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

Originally Posted by farmer1940

How do you get the Emulator program on your computer

Product Emulators - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics

It's the one called Elite 5 Emulator .... BUT, before you waste your time with this emulator program, be advised that it does NOT show many functions for an Elite 5 DSI but, more likely those of a Elite 4 unit.
This one IS different than the one I downloaded a couple of years back. At least that one had Elite 4 & Elite 5 functions "combined" in the program. This one shows only 83/200kHz sonar, fish symbols, and other things that are not available on a Elite 5 DSI. The sonar picture on this emulator program is entirely different than what you will see on the unit (on the water) and even on the "simulator" program in the unit.

My says using this Emulator program to learn how to use a Elite 5 DSI ... would be like downloading a game of Solitaire, to learn how to play Poker

... cp

Thanks I won't even mess with it. I thought it would be something good to sit here at the house and get used to before I got on the water.

Originally Posted by farmer1940

Thanks I won't even mess with it. I thought it would be something good to sit here at the house and get used to before I got on the water.

Yeah, I was lucky to have bought my unit from another member ... and the deal included two power/transducer cords. I just use a portable jumper battery & hook it up right here in the house, whenever I need to "play around with it". That's how I learned that the "old" Emulator program had Elite 4 functions included in it.

... cp

Bought my e5dsi a couple of weeks ago and have had it out a couple of times now, and I have to say I am impressed. I have it set up on the console and my old traditional sonar on the front. It's pretty cool to see a blob of some sort on my front unit, and by the time the blob gets to the back of the screen, the blob becomes a tree, or a boulder, or whatever on the dsi. The definition is incredible. So much so that I keep seeing my fishing line as I keep casting showing up as a diagonal line across the screen. With all the tips I learned in this forum, I had little trouble figuring out how to operate it. Still a long way to go of course, but way easier having read the forum. Have to say that im a little disappointed in the gps. I'm sure its the same with all of them, but I was in the water on my way out and it had me somewhere in the parking lot of the marina. Same thing on the way in. I drove right into the parking lot "according to the gps", as I was coming in to the dock. I know there are limitations on accuracy set by the government, but really? I was hoping to be able to follow a certain depth contour line when I got my Navionics card, but I don't see how this could be possible. Somewhere in the thread someone said he had downloaded a free map of his home lake that was more detailed, tighter topo lines and history and structure of the lake before flooding. I don't think he said where he got it or if he was able to get it to work. I know this thread has been going awhile, but if there is still any interest, I take some snap shots when I get my flash card. Over all, very impressed with the unit.

David .... post all the screenshots you want !!

You might want to take some shots of your settings, specifically in the "navigation" menu ... so we can see if a setting could be changed, that might increase your GPS accuracy. I don't know if that's possible ... but I do know that I tweaked some on my unit, and I get better accuracy readings than it showing the boat in the parking lot, when it's still in the water.

Have you input a GPS waypoint, then tried to go back & find it ?? I've manually put over 100 waypoints in my unit, and every one of them that I've tried to find ... I've hit them dead on. I haven't marked any while "on the water" (yet) but don't expect them to be any less accurate or easy to find.

And remember ... the unit will only work with a 2G micro-sd card. (Here's the one I have : 2GB microSD Secure Digital TransFlash Card with Reader (BMZ-C) .... which I bought because I did not have a card reader on my computer)

... cp

Dave, have you selected return to vessel? The gps should work very well and accurate.

i have selected return to vessel. The only waypoint I saved was the mouth of Harrods Creek off the Ohio near Louisville, as it was not on the basemap. That surprised me, as this is a major creek-about 30-40 ft across. Followed the creek back a mile or so, then returned because it was getting dark. I was unable to stay right on the pink route line because It would have run me ashore a couple of times, but mostly it stayed in the creek at least. Next time I'll experiment a little more with the gps. I also wanted to drop and mark (with boeys) some objects, than pass over and beside them to see just when and where in relation to the boat they show up on the unit. Cant wait to get on the water again, and I'll be sure to save a shot of my nav. settings Pappy, and lots of shots of what i see. I'am still amazed at the detail, it was more like looking at a moving landscape mural than a fish finder! sorry about the spelling fellas, it was never my strongpoint, and the spell check isn't working.

What zoom setting where you using on the plotter when following it back. Zooming in makes a huge difference.