Lowrance chartplotter

[graphicsguy]

Hi all,

I am considering buying the Lowrance HDS-5 chartplotter.

Does anyone know if it is possible to connect a suitable transducer to the unit to enable it to be a chartplotter/fishfinder combo.

Thanks in advance,

Tony

[Erin]

So long as you buy the 'sounder' version then you should be fine. IIRC each model comes as a standard or a sounder version.

[jyasaki]

Actually, I think they're all equipped with sounder inputs, except that the "m" model uses a networked transducer. The other models (no suffix and "x" models) use a dedicated, wired transducer.

jky

[graphicsguy]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Actually, I think they're all equipped with sounder inputs, except that the "m" model uses a networked transducer. The other models (no suffix and "x" models) use a dedicated, wired transducer.

jky

Hi jky,

That's what I was wondering. I have the Lowrance transducer already in place and was hoping that I can plug the plotter in and have plotter/sounder combo. I didn't know if the chartplotter and sounder units might have different software inside

Regards,

Tony

[9D280]

As I understand it, the "basic" plotter will give you a number on screen form the NMEA2000 bus, but no fancy bottom shaped graphics. I think the Plotter / sounder goes split screen to give a "fishfinder" type view form the sounder.

[Simon B]

The non-sounder models will not have the transducer socket at the back, however, I think you may well be able to get a transducer free combo unit that you can network existing transducer to. Quite impressed with our HDS so far still not played with it long enough to get all features set-up though.

[BruceB]

My understanding is that the 5M non sounder version will accept a sounder either over the ethernet from a broadband sounder or from another ethernet connected plotter, or at least mine does this
As far as I know it will not work with just the transducer from a standard 50/200kHz version.