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I was just wondering if anyone Has done a side by side comparison of the elite 5 dsi/chrartplotter with the HB 597 dsi.I was wanting to know if one stands out over the other as far as features and clarity or is more of just company preference, im in the market for a new fish finder and cant make my mind up as which one to get
I have found in the same price range it's sort of six of one and half dozen of another type situation. There may be small differences. The main real difference I have seen between Lowrance and Hummingbird units at a middle to lower price range is the resolutions may be higher in the Humminbird. That feature might make a difference to a paricular buyer. Also, the menu is different between the two manufacurers. If you have a store nearby with a display setup I would go there and run through the simulator for similar units and see what the differences really are.
I have a Humminbid 728 and 798ci HD si that work just fine.However, after using them and seeing the Lowrance menu work on a friends boat I will look more carefully at Lowrance when it comes time for a changout. I like the Lowrance menu setup better.
It all comes down to personal preference.
Check these sites for info on Humminbird:
www.dougvahrenberg.com, bass, fishing, angler
Humminbird Side Imaging Forums
thanks for the info also leaning toward the lowrance due to the 200 dollar difference based on gander mtn.
Look through the Elite 5DSI thread (sticky) that I started. It will give you a heads up on what to expect from this unit. Then you can more easily compare it to the HB597. Most of the discussion boards, that have this same question, seem to say much the same ... that being that the E5DSI has dedicated DI crystals, so it gives a better DSI image --- while the HB597 has conventional 2d sonar capabilities (E5DSI does not).
Also ... consider price range, and the potential of getting a HDS unit (if it fits your budget).
... cp :kewl
i cant give you a side by side comparison but heres some pictures that i took using the 597hd/di. it be good if someone with the elite would post some pictures that you could look at http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...2-02113407.jpghttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...2-02121304.jpghttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...-di-s00092.jpghttp://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...5-28090744.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by huntersdad
cp, the 597ci HD DI also has a dedicated DI sonar element.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
It just also has a 2D sonar element in the same transducer. That is why it is capable of both DI and 2D sonar.
Humminbird 500 Series Fishfinder & Chartplotter Combos check out this 581hddi. this is good price, not color but for that price ....
Just got me the 597 and really like it. I too looked at the Elite 5 dsi but went with the 597 because of the 2D sonar. If you don't want the 2D then the Elite 5 would be fine. I found the best price on the 597 at Hodge's Marine for $530 and Humminbird has a $50 rebate on that unit.
Well i bit the bullet and got the lowrance e 5 i just hope it was a good choice because gander mountain won't take it back after its opened can only exchange it.so i guess if i don't like it im s.o.l so to speak should be here Tuesday though
My bad, Greg ... I meant to imply that the 597 had "both" (2d + DI) capabilities, while the E5 has only DI. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg
... cp :kewl
Looking forward to having you join in the discussion on the E5DSI, in my sticky thread at the top of the page. Feel free to jump in with any questions or concerns you may have. There should be links to the operation manual & update pages, in the thread ... or PM me & I'll send them to you. I can also give you a link to a inexpensive 2G micro SD card & reader (~$7) that can be used for the update &/or screen image capture.Quote:
Originally Posted by huntersdad
Per Jason Gilstrap/Lowrance :
The Elite 5DSI cannot do sonar logs, but it CAN take screen shots.
The latest update, 2.8, added screen shot capability.
(Insert writable microSD card and press “power” then “zoom +.”)
... cp :kewl
How far back can you scroll with the e 5 the website said 1'track back....sounds like a foot to me and if that's true its not very far unless it was a typo
Finally got my E-5 today and gonna try to install it this weekend,is there any tricks on the initial setup(settings) that i should be aware of and by the way you guys were right not much of a owners manual
Cool. Hope you enjoy it.
Does the elite 5 come with temperature as well as speed I was trying to install this afternoon I noticed in the manual it says that the spare plug on the back of unit is for optional temperature speed sensor
Yes ... Elite 5DSI transducer has a built-in temp sensor. Speed is displayed via GPS reading. You may have to go into the menu & set these to show on your screen ... since the unit will likely be set in default mode, right out of the box, and the speed & temp readings may not be set to show up by default. I'm not sure why there's an extra plug-in for temp/speed :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by huntersdad
If by "manual", you are referring to that near useless little pamphlet that came in the box ... then go to this link & print it (44 page Operations Manual) : http://www.lowrance.com/Root/Lowranc...-10153-001.pdf You'll see why when you start looking through the various exploded menu pages !!
... cp :kewl
I was referring to the installation instructions of the unit There is a 4 pin plug just like the power plug on the back of t the unit manual says that it is for optional speed temperature sensor I will try to post a picture of the unit back side when I get home this afternoon who knows maybe I got a hybrid....... lol
It's probably for something like this...Quote:
Originally Posted by huntersdad
Navico: ST-TBL
I cannot find where the website says which speed/temp paddle wheel sensor works for which unit...
1 of the board sponsors could probably find the correct 1 for your unit if that is something you could be interested in...
Rickie
No need (for me, anyway) ... as I have the Elite 5 DSI unit, and I know exactly what you're talking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by huntersdad
One can only assume that there's a temp/speed sensor unit that plugs into that socket ... but, with the transducer, and the GPS system, giving you the temp & speed, I'm not sure why it's needed. :dono
... cp :kewl
I don't know that either CP....Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
Maybe the salt water guys use the paddle wheel sensors...:dono
Rickie
GPS shows you the speed over ground. It does not take into account the water current. The mechanical paddlewheels (and water flow sensors) do and so show boat speed through the water. So although you may be making 2 mph at 1,500 rpm in a no current situation you may be only making 1 mph when moving against a 1 mph current and doing 3 mph when headed with the current. You guys know how boat speed through the water affects lure presentation, the same holds true for other types of fishing.
At the risk of sounding "ignert" ... why would a paddlewheel speed indicator be more accurate ?? If GPS is showing SOG (speed over ground), why would it be any different over water (current or not) ... wouldn't it be calculating that speed from the movement of the boat (unit antenna), as "seen" by the satellites ?? Wouldn't the paddlewheel also be affected by the current flow ... and thus be LESS accurate, in certain circumstances ??Quote:
Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg
... cp :kewl
OK ... I think I've found the answer to the question about the "extra" speed/temp plug-in port :
Open this link ...
http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Produc...-Chartplotter/
Then go down to the Elite 5 unit & click on it. Look on the right hand side, under the picture of the unit, under "Documents" ... and click on the Mark/Elite Brochure link (third one down).
Look at the bottom page ... top right hand corner ... where the back of the unit is shown. It reads as follows :
New, quarter-turn uniplug connectors
are compatible with previous Lowrance
and Eagle®
uniplug models for upgrade
installation.
• Power/sonar uniplug port.
• Uniplug port for sonar Temp 2/Speed
sensor, or NMEA 0183 for VHF
DSC and autopilot options.
... cp :kewl
CP.... I'm reading Greg's post as the the paddle wheel is less accurate than the GPS COG because of the variables in water flow over the paddle wheel ....
Rickie
Those paddle wheels never were very accurate. There are too many things that can affect their operation.
Here is a discussion (heated at times) talking about the advantages and disadvantages in paddle wheel vs GPS...
Trolling Speed via Paddle Wheel or GPS [Archive] - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum
Basically .....actual water flow around "trolled" baits imparts a certain action into the lure that is best determined (and controlled) by info speed from a paddle wheel sensor ...
Paddle wheel has it's "niche" as a tool for certain situations...but not all situations...
Rickie
I read it just the opposite :bash :Rofl :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
I was also thinking in terms of the accuracy of a GPS in a vehicle vs speedometer ... where the speedometer (wheel) can be off slightly, due to tire size rpm's.
But ... whatever. The more important thing was finding out what that other uniplug port is for !!
... cp :kewl
I think it may have something to do with the speed of the current as an additional aid. If you're in a river pointing against the current, and holding yourself stationary with the trolling motor, the GPS will indicate zero and the paddle wheel will indicate the rate of the current. You could then adjust accordingly to your desired troll speed. Adversely, if you were pointing downstream and drifting with the current, the GPS would indicate current speed and the paddle wheel would be zero. So, using both of the indicaters together, you would know your speed relative to the water. That is just my thoughts anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker123