Warning Lowrance Elite 7 HDI potential buyers!

Do not buy this unit if you are intending to use a Navionics chip like Hotmaps Premium in it. You will have wasted $150.00 on a chip only to be frustrated as all get out and want to throw the Elite 7 HDI in the lake. The processor will not handle it and you will hate the unit. It takes forever to update when zooming in or out. Instead choose the Fishing Hotspot Pro USA 2014 chip to use in the Elite 7 HDI,which is a Lowrance chip,it will do alot better. Be sure and mount the transducer on the transom instead of the bottom of the trolling motor. You need more speed to get the clearest image. Lowrance should be ashamed to advertise it will handle Navionics with the Elite 7 HDI, it is a disservice to the buyer. With these two sticking points avoided the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI is a descent unit!

PS
It gives very good down imaging shots of timber and fish. Will post screenshots over the next few months. So stay tuned!

I'm not trying to start nothing at all,but I bought my elite 7 when they first came out and have had no trouble at all.I bought the navionics card at the same time(south) and it works great in mine.You might have a bad card or something wrong with the unit itself.

Arky I know of 3 other people all have this chip in this unit and it sucks, If it takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to update each time that is not working great. It should do it within a couple of seconds if not almost instantaneously. If the cursor will not track and update to keep up to where you are then still not great. I tried it in Georgia and Florida and it is a no go on updating quick, even Lowrance customer service I hear has admitted this chip bogs the unit down and does not have enough processor speed for it. The problem lies not in the chip but in the unit processor speed. You may be on a lake without much detail from the Navionics chip with little info for the unit to process. Hey if yours is working great, you should feel very fortunate.

is there a setting to chose /navi. or lowrance on the unit? if so is it set to the correct setting? good luck

I had both the Elite 7 and the Elite 5DSI and liked the 5 better , GPS was better in the 5 to me.

I sure wish someone would have told me this BEFORE I purchased my Elite7. I really like the unit but as you said it has issues!! Not only did mine have processor problems, it would also turn itself off randomly maybe once a day while I was fishing. So needless to say I sent that unit back and upgraded to an HDS7 Touch. And yes you are correct, Lowrance needs to let their customers know of this problem and try to fix it.
P.S. I finally talked to a Supervisor and he did admit there were delays with the processor especially when travelling at speeds over 25 mph!

Yes Beagle man, Select the menu button and go under charts and you can select between Navionics or Lowrance.

I tried the Elite7...Twice...Definitely has GPS problems and the Tech at Lowrance told me that the problem was the processor was to slow for what us fishermen/women need. If your interested in Lowrance, splurge for the HDS models....Otherwise, I'd recommend Humminbird. I have a 798 0n my boat that I am happy with. Both Elite 7's have been returned and a HB 858 is going on the boat in its place.

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Originally Posted by Countrytime

Arky I know of 3 other people all have this chip in this unit and it sucks, If it takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to update each time that is not working great. It should do it within a couple of seconds if not almost instantaneously. If the cursor will not track and update to keep up to where you are then still not great. I tried it in Georgia and Florida and it is a no go on updating quick, even Lowrance customer service I hear has admitted this chip bogs the unit down and does not have enough processor speed for it. The problem lies not in the chip but in the unit processor speed. You may be on a lake without much detail from the Navionics chip with little info for the unit to process. Hey if yours is working great, you should feel very fortunate.

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I am having the same problems with the slow update. I have the Navionics chip. I did discover that if I zoom out to at least .5 mile it refreshes a lot quicker when I am running the OB,

I believe Lowrance dropped the Elite 5 DSI & started the Elite HDI series, in order to compete with HB's that had the 2d broadband sounder capability (that Elite 5DSI units do not have) ... and they didn't upgrade the processor to account for the added capability.

The only time I've ever noticed any "lag time" in the GPS map update speed, on my Elite 5 DSI, is when I'm drifting very slowly (from wind/waves) off my mark. As long as I'm moving along greater than 0.5mph, the boat icon on the map seems to keep pace pretty good. It won't move in "real time" as I move, but it does move often enough that I don't get off course by any great distance.

That being said ... I'm wondering if they kept the same processor from the Elite 5 DSI units, and put them in the HDI series units :dono

... cp :kewl

With Lowrance dropping the price around $300.00 on most HDS units makes it a no-brainer. Go with the Lowrance HDS and bbgmarine ask for Brian, has great prices. The HDSGen 2 is lightning quick and comes with SD slots and not micro SD. Some have 2 slots. You can use ethernet to connect two units on these. It will more than handle the Navionics chip. They must be about to release a new generation Lowrance or something. For those who have purchased the Lowrane Elite 7 HDI and have went past the return policy from where you bought it, just get the Fishing Hotspot Pro USA 2013 or 2014 chip to go in it. This is not an inferior chip. Then slow updating virtually comes a thing of the past. Again mount the transducer on the transom and by doing these two things it transforms the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI into a likeable unit.

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Originally Posted by Countrytime

With Lowrance dropping the price around $300.00 on most HDS units makes it a no-brainer. Go with the Lowrance HDS and bbgmarine ask for Brian, has great prices. The HDSGen 2 is lightning quick and comes with SD slots and not micro SD. Some have 2 slots. You can use ethernet to connect two units on these. It will more than handle the Navionics chip. They must be about to release a new generation Lowrance or something. For those who have purchased the Lowrane Elite 7 HDI and have went past the return policy from where you bought it, just get the Fishing Hotspot Pro USA 2013 or 2014 chip to go in it. This is not an inferior chip. Then slow updating virtually comes a thing of the past. Again mount the transducer on the transom and by doing these two things it transforms the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI into a likeable unit.

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Just curious, how does the Fishing Hotspot chip help with the slow updating processor in the E7. A guy at Bass Pro told me Lowrance could prob. come up with a new update to solve the prob. if they wanted to.

Should not have those issues with a new unit. Lowrance works great if I do this or that??? I will stick with Humminbird, as I do not have $2000 to spend the high end low lowrance.

LR 77 the Fishing Hotspot Pro USA 2014 chip has alot of ditches and channels defined by a dark blue line when zoomed in, but very little contour lines showing on it's mapping, the Navionics Hotmaps Premium has a ton of contour lines but not as much defined channel and ditches therefore Fishing Hotspot Pro USA 2014 does not have as much to process, thus it will update quicker. It is also a Lowrance LEI chip. The best thing to do is go with a Lowrance HDS since they have discounted them or the new Humminbirds. If you have an Elite 7 HDI and you are stuck with it, just trying to give suggestions to make it a likeable unit. Lowrance has sold a ton of these units. Fishng Hotspot Pro USA 2014 cost $100.00 at Bass Pro. You do not have to spend 2G on an HDS, HDS7 GEN2 can be had for around 1,100-1,200 dollars. Personally I have seen screenshots from the Humminbirds and the Lowrance HDS and prefer the Lowrance HDS down imaging hands down. The Bird can be had for around 700-800 dollars is very responsive and is very user friendly with descent down imaging making it a good value.

Tks Countrytime for your info. I already have the E7 and navionics chip. Might just move the nav. up front to my old LMS522 and get the Hotspot for the E7. I must say the 2D sonar and DI on the E7 works great. When you use the Hotspot maps, then how does the quicker update compare to the HDS units.

If you zoom in and out about 2 seconds compared to an HDS almost instanteously. You need to check your lake by going to Bass Pro to see if it shows the ditches and channels on the Hotspot chip, most of the ones I fish are. They will have a demo chip you can play with it on the demo Elite7HDI there. By buying a Point-1 gps pluck will make it super accurate and update quicker as well but it is around $200.00. Let's add it up around 650.00 for the unit 100.00 for the Fishing Hotspot chip and 200.00 for the Point 1 pluck so we are at 950.00. This is why I say if one is a new potential buyer go with the Lowrance HDS7. If stuck with the unit these will unleash the unit to make it workable. If I was price shopping and someone already had a handheld gps like a garmin etrex just buy one without the gps for around $500.00 it is called the Lowrance Elite7xHDI. The down imaging to me is very good, not quite HDS but good enough, this way you avoid all the gps hassle and get the greatness of down imaging on a nice bright 7 inch led screen with 2d sonar for around $500.00, again bbgmarine is one good place to buy.

