Lowrance HDS5 Gen X with Structurescan

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03-05-2012, 02:10 PM
CaptainT16

HB 798 SI Combo / HB 798 HD SI Combo / Lowrance HDS5 Gen X with Structurescan

Hello all, I'm ready to pull the trigger on a new fish finder. I've done my research and money wise right now, I've narrowed it down to these units. I've located the 798HD and the HDS5 Gen X with the structurescan with a $250 dollar rebate when purchased together so that makes them both around the same price. I know the 798HD has everything internal, while the HDS5 you have to mount the LSS-1 unit seperate. I've not seen the HDS5 Gen X run in person yet. I've looked at the 798HD and while I know the screen is small, I just can't go with anything more money wise. I'm curious to see what everyone thought on these units. The 798 SI I've seen quite a few places have them clearanced out for $749 or so and I was also wondering if there is much difference or changes in the the 798 HD SI Combo and if it's worth the extra $250 to get the newer unit? I appreciate everyones input and thoughts on these units.

Thanks
03-05-2012, 04:48 PM
CarolinaJim

With the HDS you will get 800 khz beam and better Down scan than the HB. You will also get a more complicated install, 2 transducers and the LSS box.

The HB 1 transducer and power wire and done. With the HB you will get better range closer to the waters surface. This is important to me, the crappie in my couple of local shallow (less than 15 ft) lakes are pelagic since there is very little in the way of structure. Seeing the schools out to the side of the boat greatly reduces the time to find the fish.

Both will let you see things you never saw with just 2d sonar.

If I was you I'd go look at the HDS before you spend your money. These units from the 798 and hds 5 all the way to the 1198 and HDS 10 cost a lot of money and you owe it to yourself to see both before making a decision.
03-05-2012, 07:10 PM
mduncan62

Sound advice from CarolinaJim. You're halfway there, go and see the units, push the buttons, compare them. Then flip a coin or whatever it is you need to do.
03-05-2012, 08:54 PM
Superx10

The difference between the 798 HD and non-HD models are:
HD models have the new ethernet port, ContourXD maps, and 50channel GPS receiver.
Non-HD models have interlink networking, Unimaps, and 16channel GPS.

I'm not 100% sure but I think both will have SI and DI.
03-05-2012, 10:18 PM
KAG

I am glad you asked the question as I am also very interested in SI units
03-06-2012, 12:50 AM
rnvinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superx10

The difference between the 798 HD and non-HD models are:
HD models have the new ethernet port, ContourXD maps, and 50channel GPS receiver.
Non-HD models have interlink networking, Unimaps, and 16channel GPS.

I'm not 100% sure but I think both will have SI and DI.

798ci SI Combo & 798ci HD SI Combo:

2d - dual beam Plus 83/200kHz cone shaped beams
SI - 1 frequency 455kHz fan shaped beam...
DI - computer generated from the echo data received in the SI crystals in the xducer...

Rickie
03-06-2012, 01:41 PM
Humminbird_Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superx10

The difference between the 798 HD and non-HD models are:
HD models have the new ethernet port, ContourXD maps, and 50channel GPS receiver.
Non-HD models have interlink networking, Unimaps, and 16channel GPS.

I'm not 100% sure but I think both will have SI and DI.

The 798ci Si models come with the same internal 50 channel GPS Receiver as is used in the 798ci HD Si models.
03-06-2012, 06:58 PM
Superx10

Sorry, I thought I saw 16channel somewhere.
03-07-2012, 12:46 AM
rnvinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superx10

Sorry, I thought I saw 16channel somewhere.

I couldn't find where the HB site said 16 or 50... Just that it had internal antenna...

I'm glad Greg added this info for us...(until I forget what he said...:) )

Rickie
03-07-2012, 04:20 PM
Humminbird_Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superx10

Sorry, I thought I saw 16channel somewhere.

No problem. There have been some misprints of information from some of the retailers… Unfortunately this is nothing that we can control.
03-07-2012, 04:49 PM
mduncan62

what is the update rate? That doesn't seem to be posted either.
03-07-2012, 05:00 PM
Humminbird_Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by mduncan62

what is the update rate? That doesn't seem to be posted either.

Are you asking about the update rate for the 798ci HD Si unit’s internal GPS Receiver? If so it is 4x per second.
03-07-2012, 05:06 PM
mduncan62

Yep. Thanks Greg.
03-07-2012, 11:49 PM
rnvinc

Hmmm.. wonder what Mike's thinking...??

It sure ain't the possibility of going back to the birds...rotfl rotfl

Rickie
03-08-2012, 10:37 PM
CaptainT16

Thank you all for the replies. It has been very helpful. We have a new Cabelas opening here in Wichita next week so I'm hoping they have the Lowrance HDS 5 Gen 2 unit that I can see operate. Since the 798 doesn't have a dedicated DI transducer, does the image really reflect that? I'm curious as some of the dedicated DI images on other units i've seen with say a tree are great. I'm just curious if the 798 lacks in detail very much compared to the dedicated DI units? I have had the opportunity to play with the 798 HD a bit in the store and its nice, I'm just not sure if its worth the extra money compared to the older 798 SI that most places have for $749. Thank you again for the input.
03-08-2012, 11:14 PM
mduncan62

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnvinc

Hmmm.. wonder what Mike's thinking...??

It sure ain't the possibility of going back to the birds...rotfl rotfl

Rickie

If I could get a 998 for $900.00 right now, I'd put it on the console and move both of my 7's up front. If not, I'm going to probably get a 3rd hds 7 or sell one 7 and get a gen2 8. PM me if you have that 998 deal.

I'm not getting paid by post, or for opinion.
03-09-2012, 01:21 PM
Humminbird_Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainT16

Thank you all for the replies. It has been very helpful. We have a new Cabelas opening here in Wichita next week so I'm hoping they have the Lowrance HDS 5 Gen 2 unit that I can see operate. Since the 798 doesn't have a dedicated DI transducer, does the image really reflect that? I'm curious as some of the dedicated DI images on other units i've seen with say a tree are great. I'm just curious if the 798 lacks in detail very much compared to the dedicated DI units? I have had the opportunity to play with the 798 HD a bit in the store and its nice, I'm just not sure if its worth the extra money compared to the older 798 SI that most places have for $749. Thank you again for the input.

The units that use a single element in their transducers will be able to give a clearer DI image. The 798 units use the sonar from the Si sonar to display a DI image, so the two images it has do not always line up exactly and therefore do not always produce the same clear image. However, the 798 units can show structure far out to the sides of the boat where a dedicated DI unit cannot. It’s a trade-off: do you want clearer DI images from under the boat or do you want to be able to spot structure and schools of fish 100+ feet away?

Right now, the only operational difference between the older 798 units and the newer 798ci HD Si units is the ability to Ethernet connect the newer “HD” version to be Ethernet connected to another unit. Otherwise they have the same sonar and GPS capabilities.
03-09-2012, 05:11 PM
Badbagger

Been looking at the same units when the time comes I'm going with the Lowrance HDS series GEN2 with Structure Scan - The difference in price for the full combo pack unit between the HDS 5 and the HDS 7 is about $250. IMHO, well worth the difference. The HDS5 has a 5" display with 480 x 480 resolution - The HDS7 series has a 6.4 inch display with a resolution of 480 x 640.
To me personally with my tired azz eys it's worth it and over the life of the unit, the difference is negligible. While I haven't seen these in person, from what I have read and videos I have seen these things are the cats meow.