Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

[06Streaker]

My wife bought me the Lowrance HDS-5X without my knowledge for an early fathers day/Birthday present. Yes she is a wonderful woman LOL
My problem is that she bought the 50/200 kHz model and I need the 83/200 model. I don't do alot of fishing in deep water. Can I just buy the 83/200 transducer for this one and everything will be good??? I'm hoping so. Another thing is that I can't find the 83/200 transducer anywhere. If you know of a good place to get one let me know please. I don't know alot about these as this will be my first. Thanx for helping if you can.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

If you don't fish deep, whatever that means, most likely you don't need 83 kHz either.

The HDS is a digital machine. Completely different critter than the old analog units most are still using. Unless your fishing some strange "in-between depth" I personally wouldn't worry about it.

FWIW: I have no problems marking fish in 150? of water using 200kHz and have no problems marking fish in 20? of water using 50kHz.

 

[06Streaker]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

Thanx Dingbat
I am going by what I was told. As I said I'm new at this but didn't want her to have spent all that money on something thats not gonna do what I need it to.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

I'd stick with the 50/200.

And I'd stick with that wife.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

The biggest advanatage, or so they say, is that you get a 120 degree cone angle when using the 83 kHz transducer. Once again it come down to how deep of water you fish in.

Personally, a cone angle that results in a view wider than my boat is a waste unless the unit has the capability to tell me where the mark is in relation to the boat ( i.e. side scan)

What good is it to see a mark on the screen when you have no idea if the mark is right under the boat or 12 feet off to the left or the right?

You can calculate the viewing area vs cone angle here

http://www.furunousa.com/Furuno/Roo...Entity[OID[AF575FE21F71AE45B6DE71C013424D5E]]

 

[06Streaker]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

I'm definitely sticking with my wife. She loves to fish too so it a win win situation for me.
I'm not sure what I want to do just yet but I do like being able to have a wider bottom view. Once you learn where you are in relation to what your looking at I think it will be better. Its just like anything else. You have to learn what it is your looking at.
Thanx for the link Dingbat.
I'll check this out.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Need help with Lowrance HDS-5X unit

I have not seen the unit on the water but did see it at the Winter boat shows and ask a lot of questions of the factory reps.
First off they do not have a 83/200 Khz transducer. The 83 KHZ uses the standard 200 KHZ transducer for that unit.
Hard to believe but that the way it works. The 50/200 KHZ unit is a dual transducer but on that unit I would not use it unless fishing more than 400 feet deep.
The wider cone angle of the 83 khz can be usefull in shallow water to find fish if the bottom is flat. To know where the fish is you would run in a dual frequency mode. When you see fish to swing to port or starboard and watch the 200 khz screen for the fish. Then you will be over the fish.
If the bottom has a lot of rocks or uneven bottom you will likely see more fish on the 200khz screen because of the effects of the dead zone.
If it is brand new you may be able to contact the place you purchased it at and exchange the transducer. Note the 50/200 khz transducer is about $50 higher than the 200Khz transduucer.
One other place where the wider cone angle is helpful is if your running downriggers and want to be able to see your down rigger balls in shallow water.