Need advise, should I get a unit with side & down imaging??

**Swampseed** · 09-04-2014, 05:00 PM

Looking to upgrade my old 150 dollar fish finder. I have a 16' G3 Jon that I fish mostly trolling motor only water so looking to mount unit up front on trolling motor. Should I go all in with a unit that does both?? Will side imaging work up front on trolling motor?? What speed do I need to be going for side to work?? Was going to go with a down image unit but was thinking do I bite the bullet money wise and get the best of both? Thanks for any thoughts.

**Cray** · 09-04-2014, 05:54 PM

Speed has a lot to do with the quality of your SI picture. Probably faster than you would normally run your trolling motor. Think if it was me I would get a unit with 2d and straight DI to mount on troller. Think the quality of picture would be better overall. Either the 600 series Humminbird or the Elite5 series from lowrance would be good reasonable priced units if you didn't want GPS.

**justinp61** · 09-04-2014, 05:55 PM

I have side and down imaging on the bow of my boat and seldom use the side imaging. The side imaging needs to be going straight to get good images, when the tm turns it kinda smears the returns. On the speed 3-4 mph works best but I get decent down images below 1 mph.

What units are you looking at?

**Swampseed** · 09-04-2014, 06:44 PM

Kinda thought side image would not work to good on trolling motor plus extra money for a unit with both side & down image. Looking at Lowrance Elite 7 HDI sonar/GPS combo for 550.00, and have 180.00 in rewards points I can use. I am guessing all 2014 models will start going on sale now before 2015 models come out???

**Cray** · 09-04-2014, 06:55 PM

That Elite7 should be a nice unit if it's in your budget. Friend of mine has one mounted on bow of his boat and loves it. If your going to pick it up at the store get them to install the latest update for you.

**LowePro** · 09-05-2014, 02:54 PM

Down images in the down image only graph, are more detailed than looking at the down image view in side imaging. Side image gets its "down image" picture by combining the 2 inside over lapping weaker sonar returns. Which is ok, but not as good as down image only graph. On the trolling motor, i would go with down image only and 2d graph, and leave side imaging alone unless gonna put another one on the transom

**Swampseed** · 09-05-2014, 04:43 PM

Cray, how would I go about getting the latest update installed?? Can they do it at store?? Would they have to send it in to Lowrance?

**justinp61** · 09-05-2014, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Swampseed

Cray, how would I go about getting the latest update installed?? Can they do it at store?? Would they have to send it in to Lowrance?

Just down load from Lowrances web site, move it to a memory card and load it into the df.

**CrappiePappy** · 09-05-2014, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by LowePro

Down images in the down image only graph, are more detailed than looking at the down image view in side imaging. Side image gets its "down image" picture by combining the 2 inside over lapping weaker sonar returns. Which is ok, but not as good as down image only graph. On the trolling motor, i would go with down image only and 2d graph, and leave side imaging alone unless gonna put another one on the transom

I agree with LowePro, on DI images from a Lowrance DI being better than HB's SI images turned into DI images. A dedicated crystal for DI images will show better detail than a "interpreted" image from a SI crystal.
My Elite 5DSI unit will show images like this :

and it's not the latest/greatest of DI units ... in fact, it's discontinued from the Lowrance line, likely in favor of the new Elite series units that have DI & 2d.

Personally, I'd never go back to 2d & it's "finger painting" images. Not when I can get images like the one above.

SI shines when you're motoring around & looking over an area for cover, and baitballs & fish that are out to either side of the boat and at a distance.

DI shines when you're covering a specific area, or looking for cover/baitballs/fish that are within the range of your downscan sonar ping.

The method(s) that you normally use the most ... should be the deciding factor in what capabilities a unit must have.

... cp

**Alphahawk** · 09-05-2014, 09:12 PM

Pappy is correct about the Lowrance having much better di images and it is because of the dedicated di transducer. I have no dog in a fight Humminbird over Lowrance....they both are good units. I may purchase a Lowrance myself.....right now I have a Humminbird 899. But if I was going to get a new unit I would make sure it had si capabilities along with the di. Several brands now have si. It is a myth that you can't get good side imaging at low speeds.....and yes during a turn your images will smear....depending on how much of a turn you make. But with a little bit of experience you will know what you are seeing even if it is askew. I have a kayak and have very good images. My top speed is only 2 MPH and mostly I cruise at 1.5 MPH. The image of the tree with the crappie in it was taken at a speed of 1.4 MPH. You don't have to be moving to see fish with any of the si..di units. If a fish swims under your beam it will show up.....the Doppler principal comes into play there. You are not moving...and you will not paint a good image of the structure under you but the fish are moving and will show up. Look at my speed on the di pic...it is almost nothing.....the speed on the combo display is 1.8 MPH. I got the depth off the di portion of that image and pulled 27 beautiful crappie....many black nose.....out of that cold water. I have been paddling along using si and found shell cracker beds I would have never known they were there had I not been side scanning. I got my unit in February and I have had the best spring and early to mid summer fishing I have ever had.....almost too easy. Down imaging and side imaging IMHO is the way to go if it is in your budget. My point is......pick a brand you want......don't think you can't get good images going slow.....and start catching fish. But yes these units do cost quite a bit. Best of luck with your decision.

Regards

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