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Post by jb4sml on Jan 22, 2013 14:36:47 GMT -5
I am looking for some input from the Forum. I am considering buying the new Lowrance Elite- 7 HDI fish finder and possibly a card along with it. (Navionics® Gold and HotMaps® Premium, Fishing Hotspots® PRO as well as Lake Insight and Nautic Insight PRO.). I only fish here on the lake and primarly for Stripers. Is the Elite-7 a good selection without selling the farm and would you purchase a card along with it. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
John
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 22, 2013 15:02:18 GMT -5
A friend of mine just ordered that unit and I believe plans to get one of the Navionics mapping cards to use with it. He's not on this board, but drop me a PM and I can connect you guys so he can give you the details on what he found out, and when he gets it, his initial impressions.
It looks like a pretty sweet little unit as long as you can live without sidescan (which certainly you "can"). I believe the maps that come with it are very basic with very little contour curve data, so you may likely want to add a good mapping card.
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Post by jb4sml on Jan 23, 2013 6:45:47 GMT -5
Thanks much any info.
John
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Post by grasscutter on Jan 23, 2013 7:12:07 GMT -5
Looking for a good review also.... I would like to add this to my boat also
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leeb
New Member
Posts: 198
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Post by leeb on Jan 25, 2013 15:13:16 GMT -5
I figure I am going to hold out for the HHUD3D with LI  translation Halographic Heads Up Display Three Diminsions with Live Imaging  ;D Live Imaging will be where I where glasses or goggles and look any direction and can see what is there displayed over where I look. From Humminbird  |
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Post by mwardncsu on Feb 12, 2013 15:16:51 GMT -5
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Post by tommy1 on Feb 12, 2013 18:51:45 GMT -5
mward any word from your friend on how he likes his or has he got to use it yet, and what is your take on this review of this finder, Thanks for any input!
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Post by mwardncsu on Feb 12, 2013 19:16:45 GMT -5
He's not gotten it on the boat yet as far as I know.....
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BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
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Post by BentRod on Feb 12, 2013 19:21:23 GMT -5
This unit appears to be a good value for what it is, but it's targeted at a specific audience that doesn't need sidescan. I personally think the lack of sidescan or sidescan capability makes this unit a bad investment with the way this technology is changing year to year. I'd rather buy an HDS 7 or 7 touch now and then add LSS in 2-3yrs when I could afford it, if I couldn't afford it all now. An HDS with LSS can see 500-600ft wide..this HDS Elite can basically only see 1/3 of your depth I think (so if you're in 60ft of water, you're seeing a 20ft cone). There's just no comparison and you're limited with this HDS Elite unit, in my honest opinion.
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Post by jb4sml on Feb 12, 2013 19:40:55 GMT -5
WOW thanks for all the feedback... looks like I am going to save a little more and go for the SS... Nice to know that the touch units are having problems...Again thanks for all the info..
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Post by mwardncsu on Feb 12, 2013 20:10:11 GMT -5
What problems are the Touch units having?
I think BentRod meant to say get the HDS7 now and add LSS2 later - the HDS 7 Touch includes SS as a part of it (well, you do have to separately purchase the SS xducer).
I tend to agree with BentRod on this assessment - if you see value in sidescan, then wait (or add it later). If you just want broadband sonar and with ability for downscan it is a good value, but sidescan is so much more valuable, and the HDS units add so much additional flexibility in terms of add-on options, connectivity with other units, etc.
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Post by jb4sml on Feb 13, 2013 6:46:15 GMT -5
I went through the link posted above and in that post was the following.
"I then popped my micro SD card with the local LCM (Lowrance Chart Maps) of Inanda Dam in, and was shocked to see how quick they loaded and did not cause the unit to crash. This is a major pain in the rear with the new Touch units at the moment, but hopefully will be sorted out soon enough."
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Post by FishON on Feb 13, 2013 9:59:13 GMT -5
I don't see why anyone would ever buy a touch screen HDS unit. I have never used the touch srceen HDS but, common sense tells me that buttons would be more reliable than a touch screen.
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Post by mwardncsu on Feb 13, 2013 11:25:31 GMT -5
I don't see why anyone would ever buy a touch screen HDS unit. I have never used the touch srceen HDS but, common sense tells me that buttons would be more reliable than a touch screen. Something tells me the folks at RIM / Blackberry said the same thing a few years back ;D Note that the Elite-7 in question here is not a touch-screen unit - only the new HDS Touch units are. There are some downsides - in cold weather you can't just use any gloves - though there are gloves designed for touch-screen phones that will work with those units as well. There is also the issue of finger-prints / shad smudges getting on the screen and making it look a mess..... will be interesting to see how that plays out (note to self - invest in the screen protector market  ). However, what "Touch" brings is ease-of-use - I've played with a HDS Touch and it is a lot more intutitve, easy to navigate the menus, etc..... There is a place for buttons and a place for touch technology. Simrad (sister company to Lowrance) may have the right balance - touch screen offerings with a rotary knob for selection of various items ..... |
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Post by FishON on Feb 13, 2013 13:06:53 GMT -5
Yeah, sorry I guess I got a little off topic.
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;D
).