Lowrance 5x HDI
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=103773
Printed Date: 29 May 2026 at 6:33am
Topic: Lowrance 5x HDI
Posted By: Sufishent
Subject: Lowrance 5x HDI
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2014 at 10:03pm
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Anyone using this model? pros and cons? Don't need the plotter so interested in sonar capability and performance. Will be used mainly in Hauraki Gulf Currently have an old Eagle, have seen the Lowrance on special so keen to hear actual feedback vs advertising blurb. Thanks in advance ------------- You can never have enough fishing tackle |
Replies:
Posted By: coxie
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2014 at 10:14pm
| I recently bought an elite 5 HDI combo unit and i'm really happy with it, a big plus for the combo unit is being able to mark structure/fish on the sonar which puts a mark on the chartplotter making it simple to go back to the exact spot, I use this feature every time i'm out |
Posted By: Bay Marine Electronics
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 7:24am
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The elite 5xHDI was a good model. It has now been superseeded by the elite 5x CHIRP, which is better. I'm sure you realise, but the x indicates it is a sounder only model. No GPS. ------------- 0800 BAY MARINE www.baymarineelectronics.co.nz |
Posted By: Sufishent
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 10:16am
Thanks for the reply - and yes, realise it's a sounder version only. I also realise that it's been superceded by CHIRP. Interested in your opinion in the broadband and downscan technology in this particular model - eg is it the same as the HDS series? If it is, then why the significant difference in price? ------------- You can never have enough fishing tackle |
Bay Marine Electronics wrote:Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 10:31am
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I have the Elite-7 HDI. I think the sonar is good, although I don't have much experience of others. It is certainly much better than my previous unit, a Garmin 400C, very cheap colour unit. I have used it up to 40m depth. At speed up to my max 22knots, , it shows bottom well and fish sign clearly - sometimes small fish in a mass and sometimes individual fish. The only problem is some interference from the motor wash - I know it s that, as when I trim the motor in its worse and out its less - nothing major, presumably its a bit too close to the prop (small 4.1m boat). I find the controls rather complicated and long-winded to use, but perfectly doable. . That's made worse because I have a touch screen gps unit as well, and the touch controls are far easier. After trying touch, it would be hard to go back to buttons! I think 5" screen would be enough for sonar (but for combo incl gps, think 7" is needed). |
Posted By: Brad76
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 11:07am
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I am running this model and find it pretty good. Same issues as others in getting static but that is transducer placement. Had dolphins under the bait chasing fish last weekend and could see them diving down into the schools pretty damn clearly. Shape of dolphins and all came up |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 5:35pm
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Replaced my 10+ yr old huminbird with a elite 5 still use the huminbird for gps ....I do miss not having more than 2x zoom...still getting used to it...... regardless nice unit Also having issues with transducer positioning at speed... but had same issue with the huminbird... has to do with hull design before sounders where common or affordable Would I buy another one.. yes oh came with Cmap....do prefer the navonic map on the huminbird |
Posted By: Sufishent
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 6:02pm
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Thanks for replies everyone. I currently have separate 5" plotter (Navman) and 5" sounder (Eagle) and was looking at a sounder upgrade only - and agree that 5" is too small as a combo unit. Boat is a 15' tinny - current sounder is fine in shallow and slowish speeds, tracks depth well at high speed but loses fish detail at high speed, so happy to hear Letsgetem's positive feedback on fish detail at speed and Brad76's feedback on detail under the boat. I understand transducer placement has a part to play but I wondered what impact the broadband/downscan technology has on improved performance? ------------- You can never have enough fishing tackle |
Posted By: :Hunter:
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 6:07pm
| Where are they on special? I'm looking at one too.I have the hds 5 as a combo and looking at getting an extra screen |
Posted By: coxie
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 8:16pm
| You can probably get a good deal on the HDI right now as they have been superseded by the new CHIRP model, atleast I did anyway. Screen size is a bit of an issue as a combo unit but I am on a ski so I dont want anything too big, regardless of space I think I would still rather have the benefits of the combo unit over 2 seperate units, specially considering the prices. Bottom tracking is completely upto transducer placement as I never lose track of the bottom even when doing 50 knots. |
Posted By: coxie
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2014 at 8:20pm
| Hunter- I got mine from Burnsco's trademe store, $750 for elite 5 HDI combo unit with navionics gold card, thought that was a bargain |