Lowrance HDS-5x sounder

[seasick]

I am one click away from purchasing the HDS-5x Fishfinder. Does anyone have anything to say about this specific model? I have an older monochrome Lowrance FF and it has served me well but the technology has really improved since my older unit was made. I have played with the HDS-5x in demo mode and prefer it over the Elite model. I will still use my Garmin 492 for charting.
If you have a HDS-5 combo, let me know if you use it for sonar and how that worked out.

Thanks

 

[G8RDave]

I have the HDS 5 combo that I use for sonar and an HDS 7 that I use as my chartplotter. The 5 works great as a sonar. I had been using an LCX 26 for both charting and sonar. For a short time I used the 5 for both, but the screen was just too small (I only used it that way for a short time because I was waiting for the 7 to come in). If what you have now is monochrome, you'll be amazed with the color.

 

[seasick]

I have the HDS 5 combo that I use for sonar and an HDS 7 that I use as my chartplotter. The 5 works great as a sonar. I had been using an LCX 26 for both charting and sonar. For a short time I used the 5 for both, but the screen was just too small (I only used it that way for a short time because I was waiting for the 7 to come in). If what you have now is monochrome, you'll be amazed with the color.

Thanks for the endorsement. I am going to get the combo (HDS-5 vs HDS-5X) but only use it for the sonar. I figure that with my luck, the day after I install the sonar only, my Garmin 492 will die
Base maps only though, no need for enhanced mapping.
And yes, my old reliable current sonar is monochrome...

 

[seasick]

Re: Lowrance HDS-5x sounder Update

I received the unit and have been playing with all features. It is a lot similar to my old Lowrance but has so many more menus that it has been challenging.
Some features seemed not to work correctly so I checked the web site and saw that a new release of the software (April 26,2011, version 4) was available. It is a really big file but I managed to load a memory card and update the unit. Things look much better and the speed of menus has improved.
I went to the boat yard to start removing the old gear and install the new gear. Turns out that the new transducer connector is a little bit wider than the older one and needs a 7/8 inch hole in the transom. The hole in mine is 3/4 and is just not big enough. So I will have to return with a bit and will coat the new hole with epoxy as well as epoxy the old speed wheel holes. Hopefully the cable pull will go easily. I have my fingers crossed.

 

[seasick]

All installed and ready for launch in a few days.. The hard part (I thought) of pulling the new cable through the rigging tube went easily. Snaking the last two feet into the electronics console was a bear. The new Lowrance connectors are wider than the older ones and were difficult to pull through existing channels and and holes. So a few bruised knuckles, a little hole making and some sore muscles later and it's done!