Lowrance SpotlightScan coming

[mwardncsu]

Spotted this on another board - seems Bass Pro has gone again and split the beans before they were meant to..... will be interesting to see what this is all about - clearly some form of reaction to Humminbird's 360 sonar....

Forward- and surround-scan imaging for your HDS Gen2 and HDS Gen2 Touch displays
Quickly identify key fishing areas before your first cast
Do-it-yourself, bow-mount installation for foot-control, cable-steer trolling motors
Operating frequencies: SpotlightScan (455/800 kHz); DownScan Imaging® (455/800 kHz); and Broadband Sounder™ (83/200 kHz)



The Lowrance SpotlightScan Trolling Motor Transducer is required for adding Spotlightscan Sonar to your Lowrance HDS Gen2* and Gen2 Touch
fishfinder/chartplotter displays. This incredible sonar provides a new level of angler-controlled, forward- and surround-scanning views to provide picture-like images of key fishing areas. SpotlightScan Sonar clearly pinpoints structure and fish targets ahead and around your boat, similar to the way a scanning spotlight reveals objects in the dark. Consequently, you save valuable time on the water and maintain focus on the most productive fishing spots without disturbing these areas before you have a chance to fish them. The SpotLightScan Transducer also features DownScan Imaging and Broadband Sounder for the bet possible view beneath your boat.

NOTE: HDS Gen2 (non Touch) models require the SonarHub™ module for compatibility with the SpotlightScan tranducer.

Lowrance® SonarHub™ Module Only sold separately and can be found through item search for number 2061757

[mwardncsu]

Found a pic someone snagged off BassPro.com


Looks like an "StructureScan" xducer that goes on your TM - and then connects to your HDS Touch - or an external box - guess they will have new software to handing "forward looking" sonar.

Talks about it as "angler controlled" - so I'm guessing it won't draw the full view and have a spinning head and all that stuff like the Humminbird 360.... Basically turning the xducer forward vs down I guess. Could be useful for bass guys and crappie guys and potentially in tracking schools of fish in summer by manually turning the trolling motor head - putting that stuff up on the front of the boat is where it belongs to find fish before you've passed them anyway.

Says for bow-mount, foot-controlled cable-steer trolling motors - likely due to the nonsense of the Riptide / Terrova motors and how to route a cable with turning the TM and snapping the cable...

[Brian]

I bet Humminbird has the 360 sonar patented, so this is the best Lowrance could do to answer it... Still could work well for catching bait in open water.

[mwardncsu]

So, official details are out

Spotlightscan is a trolling motor mounted xducer and you manually adjust the direction with the TM. Says for cable controlled TMs only - probably to remove liability of the TM breaking the cable

SonarHub adds CHIRP sonar options - and is needed if you don't have a GEN2 Touch unit.

Interested to see actual screenshots of the Spotlightscan and also the CHIRP sonar


www.lowrance.com/en-US/News/Sonarhub-Sounder/

www.lowrance.com/en-US/News/SpotlightScan-Sonar/




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[Gator]

Would the "Spotlight" scan be a good alternative to the "StructureScan"? I like the idea of a TM mounted xducer verses the stern mount xducer. Less holes in the boat. With the incredible discount I get from the big box store my Son works at I would consider this if it is a good option. Just need to get out of the woods long enough to install and FISH.

[BentRod]

I immediately think of interference issues. Just one more thing to waste money on.

[ranger518]

It'll be interesting to see how this works. I know with my hummingbird side imaging if the boat isn't moving the image isn't very clear. You can still see quite a bit, just not good detail at all. If you aim this thing with the TM it seems like this same problem would arise.

[mwardncsu]

www.wired2fish.com/lowrance-releases-new-spotlight-feature-and-sonarhub/

Some images surfacing....


From Fishtec's page on Facebook
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151994900515482.1073741829.131196870481&type=1

[mwardncsu]

More details from Lowrance... looks like there is a hard binding to the cable-driven foot pedals and there is a NMEA-2K sensor that connects to the foot-pedal so it knows which way the thing is being rotated. Looks like iPilots are definitely out - seemed tuned to the bass-boat crown that wold have the cable-driven trolling motors. Probably the market that most values a forward view at short range anyway....


www.lowrance.com/Root/Lowrance-Documents/US/Spotlight.pdf

[BentRod]

Looks like it would be really good for catching bait.

[Brian]

I see guys on bbc talk about having a LSS on their trolling motor. Any speculation on how well that would work for catching bait?

I bet there will be some used structure scan modules available as people upgrade to sonarhub.

[BentRod]

In deep water chasing shad, LSS is money. In shallow water, I'm not too sure bc I'm never looking at it.

[Pete D.]

Once again Lowrance is right on H-birds ass. Its funny how so many people bag the bird, yet Lowrance got "Structure Scan" directly from "Side Imaging" and now their new "spotlight scan" is directly mimicking "360 Imaging". Don't get me wrong, I like both companies, just think that it's amusing how Hbird gets a bad rap when they are the OG's with this stuff.

[CorneliaGale]

I think Hummingbird really started improving when they bought out Bottom Line, they were behind before that. They seem to be coming up with a lot of new things.
Time will tell if they can keep it up.