Thread: Discussion on Lowrance Elite 5 DSI/Chartplotter ....

Originally Posted by Jason Gilstrap LOWRANCE

take look at this link and scroll down to Lss-1 covers.. I bet probably closest to that. (for the down scan part)

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Jason.. ...

The chart that you refer to is, indeed, for the LSS-1 Structure Scan xducer....(even the "down imaging" column in that chart is for the "down imaging" feature of the SS xducer)...

The DSI xducer is completely different....even the "down imaging" elements in the 2 different xducers could be different...we cannot assume that the specs would be the same for both xducers without confirmation from Lowrance....

Therefore, it would stand to reason that... Lowrance has separate and independent documentation for that DSI xducer somewhere...

Can you please help us find the documention specs for the DSI xducer....(that includes the 455 and 800 beam angle coverages)....so we can know for sure..

Rickie

I'm taking this DI stuff as just a "upgrade" to the 2d units I've used over the last 40yrs. I'm just wanting to know & understand "what" I'm seeing on the screen, and what piece of real estate area my unit is "looking at" (cone angle & configuration/shape).

My boat has a DSI unit on the bow, w/xducer on TM ... and a 2d unit at the console w/xducer mounted inside the hull (centered & approx 14' back from the TM xducer). While neither of these units will show me what's off at a distance, when I'm casting a jig or shooting a dock, they can & will be used to scout potential areas and help me set up trolling lanes (if & when I use those methods other than casting). I can even see myself having both units running, TM down, & setting in the drivers seat ... idling along with the big motor ... alternately watching the DSI screen, then the 2d screen, and possibly even dropping marker bouys on potential spots. Then I can return to those spots & use the DSI unit to scour the area, see a better picture of what's in that area, & mark it as a waypoint if it proves to be productive, a likely spot to return to, or a area of future interest (another season or under different conditions).

Being mostly a jig slinger by nature (choice) ... I'm mostly "visible cover" oriented. Even so, I've discovered many "unseen" hotspots that have produced big time for me, by simply trolling a jig from tree to tree or dock to dock. In the past, they've been accidental finds, a lot of the time, simply due to the water depth & the minimal coverage area of a 2d unit in that depth (<15fow). With a wider coverage area (DI cone angle) and more precise picture being displayed onscreen ... it's my hope that I will find more of these spots, and get a better idea of what is actually down there that the fish are holding on.

While I'm well aware of the potential of an SI system showing me a lot more of the Crappie's underwater world ... the financial output is currently out of my league. Having spent ~5x as much on the DSI, than I have on previous 2d units ... I can only "hope" to get 5x as much info & use from this unit. With SI units costing 10-20x's as much as my previous 2d units, I'd have to produce 10-20x's as many fish per trip, to consider them cost effective.

Keep up the good work & keep this thread alive ... the more we discuss & share, the better for all those with these units or those considering them. I appreciate it, and I'm sure others will, too.

... cp