Lowrance HDS-7 with a CHIRP transducer?

[BayWolf]

I was originally going to add this to my post gathering Intel and input, but I thought a new thread would be better.

After playing and reading and digging into info., and factoring in how and where I fish, I'm leaning toward a Lowrance HDS-7 with a CHIRP transducer. Sooooo...

Do any of you guys run a set up like that?

Pros?

Cons?

Any other input is much appreciated.

I did receive a tip from a member on who and where to go for the best pricing. But I want as much user input as I can get before I commit.  After all, it is a good chunk of change.

As always,  thanks to all of you and to this great board!

[AlAdams]

I picked my 9" up after the Sportsman show in Puyallup. They were selling the demo units at a decent discount.

[Andre Morin]

You are probably talking about the Elite7 with the 83/200/455/800 transducer. The HDS require the sonar hub (+$500).

If you fish shallow water (less then 50ft.) you wont get much more with CHIRP.

[BayWolf]

You are probably talking about the Elite7 with the 83/200/455/800 transducer. The HDS require the sonar hub (+$500).

If you fish shallow water (less then 50ft.) you wont get much more with CHIRP.

I rarely fish shallow. Mostly south Puget, Sekiu, neah. Salmon, black bass, lings and want to start halibut.

I looked at the Elite 7 with CHIRP. Had a dealer tell me they are having real problems with it freezing on the boot screen. Also, the maps are not near as good as the HDS. Not expandable either.

I wish the came out with a HDS/CHIRP unit.

[Andre Morin]

In you're title it was HDS7.

The freezing problem has been cure with the latest update V4. For the mapping it takes the same has a HDS except the Platinium.

The processor is slower . It's a excellent unit for the price but if you got the budget for a HDS go for it.

[BayWolf]

In you're title it was HDS7.

The freezing problem has been cure with the latest update V4. For the mapping it takes the same has a HDS except the Platinium.

The processor is slower . It's a excellent unit for the price but if you got the budget for a HDS go for it.

Thanks.  Yes, I'm talking about a HDS platform.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I went through the units again tonight at Cabela's and was told that the pre-loaded maps on the HDS units (and what I saw) are much better and include tide and current informational points.  The Elit-7 does come with CHIRP now, but Lowrance HDS platform doesn't come bundled with a CHIRP transducer (sonar hub) but it does support CHIRP.

[DSCS]

I have to agree with wallyandre on this one. I did a lot of CHIRP research last winter. Even as much as I love all the electronic toys on my boat, there is no way I could justify the expense of going CHIRP. If you are doing a lot of deep halibut fishing CHIRP may be beneficial. For salmon fishing conventional sonar is just as good and arguably better than CHIRP with a lot less fuss dialing in frequencies and such.

That said...  if you gotta have CHIRP then you gotta have it. Like me with my auto pilot and E/H trailer brakes. Most people say I don't need 'em. I would not want to live without them.

Alan

[Lingripper]

Perry just received my HDS7 with lss2 transducer and 83-200 transducer for my bass boat the whole package $860 at oasis electronics if you want he 50-200 only $60 more. Go with the HDS the Elite has no engine data and wont network to other units.  Think if I was redoing my Arima that is the way I would go.

[BayWolf]

Perry just received my HDS7 with lss2 transducer and 83-200 transducer for my bass boat the whole package $860 at oasis electronics if you want he 50-200 only $60 more. Go with the HDS the Elite has no engine data and wont network to other units.  Think if I was redoing my Arima that is the way I would go.

Hey Gregg, yup, pretty locked into the HDS-7.  Just going back and forth between a standard 50/200 transducer or (since its supported) going with CHIRP with the HDS-7.

[Lingripper]

Think they only had a few left at that price if you do decide to go that way about 450 off regular

[BayWolf]

Think they only had a few left at that price if you do decide to go that way about 450 off regular

Can you provided the URL for the site? I googled oasis electronics but just got crap.

Tnx

[Lingripper]

http://www.thedigitaloasis.com/