New HDS7

[stinkycat]

Just started to play with a new HDS7....WOW....can't wait to try it out on the water. Much easier to navigate. What are you guys that all ready have them think about the new HDS units?

[blueroof]

I think the HDS units have better menus compared to the old Lowrance units as well; not as nice as the Hbirds though. Mine has worked fine from day one. Marks fish when my other graphs do, so no complaints there. HDS units display lakemaster charts nicely, that's my most pressing concern so I'm easy.

[hondo]

I've been happy with my HDS so far, and am looking forward to being able to use the Side Scan with it later this year.

[VaGuy]

Just started to play with a new HDS7....WOW....can't wait to try it out on the water. Much easier to navigate. What are you guys that all ready have them think about the new HDS units?

Except for a few Navionics(software related that Lowrance/Navionics say will be resolved) chart card issues, mine has worked perfectly.

Sonar is outstanding. Lowrance Nautic Insight charts are excellent.

Future "structure scan" should be a real plus.

[zenz8301]

Yeah they are awesome....the sonar is unreal on them and one of the collest things they do if you have the Lake Insight is they have icons around some of the bigger lakes that if you scroll over and hit enter a paragraph pops up and tells you what fish can be cught their and what time of the year and what methods work best

[Bowhuntnsteve]

so far so good, I just have to re-connect it for a direct connect to the battery than on the spare.

[Bigiver]

Would have agreed with everything written two days ago, I love the new unit. But, went up to fish the Walker Area for the weekend and Saturday while watching a spit screen sonar/sonar it faded to white and then came back, then faded to white, then came back, faded to white and never came back. Went to Reed's and they tried to get it back but all I had was the "Death Screen". Will check on repacement tomorrow but would like everyone to know I got great service and much help at Reed's. I would like to thank Kevin for giving it his best shot, Thank you Kevin. Bigiver

[Bowhuntnsteve]

still so far so good for me, my main thing is learning all its functions while not being on the water! Once I am on the water, trying to read at the same time makes me wooozy. But fctns like a charm.

[flatman]

anybody running lakemaster chips in the new units - any problems?

Thanks

[brycer]

Are most of you running the external gps puck or the internal one? What are the added benifits to buying the 4000 and using it if the internal one is enough?

[Wall@y@]

I asked a similar question here not long ago and this is what I was told. The external antenna will give a more precise location where you are at. Other than that unless you have overhead issues that will hinder the antenna's look at the satellites the external and internal antenna will operate the same way. My HDS-8 had no trouble locking on satellites even with the windshield frame directly over the internal antenna. The speed that the internal antenna locks on the satellites is virtually the same speed as the external antenna so no advantage either way there.

[VaGuy]

I asked a similar question here not long ago and this is what I was told. The external antenna will give a more precise location where you are at. Other than that unless you have overhead issues that will hinder the antenna's look at the satellites the external and internal antenna will operate the same way. My HDS-8 had no trouble locking on satellites even with the windshield frame directly over the internal antenna. The speed that the internal antenna locks on the satellites is virtually the same speed as the external antenna so no advantage either way there.

I am using an HDS8 and a Globalmap 9200 networked with nmea 2000.
There is also an LGC 3000 on the network. Have not payed a lot of
attention but I think the 9200 is using the HDS antenna most of the
time. Monday I turned off the lgc 3000 and neither unit ever lost the
signal from the HDS8. I will put the LGC 3000 on the swap board.
I have an lgc 4000. With the Lowance rebate and after selling the lgc 3000, the 4000 will not really cost anything, and it will be a nice spare.
Need or not I have one.

There is a big post on HDS on this board if anyone is interested.
Don't have to join to read.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/230869-hds-units-any-good-news.html

some of the posts are from me.

[Bowhuntnsteve]

Are most of you running the external gps puck or the internal one? What are the added benifits to buying the 4000 and using it if the internal one is enough?

I am just running the internal one on my Starcraft Islander & have not had any issues at all here on Lake Erie.

[hondo]

Are most of you running the external gps puck or the internal one? What are the added benifits to buying the 4000 and using it if the internal one is enough?

I have my HDS tied into a network that also has an external puck antenna, and have the units set to use whichever GPS signal is the best. About half the time it uses the signal from the internal antenna on the HDS, the other half of the time it uses the signal from the puck.

The advantage to the LGC-4000 is that it updates about 5 times faster, so they call it high sensitivity and it greatly reduces your estimated position error. I have considered going with the LGC-4000 but haven't done so yet, when I'm on the water I usually have an EPE of about 25 feet.

[Larry Carr]

Anyone running the Platinum HotMaps in their HDS? I am curious about feedback. The ones I have used the 'Shaded' option is really cool and practical...makes seeing the drop offs even easier. But I'd like your feedback.

Larry Carr
Navionics

[Bowhuntnsteve]

Anyone running the Platinum HotMaps in their HDS? I am curious about feedback. The ones I have used the 'Shaded' option is really cool and practical...makes seeing the drop offs even easier. But I'd like your feedback.

Larry Carr
Navionics

Pondered it, but will wait and not be the gunea pig. Works pretty good now as is on Lake Erie.

[Larry Carr]

If you haven't seen the new HDS running a HotMaps Platinum chart, you really should. Go to your favotire marine electronics retailer and have them put in a HotMaps Platinum. Charts have never looked this great on a Lowrance before.

Larry

[hiwayman]

Haven't been on one of the foot contour lakes yet, but on the little local lakes it doesn't look any different than the old Navionics premium I had. And on any of the lakes i've been on so far the detail is better on the lakemaster chip in my 37 on the bow. But like I said, haven't been on one of the featured lakes yet, Scrolling to Mille Lacs or to Ottertail in MN. sitting at home didn't really impress me much, hope it's better when I'm actually there. The insight doesn't impress me at all either. as soon as you zoom in close enough to see any detail it gets grainy like zooming in on google earth. Maybe it's just my unit, but so far I'm not overly impressed with either! And I'm actually a lowrance fan and have been for years!