New locator

[Ice Wolf]

I have been thinking about replacing one of my graphs on my boat with one that has structure scan. Currently I have 3 Lowrance graphs that are networked with each other so my first thought is to buy another Lowrance but after looking at people's reviews on Lowrance graphs and seeing all of the problems they have I am not so sure. Anyone pick up a new Lowrance in the past year? What do you think about it? I was thinking about buying the Elite 7 HDI. I think the Gen - 2 units are way over priced for what you get. What are your guys thoughts? Maybe it's time to try a Bird.

Icewolf.

[ClownColor]

Yeah...Lowrance lost some customers a few years back but they've definetly been pretty darn good lately. Those HDS units seem to be holding strong and have many many options for them that IMO they completely out rank their competition.

I'd say stick with them since you already own quite a few. I have the HDS gen2 and love it. They have a great mapping thing with Navionics right now. WiFi to turn your tablet into another screen. Just seems like they maybe on top...just hopoe their CS is better then years past.

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[delcecchi]

Lowrance is now part of a different company. The dump they built and their poor customer service caused them to go broke, so they were acquired.

The new owners seem to be trying to improve things. I haven't heard very much negative about Lowrance, considering the number that they sell.

In addition to here there are a few other places, including the various retailer web sites, with reviews.

I too am looking at the Elite 7, since my 520 went toes up.

[CaptainMusky]

Del it was basically because of the 520 and 522 that lowrance had so many issues. Its great yours lasted this long.

The customer service has been greatly improved.

I wouldn't hesitate one second to get the elite 7 hdi IMO its the best value on the water.

If you get into the hds units the sky is the limit. Yeah they cost more buy you have way more options.

[delcecchi]

I also have a 334 (I think that is right number) that wasn't exactly a thing of beauty. But it didn't yet fill up with water and die like the 520.

[Ice Wolf]

Del it was basically because of the 520 and 522 that lowrance had so many issues. Its great yours lasted this long.

The customer service has been greatly improved.

I wouldn't hesitate one second to get the elite 7 hdi IMO its the best value on the water.

If you get into the hds units the sky is the limit. Yeah they cost more buy you have way more options.

What does the gen. 2 touch do over the Elite 7 Hdi. Side scan.....Wifi? What use would wifi give you for fishing? I just don't understand why the Gen 2 touch is so much more than Elite 7 Hdi.

Icewolf.

[ClownColor]

Alot...your better off going to the lowrance site cause there are alot of differences. Wifi won't do anything for fishing but consider this, the wifi adapter is $250. The base units are $1000 to $2000+. So for $250 you could take your tablet (or phone I suppose) and turn it into an hds screen. Pretty good savings right there.

[CaptainMusky]

The WiFi is one very cool option. Good suggestion to go to lowrance site to read up but in a nutshell you can view and control you touch unit from a tablet. May not seem like a big deal but many people have a tablet these days and could double their electronics in the boat without the big up front cost.

Difference from hdi and a touch would be you can do nmea 2000 networking with the touch where you cannot with the elite. That may not be important to you but if you ever want radar, sonic hub, on board diagnostics for your motor to name a few you cannot do that on hdi.

The elite 7 hdi will do what 95% of people want or need. If the increase in price to go to a touch unit is worth it or not will be up to you in whether or not those features are important enough.

I am not 100% sure but I don't believe you can log sonar with an elite either. This could be handy in that you can make your own maps of lakes you frequent. Upload the file to lowrance HSOforum and they will create a useable file for a chip and you are good to go.

Structure map is another feature of the touch units (and gen 2l that is not avail on elite. You can overlay structure scan images with the contour lines pretty sweet!

[Ice Wolf]

Lowrance is now part of a different company. The dump they built and their poor customer service caused them to go broke, so they were acquired.

The new owners seem to be trying to improve things. I haven't heard very much negative about Lowrance, considering the number that they sell.

In addition to here there are a few other places, including the various retailer web sites, with reviews.

I too am looking at the Elite 7, since my 520 went toes up.

What I understand is Lowrance was bought out in September of 06. Has another company acquired then more recently? If not their has been a lot of complaints about product and service from 2006 - 2013 what has changed for 2014?

Icewolf.

[CaptainMusky]

Navico is the current owner of Lowrance. Not sure if that is the same company as who acquired them in '06 or not, but I believe so.

There were a few model years that had extensive issues. Primary models were the 520, 522, 3800 series to name a few. Issues were all over the map, from internal GPS (522 and 3800 series) to water intrusion, etc.

Since the introduction of the HDS units there have been very few issues.

The first year of the HDS there were fairly widespread water intrusion issues, but those were resolved and you dont even hear about the new models having problems with it.

I had called customer support twice for different things and someone answered the phone within a couple minutes and was very helpful. I didnt have any major issues, but they walked me through steps to resolve and if it didnt work they would have sent me a prepaid shipping label to send it in for repair for free.

It didnt come to that, but I was pleased with how I was treated.

[Kyhl]

No issues here on a Gen1 HDS8. I'm waiting to see what they do for the second year of the touch model. I've been drooling over one for a year.

It's really an Apple vs Droid thing. Some prefer one, others prefer the other. I'm a droid HDS kind of guy. My friend is an Apple HB guy. They both get things done. They both seem to work. I can't understand why he would want to limit himself to his world and he doesn't understand why I want to putz with the electronics in my world.

[delcecchi]

What I understand is Lowrance was bought out in September of 06. Has another company acquired then more recently? If not their has been a lot of complaints about product and service from 2006 - 2013 what has changed for 2014?

Icewolf.

Nah, but I have a long memory and at my age time flies. Navico is the one. Hard to believe my 520 is/was at least 8 years old. That makes the 334 be pushing 10. I guess I got my money's worth anyway.

[Ice Wolf]

My locators are 7 years old and built in the Stone Age compared to what's out there today!

Been doing some research on HDS Touch, wifi, Ethernet, point 1 antenna, Navionics + maps, oh and if you are using a cable drive bow mount trolling motor and are thinking about replacing it with a remote steer Xi5 think again. For a pile of money you can mount this (spotlightscan) sonar to your motor head that scans down and out to 150' and on your locator it tells you the direction you are looking at. Looks pretty cool.

Bottom line is all of this equipment is spendy and too much for this weekend warrior. I will wait to see better reviews from guys before I buy.

Icewolf

[CaptainMusky]

The beauty is you don't have to buy all those things at once. Add them over time as your budget allows. Not everyone gets their stuff free so its just not feasible.

[southender]

I got the elite 7hdi last fall. I have limited usage due to ice up, but I do like it. for the money it cost, it does everything I need it to do. I would buy another one to replace the one I have or the x26 that is on the bow