Help me pick a new unit

I have recently decided to purchase a new sonar/GPS unit and was wondering if any of you could help me narrow my choice on down from the ones I'm trying to choose from. I mainly fish for crappie, flathead, and blues in what I would consider shallow (5-25')dirty water. I'm trying to decide between a Humminbird Helix 5 Si, Garmin echomap 53dv, or Lowrance HDS 5 gen 2 StructureScan HD LSS-2. I'm thinking I would like the side scan option but have never used or actually seen it used. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks

Do you plan to network more than one unit sometime?

Helix will not network.

I dont know garmin so I can not comment.

Lowrance is very flexable, expandable and time tested.

Side image is going to be difficult to interpret with the small screens but still usable.

Probably won't network. I have an older lowrance sonar/GPS currently and will probably move it to the front of the boat but no intention of networking.

I would not be caught dead without networking each locator together. But if the other locator is not a HDS then networking will be difficult anyway.

If you have not been on a boat that has networked locators amagine this...... Your at the console looking for a stump, end of a lay down, or a brushpile. Once you find it you mark with a waypoint on the console locator and shut off the outboard. With a properly networked system the new waypoint will be sitting at the bow locator waiting for you to troll to it and drop a buoy. No need to guess where it is again...ever.

Good of luck with your choice. If you never plan to network the helix has a lot of options for the money.

I network now. Smart move on my part. I went with HB based on service reports on forums.

If it was me, I would NOT go with an HDS 5. I use all lowrance products and have an HDS 5. In my opinion, they are just too hard to see. They do one thing at a time very well. Yes, you can run split screen and even tri-screen however, anything more than one view on the screen is hard to read.

I put an HDS 5 in my dads boat. I have a 7 and a 10 and on another boat a 7 and an 8. The 5 was frustrating to even look at. I ended up swapping an HDS 7 with him.

The 7 will run split screen very well. Tri-screen is harder to see. The 8 runs tri-screen very well but quad screen is lacking. The 10 runs all four just fine.
The LSS-2 is way better than the one is (have them both) and it gives you the ability to network and add network components as you go. I have a bow mounted trolling motor with a universal sonar mounted in it. It is hooked to my HDS 7. The 7 is networked to the LSS 2. I have an HDS 10 at the helm connected to the rear transducer. The 10 is also hooked to the LSS 2. I can view either transducer from either unit. Make sure you bundle all the yellow wires together from the power packs on each unit. This way you can "wake" the LSS 2 without having it powered on all the time (there is no on and off switch).

That said, The lowrance does a ton of stuff really well. Side by side with a Bird however, the bird just seems to have better downscan features. I've never used their side scan, but the downscan is way more crisp and clear than the lowrance. Plus, the birds interact with the popular Minn-kota motors whereas the Lowrance works with the MotorGuide.

Just some ideas and stuff to think about.

Thanks for the input. After reading this and doing some other research, I've narrowed it down to hb and lowrance and decided to go to a bigger screen. Thanks again for the input

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

If it was me, I would NOT go with an HDS 5. I use all lowrance products and have an HDS 5. In my opinion, they are just too hard to see. They do one thing at a time very well. Yes, you can run split screen and even tri-screen however, anything more than one view on the screen is hard to read.

I put an HDS 5 in my dads boat. I have a 7 and a 10 and on another boat a 7 and an 8. The 5 was frustrating to even look at. I ended up swapping an HDS 7 with him.

The 7 will run split screen very well. Tri-screen is harder to see. The 8 runs tri-screen very well but quad screen is lacking. The 10 runs all four just fine.
The LSS-2 is way better than the one is (have them both) and it gives you the ability to network and add network components as you go. I have a bow mounted trolling motor with a universal sonar mounted in it. It is hooked to my HDS 7. The 7 is networked to the LSS 2. I have an HDS 10 at the helm connected to the rear transducer. The 10 is also hooked to the LSS 2. I can view either transducer from either unit. Make sure you bundle all the yellow wires together from the power packs on each unit. This way you can "wake" the LSS 2 without having it powered on all the time (there is no on and off switch).

That said, The lowrance does a ton of stuff really well. Side by side with a Bird however, the bird just seems to have better downscan features. I've never used their side scan, but the downscan is way more crisp and clear than the lowrance. Plus, the birds interact with the popular Minn-kota motors whereas the Lowrance works with the MotorGuide.

Just some ideas and stuff to think about.

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I disagree with all my heart. Subpar DI is one of many reasons I left HB for Lowrance.

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Originally Posted by ksbowhnter

Thanks for the input. After reading this and doing some other research, I've narrowed it down to hb and lowrance and decided to go to a bigger screen. Thanks again for the input

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Bigger is almost always better. As I mentioned before, the smaller screens would be frustrating to interpret.

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Originally Posted by nhartke

I disagree with all my heart. Subpar DI is one of many reasons I left HB for Lowrance.

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Don't get me wrong, I love my Lowrance equipment. Hence the reason I have so many of them. Maybe I was missing something. I just remember looking at a buddies bird once and thinking "wow, that is a crisp image". Then again, I'm forgetting more and more every day!!!

I just got the Helix 5 Combo. I like everything about it except the map system that comes with it. The print on the maps is so small you can't hardly see it. Well, I'm 70 so I'm sure that has a little to do with it. I emailed HB and ask if it was adjustable? No way to change it. I wonder if the Lake Master maps chip is the same way? Again I really like the views on it.

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Don't get me wrong, I love my Lowrance equipment. Hence the reason I have so many of them. Maybe I was missing something. I just remember looking at a buddies bird once and thinking "wow, that is a crisp image". Then again, I'm forgetting more and more every day!!!

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I have not seen them all. All the HB locators I have seen and owned have had less than favorable DI. What does your buddy have? What are you running?

I believe his was an 1198. Not sure.

I have an HDS 5, two 7's, an 8, and a 10. All of them are Gen II models. Three of them are on the older LSS-1 system while two of them are on the newer LSS-2 system. I don't have a ton of time looking at DI on the newer LSS-2 yet.

It is funny that we always think grass is greener on the other side of the hill!

Decision has been made. Just ordered HDS 8 gen 2. Thanks for the help!

Good choice. Once you have you locator up and running you will be very happy.

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Originally Posted by ksbowhnter

Decision has been made. Just ordered HDS 8 gen 2. Thanks for the help!

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Could you be a little more specific with Model number? I can't seem to find HDS 8 gen 2...

Google lowrance. Lowrance makes a HDS GEN2 button. Cabelas has a great deal on the HDS 8 button locator now. A board sponcer probably has deals as well.

Google lowrance. Lowrance makes a HDS8 GEN2 button. Cabelas has a great deal on the HDS 8 button locator now. A board sponcer probably has deals as well.

if you can't find that locator your computer is junk. Lol


i have no idea why it posted that twice. My computer must be junk.

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Originally Posted by ksbowhnter

Decision has been made. Just ordered HDS 8 gen 2. Thanks for the help!

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You'll like the 8, very capable unit.