Lowrance HDS 8 questions

[BHII]

Hi All,
Just joined this forum today and thought I'd do a little "brain picking" from some of you electronic savoy fishermen. I recently traded a 17 year old boat for a 2 year old boat and upgraded from a regular depth/fish finder to the Lowrance HDS 8 on console and HDS 5 on the bow. Due to some illness and upcoming surgery on the 27th, I haven't had a chance to get out and play with these units (other than when trying out the boat) and thus, do not understand how to operate them. The HDS 8 has the structure scan, sonar, down scan etc., etc. (no radar). I could use help learning to operate it as it is, but also, folks are telling me that I need to purchase a SD lake card for more detail with "hot spots", structure, etc., etc. I will only need a card with the East / Middle Tennessee lakes, but can only find the cards for the entire East US. That's ok also, but during my research, I've read as many negative reviews as good ones. Can any of you suggest the brand of card I need. I've also been told that I can download updated info on line? How? As you can tell, I'm as electronic illiterate as anyone I know and would appreciate any and all help / advice. Many Thanks, BHII emoBang

 

[Tn bullet]

Insight pro is a good one I run two hds 12's and with mine I only need one card and it works on both of mine my best recommendation is go see Johnny at djmarine he is on here and he can set you up and show you around the units! Top notch guy

 

[silvertalon]

A Navionic card will work. I have eastern states but it stops at Nickajack dam. No Guntersville or south. Get Platinum. It also comes with one year of free public downloads and you can record your own maps, upload them to Navionics and they send back your customized map for download. I know it sounds complicated but it is simple once you learn it. I don't use the self mapping features. Navionics is rated best for Lowrance but Lakemaster for Humminbird I hear is better. If you did not get a structure scan module and cables with your locators, you cannot use side scan. Your two units will also share the Navionics mapping chip thru the Module. Otherwise you'll need to manually change the chip from one locator to the other. Or, buy a 2nd chip. Sound like its getting expensive? A Platinum chip is about $150, a module new is about $300 plus 2 cables (locators to module). Plus, you need a LSS transducer for side scan if you buy the module. They are about $300. Learning to use the units takes patients. You must download or buy a manual with instructions to learn and understand the functions. When I bought my HDS 7 & 8, I bought a separate power cable to run a unit in the house -off of a lawn mower battery. I learned to use it in simulator mode. Also, be prepared to upgrade your cranking battery to a 31 series battery. Or, bring a booster jumper with you because after a long day, they will run down an ordinary 24 or 27 series battery. Lowrance also recommends a 31. Once you get it all right, its worth it.

 

[silvertalon]

Also, if you go the whole system with structure scan, I recommend a point one antenna that mounts next to the gunnel behind the driver seat. Or, behind your trolling motor on the forward deck. It doubles the speed of your position icon with 10 signals per second. Without the point one, when you drift away from a waypoint, the icon pointer (your boat), turns away. You'll also need a NEMA 2000 starter kit. It will fire wire your units to the antenna. The internal antenna's in the HDS are satisfactory but with the point one system, it will get you within 1-2 ft of a waypoint. Quite accurate

 

[bronzeback45]

silvertalon - 2/22/2017 12:18 AM Also, if you go the whole system with structure scan, I recommend a point one antenna that mounts next to the gunnel behind the driver seat. Or, behind your trolling motor on the forward deck. It doubles the speed of your position icon with 10 signals per second. Without the point one, when you drift away from a waypoint, the icon pointer (your boat), turns away. You'll also need a NEMA 2000 starter kit. It will fire wire your units to the antenna. The internal antenna's in the HDS are satisfactory but with the point one system, it will get you within 1-2 ft of a waypoint. Quite accurate

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He Didn't clarify Gen 1 or 2, only Gen 2 and up map share. Also, P1 doesn't double speed either it is a heading sensor, that's the benefit of the P1 ,and if you change your settings under chart , select time instead of auto and set to 1 second, that can be done on all HDS units without P1.</p>

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[BHII]

Thank You.

 

[wormman]

I have a new {never used} navionics plus card I can sell you for 125.00. You can down load any lake or river in
united states and get one year of free updates from navionics. This card sells for 179.00-199.00.

 

[bronzeback45]

wormman - 2/22/2017 5:41 AM I have a new {never used} navionics plus card I can sell you for 125.00. You can down load any lake or river in united states and get one year of free updates from navionics. This card sells for 179.00-199.00.

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That's a good deal. After 1 year, he can pay $99 to get free updates if he chooses too. If he is not intersted I have a friend who would buy it. Let me know..</p>

 

[BHII]

I would like to purchase your card, how do you want to handle the transaction? Does it (or you) have any instructions on how to go about downloading the lakes that I normally fish onto it? In order to save you any hassles, we'll probably want to do this in the next day or 2 as I'm going to have surgery on Monday and will be out of commission a few weeks. Where are you located?

 

[wormman]

Yes I have down loated one before. Not difficult. Contact me at 706-264-3198 thanks.