Lowrance HDS7 or 8-Which to Buy? 2024

fishfordollars reply :

I am in the market for one of these units. What are the advantages or disadvantages of either unit?

What are the differences in the operation and are there any issues I should watch for. Is the lake insite worth the additional money?

Would like any information.

thanks,

Jack

alwayslooking reply :

Jack, i don't have one yet, but i'll tell you the 8 has about 1 3/4" bigger screen, and has buttons across bottom that is supposed to make navigating the menu easier,,,my buddy got a 7 and has been whining about it,,,loves the unit,,just wanted bigger screen,,he is using the navionics premium chip (awsome) so no need for the insight,,,

K_Mac reply :

Jack, I can't advise you between 7 and 8. The 7 is a great unit. It is the biggest I have seen. In my opinion the lake Insight is well worth the money. I have it on my HDS-5.

Kirby

alwayslooking reply :

I'm wouldn't say insight isn't any good,,just that the navionics chips have one foot contour lines,,,good for finding humps and such structure,,,rayburn and toledo have been RE-mapped for these chips...shows stuff nothing else does,,,and the stuff is there too I use the 2009 premium chip in my lcx27, don't know how i ever got along without it,,,

ArcticCat500 reply :

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Jack, I can't advise you between 7 and 8. The 7 is a great unit. It is the biggest I have seen. In my opinion the lake Insight is well worth the money. I have it on my HDS-5.
Kirby

Im considering the 5 for my kayak this spring, yeah I know, on a kayak ;D. How is it to use regarding simplicity, Im all for reading the manual but I dont want to goto MIT to learn the thing.

K_Mac reply :

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Jack, I can't advise you between 7 and 8. The 7 is a great unit. It is the biggest I have seen. In my opinion the lake Insight is well worth the money. I have it on my HDS-5.
Kirby

Im considering the 5 for my kayak this spring, yeah I know, on a kayak ;D. How is it to use regarding simplicity, Im all for reading the manual but I dont want to goto MIT to learn the thing.

Once through the manual and you're good to go for most everything you need. Adjusting sensitivity, speed, zoom, bottom lock, split screens, way points, and map use are all fairly straight forward. With that said, it is a lot smarter than I am, so it has capabilities that I'm still figuring out. I am enjoying the learning process. It's another cool toy to play with.

As far as using good electronics on a kayak, why not? I have an older aluminum boat that I have re-furbished. Some would say putting high end equipment on an inexpensive boat doesn't make sense. My answer to that is nonsense. I enjoy my boat and having good equipment makes me happy and improves my fishing. Isn't that what it's all about?

I Love BassResource reply :

spring for the 8. I assume you'll eventually buy the structure scan module and when you do you'll appreciate all the screen space you can get. I'm gonna buy the HDS 10 right now, and purchase a 5 or 7 for my bow sometime next year.

Most people who have bought the Insight maps do like detailed maps. The HD 7's were leaking real bad, but the problem has supposedly been fixed. Even if you get a bad one, Lowrance was quick to replace the faulty units.

ArcticCat500 reply :

pushing for the 8 for me would be a stretch for sure, heck Im counting pennies and cut down my beer take during the week . Im not familiar with the so callled Insight maps, are these the Navionics? Because I've read alot of guys like the Navi's and considering the East version for my region, I was actually surprised how many pond they listed for RI.

alwayslooking reply :

insight is their premium base map,,,already loaded on some units,,,about 200 xtra,,,

K_Mac reply :

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insight is their premium base map,,,already loaded on some units,,,about 200 xtra,,,

After reading your post I checked the prices because I knew the Lake Insight was not that much more on mine. It is $50 on the HDS-5. The other units have Insight USA which must be a more sophisticated program, based on the $200 price tag. I didn't notice any difference when fishing with the 7 on my friends boat. So, for $50 on the 5, I think it is a great deal. For the others I don't know.

fishfordollars reply :

Thanks everyone for the replys. I am going to save for the HDS8 unless I can talk my wife into it for my christmas present.

I did buy the LSS-1 (Side scan) so all I need now is a unit to put it in.

ArcticCat500 reply :

So I can buy the 5 with the Insight map loaded, what region is this or is it all of them?

K_Mac reply :

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So I can buy the 5 with the Insight map loaded, what region is this or is it all of them?

Yes, for $50 you can get Lake Insight on the 5. On the Lowrance site is a link to the list of lakes, by state, I believe. It is a huge list of lakes covered. I would bet all of the bigger lakes (and some of the smaller ones) in your area are included. 8-)

The Insight USA appears to include enhanced maps of coastal and inshore water that is not on the 5.

Jig Man reply :

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Thanks everyone for the replys. I am going to save for the HDS8 unless I can talk my wife into it for my christmas present.
I did buy the LSS-1 (Side scan) so all I need now is a unit to put it in.

I don' have any of it yet but the 8 is what I am saving to buy.

Infantry216 reply :

I recently have been medically retired from the Army after loosing my leg in an IED and taking a cooked of .50 rd through the right thigh. No that I am starting to get better I am piecing together gear for my nitro bass boat. Is there anybody out there that has a used HDS 7/8 that they would be willing to sell for a good price? I would be eternally grateful, Thanks, Drew

fishfordollars reply :

I am on the hunt. Have not found a used unit, but will kepp looking. If I find an extra will let you know.

Thanks for all you have done. If you get to this area I would consider it an honor to share a boat with you.

Jack

Wayne P. reply :

Good luck finding a used unit---

Here is a list of the lowest prices for new ones----

http://www.buycheapr.com/us/result.jsp?ga=us2&q=lowrance+hds

Mike 12345 reply :

I can't remember if it is on the 7 or the 8, but starting with one of those you have the touch-screen scroll bar on the bottom of the display.

The Structure Scan add-on should work with any of the HDS units, from what I've read.

The Lake Insight feature is worth it- you have the option of substituting a navionics chip, but I think the Lake Insight is pretty good, and unless you are really hard-core and a tournament angler, its probably all you'll need. I have it on my HDS5 and I like it a lot.

ArcticCat500 reply :

another HDS? Im looking at one but I think I read that a shoot thru hull transducer does not come with temp? Can a shoot thru read temp or do I need an external?

fishfordollars reply :

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I can't remember if it is on the 7 or the 8, but starting with one of those you have the touch-screen scroll bar on the bottom of the display.
The Structure Scan add-on should work with any of the HDS units, from what I've read.

The Lake Insight feature is worth it- you have the option of substituting a navionics chip, but I think the Lake Insight is pretty good, and unless you are really hard-core and a tournament angler, its probably all you'll need. I have it on my HDS5 and I like it a lot.

The touchscreen bar is on the 8. I found a one month old 8 this morning on another site for 1375.00. It comes with the lake insite and I have made an offer , just waiting on his decision.

Wayne P. reply :

ArticCat500, the temp sensor on a transducer will read the boat hull temp if you mount it as a shoot thru. Eventually the boat hull will equal the water temp, but you may not want to wait that long as you move about checking for the water temp. Most anglers prefer to get the actual water temp. and a quicker response time.

The shoot-thru transducers are the trolling motor mount types and can be acquired with or without the temp sensor. You can also mount the transom transducers as shoot-thru also.

alwayslooking reply :

lowrance has transducers that are puck type, thru hull,,,with temp sensor wire to run outside the transom,,just installed one on my buddys nitro,,,he has the hds7,,had to get the transducer seperate,,,unit came with the skimmer

ArcticCat500 reply :

I want to stay strickly shoot thru because Im mounting the unit on a kayak, I dont want anything over the side or clinging to the bottom.

Thanks

Wayne P. reply :

fishfordollars, a friend of mine in Texas just got the LSS-1 for his HDS-7 and now wishes he had gotten a larger screen so he could get the multi-view screen of all the available scan screens and 2D sonar.

You may want to do some research of the features you would like to have before you decide between the 7 and 8.

He just sent me a screen shot of the down scan of a bridge at Fork---

fishfordollars reply :

Very nice. I just came from BPS panting over the units they have. I have decided to wait and go for the 8. BPS has them for 1699.00. I have found one a month old that the guy is wanting 1325.00 and it has the lake insite. I went by his house couple of hours ago and offered him 1200.00 for it. There is also another used one on another website that is for sale for 1325.00. They are starting to show up so I'm not going to get in a hurry. There will be one come around shortly in my price range. Not that 1200.00 is in my range, but I'm going to get one somewhere.

Wayne P. reply :

Plan on another $600 to get the LSS-1 add-on if you want the Structure Scan

fishfordollars reply :

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Plan on another $600 to get the LSS-1 add-on if you want the Structure Scan

I allready have that. A deal that could not be passed on.

fishfordollars reply :

Getting the HDS5 today for my birthday. A gift from the wife. It is going on the bow.

No lake insite though, got to cut a few corners somewhere. I can live without it since she is nice enough to purchase it for me.

ArcticCat500 reply :

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Getting the HDS5 today for my birthday. A gift from the wife. It is going on the bow.
No lake insite though, got to cut a few corners somewhere. I can live without it since she is nice enough to purchase it for me.

Hey FFD, give an update and maybe post a pic or 2, thats the unit I want for my kayak. Im hoping to grab the Navionics map for it too.

Mike 12345 reply :

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Getting the HDS5 today for my birthday. A gift from the wife. It is going on the bow.
No lake insite though, got to cut a few corners somewhere. I can live without it since she is nice enough to purchase it for me.

Excellent birthday present!

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Lowrance HDS7 or 8-Which to Buy? 2024

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