Buying Plotter/Sounder
Submitted by flexn on Wed, 2012-07-25 15:41
Hi all
I'm looking in to buying a new sounder/gps combo inc a navionics gold card. I currently have a Navman 4600 600w with a 50/200khz transducer and was seeing if there is anything better I could get for around $1200 for new, otherwise bit less for a second hand unit. Can anyone advise on a decent unit?
I was looking at possably a hds5 or a second hand hds7. Any opinions would be great.
Thanks
bradzino
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 27/06/12
Second that
I was looking at the HDS7 for my boat too, and is the Lowrance a good option as I havent really looked towards furuno or any other brands...
Brad
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Humminbird 798CI
Go the side/down imaging, better bang for ya buck
will pick them up for $1200
will blow ya mind :)
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
The HDS are pretty good but
The HDS are pretty good but if using it split screen as a sounder/GPS would definately go the HDS7 (or 2x 5's) the 5's are a bit small for split screen (I have 2 HDS5's one as sounder one as GPS).
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
does anyome no how much would
does anyome no how much would a old navman 4500 sounder and 5500 tracker sell for? They are both colour
Rob H
Posts: 5817
Date Joined: 18/01/12
sold a 4500 on ebay $190.
sold a 4500 on ebay $190.
5500, $150-400 depending if it has a card etc maybe
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
little johnny
Posts: 5362
Date Joined: 04/12/11
jrc
crasny1
Posts: 7006
Date Joined: 16/10/08
I have the Humminbird 798CI
And rate it as a combo. Side scan is excellent but takes a while to get my old brain to get use to the pictures.
Never had a Foruno but almost all other brands dabled with. Only a shallow(er) user, as deeper than 50m I have no hope in hell of beating the taxman up here, so cant comment on the deeper pros/cons, but for what I use it rates high.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
yeah looks like a nice unit.
yeah looks like a nice unit. What do people think? humminbird or lowrance
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
lowrance HDS 7
i the have lowrance HDS7 and love it.....such clear pics great gps and u can add the optional side scan aswell (which i dont have)
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Thats the problem with lowrank
you have to add the side scan......
humminbird has it all in one package and it's better quality
Insane
Posts: 7
Date Joined: 30/07/12
I have the HDS 8
I have the HDS 8 . Great sounder plotter combo. If budget allows I would go with 2 HDS 5 units ,one as a sounder the other as the plotter . I even find the screen on the 8 small at times and am considering another as a stand alone plotter. Good luck with the decision.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
I have a Raymarine E7D, At
I have a Raymarine E7D, At not much more than a HDS 7 i rate the little extras such as the touchscreen makes panning so easy!
bradzino
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 27/06/12
HDS8
I have a budget to get the HDS8 put into a centre console so not sure if I would be able to fit 2 x stand alone units? so ya reckon 2 x 5's are the go...
Is there much difference with the genII v the first HDS?
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
In my view 2 x 5's linked
In my view 2 x 5's linked together would be better than one HDS 7 - mainly because you end up with more screen size (the 7 is essentially a wide screen version of the 5). but if your talking 2x5's vs a HDS 8 I'd say the 8 would win out. Difference in screen size would no longer be much of an issue but the 8 would win hands down due to the addition of the fast keys along the bottom which are a little easier to access the often used features such as sensitivity etc.
Diff between gen 1 and gen 2 - Sounder side is pretty well much the same however the update rate on the GPS side is a little faster on the gen 2 (responds faster when scrolling and zooming etc). That being said on my Gen 1 HDS 5 I don't find I am waiting for the picture to update at all and wouldn't say its an issue either way.
Put it this way if I was fitting out my boat again and was looking at a HDS gen 1 Vs HDS gen 2 and the difference in price was $400-$600 I would be grabbing the gen 1 and saving the money or putting it towards the structure scan. (Or if I had a budget of $2,000 and this meant either the gen 2 HDS8 or a Gen 1 HDS10 I'd probably go the Gen 1 HDS 10 - if I had the room to mount it of course)
Hope that helps
Paul
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
I am looking at the Simrad
I am looking at the Simrad NSS NSO 10 or 15inch system with auto pilot, structurescan, sonic hub and broadband radar as a new system for my tub or the Raymarine equivalent.
seems that Simrad are a step further with upgradable computer hub that can be reloaded with new software.
