LOWRANCE HDS-7 - The Hull Truth

Colby828 · 01-16-2009, 02:37 PM

What is the difference in the 83/200khz and the 50/200khz transducers. Will I be able to tell any difference in them fishing in water less than 200 feet. Most of the fishing I do will be in water less than 100 feet.

rperkett · 01-17-2009, 04:28 PM

I'd also be interested in knowing the difference...I'm in the same boat (so to speak) in that I mostly fish off the shore in less than 100 feet and want to know what the better setup would be.

abbor · 01-17-2009, 04:51 PM

The 83/200kHz is the standard Lowrance 200kHz single frequency ducer operated at both 83 and 200kHz by the Braodband Sounder. This ducer is nice for 100 feet and less due it's wide (20 degrees @ 200kHz) cone angle. For deeper than 100' I prefer the 50/200 ducer.

yachtjim · 01-18-2009, 08:14 AM

Good description. I personally find the cut-off more around 200' from where you you be better off with a 83/200 vs a 50/200. Regardless, if you fish primarily in shallower water you will want the 83/200.

jsgrise · 01-28-2009, 08:51 AM

Is the built-in GPS receiver will still transmitt thru a fiberglass T-Top??

ship-happens · 01-28-2009, 09:33 AM

I have used the HDS 7 through a Glass Top without GPS issues. Works well! I have also been told that some have had no problems in pilot house mounted in dash?

jsgrise · 01-28-2009, 09:43 AM

GOOD!!! How do you like the unit??? I currently have a Raymarine RC70 that I like so so due to not very good GPS reliability. I'm looking forward to upgrade to a C80/120 or an HDS-10. I just don't know wich one is the best?

ship-happens · 01-28-2009, 03:11 PM

only had it for a week, but had a LCX 28 yearly. So I am using the same 200/50 kHz skimmer. Works will and is much better at target seperation and the noise rejection at speed then the LCX 28. The LCX 28 was good put this is much better with the broad band sonar they have developed.

The screen is super bright much better than the old 28. I hear that the HDS 10 is very bright and has the same GPS performance as the HDS-7.
The HDS-10 has the softkeys which will be a great feature.

yachtjim · 01-28-2009, 08:40 PM

I think the HDS will pretty easily get the nod over teh Ray C Series. Ray C Series is 5 year old technology. The HDS stuff is groundbreaking technology. So its not really a good comparison. The new C Series might be a major improvement, but won't know until we see it.

jsgrise · 01-28-2009, 09:37 PM

Can't wait to see that new C WIIIIDDDDEEEEEE!!!!!

rperkett · 03-04-2009, 05:40 AM

Jim, I'm curious if you have heard whether or not the Lowrance HDS internal GPS antenna will function even if installed in a center console like the one below. Hoping I don't have to buy/install an external antenna but want to make sure.

yachtjim · 03-04-2009, 09:24 PM

I would certainly not personally guarantee it will work, but I will say in my educated opinion that there is a pretty damn good chance it will work just fine. Why don't you borrow an automotive GPS unit from a friend, stick it in there and see if it works. If it does then that's your answer. I say to use an auto unit because they have super sensitive gps antennas similar to what the new HDS units have.

rperkett · 03-07-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yachtjim

I would certainly not personally guarantee it will work, but I will say in my educated opinion that there is a pretty damn good chance it will work just fine. Why don't you borrow an automotive GPS unit from a friend, stick it in there and see if it works. If it does then that's your answer. I say to use an auto unit because they have super sensitive gps antennas similar to what the new HDS units have.

that's a great suggestion - thanks. i have a portable garmin unit for my car and i will test it out (once she's out of shrink wrap) and report my findings back to this thread.

mosborne51 · 09-24-2009, 03:20 PM

How can you tell which HDS7 to buy - there seem to be a lot of options. I have a LCX-15MT with a 50/200 Khz transom transducer and the appropriate external GPS and a Navionics Hot map card for western great lakes. So which unit do I buy? Will my old transducer work with the HDS7? Will the old GPS antenna work with it? Or do I need them. Like above I would mount mine inside the console. I can't really see the difference between the HDS7 and HDS7M?

yachtjim · 09-24-2009, 08:20 PM

You can go do Navionics.com to view their charts. If you are on an inland Lake you can buy a HDS unit with Lake Insight Charts. The internal antenna is fine in most cases. If you are certain you need an external antenna then get the LGC-4000 along with a bunch of NMEA2000 parts to make it work. Best if you call me. As far as the ducer, if your ducer has a blue plug it will work just fine with the HDS unit. If it is a gray plug I am fairly certain the ducer will work fine but temp will not work. To learn more about the HDS units read this - http://www.boemarine.com/Support/Art...1-adafce154b8b

yachtjim · 09-24-2009, 08:20 PM

You can go do Navionics.com to view their charts. If you are on an inland Lake you can buy a HDS unit with Lake Insight Charts. The internal antenna is fine in most cases. If you are certain you need an external antenna then get the LGC-4000 along with a bunch of NMEA2000 parts to make it work. Best if you call me. As far as the ducer, if your ducer has a blue plug it will work just fine with the HDS unit. If it is a gray plug I am fairly certain the ducer will work fine but temp will not work. To learn more about the HDS units read this - http://www.boemarine.com/Support/Art...1-adafce154b8b

yachtjim · 09-24-2009, 08:21 PM

Oh, the difference in the M and non M is the M model is just a chartplotter. Non M has a built in FF.

mosborne51 · 09-25-2009, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the info and sites. That helps. My current GPS external is the LGC-12sGPS. Not sure why that would not work.

Did you ever hear of a FF or transducer working like it was low on power? I have the HS-50/200 DX ducer on my 15MT and Friday night it worked great with plenty of detail and Saturday morning I can't find bottom in 25 ft of water in 200 khz mode. In 50 khz mode in 100 feet of water I can get bottom but detail on screen is lacking. I turn off the filters and crank up the sensitivity and where I used to mark some noise and see the fish arches now I don't have hardly any noise and don't really mark fish that I can tell (not sure if there are fish there). It acts like the ducer doesn't have enough power. I checked connections, did a soft reset on the FF. Not much better. Do ducers go bad? I also cleaned the ducer with a window cleaner because that was a suggestion on the Lowrance site.

yachtjim · 09-28-2009, 07:44 PM

Lowrance ducers can certainly go bad. Replacing it would be the best next step for troubleshooting. You might also upgrade to the Airmar P66 - http://www.boemarine.com/Products/GC...L/Default.aspx

mosborne51 · 09-29-2009, 08:07 AM

Thanks Jim, I just ordered one. I read in other threads where they seem to work better than the Lowrance. After all the trouble I have had I am ready to try one.