Also say later on you wanted to add a Lowrance HDS you could use the Hotspot chip and the P-1 gps pluck on it, so neither one is a waste.

Wow I just bought an Elite 7 HDI and an Elite 7 HDI w/ CHIRP. One does ok zooming of changes screens and the other SUCKS! I wish I had found this thread earlier. I do not know what to do. I did notice that the lag seems to go with the chip, not the unit. The older 2011 Premium east chip updates in 1-2 seconds. My new 2014 chip takes FOREVER. I've emailed Lowrance and they are acting like I'm the first to report this issue. Maybe I'll forward this thread. Also I'm getting vertical lines on the sonar display of the "Non CHIRP" model. Does not matter if it is on the dash or the bow.

If i return to the store there is a 20% restock fee..
What should I do now???

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Originally Posted by ctf58

Wow I just bought an Elite 7 HDI and an Elite 7 HDI w/ CHIRP. One does ok zooming of changes screens and the other SUCKS! I wish I had found this thread earlier. I do not know what to do. I did notice that the lag seems to go with the chip, not the unit. The older 2011 Premium east chip updates in 1-2 seconds. My new 2014 chip takes FOREVER. I've emailed Lowrance and they are acting like I'm the first to report this issue. Maybe I'll forward this thread. Also I'm getting vertical lines on the sonar display of the "Non CHIRP" model. Does not matter if it is on the dash or the bow.

If i return to the store there is a 20% restock fee..
What should I do now???

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Do you have the latest update in your units? And if you just bought it and its defective, there should be no restock. If the one that sucks is the bad unit, return it when they don't have that one in stock and upgrade to a different unit.

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Originally Posted by okhawg

Do you have the latest update in your units? And if you just bought it and its defective, there should be no restock. If the one that sucks is the bad unit, return it when they don't have that one in stock and upgrade to a different unit.

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Yes, updated the day I got it. I went into the "about" screen to see the specs. The serial # on my Elite7 w/ CHIRP is in the 43,000's. the Serial # for the Elite7 w/o CHIRP is #7. Really number7. It takes 57 seconds on stopwatch to zoom from 200 feet per inch to 50 feet per inch.

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Originally Posted by ctf58

Yes, updated the day I got it. I went into the "about" screen to see the specs. The serial # on my Elite7 w/ CHIRP is in the 43,000's. the Serial # for the Elite7 w/o CHIRP is #7. Really number7. It takes 57 seconds on stopwatch to zoom from 200 feet per inch to 50 feet per inch.

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I'll check mine out of curosity. Don't know what they were thinking when they put the processor in these.

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Originally Posted by ctf58

Yes, updated the day I got it. I went into the "about" screen to see the specs. The serial # on my Elite7 w/ CHIRP is in the 43,000's. the Serial # for the Elite7 w/o CHIRP is #7. Really number7. It takes 57 seconds on stopwatch to zoom from 200 feet per inch to 50 feet per inch.

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Making sure I understand you correctly; you have the map set at 200 feet in the lower right corner, you then push the zoom button down to 50 with the map centered on some lake, and it takes 57 seconds? That's what I think you are saying, but my results made me question it. It took 6 seconds to go from 200 to 50 centered on a heavily contoured area of a lake. I have the Insight map chip. You absolutely have an issue, if I understand you correctly. It does seem to take longer if I'm moving in the boat, but not a minute.

Make sure you have Version 3.0 downloaded this greatly improved the Navionics chip. You can go into the Menu to see which version you presently have. Also never hook your depthfinder power to your trolling battery. Cranking is ok, but preferably totally on a different battery for electronics may clear up the lines on the screen, if not return the unit.
Lowrance will let up upgrade to an HDS for a certain amount, just call their customer service department and complain, they are well aware of the problems associated with Elite 7 HDI zooming problems.

I have an Elite 7 HDI on the way including the Fishing Hotspots PRO USA card to replace my LCX 26c on the console. The GPS on the LCX just crapped out. Thought it was the LGC-2000 antenna at first. Replaced it with a supposedly new LGC-4000. No dice. Got to have navigation ability from my console. Didn't want to dish out over a grand so decided on the Elite 7.

Plan on connecting the LGC-4000 antenna to it for faster updates and coupled with the Fishing Hotspots charting, theoretically it should be all I need.

Sure hope it works out. We'll see.

Talked to Lowrance and they advised me to do a full factory reset from version 3.0. I did that and it seemed to help a little bit.
Okhawg, it was taking 57 seconds to refresh when zooming in.
Counrtytime, I have $0 cash left to move up to HDS, plus I wanted the CHIRP tech. offered in the Elite7CHIRP.
Thanks to both for the suggestions.

Lowrance just released update 4.0 and I have uploaded it to both units. I'm going night fishing tonight and we will see how they do. Again just messing around in the driveway it scrolled much faster and zoomed in faster as well. One of the Updates was geared towards Navionics map engine software... I'll post up if it helped.

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Originally Posted by ctf58

Talked to Lowrance and they advised me to do a full factory reset from version 3.0. I did that and it seemed to help a little bit.
Okhawg, it was taking 57 seconds to refresh when zooming in.
Counrtytime, I have $0 cash left to move up to HDS, plus I wanted the CHIRP tech. offered in the Elite7CHIRP.
Thanks to both for the suggestions.

Lowrance just released update 4.0 and I have uploaded it to both units. I'm going night fishing tonight and we will see how they do. Again just messing around in the driveway it scrolled much faster and zoomed in faster as well. One of the Updates was geared towards Navionics map engine software... I'll post up if it helped.

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Can you please send or post a link to this update? Having problems with my Elite 7 and the 3.0

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Originally Posted by MDCrappie

Can you please send or post a link to this update? Having problems with my Elite 7 and the 3.0

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Mark & Elite Software Version 4.0 - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Mark & Elite Software Version 4.0 - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics

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Bill - thanks so much. I wish Lowrance would fix the navigation on their site. If I go to the link you posted the update is there. If I go to the top of that page and click the prior page, then the page you linked is not there.
Oh well at least I have it now. Hopefully it will fix my random shutdown issues. I know it's related to the Nautic HD card and the 3.0 software as it didn't do it with the 2.0, and now it only does it with the Nautic Chip installed.

Thanks Again!

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Mark & Elite Software Version 4.0 - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics

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Bill - update - Thanks a Million! - loaded the 4.0 update in and the Nautic 2013 HD map updates 10 times faster.

Sorry I did not update this thread. I created another not wanting to hijack this one. Yes the update helped a TON!!!! Much, Much faster and not a siingle shutdown in 9 hours of fishing.

This is great news ctf58, Lowrance finally came up with the solutions to get the bugs out of this unit, now with the cutting off and gps updating issues resolved, I will now retract the warning I gave when I started this thread. Anyone in the market, squeeze the trigger, a definite bang for the buck unit!

PS Folks if you have this unit, make sure it has the latest update, which currently is the 4.0 version installed or install yourself from the Lowrance website. I appreciate everyone's input on this thread, this is how problems get corrected.

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Originally Posted by Countrytime

now with the cutting off and gps updating issues resolved, I will now retract the warning I gave when I started this thread.

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I had my boat out today for the first time since installing the 4.0 software. I am happy to say the unit only shut off 1 time, and that was when I pushed the power button at the end of the day.

Weird. This doesn't happen with my standard maps chips. I can't use the navionics chips. Marsh changes too much in we louisiana.

The Navionics chip was the only issue, which I am told was fixed with release 4.0 from Lowrance. It works well with other chips apparently and is a lot of DF for the price.