience with any of the new HDS sonar units.
whofan
02-13-2009, 08:48 AM
I need a new transom mount sonar anyway and am considering the HDS-5x without the mapping. I have a H2Oc already and this will probably suffice. 3D mapping does sound cool, but I'm concerned about the comment above that it goes to 2D when zoomed in anyway.
I want to find out how much better the broadband sonar is?. I could pick up a 510c for mid 300's I would guess. Is the broadband sonar on the HDS-5x worth the $200 extra? For walleye fishing I would guess so, but I'd also be very interested to hear anyone's actual experience with any of the new HDS sonar units.
I would sit tight and see how these new units pan out.
I would let the 510c fade off into the sunset.
Backwater Eddy
02-17-2009, 05:01 AM
True, most simulator modes do not do the unit justice to it's true appearance and functionality.
The sim-modes are designed for general in-store demo use and are limited in amount of processor usage available.
One needs to look at it this way.... Once you purchase the unit why waist valuable processor space with brain power set in reserved for a simulator, when it is only really needed in the store for sales purposes?