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Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Enter the new era of fish finding with the new HDS series by Lowrance. With Lowrance-exclusive new broadband sonar you will see fish you could never see before. This award-winning fish-finding technology displays more targets with greater sensitivity and higher definition. You get superior target marking in all conditions, so you can find more fish hiding in any cover. Bottom contours will show up better than ever. The advantages don't stop there. You'll always know where you are on the water thanks to the super-sensitive internal GPS antenna. The 5" high-performance display with 480x480-pixel resolution features SolarMAX? PLUS? technology for the highest-contrast picture detail and the best wide-angle viewing available. All HDS models are fully compatible with Sirius real-time weather and radio services available through affordable inland and offshore packages. Use the built-in Ethernet connection to share high-speed, high-bandwidth data with all HDS displays on your boat, including sonar graphs, navigation, Sirius weather/radio and radar. The HDS series is compatible with complete range of Navionics? mapping cartridges. All 3D Navionics? maps feature the all-new TurboView? for enhanced 3-D viewing. HDS chartplotters are fully compatible with all Lowrance plug-and-play choices, including Lake Master? Pro Maps, Fishing Hot Spots? Pro, NauticPath? and FreedomMaps? HDS-5 features: Built-in broadband high-definition sonar and super-sensitive GPS?antenna Vastly improved angler control, with unique new FlyWheel? scroll dial User-friendly menu display lets you fly through control functions with ease and speed Brighter SolarMAX PLUS screens deliver the highest-contrast picture detail and the best wide-angle viewing Adjustable super-white LED?backlighting is the best for all fishing conditions, from remarkable brilliance in direct sun to zero-dim at night Sirius satellite weather and radio package options SD card slot for optional detail mapping display and sonar/GPS data recording Available with built-in Insight high-definition mapping with amazing contour shading or Enhanced US Basemap Most mapping options include Platinum series with new Turbo View? feature Expandable and ready-to-network on NMEA 2000? and Ethernetworks Expanded two-year warranty Available mapping options: Enhanced U.S. Basemap features inland and coastal coverage for more than 100,000 bodies of water and nearly 5,000 enhanced lake maps with detailed shorelines and depth contours Lake Insight? inland mapping includes nearly 5,000 freshwater lake maps with lifelike perspective of bottom structure and topography. Coverage includes the Great Lakes and more than 500 Fishing HotSpots PRO? Lakes ? a $400 value! Insight high-definition mapping delivers unprecedented detail with lightning-fastmap and screen updates. Nautic Insight? offers a superior lifelike view of coastal bottom structure with detailed coastal and offshore depth contours, plus navigation aids, for the entire U.S. coastline. Insight high-definition mapping delivers unprecedented detail with lightning-fast map and screen updates. Selecting the right transducer: 83/200 kHz transducer in shallow water less than 900 ft. 50/200 kHz transducer in deep water greater than 900 ft.

Average Customer Rating:

4.1 out of 5

17 of 22 (77%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.

Customer Reviews for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

FEATURED REVIEW

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

HDS5, June 8, 2009
By CaptJackRegMEGuide from Maine Registered Maine Master Guide/ U.S.C.G. Capt

"This unit has performed flawlessly and with great the detail needed in finding fish, depth and structure.

Had a limit day on Sebago Lake with togue, for two people (12 fish), and a 7 pound top weight fish. Couldn't have done it without the information provided by the unit.

Looking forward to adding the Sirius Weather Antenna to keep and eye on the weather.

Great screen visibility for these old eyes and for tracking the downrigger ball and lure with such detail.

Bait clouds were easily seen as were the target fish,
so a correct depth could be fished exactly.

Loved the ability to be able to custom tailor the screens to what I wanted to see, and in the positions I wanted the information to be in, so as not to clutter the screen view.

Best unit I have had the pleasure to use for serious fishing.
U.S.C.G. Capt. Jack
Registered Maine Master Guide/Whitewater Guide"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 2 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

HDS5, November 1, 2009
By ranger518svx from Paintsville, KY

"This is the best fishfinder, gps combo I have ever used. It is simple to figure out and the picture is unbelievable, twice the unit my old lms520c was. Lowrance has made another great product, and I woul drecomend it to anyone looking for a hd unit."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 3 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

3 out of 5

Lowrance HDS 5, October 15, 2009
By David3232 from Tampa, FL

"This is my second Lowrance unit in the past 4 years. The first one was an earlier version and worked fine, but I let it go when I sold the prior boat. It is nice to not have the GPS puck, however the internal component occassionally drops signal (I have a 21' center console with bimini, but never use the bimini); not a deal breaker issue, but still a concern. The puck on my prior unit never lost signal.

The mount is not sufficient. It shakes quite a bit (my engine is an E-Tech so that's not the issue). The first bracket broke. Lowrance quickly sent me a new bracket at no cost. I'm considering adding some type of thin cushion material between my console and the bottom of the bracket to provide more stability. Also, the unit doesn't come in and out of the bracket easily; it binds. Also, some how, the knobs will get realy tight and I've had to use pliers to loosen them before. The instructions show a hole in the center base of the bracket, however there's no hole in the bracket.

On this unit and my prior unit, I occassionally find my plot is across a land area on screen (off by 50-100 feet) instead of the across the water where I'm actually at. I have found this in the Ruskin, Tampa Bay, and the Pt. Charlotte areas of Florida. Obviously not always accurate. I know this (base map) is meant to supplement my piloting, not be my only guide, but I don't understand how, with today's technology, this can be inaccurate so often (3 areas I've found so far).

The color and quality of the screen is very good. It is not a user-friendly menu however. You will be very disappointed and frustrated if you don't spend some time figuring out how to key in GPS coordinates. This is the most frequent thing I do, but it's not easy to find where in the menu to do this and when you get there, it's not easy to see that there's a thin line around the box you type information into."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 4 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Great Unit, September 14, 2009
By FishingJustin from Colorado

"I've used this unit to its fullest and I LOVE it! I'll never own another sonar and gps that isn't Lowrance. They have it down and are the best there is. Highly recommend this product to fishermen that have a little experience with sonar and gps. If you haven't ever used a model like this, it may take a lesson or two but will be well worth it when you figure it out."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 5 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Great Graphics, September 10, 2009
By TarponRoll from OuterBanks NC

"Looks like I will enjoy this unit for many years to come, with software updates easily downloaded. The Graphics are second to none. The Insight Nautic shows every bouy, wreck and shell rock unbelievable!!!!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 6 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

lowrance hds 5 sonar gps, September 10, 2009
By oly51 from MI

"This is a very good unit accurate and easy to use."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 7 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Best GPS Sonar I have ever owned, August 12, 2009
By pezman37 from Mackinaw, IL

"First of all NAVIONICS chips WILL work. I read three reviews saying that they won't. Buy a SD card for 10 bucks and download the software update on the Lowrance webpage to your SD card. Simply plug the SD card into your unit and it will load the updates automatically to allow Navionics cards. Great thing is that in the past you used to have to select the map on the card you use, these new ones just run all of them so you don't have to switch.
You can also use the SD card to store your waypoints to swap with friends and family too so everyone should have one and for 10 bucks why not.
Took the HDS5 to Canada and it worked awesome, found baitfish pods all the time with Walleye around them at the bottom. Made fishing super easy as you can make a waypoint on your sonar chart to find a hole or pod of fish again once you drift or drive over it.

Stop reading this and buy one, they work excellent."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 8 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

Overall Rating:

2 out of 5

Dont Buy, May 9, 2009
By BPSwing22 from Hilton, NY

"This unit has lots of bugs. Not compatible with Navionics maps as advertised. Depth reading takes 4-7 minutes before you see it after turning unit on. Unit freezes and depth goes on and off with vertical lines. Not what I was expecting from industry leader. They rushed to get this out and it shows. Also not ready out of the box, had to make tons of setting changes to use it. Not very user friendly either. Its going back. Would be cool if it worked properly, I even updated to the newest software."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

Review 19 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

No problems, May 1, 2009
By eliteranger

"I upgraded to the HDS5 From the 332c Lowrance. Very impressed. I mounted in a 05 Basscat Classic in the console and have yet to loose a gps signal. Well worth the money. Just make sure you download the latest updates before you go to the lake. The only problem i have is i also orders the LWX Sirius weather antenna at the same time back at the begining of March and still my LWX is on back order indefiently. Other than that the basic unit works great. Will give Humminbird a run for its money when the accesories come out.!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 20 for Lowrance HDS 5 Sonar/GPS

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Not ready for prime time, April 6, 2009
By littlesoldier from Walla Walla, WA

"Was disapointed that the unit would not play my brand new Navioncs Platinum card. I asked about this, too before I ordered. Apparently, a download will be available April 13 that will correct the problem as well as add other improvements.

It would have been better to hold the HDS units off the market until they were fully operational."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

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