Hey guys I am looking at getting a Lowrance Elite HdI unit. There are two transducer options, 50/200 or 83/200 both are combined with sonar. The guy at Lowrance said that the 50 would be better for saltwater, but I have read that the 83 has better resolution at shallower depths. Should I still get the 50 even if I fish waters less than 80ft?
Wilderness Systems Ride 135 “Sauer Trout”
Hobie Adventure Island “Rogue Wave”</font id=“size1”>
You don’t need the 50kHz at all until you get over 1000’ in depth. The 83/200kHz will be fine and you’ll never get off of 200kHz anyway.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
get whatever is cheaper/easier - it really doesn’t matter. I have the 50/200, like tigerfin said I never even use the 50 kHz.
There is some difference in beamwidth between the 83 and 50, not sure the exact numbers but basically the 50 covers a large area, the 83 is a little less, and the 200 is a very narrow spot beam. I just ended up with the 50 because it came with the unit.
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
The unit I am looking at is the “Lowrance Elite 7 HDI”. I think it has a combination 50/200 or 83/200. Do they not run similtaneously between 50 and 200 or 83 and 200?
No, if you are in auto range it will switch at a certain depth. If you are in downscan mode, you will be on the 455/800kHz depending on how you set it up. The downscan beams are even narrower than the conventional sonar beams.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
That’s what I was thinking. I know very little about these and it will be a large investment. I called Lowrance earlier today and told the guys I typically fished in 10-30’ and he still suggested the 50.
80 is better for higher speeds…that is all
“Fish On”