Garmin or Lowrance - Page 2

markymarkP · 17 October 2010, 08:03

used mine for the first time yesterday and its great.
sorry no pictures yet, too busy working it all out.

i think its fair to say i need to tweak the settings, etc etc and get used to using it. but i am well happy.

joakimhansson · 17 October 2010, 15:59

Lowrance HDS-10

At nights! the darkest light is to dark, and one step up is to light...IMO

This was one of the first HDS-10, and sometimes the software was little crazy, maybe just a update...

But try it in dark first

Dr Doof · 18 October 2010, 21:05

Don't get mine for another 7 to 10 days!

Something to do with a software upgrade at Lowrance?

markymarkP · 20 October 2010, 15:58

here are a few shots from our first go!!

awesome!! i know you will buy the structurescan bit for the lowrance!!

we stumbled on this, not even knowing it was there!

Dr Doof · 20 October 2010, 23:21

I did order the structure scan as well, the dealer said it will probably arrive before the HDS unit.

The wait is killing me.

Your pictures look fantastic, can't wait to get mine fitted and working.

piranha580 · 21 October 2010, 10:44

Hi all, living in Dublin and was thinking of buying the lowrance hds 7 or 8 with sidescan unit.. Was checking online and obviously the uk is cheaper than Ireland .. Bit it looks like the US is cheaper again.. Anyone know of any problems with buying from the US... even if I was to pick up just the side scan unit from the US i presume the American unit works in the uk too?!

markymarkP · 21 October 2010, 10:56

yep, they are locked to the area you are in, bit like DVD's
so if you buy a US one, maps for the UK won't work and vice versa, so sadly you have to buy one from over here

but worth every penny!!!

Simon B · 21 October 2010, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymarkP

yep, they are locked to the area you are in, bit like DVD's
so if you buy a US one, maps for the UK won't work and vice versa, so sadly you have to buy one from over here

but worth every penny!!!

What about just the module? Got some one over there for 4 weeks soon.

markymarkP · 21 October 2010, 12:31

dont know, i would think the structurescan is ok.

worth calling Lowrance, they will know for sure. or ask a dealer

piranha580 · 21 October 2010, 15:32

Actually could I clarify something else too guys... If I have the likes of the hds7 ... Do I need a transducer with it.. Or if I got the side scan unit does this double as a sounder fishfinder?? Or do I really need both on the transom??

Pikey Dave · 21 October 2010, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymarkP

yep, they are locked to the area you are in, bit like DVD's
so if you buy a US one, maps for the UK won't work and vice versa, so sadly you have to buy one from over here

but worth every penny!!!

Are you sure? does that mean when I do my "Bear Grylls" atlantic crossing I have to buy another garmin unit to display the US maps? With Garmin it used to be that the maps were tied to the unit, so you bought your bluechart, went online & entered the unit serial number & you got an unlock code to unlock the maps onto your unit. This is one of the reasons I shied away from buying Garmin this time around.

markymarkP · 21 October 2010, 15:49

the HDS screen will come with a transom mounted sonar.

the structurescan unit comes with its own special transome mount.

you mount both on the back of the boat, they are unobtrusive and easy to slot on somewhere.

the leads go back to their respective base units, and there is an additional lead that goes between the 'brains' of the structurescan and the HDS display. it is really as simple as that.
mine was installed in under two hours, and i did not rush at all. if you can plug in a monitor on a computer, you can wire this!

the two units start talking straight away, and hey presto! you have a monster on your hands!!

you will wonder how you managed without it. the way i have been discribing the difference between normal standard fishfinder images and the new HDS ones with the sidescan is the difference between a crayon picture, and a black and white photo.

the difference is huge! well worth the investment

markymarkP · 21 October 2010, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Are you sure? does that mean when I do my "Bear Grylls" atlantic crossing I have to buy another garmin unit to display the US maps? With Garmin it used to be that the maps were tied to the unit, so you bought your bluechart, went online & entered the unit serial number & you got an unlock code to unlock the maps onto your unit. This is one of the reasons I shied away from buying Garmin this time around.

all i know is, when i contacted a supplier in usa, they told me the unit would not work here.
dont know more than that. you would be best to ask a dealer i think to be sure.

but if you can afford to do a bear grylls trip, i am sure you can afford the correct units

Pikey Dave · 21 October 2010, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymarkP

all i know is, when i contacted a supplier in usa, they told me the unit would not work here.
dont know more than that. you would be best to ask a dealer i think to be sure.

but if you can afford to do a bear grylls trip, i am sure you can afford the correct units

Touche

I suspect it's more to do with the pre-loaded maps, if you imported one it would have the USA basemap, not much use in the North Sea. You would still be able to buy & load the Bluecharts though. That is unless the USA units have a line drawn in the Atlantic from Green land to the Antarctic with a label pointing east saying "There be dragons"

markymarkP · 21 October 2010, 16:59

may well be. but i dont know!

you will have to ask a dealer.

let me know if you find out

BogMonster · 22 October 2010, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Touche

I suspect it's more to do with the pre-loaded maps, if you imported one it would have the USA basemap, not much use in the North Sea. You would still be able to buy & load the Bluecharts though. That is unless the USA units have a line drawn in the Atlantic from Green land to the Antarctic with a label pointing east saying "There be dragons"

Entirely possible!

I expect it is the basemaps ... all the ones in UK come with UK charts preloaded, which of course are F A use to me ... I suspect my next credit card transaction (if I ever get the effin boat!!) will be for a Bluechart but want to have a look at it first.

Pikey Dave · 22 October 2010, 07:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

(if I ever get the effin boat!!)

What's the delay?

BogMonster · 22 October 2010, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

What's the delay?

Wind, the MOD demolished a local cargo vessel with their ro-ro ship a few months back when it broke loose in high winds, and now won't come in if there is more than about 10 knots of wind so it's currently sailing around in circles somewhere off the south coast

ashbypower · 22 October 2010, 09:59

As I understand it US models have a software Geofence sytem witch only display's USA charts!! Although you can source Internation units from the states and Canada, but cannot comment on the support for them here in UK.

This is only our understanding of the US models and not the manufactures statement.

Pikey Dave · 22 October 2010, 15:18

It just re-inforces what 90% of the cousins already know.. The world does end at Ellis Island, There be Dragons.............