Lowrance HDS Insight Information

I just purchased a new Stratos and the HDS 5 is the electronics on the console. NOT HAPPY!!! Lowrance is having some major difficulties with the HDS units.  GPS does not work what so ever right now. I'm still tinkering with the sonar aspect of the unit and slowly getting that fine tuned.  I do have the insight and I'm sure it would be nice, but it's useless without the GPS function.  I have tried to download the updates they came out with on the 15th of this month but have no luck doing so. I can get them to the SD card, but some reason the unit does not read the card.  Will I be happy with the unit once all the bugs are corrected....I guess that is the big question. To spend $800 on a unit and it does not work was upsetting to me. 

labman, what size SD card is it trying to read? Possibly your using a card too big for what the unit can effectively read? I have no first hand knowledge on the unit your talking about but there are a lot of electronics that can only read a card up to XX in size.

I just bought a HDS-8 for my new boat and really like it so for. I didn't get the insight for the fack that they don't have any of the HD maps for ND except Audagon. They is a lot of things that are different then the x-25 I used to have. It will take some time to get all the things down that this unit will do.

Wow, never thought having too much space would have been an issue. It is a 4 GB SD card. Interesting, maybe I need to try another card. 

Try a 2GB or smaller card. I've seen this issue before with computers, mp3 players, etc.

Good luck!

labman Said:
Wow, never thought having too much space would have been an issue. It is a 4 GB SD card. Interesting, maybe I need to try another card. 

Stay away from the HDS.  Lots of problems and the so called updates seem to never come when they say.  No customer service you will be on hold for hours and then just get lip service.  Buy a Humminbird and get the HD maps and side finder with no problems.

Unfortunately I would have to agree with a few others, skip the HDS and get a bird! I have three lowrance units and two of them work great, unfortunatley my third is a Eagle Fishelite 480 and has sonar issues that I've been working on for over a year trying to resolve! The Lowrance service hasn't been that bad but the waiting period on the phone is agonizingly long( 15 mins to 45 mins), once you get somebody the service itself is fine! I have been through many updates, a transducer, and new headunit, and now they finally extended my warrenty untill I resolve this issue all at no cost so I can say they have made a valient effort!

I'm however lucky, many of the guys that purchaced 332s and 334s had to used them for paper weights and there are lots of problems with the the last version of the lcx models not locking to the bottom with the sonar! Now they came out with the new HDSs and are again having all kinds of issues. For the kind of money these things cost it's just not worth taking the gamble on weather or not you'll get a good unit or a bad one!

The other option is to by a Garmin GPS unit and a Vex sonar unit, then you get the best of both worlds, a geat GPS and Sonar!

I currently have a Hummingbird 917c (no side imaging), however I have not found a good ND lake maps chip for it.  I fish a lot of different lakes and like the Lake Master, but it only works with Lowrance.  

Thanks for information, from what I have found everyones problems with the HDS are common across all units.  One website stated that is why they now have a 2 year warranty, because it will take them that long to fix everything.

 

I just bought an HDS-5, and I installed the update with no problems. I downloaded the software to a vista machine, and it said it installed with errors, i chose not to fix it, and it installed without a hitch. I am not really impressed with the HDS-5, but i guess it's better than nothing. Don't think i would buy another. They didn't make it better than the 522c that i had before.

Lowrance comes out with new stuff about every 2 years.  I usually buy the previous model once a new lineup is available.  You get good deals and with the right retailer, you can deal.  Also by this time they have the bugs worked out.

I purchased the HDS-7 and like it more and more every day. For those that have it, note that Lowrance has another software update as of 06/05/2009 that fixes some more glitches. Version 2.1.30.58  I've uploaded it with no problems and it works great!

For those sitting on the fence wondering about buying one of these, take another look. They are a fine piece of electronics, and only going to get better with future software upgrades. You do it all the time with computers, why not boating electronics.......

I for one LOVE my HDS-5. I had the 527c, and was really disappointed in the HDS until I installed the updates. The updates when great, really simple. (don't let windows "fix" a problem with the install). I can mark fish at 20+ mph, accurate GPS coordinates, (reads the same as my handheld). Water depth and temp are all accurate as well. I wouldn't trade my HDS for anything, except maybe a bigger screen, but the 5 is plenty for me.....

Goose, you are such a tighta$$ I can't believe your actually looking at the HDS.  Most of the older units (non high def) are or will be going on sale/clearance soon as the HDS are the future but right now they seem to have some bugs to work out like most new products in there first year or two of production.

Our HDS 5 worked wonders this weekend with the exception of a GPS glitch everything worked great. They are on sale at scheels for 570 after rebate!

Pro V,
Thought I could trade 917 hummingbird even up and have common chips and electronics for xog and boat.  Can't get Lakemaster chip for hummingbird.  Older Lowrances have been bring close to same money as new HDS, so wanted to get a read on how they have been working for people.

Thanks for the Help everyone!!!!

i bought a 5 and a 7 and i love how they work.  They are easy to understand the more i play with them.

lt kinda goes to show that the first year models ALWAYS have little glitches.  I bought the first strikemaster and said NEVER AGAIN!  But I'd go back to a strikemaster but it would still be the chipper blade...ha ha!

Anyway, I have heard the latest update has helped many people.  Now getting back to the Insight, it all depends if you guys want HD maps.  Quite frankly, I have no idea how good they are or how they benefit a guy.  Obviously, Sakakawea doesn't have that data available.  Not sure why they only have Audubon since the Lowrance units have all of the NDGF lakes via survey.

I'm playing with the NDTRAX map I purchased from Kirsch Outdoors.  Um yeah, any of you that hunt or fish should strongly consider it.  It isn't HD or anything but it has everything a hunter and fishermen would want for North Dakota.  Any lake that you guys could possibly want (surveyed and accurate anyway) is on the chip except one.  Which is Sakakwea.  Navionics has the monopoly on that data.  Just a suggestion in case you guys wanted to save a little cash and get a map that has hunting and fishing data instead of just fishing.  

The new Navionics chip has Sakakwea in HD but you have to buy the northwest version (the upper MW version says its HD, but it is NOT).  The northwest version includes ND and is really pretty cool...all the other chips work, just not in HD.  They are still all set at 1820msl so we have to do some math but I am OK with that extra water...