Any opinions or things that forum members know?
To get to the facts while being bombarded with sales pitched lines is just so confussing.
I have my less than 1 year old Lowrance Elite 5 GPS and Navman scanner up for sale.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Like you say, sometimes hard
Like you say, sometimes hard to separate the pitch and the products ... but are Simrad really a step further with an upgradeable computer hub?
You can replace the firmware on most units anyway, but you can't change the hardware. The thing is with computer development, is that as you get new features in sw, you can only run so many of them before you need to change your hardware anyway.
Its just the same as why we don't run windows 7 on a pentium 2. Sure, it might run 2k ok, but its never going to run up to date stuff fine.
It would be good to see the new raymarine units running chirp sounders, but the price for the transducers is still a bit loopy.
tot
Posts: 1162
Date Joined: 31/01/10
raymarine & chirp
spoke to raymarine tec support about some questions i had with current set up. Asked if they will be bringing out a all in one unit with chirp and the reply was that they had not planned to. So a rather large price tag to get it running atm , bugga!
Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Very true, Chirp is where i
Very true, Chirp is where i want to go with my ray but not until the price comes down a bit!!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
The external box for chirp
The external box for chirp isn't silly, but the transducers are still. Pretty much everything on the market is made by airmar, so all the brands are in the same boat, arf.
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
what are peoples thoughts on
what are peoples thoughts on a second hand furuno fcv582L or similiar? how do they compare to a humminbird or lowrance?
bradzino
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 27/06/12
HDS8
Thanks for that info Paul H- will stick the HDS8 into the dash on the console rather than mount it, should work with the room I have available and have large enough screen to use both the sounder and GPS.
The 10 would be good but I think the space will suit the 8 as well as the price...
Cheers
Brad
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
The Hds are really easy to
The Hds are really easy to use the furuno are a great unit but not as easy to use as I am just finding out
Nathan
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
yeah mate, go the 8 if
yeah mate, go the 8 if possible, you wont regret it over the 7, i think the 8 also comes with 600watt tranny and the 5&7 only come with 200watt, dont qoute me on that though!!
i got a 10 as the sounder and a 8 for gps, its always nice to have a bigger screen to watch from the rear of the tub.
you couldnt go wrong with the furuno either but the hds;s seem easier to set up to talk to each other, 1 eithernet cable and thats it.
cheers
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
To link two HDS's I believe
To link two HDS's I believe you may also need to connect up three other wires as well as the ethernet cable (specifically if you want to marks GPS co-ord's from the seperate sounder unit) easy enough to do though!!
I think only the 5's come with a transducer as a package (may vary depending on where you buy) where as the 7's 8's 10's you have to buy the transducer seperatly anyway, so can select the best transducer you want.
HDS 8 vs HDS 7 - the 8 also has the fast keys along the bottom - a big bonus on top of the screen size
(I'll cope with my 5's and no fast keys for now - It was a huge jump up from the B&W sounder I had, - its nice to be able to mark whiting on the bottom or actually know whats the bottom or weed etc).
PS if anyone wants to know which 3 wires to connect send me a PM, it was hard to find this info. Even the dealers were telling me just an ethernet cable hookup would suffice to mark GPS coords from the sounder.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
hey matei can assure you, you
hey mate
i can assure you, you only need the eithernet cable...i was told about the wires as well, until i was also told to try the cable...it works!!
the wires i was told were for the radar and some other things to work, not sure on this, one day radar will come.
my 10 to my 8, 1 cable only and every thing works as normal, save a spot on either unit and its there on the other, the only differance is i only run the platium card in the 8 as the 10 is sounder only, yes they are both combos and if needed i will place the card into the 10 for gps.
the gps in the 10 still works, but only gives you basic mapping(waypoints are still there)
in regards to the transducer, you can buy it either way, with or without.
both my units were bought with a 600watt transom mount tranny in the box, a freind who bought the 7 only recived the smaller 200 watt in his box, not sure if its a option or not though.
my father bought a 8 and i supplied him with 1 of my other transducers that was not used, did save a couple of hundred.
cheers ron
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Cheers - I have hooked up the
Cheers - I have hooked up the wires with connectors but didn't connect them yet - only hooked up the ethernet cable, haven't tried to mark a gps position from the sounder yet as haven't needed to. when I do I'll give it a shot without connecting the wires.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
try it out mate, makes life
try it out mate, makes life easy.
if you see something while driving along on your sounder, just scroll it back and mark a spot right where you want it, then its there on your gps instantly and you can turn around and go straight back to it without looking for it again.
handy for when you see something small on the sounder you want to pin point again.
and yeh mate,dont worry about the wires, dont use them, i fitted mine myself so i know 100% they are not conected.
cheers
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
is there a big difference
is there a big difference with the HDS 5 with the 'skimmer' 83/200khz transducer and the dual frequency 50/200?
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
this i am told is the 200 w
this i am told is the 200 w tranny that comes with the 5&7
this is what come with my 8 & 10 hds. 600w 50/200, it is almost double the size
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
I got the 50/200hz tranny
I got the 50/200hz tranny with my HDS5 - it is definately the bottom one (i was unaware it of its wattage when I got it) identical bracket and all. I did note when I pulled it out of the box that it was slightly larger than the one I'd seen before in another box which looked more like the top one.
Guess I'm just that little bit more happier now :-)
Cheers Paul
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
your lucky day mate...loli
your lucky day mate...lol
i only found out when i was buying the units myself.
cheers
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
The Lowrange elite 5 runs the
The Lowrange elite 5 runs the same processor as the 10.
A bigger screen is what you pay for.
Does anyone run the Simrad NSS/NSO systems here on this forum?
bradzino
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 27/06/12
Transducer
hey Ron
I thought the transducer's are sold seperately? unless you go for the package deal type- also looked at the HDS8 on the weekend which you can pair up with a sonic hub too, I dont think you would use half the features on them unless you have been shown!
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
both mine come with the
both mine come with the trannys mate and my fathers 8 was bought without.
have heard good things about the hub, never tried one myself.
i defo like the soft shortcut keys on the 8/10 mate, use them all the time.
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
If i buy a sounder overseas
If i buy a sounder overseas can i use a australian navionics card and use the GPS over here?
Perfish
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 15/11/11
And let the 'buy local' games
And let the 'buy local' games begin!
Good luck flexn
Man with line in water catches fish!
You only get what you always got if you only do what you've always done!
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
I was going to buy local and
I was going to buy local and if I could afford it I would rather. But I can get a HDS 7 from US for the price of a hds 5 so it's a no brainer if it will work over here
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Not if its geofenced
Not if its geofenced (locked).
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
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flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
how would I find this out?
how would I find this out?
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
They are geofenced unless you
They are geofenced unless you buy int version
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
what about a humminbird? same
what about a humminbird? same deal?
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
managed to pick up a gen 1
managed to pick up a gen 1 hds 8 with a navionics card for $1000
Nath86
Posts: 53
Date Joined: 27/06/10
Is that new??? I'd be
Is that new??? I'd be intersted to know where if it is because I'll grab one too.
Cheers Nath
It's not about the fish, it's about fishing.
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
nah sorry off gumtree mate,
nah sorry off gumtree mate, not a scratch on it though.
flexn
Posts: 232
Date Joined: 19/03/12
So which transducer should I
So which transducer should I be looking at buying to match the hds8? I go out around rotto in about 40-60m but will probably be going out a bit deeper around exmouth when I do a trip next year. should I go the 50/200khz? The guy i bought it off had a 83/200khz and he went exmouth quite a bit?
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Going by memory only 83/200
Going by memory only 83/200 should be good to at least around 100m 50/200 would be better deeper than that.
Cheers
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos