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

**Barnacle Bill** · 10-01-2013, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by jpdawg

Got a question. I have been on the fence about replacing my old eagle finder. I think this unit fits my needs better than other units as far as cost, structure scanning and GPS. With Lowrance discontinuing this unit is it still the unit for me or should I go back to the drawing board.

It is not like I gotta have it now, more like how do you know when is the right time to buy?

That's the bad when it comes to electronics. You buy what suits you right now and by time you get it home, it's obsolete. Well just about that fast.

**CrappiePappy** · 10-01-2013, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by jpdawg

Got a question. I have been on the fence about replacing my old eagle finder. I think this unit fits my needs better than other units as far as cost, structure scanning and GPS. With Lowrance discontinuing this unit is it still the unit for me or should I go back to the drawing board.

It is not like I gotta have it now, more like how do you know when is the right time to buy?

If you don't "gotta have it now" ... I'd watch for sales of used ones or stock reduction sales, and compare the prices against what the comparable HDS units are going for ... then decide if the price difference is worth it.

For all intent & purposes, it appears as though Lowrance has more or less "morphed" the Elite 5DSI model into the Elite 5 HDI series. For around $500 you can get the Elite 5HDI Gold unit (Hodges Marine price). It looks to basically be a E5DSI unit with the addition of regular 2d color sonar.

... cp

**jpdawg** · 10-01-2013, 05:32 PM

I think I will stay on the fence and keep my eyes peeled for a deal. CP (and others), thanks for the info in this thread. It has been very informative even if I do decide to purchase something else.

**JD1** · 10-14-2013, 12:30 PM

Love this unit. Only the second time on the water with it. but picking it up quik. Can you zoom in/out on your gps when in split screen mode? The + - keys zoom the sonar. Can that be changed to the gps or do I have to page out to gps only? Hope this hasn't been covered already, Joel.

**CrappiePappy** · 10-14-2013, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by JD1

Love this unit. Only the second time on the water with it. but picking it up quik. Can you zoom in/out on your gps when in split screen mode? The + - keys zoom the sonar. Can that be changed to the gps or do I have to page out to gps only? Hope this hasn't been covered already, Joel.

Joel, I think it has been covered, but I'd have to look back through the 74 pages to find it

You can switch pages while in split screen, so YES you can zoom the chart while still maintaining a split screen : Operating Manual says --- "Press the Pages key twice to switch active panels. The active panel will have an orange border."

So, whichever screen section has a light orange border around it, when in split screen mode, is the screen section that the menu & buttons control the changes on. Pressing the Pages button twice should move the orange border to the other screen panel, indicating that it is now the active screen & the button/menu changes will affect it.

... cp

**JD1** · 10-17-2013, 01:57 PM

Thanks CP. That's alot of reading. It's been a few months since I read it and really wasn't ready to do it again. I'll try that next time out.

**pat copeland** · 10-21-2013, 10:07 AM

Ok hate to ask but here it goes.....if u are sitting still why does the screen keep moving? showing different structure.....only use when im trolling or sitting still? yes im new to this!

**Knot2Bad** · 10-21-2013, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by JD1

Thanks CP. That's alot of reading. It's been a few months since I read it and really wasn't ready to do it again. I'll try that next time out.

Yes its a lot of reading. When I went through it the second time I took notes by content and post # on the top right. Helped a little if I could only find that paper.

**Cane Pole** · 10-21-2013, 11:05 AM

No such thing as a paperfinder. ha

**CrappiePappy** · 10-21-2013, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by pat copeland

Ok hate to ask but here it goes.....if u are sitting still why does the screen keep moving? showing different structure.....only use when im trolling or sitting still? yes im new to this!

Pat, the screen keeps moving because it's still receiving the return sonar pings. It displays the newest info on the far right edge of the screen, and everything is pushed to the left as "history" ... otherwise you'd be seeing a thin vertical band of return signal info, like a straight up/down version of what a flasher unit shows.
The "different" structure would indicate that you are not actually "sitting still" .... not "perfectly" still, anyway. You could be bouncing slightly from wave action, movement of the occupants of the boat, or drifting a little.

Notice on this picture, how the tree/limbs/bottom contour look to be a little on the "wavy" side :

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Even though I was moving forward at 0.69mph, I was being bounced a little by incoming waves that were wind generated. That ~~~ effect on the image is due to the rising/falling of the trolling motor mounted transducer. That effect can be seen, even if the boat is tied up or anchored, if boat movement is present.

On this picture, you'll see that my speed is 0.00mph ... but, I'm still getting a scrolling screen, so it's showing me what is directly under the DSI's fan shaped sonar ping ... it's just that by me not being moving, it's showing the same signal "continuously", translating to the stretched out image of the limbs at the edge of the brush pile I was coming up on :

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Now, I wasn't actually sitting "perfectly still" when this picture was taken. I just wasn't moving fast enough to register on the GPS speed module. I was actually slowly drifting, being blown by a light wind. But, the principle/outcome would be the same if tied up or anchored.

One other possibility for different/changing images going across the screen, when the boat is sitting still ... is that something is moving through the sonar ping.

When a unit is capable of registering & defining objects that are only inches apart, ANY movement of the transducer will cause the images to show up as slightly "different".

... cp

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

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