HDS10 Gen2 vs NSE/NSS12

General Boats and Motors
1

What are the major differences besides cost and screen size between these two units? It seems the major components and features are pretty much the same. I would assume that the NSE/NSS units have a little bit faster processor and better graphics and the NSS is a touch screen, which has advantages and drawbacks.

Both feature Structurescan with the HDS having Structuremap overlay and the Simrad doesn’t at this time. Warranty appears to be in favor of Simrad. Both support the sonic hub. Both have radar, which I’m sure favors Simrad but we aren’t adding radar at this time, just the Sirius/XM weather app.

What other benefits do you get with the Simrad to justify the difference in the cost?

Owners/users of both how do you like the respective units?

We’re getting close to finalizing things on the new Pioneer 222 and I would like to get the best bang fo the buck in the electronics. The boat will be mainly used for fishing reefs/ wrecks in the 5 to 30 mile range with the occassional pick your day trolling offshore.

Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.

“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne

2

I have the HDS10 with structurescan…not gen2 though… love it…the structure scan is the chit… never had a problem with it, it does more than what I will use. Touch screens I don’t like because of fingers with bait slime and deet on them.I hate a dirty screen

26’ Twinvee Cat
Twin Suzuki 175’s
www.creeksidemetalworks.com

3

NSS and HDS2 have the same cpu.

NSE’s cpu is fastest, but NSS and HDS2 are significantly (very noticably) faster than HDS1’s cpu.

NSS and HDS2 are limited in how many displays can network together. Not sure of max for HDS2, but NSS has a max of two displays. NSE can network to 4 or 5 other NSE’s or an NSS.

I have run the NSE, and I have owned the HDS1 and NSS8. I now have an NSS12 for the new boat, and plan to add a second NSS12 in the future. Touchscreen makes editing waypoints and making adjustments in menus, etc. incredibily easier. From a user standpoint, the touchscreen is far simpler to use.

The NSE is similar to HDS1/HDS2 in how it’s menus are set up, but the quick keys across the bottom are not menu functions like the HDS but rather page set keys like the Northstars were. NS actually stands for northstar, which Navico bought out and combined with Simrad and Lowrance tech to create the NS series…

NSE’s screens are brighter, and the chasis is all aluminum, i.e. a heatsink. NSE also has video-out and video-in, two USB jacks and two SD slots.

NSS has a single microSD slot, video-in only and no USB.

NSE also has simnet and micro-C plugs (high speed data) while NSS has only micro-C plugs.

The simrad sonic hub can do video-out to NSS or NSE from an apple device in the dock. Lowrance sonic hub cannot.

Simrad WX/radio module gives higher quality WX data and radio signal than the Lowrance version. (no, the lowrance WX module will not connect to the simrad displays- I have tried)

NSS7 and NSS8 have broadband sonar built in. Same as the built in broadband sonar built into the HDS1 and HDS2. All the NSE units and the NSS12 need black box sonar connected- BSM1 or BSM2.

All the above will run LSS1 or LSS2 structure scan. I have the LSS1 because the skimmer ducer is about half the length of the one for LSS2. The long length of the LSS2 skimmer ducer would mean I have to trim the motor up to get both sides fully or either go with two expensive thru hull ducers- one for each side

4

Thanks,

The more I read and understand, I’m not certain that I would be getting the full benefit of the of the NSE/NSS systems to offset the cost differences. I’m more of a go here, fish here cause this is where they are kind of guy. It’ll be more about simplicity as most of the time it will be about putting the kids on fish.

Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.

“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne

5

NSS is actually the simplest, easiest to operate. HDS8 or HDS10 is a second because the quick keys (not there on HDS5 or HDS7) can perform menu functions. If you switch between page sets often, then NSE’s quick key setup will be easiest. NSE is the fastest and most powerful of the three.

In order of price per ease of use per simplicity per capability, IMO goes like this:

HDS2-7 (too small and no quick keys on bottom)
NSS-7 (too small)
HDS2-8 great for boat that cruises and fishes
NSS-8 " "
HDS2-10 " "
NSE-8 great for boat that mostly fishes
NSS-12 great for offshore boat that has radar, video input, etc.
NSE-12 " "

The gen 1 HDS units are actually really good for the money, but the gen 2 is a huge improvement. I have had an HDS5 and HDS8 gen 1, and the NSS and NSE units totally blow them out the water mainly due to operational speed. Not talking about miliseconds but a real, noticable, difference when operating. The gen 2 cpu’s are what’s in the NSS units I am told, so I would consider them huge improvements over the gen 1 HDS units. If you never used anything else, then you wouldn’t realize any lag with the HDS gen 1’s…

Plenty choices, and they’re all great for the $. Navico is awesome these days. Value, performance and support all the way around.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

6

Yep, by those ratings the HDS2-10 is more in line with what I want for now. Thanks Phin.

Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.

“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne