Time for a new one, would like to get the down imaging maybe also side Imaging. Ive got $1000 to spend but would like to spend less. Looking at the 899CI HD SI Humming bird. Any sugestions Thanks
simiretired
16’ WAR EAGLE 50hp RUDE
196 Carolina Skiff
110 RUDE
We use the Lowrance Elite 7 (have Down Scan on it) and find it very adequate. Many will tell you that the bigger the screen the better, and I concur, they are very nice to look at if they are in your price range. Someone may correct me, but my understanding is that Side Scan is best utilized in identifying structure, which in my opinion, is just what Black Bass fishermen are looking for. If you’re going to be striper fishing on Murray, I’d get some opinions about it’s benefits from this forum before I went the Side Scan route. Is there a particular reason you’re looking at Humminbird such as the ethernet capability? Obviously you can Google the 899 CI HD and check out reviews/demo’s on it.
I prefer the HDS over the elite but being limited to 1k your probably only looking at a HDS5 which I think is too small.
For the weekend angler the elite7 is great. The elite is a downscaled HDS. Has less bells and whistles and the processor is a little slower. But having the downscan/2D sonar in one unit and ducer is a plus. I only use sidescan in the winter/spring. I think its best used in shallower water. There are some REALLY good deals on the elite right now. Think academy is running a 599$ sale right now and if you dig hard enough online you may be able to get it cheaper but academy is just driving to sandhills and walking out with the unit.
I cannot comment on hummingbird because I can count on 1 hand how many times I have been on a boat that had one.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Cablas has the hds7 for 999 that is what I use and would not use anything else I have had a lot of different ones and this has been the best one for the money I paid around 1200 for it so 999 is a deal
Chip, on the HDS5, do you think it is too small still if you use it just as a sonar. I am looking at my next boat and thinking about going separate units for sonar and map. I hate split screens and having to change menu buttons just to move around on screen. So I am thinking about the HDS5x for just sonar and probably get the side scan transducer as well.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Jeremy, what type of scenario are you talking about when you say, “having to change menu buttons just to move around on screen.” ?
I know on my E-7 it’s just a matter of hitting the Page button twice to toggle between either side of the spit screen to select the active screen as far as control buttons go…ie, menu, zoom etc…
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
That’s what I mean. It just seems like that on all of the units I have used with split screen, every time I grab the unit to do something it’s controlling the wrong screen, so I have to back out, hit the page button and resume.
Just a Murphy’s Law thing I guess. I also like redundancy on my next boat, so I am thinking about having a full unit with structure scan, and then a separate unit with no transducer. That way I can have 2 screens and share info across both screens.
In a perfect world, I would have an HDS7 with structure scan mounted on a gimbal up top, then networked to an HDS8M flush mounted over the steering wheel.
A Sonic hub, and network cable connected to Yamaha Command Link Gauges.
When reality sets in, and the checkbook comes out, that will probably get scaled back to an HDS7 and HDS5, which is about $600 cheaper than the above setup. You can never have too many options while Out fishing IMO. and I can think of multiple scenarios where 2 screens that share map data and transducers would be beneficial. Just trying to think hard about my next boat as it will be rigged up right hopefully the first time before coming home.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
One thing to remember when trying to do what your wanting to do is what comes with what. The HDS systems require more than just a sidesxan ducer. They require the ether net box in order to add the structure scan. Unless of course if you go with the touch where its all built into the unit. But I am pretty sure they dont make a touch in a 5x.
I am with shipwreck. I also use the hds7 and its plenty big enough for split screens. A 7 split 2 way is about the same as 2 5’s. Moving back and forth between the screens are super simple like tim said. On the hds u hold the pages button for 1sec and it switches screens.
I have never liked the idea of split units. If I am watching my sonar and come across something thats really important to me like a group of stumps, crk bed, etc I can move my curse directly onto it on my sonar. Mark it and it automatically puts that exact spot on my gps no matter if I have done passed it or not.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Wouldn’t you still be able to do that when both units are networked together? I thought the idea of these HDS units was integration. I would want to be able to do exactly like you are saying, mark a bait ball, and then when I pull up my map screen, on either unit their should be a new mark saved.
