HDS5 for ice fishing?

[Crappyfisherman]

Good to know stuff. Already knew how good the work, just didnt know why.As more people start uising them for ice fishing it will be interesting to see how close we can fish to one another.

[slammer]

Nice little package. What do you use the + and - posts on the back for? What amp battery do you use?

[JIM C]

Nice little package. What do you use the + and - posts on the back for? What amp battery do you use?

They are charging ports for the battery. I used a large wire nut painted the appropriate red or black with a stainless steel bolt through the bottom of it for the charging stud. There is a nut inside the wire nut to secure the bolt in place, and the studs are recessed below the rim of the wire nut to prevent an accidental grounding.

I've got a 10 AH battery (same footprint as a 7 AH battery, just 1" taller) wedged in place inside the box with high density foam so it can't move.

It was a fun project to build and it has held up after being pounded across a lot of ice.

Jim Carroll NPAA#13

[Chode2235]

Another tip: to save battery life, put the GPS on simulator mode when you are not needing the GPS for a while.

This shuts off the GPS antenna and will save you a ton of juice.

[Werewolf]

how do you put the GPS in that mode?

[riverview]

thinking about a fl22 but I put a hds 7 in my boat and now you have me wondering about useing it this winter.

[Werewolf]

get her rigged up , I have a FL 22 also and I set my HDS 5 up and I like using it, I dont think you will be disapointed..

[Chode2235]

Yeah, you can get it set up a lot cheaper than buying the whole 'kit' from lowrance.

You can get a genz box fairly cheaply, and the transducer will be the most expensive piece.

Although the HDS 5 is a pretty expensive piece of equipment, you may want to think about a padded case.

[gquist]

How does the Elite-5 IceMachine compare to the HDS 5? Is it something new? I can't find much info on it yet.

[fishwater]

How does the Elite-5 IceMachine compare to the HDS 5?

Similar functionality for the most part. The big difference is that the HDS units use lower wattage (less than 50W rms) analog output (and input) in conjunction with digital amplification to achieve it's screen representation. Elite-5's use higher analog output (500W rms) without the digital signal processing offered by the HDS. The noise reduction methods differ too. Essentially Elite-5's are like the older 322 and 522 graphs.

[tsande00]

Similar functionality for the most part. The big difference is that the HDS units use lower wattage (less than 50W rms) analog output (and input) in conjunction with digital amplification to achieve it's screen representation. Elite-5's use higher analog output (500W rms) without the digital signal processing offered by the HDS. The noise reduction methods differ too. Essentially Elite-5's are like the older 322 and 522 graphs.

And the english version? When all is said and done, what does this mean for Joe User?

[fishwater]

what does this mean for Joe User?

[tsande00]

I appreciate the info fishwater. I need a new unit for the boat and would like to be able to use it on the ice. Sounds like maybe I should be looking into an HDS unit. The Lx7 looks sweet for ice fishing but having GPS on open water is a huge plus for me. The Navionics app is all I need for an ice fishing GPS since you're using it to find a spot and setup, not troll the same breakline or path.

[CaptainMusky]

I appreciate the info fishwater. I need a new unit for the boat and would like to be able to use it on the ice. Sounds like maybe I should be looking into an HDS unit. The Lx7 looks sweet for ice fishing but having GPS on open water is a huge plus for me. The Navionics app is all I need for an ice fishing GPS since you're using it to find a spot and setup, not troll the same breakline or path.

Here's a novel idea for Marcum, put a GPS on the LX7.

LOL

I have beaten that horse plenty already, but IMO its a huge mistake they havent included a GPS on this unit at $700.

[tsande00]

I have beaten that horse plenty already, but IMO its a huge mistake they havent included a GPS on this unit at $700.

I'm guessing the problem was they were worried about driving the cost up anymore than it already is. I'm betting once they figure out how to reduce manufacturing and procurement costs they will be able to have a new unit out with GPS that doesn't break the bank anymore than the LX7.

I agree with you though that the LX7 should have GPS. A chip can't cost that much money can it? It also should have had video input for hooking up a camera. Could have had software that allowed you to view gps/flasher/camera all at the same time.

[slammer]

Anyone run the HDS with a older vex? Going to get a HDS5 and just wondering how or if the two will work side by side.