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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | Going to get A lowrance hds gen 2 with structure scan my question is do you think the hds 8 is worth the xtra $ the xtra features on is it worth it so those of you who have A hds 8 are you glad you spent the extra $ or do you wish you saved the $ and went with A 7 instead. How bout you folks with the 7 or 5 do you wish you spent the extra $ for the 8.
Thanks for your replies when I am looking for A answer I know I can always find it on this forum |
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| I have both, the 7 on the trolling motor, and the 8 by the tiller. The 7 is 6.4" and the 8 is 8.4", making it a bigger jump than the model # sounds. Very noticable in my opinion, it looks way bigger..
The quick access buttons on the bottom on the 8s are nice too. If you can, I'd get the 8.. |
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Posts: 183
| I have an HDS 8 and 7, they are both excellent units, but I like the 8 for the bigger screen and hot keys on the bottom. Go for the 8 if you can. |
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| I looked at price and went with 3 HDS 7s over an 8 and a 7. I felt I get more square viewing inches for the money that way. I run 3 7s accross the dash or can move one to the bow. If I was only going with one unit on the dash I would have gone with a 10. The smallest I would have gone with across the dash is an 8 if I was only going with one unit there. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | When it comes to locators, bigger is better holds true! Get the biggest screen your budget allows, you won't be disappointed. I also think the hot keys on the HDS 8 are totally worth it IMO also. Any way you go, you'll be happy! |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | With the 8, along with being a bigger screen, you also have the touchpad surround on the rockerswitch which you can spin, not a huge thing but it is nice once you get used to it, it is nice. Also, you can split the screens to four panels so you can have side image, map, sonar and data or whatever. Plus the soft keys on the bottom are nice for quick launch of items.
However, the price is more. I know plenty of guys who went with two 7's, or a 7 for map and a 5 for sonar, etc. I have a 7 on my console but plan to upgrade to an 8 when I pass that bill through congress..... |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | some good deals on the original hds's right now...use the savings to go bigger |
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| Schuler - 1/9/2012 7:27 PM
some good deals on the original hds's right now...use the savings to go bigger
What's the price difference between a Gen 1 HDS8 with Structure Scan and a Gen 2 HDS7 with Structure Scan with all of the rebates? |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Gen 1 HDS-8 is $1699, $200 rebate offer till February 12. StructureScan is $599.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Electronics/Sonar-an...
HDS-7 Gen 2 with StructureScan is $1499.00.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Electronics/Sonar-an...
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Thanks, do you know if Cabela's (or any other store for that matter) will be putting the Gen 1s on sale/clearance when the Gen 2s are officially on the market? |
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Posts: 20
| I have a HDS 8 at the console and a HDS 5 on the trolling motor. The bigger screen on the 8 is worth every penny especially if you are trolling and watching structurescan, etc.
I will be posting my HDS 8 shortly so I can get the Gen 2. PM me if you have any interest.
Marty |
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Posts: 677
Location: Twin Cities, MN | I went with 3 - 7 inch screens for the price of one 8 also.
I can run duel units in front or back depending on how I am fishing. I like to run sonar on one, and mapping the other. Fishing season cannot get here fast enough for me. |
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So the HDS8 is going to be $2100 with Structure Scan after the rebate? What's the mapping on the Gen 1 HDS8 at $1699, Insight or the Basemap? |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Yes, $2100+ tax should be about right.
The $1699 unit is the Basemap unit. I prefer the Basemap unit because I buy the Navionics chip for my area so I don't use the maps on the Insight model. Save the extra $100 and you can buy a Navionics card to go with it. |
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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | looking in bass pro catalog they have 2 options insight or enhanced which do you reccomend I will fish the madison lakes 95% of the time |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | saw hds-8 insight for $1300 (after $200 rebate) at gander mtn |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | TEX - 1/12/2012 5:36 PM
looking in bass pro catalog they have 2 options insight or enhanced which do you reccomend I will fish the madison lakes 95% of the time
I prefer the Enhanced Basemap because I use a Navioncs card in my units so the Insight for me is not worth it. Since you fish so much in Madison, I'd suggest a Navionics card as well with the Enhanced Basemap unit for $1699. The ones in the Bass Pro catalog are the Gen 2 units.
As Schuler mentioned, there is a $200 rebate on Gen 1 units, but you will have to check Bass Pro Shops stock online since the Gen 1 units aren't listed in the catalog. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | I bought two HDS's Gen 1, last fall, not too happy in comparison to the speed of the Gen 2. Also if you look at the Gen 2 HDS 8 next to the 10, the picture is better on the 8 in my opinion. |
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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | so are you saying that the gen 2 is much faster |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Yes, the Gen 2 is noticeable faster.
