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

Due to the different technology and fan shape of the DSI sonar ping vs traditional cone 2d sonar ping .... (fish) "arches" are unlikely to be seen, due to the dynamics of the fan shaped (wide/thin) DSI sonar ping. DSI was created to provide a picture-like image of what it's coming in contact with.

Traditional 2d sonar ping is cone shaped, and provides a "arch" when a fish enters & leaves a stationary or moving cone. Its lower kHz range doesn't provide a "picture-like" image, but rather a "finger painting-like" image. You see "shapes" rather than "images".

I've seen my 1/16oz jig, and sinker/minnow rig, on my E5DSI screen ... but, it's not something I try to accomplish with any regularity. I never actually "looked for arches" on my previous (2d) depthfinders, never really trusted the "fish ID" symbols to actually be fish, and could only rarely determine what the "blob" of pixels coming up from the bottom of the screen really was .... so, the transition to this unit was, for me, a little less threatening or disappointing than for those that depended on those things (arches, fish ID symbols, etc).

... cp

Does anyone have a screen shot of the thermocline they would share? I'd like to know what to look for.

Just look for little dashed lines that are constant and close together. Depending on lake depth, water clarity, and where you are in the country, I'm guessing 15-20ft. Could be more or less.

Again....tiny lines in a continuous path.

Originally Posted by wackyman

Does anyone have a screen shot of the thermocline they would share? I'd like to know what to look for.

Thermoclines haven't set up good, around here, yet ... so none of my screenshots would have them. But, they'll look like a surface clutter line, but well below the surface area on your screen.

It may take some setting tweaks to pick it up, but it should look something like this :



... cp

The right side screen shot is set at surface clarity high and contrast 62%. The one on the left is set at surface clarity medium and contrast 80%. I tried low and turned up contrast but this is the best picture I can get so far. I still have a hard time seeing the screen in sun but the blue screen is better. I also tried going over the bridge piling set on 455 hz but the 800 setting turned out sharper. The screen shot on the bottom is going 90 deg to the other shots same setting as the left one.

I have been reading just about everything that I can find on this down imaging depth Finder and I'm wondering if they are worth the money that people are paying for them seems to me that a lot of people are having trouble getting it set so they can see what's going on. Just my opinion but I may be get just too old to learn how to set it.

Originally Posted by farmer1940

I have been reading just about everything that I can find on this down imaging depth Finder and I'm wondering if they are worth the money that people are paying for them seems to me that a lot of people are having trouble getting it set so they can see what's going on. Just my opinion but I may be get just too old to learn how to set it.

If you're referring to the Elite 5DSI unit ... current price is about 1/2 of what the original MSRP was. I think it was around $650 originally. I bought mine for $475 from a member, and that was for the unit, two transducers, the trolling motor mounting sleeve, & insured shipping. I've seen them for around the $300-$400 (nib) price range (tm mount included).

We're not really having so much "trouble" getting them set, as we are getting them set to get the best image possible ... considering that there are quite a few different ideas on how to set the different menu items, and differing opinions on which settings work best for different people & different waters. One could simply leave it on factory settings, and auto-run, and have a very good experience with the unit. But, that diminishes the full capabilities of the unit, so you're not really getting the full bang for the buck experience from it.

I think the biggest kick against this unit has been that people want to see fish symbols, arches, or images of fish ... having been used to these things from the old tech 2d depth finders. These units don't have the fish symbols, and don't show "arches", because they're not 2d cone technology. But, by the same token, you wouldn't see "picture like" images on a 2d sonar ... just "pixel blobs" of various shapes, that you'd have to (guess) interpret for yourself.

Like any other technological piece of machinery, one has to use it, study up on it, experiment with it, and discuss it with other owners in order to get the most out of it. That's exactly why I started this thread ... as I was a total newbie to color units, Down Imaging, GPS, and doing anything to a depth finder other than turning it on & letting it run (for the past 40yrs).

... cp

I will probably buy one this year. If I can rake up the money, Ha, I just started on a computer and it just blowed my brain, but I guess I will buy one of the generation 2 when they get a little cheaper if I can find someone to help me with that will be my problem.