Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

[dabood]

I want to up grade to a Lowrance HDS 8, I want to get side scaning with it.
I fish 40 to 1500 ft. offshore. Does anyone know which unit I'd be best fitted for? I think the 50/200 is better than the 83/200 transducer for my app.. I have my own mapping cards already, so don't need that built in. I want internal ant.. I want Sonar/GPS which I think all these units have.
There's many different models and funtions, I'm confused. I went to West Marine and that person didn't know anymore than me.
Last unit I bought was 2500ft. but without the special transducer ($600.00)
I read 600ft at best. I want to buy the right one with the right stuff once.
Can anyone help????

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

Lowrance does not have side imaging yet. Thay are having a battle with Humminbird about it. They do have Structure Scan which is really fantastic.

 

[dabood]

Re: Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

Thats what I ment, LSS 1. Its still like side scanning, correct?
There also seems to be a few different fetures with the HDS units.
And and I'm not sure which unit I need.
I have a 24' C.C. for rec. fishing. I don't what to buy more than I need, however If I spend $2,000.00 I don't want to be short.

 

[Jason Gilstrap Lowrance]

Re: Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

HDS 8 is awesome unit, since you stated that you have your own mapping just get the base map unit. The 8 can run up to 4 panels at the same time and with the soft keys it easier to work the lss-1 and rest of the sonar and mapping. Going by your post I believe you fish saltwater, I would probably look into hds 8 base map with the 50/200khz transducer.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

When you say,

"I fish 40 to 1500 ft. offshore,"

I believe you are referring to the depth of the water, and not the distance from the beach. I do not believe that the LOWRANCE Structure Scan (or anyone else's side scan SONAR) will be useful at depths of 1,500-feet. Generally these side-imaging devices are only useful to about 100-feet of depth, in my understanding. If you look at all the sample images they are generally all from water less than 100-feet deep. The LOWRANCE specifications for LSS-1 say:

Downscan Specifications:
Max Depth: 100 ft (800kHz); 300 ft (455kHz)

 

[dabood]

Re: Upgrade to Lowrance HDS 8

I want the side scan (LSS 1) for diving not reading the 1500 ft. I know that would be crazy. I want the correct unit for all my apps. Fishing offshore, Diving and reef fishing. Thats why I'm confused what would be the correct unit.