Depth finder advise

[riverrat]

I have an old hummingbird that I a going to upgrade. I am looking at ether a lowrance elite 5 or an elite 7 with down scan. From you experienced on the lake which would you recommend.both are quid expensive I don't want to go wrong.
Thank you

[Hoss928]

I use an Elite 5 DSI unit. Believe me when I say it's not all its cracked up to be. I haven't had one image displayed like I had imagined.
I don't know if there are other options but the cone angle on the transducer is very narrow too. I think I could have found a different unit to spend that much money on.
Anyone else have thoughts ?

[stubby]

I have an old hummingbird that I a going to upgrade. I am looking at ether a lowrance elite 5 or an elite 7 with down scan. From you experienced on the lake which would you recommend.both are quid expensive I don't want to go wrong.
Thank you

I use an Elite 5 DSI unit. Believe me when I say it's not all its cracked up to be. I haven't had one image displayed like I had imagined.
I don't know if there are other options but the cone angle on the transducer is very narrow too. I think I could have found a different unit to spend that much money on.
Anyone else have thoughts ?

i am in the same boat so to speak as my latest and greatest hummingbird of 12 years ago recently gave up the ghost
i have done a lot of research and saw the new dragonfly at west m. and was not impressed at all....too cumbersome to work the controls and very small screen
i was also looking at the lowrance 7" screen and thought it better but after Hoss's post, don't know what to use
oh well, i was waiting till this winter when the boat is out and have a lot of time to ponder it.....will stay posted to this thread.....good luck....

[walleye2go]

For a budget under a thousand the hds 7 with insight is a great choice. I can run spilt screen with no problem, shows great marks, great display. Sure I'd love to have an hds 12... but

[Hoss928]

For a budget under a thousand the hds 7 with insight is a great choice. I can run spilt screen with no problem, shows great marks, great display. Sure I'd love to have an hds 12... but

In hindsight, I think I'd have rather gone with an HDS unit.
Walleye2go, do you know what the cone diameter is at 30ft with the included transducer ?

[Panfisher1402]

I use to run a DSI unit. Now I run a HDS 10 without DSI and I love it. In my opinion you do not need Down Scan Imaging for open water trolling. I think the HDS 7 would be great for Erie.

[riverrat]

Thank you for your replies I will continue monitoring this post

[white eyes]

i have a hds 7 and hds5 great units. i would not get the insight on eny unit save the money and buy a good map chip they have better detail.

[ReelTime]

IMO the Furuno is above and beyond the Lorance products. I have had both. I run the Furuno fish finder with an Airmar p66 transducer along side a Lorance HDS7 chartplotter. I can mark fish while running on plane. I think a lot of people overlook the transducer and that is the key element. Most units come with cheap ducers that don't measure up to the potential of the unit.

[Hoss928]

Well said, Wes. I'm not familiar with the Furuno fish finder. I've only ever used Lowrance products. I could see where it wouldn't take much to beat the fish finder. I do like the chart plotter/GPS part of the unit though.
I do need to learn more about transducers myself to see if I can get more out if the unit I have though.