Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Fri May 30, 2014 4:58 am

Well my main Lowrance unit went nose down and I wondering if anybody has pros or cons on them.
I guess the question is the structure scan worth it.

Post by **Larry3215** » Fri May 30, 2014 5:45 pm

I dont know anything about the Lowrance units specifically - Ive never owned one. I did shop them against the Humminbird down imaging/sidescan unit we finally decided on.

We went with the Humminbird based mostly on cost. We just couldnt afford the Lowrance.

After a year of use, Ive decided the down scan feature (Humminbirds term for it) is worth it IF you're into looking for structure details. However, it doesnt show fish worth a darn - just structure - so you need the regular sonar/fishfinder features for that.

Also, at least with the Humminbird, you need to be moving pretty slowly to get fine details to show up at all well and that can eat up a lot of time. The side scan is the same way as far as taking a lot of time to scan an area effectively. They use the same transducer elements and software to do both on the Humminbird.

Bottom line is we dont use the downscan/side imaging all that much any more - but - its a pretty cool feature when you do use it.

I've decided that a larger screen is more important. next time we will wait till we can afford a bigger screen than the 5" we have now. Bigger is waaaaay better as far as screen size on a sonar goes especially with downscan/side scan. You can have all the detail in the world but if its too small to make out on the screen its a waste.

I say if you can afford it, go for it but get the largest screen you can afford.

Post by **Amx** » Fri May 30, 2014 5:56 pm

http://washingtonlakes.com/forum/viewto ... t=Lowrance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Amx** » Fri May 30, 2014 5:57 pm

more;

http://washingtonlakes.com/forum/viewto ... t=Lowrance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Amx** » Fri May 30, 2014 5:59 pm

search on WaLakes;

http://washingtonlakes.com/forum/search ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Fri May 30, 2014 7:13 pm

Well I have a LCX-28c that has lost bottom and since all the rest of my gear is lowrance I want to stay with the same key strokes.

Mark 5 Pro in the stern and a portable ice rig. So I'm just pitchin nickles.

But I have been told the structure and side scan is best used for Bass fishing. Since I have no interest in fishing Bass in Washington not sure it's a deal. I fish Kokes, Wally's so those I need to see and suspended fish.

gfakkema · Post by **gfakkema** » Fri May 30, 2014 8:28 pm

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Fri May 30, 2014 8:41 pm

Everything but the sonar works on the LCX-28c for GPS and speed I could use the Mark 5 in the stern but I sort of like seeing the bottom when I'm drivin. When it does work I'm within inches on both unit's

gfakkema · Post by **gfakkema** » Sat May 31, 2014 10:31 am

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 5:09 pm

Well after my 3rd or 4th call to Lowrance I got ahold of a person who had a lot of knowledge on the equipment.
He informed me that most transducers have a 7 year life before they start to lose sensitivity.
Gave him the symptoms of the unit and he suggested to replace the transducer. 60.00 buck fix as opposed to any where from 700.00 to 1600.00 to replace what I have. I can do 60 bucks with my eyes closed. If not I have a new transducer for sale!!!

Post by **G-Man** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:56 pm

A tranducer doesn't wear out over time, I've been an RF technician for a good portion of my lifetime to know better. What can happen with a transducer to degrade its performance is overheating when operated out of water. This is more likely with the older units, which really pumped out the power. The newer Lowrance units have much more sensitve receivers and therefore require less power to get the job done. I've had my Lowrance 50/200Khz transducer since 2006 and its still providing me great images. If you've always operated the sonar with the boat in the water, I'd look for a pinched or damaged trnasducer line or corrorsion on the connector pins before I'd suspect the tranducer.

Note: I left Humminbird and Garmin for Lowrance as I was tired of my head unit's dying on me.

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:01 pm

I was thinking it may have a crack in the body! But then he said he could have been damage by hitting who knows what and since it came with the boat I have no idea what it has been thru. But even if the cable has been pinched it will need to be replaced.
So once again 60 bucks isn't a bad roll of the dice compared to the replacement cost of the new unit.

ridgeratt · Post by **ridgeratt** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:03 pm

Well got the new transducer on Saturday and I unstalled the existing one and while removing it at the mounting bracket on the stern they had ran the cable between the bracket and the hull. When I took it off it had a pinch in the cable not sure if I'm a sucess yet but it did make me suspect that it may have broken a lead. Now to go float it and see if the problem is cured.

Northwest Fishing Reports

Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 with structure scan