The HDS Gen 1 units have been out for three years, the Gen 2 units were bound to be coming soon. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: SE, WI. | The HDS-8 gen 1 are reasonable right now. 1,249 after rebate. I can get you on the right link from amazon if you are ready to buy. Hurry, just a few left...  |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | Got to try out a Gen 2 HDS 8 yesterday in Scheels.....I was impressed on how fast the unit was. Maybe on this years xmas list.... |
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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | Bought A new Lund yesterday at the Chicago boat show I told the dealer I wanted the HDS 8 GEN 2 he knew nothing about it so we talked to the Lund rep they did not want to include the GEN 2 in the sale due to the fact they were worried about when they were comming out he wasnt so sure that they would be out in February, I even told them I didnt mind waiting longer for it and they still did not want to include it so I bought the boat with out so I probably will look for A deal on the internet and have Greg Fitch install it. |
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| Thorne bros had the gen 2's at Chicago. Processors are a lot faster, they have more memory and you can overlay and save your structure scan onto the map. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Guys, new guy here to these new HDS units. Lost my old boat to a fire recently and just got in an HDS-5 for trolling motor and a Gen 2 HDS7 for console. I'm used to my old Vexilar FL8 if that tells you anything...
I haven't even turned this unit on yet...TOTALLY-- new and it's 93 deg outside right now.
Anyway, I do Vermilion each year and would like a "chip". Can you guys please steer me into a preferred one? I'm not above spending the $$ for "better" if that's a factor.
I don't know a thing about this device and I found this posted info via a search. Glad to say I do have switch on the new boat (Ranger Z118) but I'm still concerned about the start battery being drained etc. I worry a good bit 'cause I hate "wires"...bigtime!
Thanks for any suggestions. I hate asking dumb quests but this rig is totally new as of 2 days ago and I'm still dealing with contractors and rebuilding the home. We'll get there...I just haven't had time to play and we leave for V right after the 4th!
Jeremy.
Maybe I should bring along a couple of jumper wires w/clips in case I have trouble out at night??
Edited by Jeremy 6/10/2012 12:43 PM
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Posts: 437
| If you can find a Lakemaster 2011 chip that would be #1 choice. Otherwise Lowrance has a new line of chips out, better priced that Lakemaster and from what I have seen they look pretty good. Only 1 of the 2 new chips is on the market right now. The difference is the one that comes out later will have shaded relief, while the first one does not.
I did a side by side comparison to a lakemaster chip and the new lowrance chip at scheels looking at a couple lakes I frequent. From what I could tell in the few minutes I looked it over they appeared the same as in using the same data. These were HD lakes, not the standard definition lakes.
I didnt look at Vermilion though. The 2012 Lakemaster chips no longer work in Lowrance units, so those are the options aside from Navionics chips, which I havent used other than the phone app -- which works pretty decent. |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Whichever chip you decide, you will need a chip for each unit. I have the same setup (Gen1 HDS-5 up front, Gen2 HDS-7 at the console) both networked through structure scan and I love it! Navionics here, but haven't fished Vermillion yet. |
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Posts: 437
| Regarding the concern over draining your starting battery, I have an HDS 7 that runs off the starter battery. I usually have that going along with the radio and I havent run into a problem yet. Unless you were to run for a period of like 8 hrs straight of not even starting your big motor then I think you might encounter some problems, but usually you hop from spot to spot every few hours I would think would suffice to put some charge back in the starting battery.
A jumper cable wouldnt be a bad idea. Its something I have thought about too, but havent done. |
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Posts: 437
| nocturnalmotors - 6/11/2012 9:47 AM
Whichever chip you decide, you will need a chip for each unit. I have the same setup (Gen1 HDS-5 up front, Gen2 HDS-7 at the console) both networked through structure scan and I love it! Navionics here, but haven't fished Vermillion yet. I thought you could share "chart" data or map cards between units if they are networked? I havent done it myself, but when I was going through settings I thought I saw that. I do believe though that you would be reading from that other unit so your position error would be off more if you were say in the front of the boat and sharing with a unit that is located elsewhere. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Thanks guys. Your info. is much appreciated. I'll follow any further discussion e.g. chips etc., with interest, especially sharing the map charts or chips and related info.
It's a bit odd, I've been a serious fisherman for over 50 yrs. and a boat owner for better than the last 25 and never gave much credence to the high tech stuff. Totally ignorant! Thanks all.
Jeremy. |
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