Checked out new Elite 7 HDI

I went to BPS today to look at new Elite 7HDI. I was impressed, great unit. I have read on this forum that two transducers are needed. Not true - 2D and DI are from the same transducer. This is Lowrance's first sonar to have regular sonar and down scan in the same unit( w/o Structure Scan). The salesman told me I didn't want to mount it on my trolling motor as I would have to be going at least 4 to 6 miles an hour to get a good picture with down scan. Also said my HDS 7 Gen 2 would get a much better picture with Structure Scan ( was this a sales ploy????). I liked the Elite 7 HDI and feel it would be better for my type of fishing. Would someone familar with both units please speak up or correct any statements I may have made in error. I respect this board and what the guys on it have to say. Thanks.

Sold mine because i an across a deal on another unit. Was pleased with the DI on the trolling motor and I didnt even play with the settings any. I think ALL DI AND SI do better at an idle speed with the outboad but that doesnt mean it wont meet you needs. We looked at smoe bush tops and had no prob seeing the limbs and such. Doesnt fit what I needed on the bow and was bigger than I wanted at the console so I sold it. the screen is amazing for the money and for tthe money is hard to beat.

Thanks , Rees Guide, I appreciate your comments.I thought the elite 7 did a good job, even though it was in simulator mode. The statement " the HDS 7 Gen 2 is a much sharper picture" wasn't necessary true since I don't have LSS-2 and won't be getting it. Others on the board have reported good results with the transducer on the trolling motor. Thanks again for your input...

It looks like a nice unit for the money. Doe you have the hds unit on the console? I have the hds 8 gen 2 with SS and use the heck out of the down scan and side imaging. Probably get more use out of the side scan when searching for brush piles. Really helps to cover larger areas looking for fish. Once I locate a promising spot my standard sonar on the trolling motor does everything I need to stay on the structure.

Kscrappeye, My HDS unit is up front . I have a tracker Panfish 17, ss e/w 40hp four stroke. I have one unit with transducers at the trolling motor and on the transom. I have a switch to switch backards and forward. To change to the elite 7, all I would have to do would be to mount the transducer on tm and hook up existing power cable to new unit and attach to swival mount.

Got it. Would be more cleaner install. Did not realize you had a switch box.

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Originally Posted by crappie1133

I went to BPS today to look at new Elite 7HDI. I was impressed, great unit. I have read on this forum that two transducers are needed. Not true - 2D and DI are from the same transducer. This is Lowrance's first sonar to have regular sonar and down scan in the same unit( w/o Structure Scan). The salesman told me I didn't want to mount it on my trolling motor as I would have to be going at least 4 to 6 miles an hour to get a good picture with down scan. Also said my HDS 7 Gen 2 would get a much better picture with Structure Scan ( was this a sales ploy????). I liked the Elite 7 HDI and feel it would be better for my type of fishing. Would someone familar with both units please speak up or correct any statements I may have made in error. I respect this board and what the guys on it have to say. Thanks.

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I am not an electronics expert by any means, but I recently purchased and installed an Elite 7 HDI unit on the trolling motor and have had an HDS 7 on the console already for a year. I added and installed structure scan on my HDS-7 last week. I think it's unfortunate for Lowrance and Hummingbird that the information provided by sales reps at retail stores such as bass pro is frequently bad information. The elite-7 is not the first lowrance with 2d/di in one transducer. The Elite units in the 5 series have had it for several years.

In regards to mounting the transducer on the trolling motor, Lowrance is actually marketing it to be used in that capacity. This paragraph is from the Q&A pdf from the Lowrance website for the Elite 7 HDI; "Because the HDI transducer utilizes the Lowrance Blue-connector it can also be plugged into a Lowrance HDS Gen2 Touch and provide traditional sonar along with DownScan™ Imaging. This makes it an ideal transducer for mounting to a trolling motor." http://www.lowrance.com/Root/Lowranc...lite-7-FAQ.pdf.

As far as quality of your down scan returns....I can't comment from personal experience as I haven't spent the time of the water yet with my two units; however, here is a link to a post where a guy shows some screen shot comparisons between his Elite-7 HDI and an HDS-9 touch. Lowrance Elite-7 HDI - First Impressions - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

Jayhawkcrappie, Thanks for the information.Not that it matters but I think that if you check the elite 5 series has either 2D and GPS or DI and GPS but at the time Humminbird had both in the same transducer. The only reason I feel this is correct is when I bought mt HDS 7 Gen 2, I checked this out. My HDS unit has 83/200 htz. plus GPS. You can split the screen into 83 or 200 htz or GPS and either 83 or 200 htz. w/o structure scan.Thanks for the info from The Hull Truth forum , very helpful .

Nope you're right regarding the transducer....so in fairness regarding my comment about bad information coming from retail outlets such as BP...it's unfortunate guys like me post bad information on a forum. Thanks for the polite correction.