If they don’t share info real time, then I see no use for the 2 screen setup. I thought bass guys did this with their bow mount. Mark bait on the sounder, and then when they go back to the helm the info should be saved on the big unit.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Geronimo, look at the HDS touch units. They have the structure scan module built in and in order to toggle between menus all you have to do is touch the side of the screen that you want. I have the 7 touch and it has been awesome thus far. If you’re going to have structure scan, they are the way to go.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Definitely will have structure. Didn’t know that about the touch units. Sounds like I should definitely go with a 7 touch flush mounted.
The touch unit would probably make controlling the sonic hub stereo a lot easier as well. Thanks for the info.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Not to mention I think bulkhead real estate will run out inside the console with a battery charger, sonic hub, and network cables. Not having to mount a structure scan hub would be nice.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Geronimo - I use an Elite-5 DSI as my Chartplotter and an Elite-7 HDI for my FF/Downscan …
I like the ability to face a unit in each direction on my center console - especially since I mainly drive the trolling motor from the bow of the boat …
Plus, the 5 has the ability to mount the transducer to the trolling motor which affords you full coverage under the boat and since I mainly use the 5 for chartplotting I still get sonar use when the trolling motor isn’t in the water …
Downside is the DSI/HDI series is being phased out and the 7 is at the top of the series (which means it’s no longer upgrade-able) while the HDS series can be upgraded as funds/needs arise …
Upside is that I was able to buy both units for 2/3 of the cost of an HDS 7 … so if you’re on a budget (or just like drowning $200 rods in the river) these units are only going to get cheaper as time goes on and they are completely phased out …
NOTE: DO NOT BUY ANY UNIT BUNDLED WITH A NAVIONICS CHIP!!! You will be wasting your money as NONE of these chips have Lake Murray loaded on them … Completely worthless - I went round and round with Lowrance & Navionics as to why they failed to put Lake Murray on their bundled chips and never could get a straight answer … If you want a Navionics chip, then buy the Navionics+ Chip … Retails for $99 and you can download whatever map areas you want to the chip from their website with free updates for a year …
… it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
quote:
Originally posted by LawcrusherGeronimo - I use an Elite-5 DSI as my Chartplotter and an Elite-7 HDI for my FF/Downscan …
I like the ability to face a unit in each direction on my center console - especially since I mainly drive the trolling motor from the bow of the boat …
Plus, the 5 has the ability to mount the transducer to the trolling motor which affords you full coverage under the boat and since I mainly use the 5 for chartplotting I still get sonar use when the trolling motor isn’t in the water …
Downside is the DSI/HDI series is being phased out and the 7 is at the top of the series (which means it’s no longer upgrade-able) while the HDS series can be upgraded as funds/needs arise …
Upside is that I was able to buy both units for 2/3 of the cost of an HDS 7 … so if you’re on a budget (or just like drowning $200 rods in the river)</font id=“size4”></font id=“red”> these units are only going to get cheaper as time goes on and they are completely phased out …
NOTE: DO NOT BUY ANY UNIT BUNDLED WITH A NAVIONICS CHIP!!! You will be wasting your money as NONE of these chips have Lake Murray loaded on them … Completely worthless - I went round and round with Lowrance & Navionics as to why they failed to put Lake Murray on their bundled chips and never could get a straight answer … If you want a Navionics chip, then buy the Navionics+ Chip … Retails for $99 and you can download whatever map areas you want to the chip from their website with free updates for a year …
… it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
Not only do they not have Lake Murray, Lake Greenwood isn’t on them either. 
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymakerquote:
Originally posted by Lawcrusherso if you’re on a budget (or just like drowning $200 rods in the river)</font id=“size4”></font id=“red”> …
Reel funny there Rick…ha
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I thought you’d like that … 
Thanks for the help got the Lowrance HDS7 Gen2 Touch now time to learn the machine.
simiretired
16’ WAR EAGLE 50hp RUDE
196 Carolina Skiff
90 Honda-4
Good choice, I’ve had mine for a year now and am still learning it and will probably never use it to its full capabilities.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Tigerfin Did you add a navionics chip or is it fine with the Murray charts that are installed ? Tanks
simiretired
16’ WAR EAGLE 50hp RUDE
196 Carolina Skiff
90 Honda-4
No, I don’t have a navionics chip, the charts are not quite right, but close enough. I did buy a 32g memory card and have been using structure map during my travels. It saves the structure scan detail onto the map, so no need for a navionics card, you make your own thats better detailed.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki