[Mr Pix]

Hi All.

Just sold the spare boat & thinking of upgrading the Echosounder and chart plotter on Sinbad.

I have a budget of about £1k, but can sell my existing units to help the funds (dont tell the wife).

I'm looking at the Lowrance HDS-5x Multifunction Echosounder 50/200hz & Lowrance HDS-5m Multifunction GPS Chartplotter.

I'm currently using the Lowrance Globalmap 3500c with the Bristol channel inner & outter charts - nice bit of kit, the 5" screen is o.k (just about !!). I wouldnt want combi units with slit screens for obvious reasons.

Problem is, the Lowrance marketing pictures look cool, but I'm thinking the HD 3d maps are only available for America (lakes etc).

Does anyone own these units - are they as good as they look ? & what things are not including....i.e chart plotter antenna, maps etc.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Cheers Pix

 

[Mr Pix]

Not familiar with the kit in question, so cannot comment.

Re: 3D charts. The system i have, and all i have seen write their own charts as you go along. Your sounder gathers and inputs bathermetric data into the 3D database, the more times you pass over an area, the more detailed your map becomes.
Gear at the lower end of the market might come with pre-wretten 3D charts, but I have never seen, nor heard of these.

2D/3D bottom imaging gear is the absolute bogs dollocks IMO. Soon 'pays' for itself....

Cheers Sharpy....

" the more times you pass over an area, the more detailed the map becomes"

Sounds just the ticket, I'm guessing I have far less water to cover than your neck of the woods !! I have a limited list of marks - most are pretty good, so shouldnt take long to gather the required readings.
I will be interested to hear if the cheaper models I'm looking at come with this - or like you say, fixed charts.

Cheers for the advice...Pix

 

[niggle]

Hi Pix,I have just bought HDS-5X with the 83/200khz transponder haven`t fitted yet only just arrived,but didn`t rush into it done my homework and as its broadband based better fish finding and also at 20knts.Will try to fit this pm and let u know,fingers crossed
Nigel

 

[Mr Pix]

Hi Pix,I have just bought HDS-5X with the 83/200khz transponder haven`t fitted yet only just arrived,but didn`t rush into it done my homework and as its broadband based better fish finding and also at 20knts.Will try to fit this pm and let u know,fingers crossed
Nigel

Would appreciated that Nigel, like yourself - I want to do my homework - its a big buy when you have a family to look after.
I'm not so worried about the 20knots, coz I cant go down hills on the sea :laugh:.

I'm guessing you also did your homework on the price ??!! any tips on supplier offers and cost.

I see you went for the 83/200kHz trasducer, rather than the 50/200kHz....any reason in that & whats the difference ?


Cheers

Pix

 

[niggle]

Hello again Pix,just got back from fitting it,cracking display couldn`t go out as low tide will go out tomorrow if poss,went for 83/200 as apparantly better on 83hz setting see my replies if u search on here
cheers Nigel

 

[sharkey 18]

Hi i have the 10" lowrance broadband sounder get images like this ........................

shoal of cod...........

wreck............

fish going back down.....

Nice bit of kit.

steve

 

[David N]

Good on you Sharkey. :victory: You blanked out the location of the mark....

 

[Mr Pix]

Hello again Pix,just got back from fitting it,cracking display couldn`t go out as low tide will go out tomorrow if poss,went for 83/200 as apparantly better on 83hz setting see my replies if u search on here
cheers Nigel

Cheers Nigel..... If its anything like the shots shown by Sharky - cracking piece of kit.:sun:

 

[Mr Pix]

Hi i have the 10" lowrance broadband sounder get images like this ........................

shoal of cod...........

wreck............

fish going back down.....

Nice bit of kit.

steve

Cheers for the shots Steve, much appreciated.

Cracking shots there, makes my old monochrome look very out dated !!
I hope I find a couple of those wrecks :yeah: