Down Scan Imaging?

[BobT]

Have any of you got experience with Down Scan Imaging? I'm considering upgrading my sonar on my boat and this technology has interested me.

The model I'm considering is the Lowrance Elite-5 DSI with GPS or the Mark-5 DSI (sonar only).

Would like to hear some reviews.

Thanks,

[TruthWalleyes]

If your going to upgrade, upgrade to side scan or side imaging.

I NEVER use downscan, It's either Sonar or SI. Downscan by itself is a waste of money IMO.

I have 2yrs experience with HB898cSI.

Also, lowrance's downscan is much better than humminbirds...but they don't tell you much more than a sonar if you're good at reading one of those. SI will tell you worlds more than sonar and down.

[Kyhl]

I'm not familiar with that model but suggest that you make sure it has both regular sonar and down scan. Down scan alone would not be very useful to me.

If I had to rank things, first would be regular sonar, second would be GPS, third would be side scan, leaving down scan last.

[JohnMickish]

I guess I look at things differently than other people. I use DI more than SI when fishing. I use SI when scouting and 2D+DI when fishing. Running 2D and DI side by side, especially when fishing in heavy structure, allows you to verify if what you are seeing is just a rock sitting on the mud or a fish 1/2" above the mud.

My advice, as it always has been for electronics is this. Get next size bigger screen than you think you want and you get what you pay for. That being said, don't expect these units to look and perform like a low cost HDS unit, your losing something. For screen size, when you start to split up the screen and look at fine details, things get small in a hurry.

[ClownColor]

If your going to upgrade, upgrade to side scan or side imaging.

I NEVER use downscan, It's either Sonar or SI. Downscan by itself is a waste of money IMO.

I have 2yrs experience with HB898cSI.

Also, lowrance's downscan is much better than humminbirds...but they don't tell you much more than a sonar if you're good at reading one of those. SI will tell you worlds more than sonar and down.

agree 100%.

The only argument I have, not against this post, but from the one above is, I'd take a small screen size and would do it over...unless of course this was my job or I had tons of money.

I have the 5" and love it. Best bang for the buck is the small one espicially when they knock the price in half (or close too) like they tend to do around opener. both HB and Lowrance did that to their 5" models. I couldn't justify spending that much for a fish finder. But to each their own.

[BobT]

I don't have any experience with side imaging either. Too bad there wasn't some way to test it before buying.

[UKCM]

I have DI and SI. My opinion is DI is easy to interpet. SI takes more time. I have a cabin on a lake with miles of Reeds in deep water. There are pockets of fish on the edges of the weeks, both sunnies and bass. However I will be darned if I can figure out how to find them on SI. Any one who wants to post a pic of fish on the edges of a reed bed on SI, please do. On the other hand when my DI marks fish, it is acurate. I have caught fish when they are marked on it any number of times. Does it replace normal sonar... Not always, normal sonar images a cone and sometimes shows more fish than the elipse of DI. For a more detailed explanation, google Dr. Sonar and see his explanation on the difference between the two. Today if I had to give up SI or DI, I would give up SI, however, it might be due to my lack of expertise.

[dan z]

If your using it to find fish I would go else were or have a normal sonar right next to it. We use one on the river boat its great for showing structure but isn't very good at showing fish (arcs) this is from a mark 5 dsi black and white.

[reddog]

My experience is with Humminbirds, but the gist of the post is the same..

DI will show every fish that's there, but it will be completely different than a 2d screen. If you get an arc on 2d then you may get a white dot or blob in di, the smaller the screen, the smaller the dot will be. Everything that shows up in di, also shows up in the water column on the SI screen. You just have to be able to recognize it.

Note the fish in the DI screen, they are also in the water column on the SI screen (plus all the others outside the water column) Thbis is exactly why you dont want to "split" the screens. Each split takes away image quality and interpretability.(is that a word?)

Playing with different color palletes will help.

If you are fishing "structure/slope, Di will show you fish that get ate up in the dead zone of 2D sonar as 2D only prints bottom where the outside of the cone hits bottom at.

Each feature is a tool, and for me, SI hardly ever leaves my screen, The only time I "play around" with DI or even 2D, is when Ive already put fish in the boat with SI, and I know they are around, so I play around with it to get better, but primarily, my go to screen is full SI..

Like in real estate, its location, location, and location, with DI and SI capable electronics, its screensize, screen size, screen size.... and then settings, settings and settings..

[Kyhl]

Wow. I'll try to get some good screen grabs of the Lowrance DI this summer. There are times when you can identify the species with a clear view of the head, eye, dorsal, and tail. They aren't archs. I've even used the GPS measure function to measure a fish on the DI to decide if I want to fish it. LOL.

Back on subject.

I guess I look at things differently than other people. I use DI more than SI when fishing. I use SI when scouting and 2D+DI when fishing. Running 2D and DI side by side, especially when fishing in heavy structure, allows you to verify if what you are seeing is just a rock sitting on the mud or a fish 1/2" above the mud.

My advice, as it always has been for electronics is this. Get next size bigger screen than you think you want and you get what you pay for. That being said, don't expect these units to look and perform like a low cost HDS unit, your losing something. For screen size, when you start to split up the screen and look at fine details, things get small in a hurry.

Seconded.

Even though I ranked DI last I use it all the time along with the regular sonar because it really helps to identify things. In a ranking of usefulness, I simply feel that SI is more helpful for scouting than DI is for marking fish as long as the unit already has regular sonar.

And completely agree that bigger is better when you start slicing up the screen. I wish I could afford a 12" screen or a second 8" on the dash.

To the OP, the main reason that I recommend making sure the unit has both regular sonar and DI is because of how they operate. DI only shows you a line directly under the boat where traditional sonar shows you everything in a cone shaped area under the boat.

They don't necessarily show you the same thing.

Most of the time, I will see a fish on the regular sonar a few seconds before it shows up on DI. There are even a few times where the DI will not show it because of it's limited scanning area.

For this reason, I would not be without traditional sonar because it shows you things that DI does not.

[TruthWalleyes]

I don't have any experience with side imaging either. Too bad there wasn't some way to test it before buying.

Google "humminbird image interpretation"

Click 2nd link

Best resource to learn how to use your Side Imaging. Tons of Info to help get you started.

[BobT]

This is great and helpful information! Thanks a heap.

[BLACKJACK]

I bought a HB 1198 last fall, with hunting and other projects, never got it onto the boat or into the water, its still in the box, would it be helpful while I have the time this winter to just mount it on my bench, hook it up to a 12 volt battery and 'play' with it in demo mode? Or would my time be better spent on the internet reviewing sites like just mentioned??

[JohnMickish]

I think your better off looking at the internet images, try to figure out what you are seeing and then read what the poster thinks is there.

One thing that hasen't been mentioned is when running SI you typically get sharper images at speeds of 3-8 MPH. If your lindy rigging the mud on Mille Lacs at 0.5 it's not going to do you much good, but driving over the mud before you start to fish it's a great tool to inform you of where the fish are today. After I start to fish at slow speeds is where I turn the DI on.

Here is a good example of where DI can be a great tool. Is the lump on he left a rock, fish or weed? The image on the right clearly shows that there is space under the image, it's a fsh.

This is a similar image but see the difference in DI?

[TruthWalleyes]

Both...But i bet you'll learn more on that HSOforum...There's lots of information on your humminbird SI screen - You need to learn how to intrepret it.

You'll learn even more when you get on the water and use what you've learned from BBC. I haven't found a better source than that forum; good lowrance info too. You just have to put up with those southern bass fisherman

[reddog]

I bought a HB 1198 last fall, with hunting and other projects, never got it onto the boat or into the water, its still in the box, would it be helpful while I have the time this winter to just mount it on my bench, hook it up to a 12 volt battery and 'play' with it in demo mode? Or would my time be better spent on the internet reviewing sites like just mentioned??

BJ,

There is nothing in this world, like having it on your boat, and watching stuff unfold for you. Simulators are nice, but you just dont get the overall experience..

Bob,

if youre interested in Lowrance products, Doc Sampsons HDS series is a great way to learn SS/DS. If youre interested in Humminbirds, then Doug Vahrenburgs videos on You Tube are great, along with Dr, Jason Halfens online tutorials... All 3 can be easily found..

With that said, Docs HDS video is good whether you are a Lowrance user, or a Humminbird, you just have to disregard the first half of the video (HDS info) if you use Humminbird, but his explanation of DS works, and shows, is very good for both brands..I know I learned alot about DS/DI with Docs video..

Its incredible technology, for sure..

[JohnMickish]

Reddog is right, the Doc Sampson series is a great way to learn the stuff. He has lots of tips on facebook too.

[RIPN LIPS]

jasonhalfenoutdoors.com he tells you everything you want to know and more along with great videos. I have 3 birds in the boat the dash has a di/si unit for finding the spots and the front and back have di/mapping to use while fishing. I would recommend the hummingbird over the others

[BobT]

It seems there is a fair amount of support for Hbird products. Any time I've looked at them in retail outlets the screen resolution seems to be poorer than lowrance and that's part of my interest.

What is it you guys find better about the hbird?

One model that does interest me is the 587ci HD DI. This unit features both 2D sonar and downscan imaging along with GPS capability compatible with Navionics Hotmaps Premium. I haven't had a chance to review them in person yet. Any opinions are welcome.

[JohnMickish]

What is it you guys find better about the hbird?

I can't speak for anyone else but here is my 2 cents.

They work. Period. Year after year, day after day they work. If it does go bad, it's not obsolete in 2 years and your not stuck with it. Hbird clearly has the repair prices on their HSOforum for units over 10 years old.

Can Lowrance fix anything older than their HDS units? No. Am I disgruntled at Lowrance? Yes.

I used to be a Lowrance guy, had an LCX15, LCX17, LCX 27 and I believe it was a 320. The 27 and 320 had their shallow water issues and the 27 had a screen rotation issue as well. I couldn't get any help so I switched.

I do believe that in the bigger units the Lowrance sonar screen is sharper so I may go back, but for now the Hbirds work everyday for me.

One other thing that Hbird has going for it, if you care to go that route, is that Lakemaster only plays with the birds now (Johnson Outdoors owns Humminbird, Cannon, Lakemaster and Minnkota), and with the Ilink option it will allow you to do things you can't do with any Lowrance.

[Kyhl]

What is it you guys find better about the hbird?

What John said.

Lowrance had a string of quality control and customer service issues that came to a head just as HB came out with their DI/SI tech so people switched.

Lowrance has gotten better over the last few year with their HDS units but many feel the bridge was burned beyond repair. I can't blame them even though as you, I prefer HDS.

[ClownColor]

Both are great. I would buy either one if doing over...not brand loyal. Got a great deal on lowrance. I like the lowrance cause I can add multiple units. And if money is an issue, u can buy it in phases. Lowrance may have screwed people over in the past and that would keep me from buying one also.

[BobT]

Update!

I thought I'd share a rundown of my decision process and let you know that I have made my decision and ordered my new sonar unit. YeeHaw!

Due to budget limitations I decided it would be best to limit myself to the 5" diagonal screen size.

For whatever reason, I decided early on that my choice would be between Lowrance and Hummingbird.

I decided not to go with GPS capability. I have a Garmin Rino120 hand-held GPS that I have been using for this purpose. In addition, the hand-held provides more flexibility because I have MN Lakemaster, MN Topo, US Topo, and US Roads & Recreation software that I like to use for winter and summer fishing, hunting, ATV riding, etc. This saved me about $100 in purchase cost of the sonar plus over $125.00 in mapping software expense. The money I saved can now be applied to upgrade my hand-held to a Garmin GPSMap78sc

With regard to screen resolution and picture clarity I felt Lowrance most definitely has the edge in the 5” diagonal units in 2D mode however in Downscan mode I didn’t see any striking difference between them.

After reviewing everything, I am not sold on side imaging technology. It seemed too confusing for me to look at. I guess I could get used to it eventually.

I do like the Downscan Imaging but I hesitate to give up completely on 2D sonar and I think there is a place for it. For this reason I was hoping to find a unit that offers the ability to use both 2D and Downscan functionality. Lowrance does not offer this option but Hummingbird does.

One feature from Hummingbird that caught my eye was their Dual Beam Plus technology. It incorporates a narrow beam to focus on structure directly below the boat but then overlays a wide 60° beam to capture echos from further out. At 20’ deep, the coverage is 23’ in diameter offering a better picture of what is in the vacinity below. This seems to offer a somewhat similar advantage as side imaging although obviously not quite the same.

After reading customer reviews I concluded that Hummingbird’s customer satisfaction rating seems to have a slight edge over Lowrance. That does not mean Lowrance has a bad rating and I would not have any reservations about buying a Lowrance product either. My experience has been primarily Lowrance over the years and I have been more than happy with them.

The unit I finally settled on is the Hummingbird 596c HD DI. This color unit features Hummingbird’s Switchfire™, Down Imaging®, and Dual Beam Plus™ sonar technology with split screen zoom that allows multiple technologies to be displayed simultaneously.

This unit is available from Hummingbird for $399.99 but I did manage to find a place in Florida that has the units in stock for $347.00 plus $8.95 shipping UPS ground to my location. Customer reviews of the seller rated it pretty high so I felt comfortable placing my order with them. I expect to have it in my hands by the end of next week.

I want to thank everyone for your help and opinions. You gave me some valuable information and I really appreciate it.

[JohnMickish]

You made an excellent choice and will be very happy with it. After you learn it, you will really like how the DI can show you things you thought you didn't know.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Thanks for the update. You really thought this through... enjoy!

[ClownColor]

Congrats and have fun with it this summer. Make sure to send out a review this fall.