Lowrance HDS vs. DSI

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by 45user

So I got my HDS 5 GPS/chat plotter combo but I have no idea what I am doing. I'm looking at the pictures on the web stores of the screen shot of DSI unit it seems like it has a great view of the water.
What is the differences between HDS & DSI Unit?
Which is better? I currently have HDS5 with 50/200mhz transducer. Did I over do it?
Thank you for your help!
45

No you didn't your just fine. Dsi seems to work fantastic for shallower water, but for overall use the regular broadband sonar is what I prefer. Although the dsi produces some amazing images...but like I said overall you made the right choice.

[45user]

Thank for the replies!
So on DSI, is it easy to see fish? What confuses me on HDS is the fish arcs its showing and how do you interpret that? How does bait fish and game fish differ on HDS unit?
Thank you again for your help!
45

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by 45user

Thank for the replies!
So on DSI, is it easy to see fish? What confuses me on HDS is the fish arcs its showing and how do you interpret that? How does bait fish and game fish differ on HDS unit?
Thank you again for your help!
45

Sure Dsi is easier to interpret than the traditional broadband, (ex. a bait ball looks like a baitball, and individual fish can be seen). But broadband gives you alot of information too, you just have to know how to interpret that information as well. Since you have colors on broadband it really helps out on determining how hard or soft the bottom is, and that's really important. As far as what fish or bait look like on your FF, your just going to have to keep using it and find out. Take screen shots and study them or post them up and let someone try to help interpret them for you.

[45user]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Sure Dsi is easier to interpret than the traditional broadband, (ex. a bait ball looks like a baitball, and individual fish can be seen). But broadband gives you alot of information too, you just have to know how to interpret that information as well. Since you have colors on broadband it really helps out on determining how hard or soft the bottom is, and that's really important. As far as what fish or bait look like on your FF, your just going to have to keep using it and find out. Take screen shots and study them or post them up and let someone try to help interpret them for you.

Thanks ful-rac for your replies!
Is there any instruction video or tutorials on the Internet somewhere?
Anybody?
Thanks again!
45

[Deamon]

Come on Tony...! Post up the Black Sea Bass that you were fighting and show us all what the beast looked like on your meter...please.

[kobra]

Check out you tube. There should be a bunch of tutorials.

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by Deamon

Come on Tony...! Post up the Black Sea Bass that you were fighting and show us all what the beast looked like on your meter...please.

I can swear I have posted this several times....oh well..here we go again...

BSB Hooked and coming up.


Black sea bass checking out my squid jig gangion, note the 7 green lines, they represent the 6 individual squid jigs and a sinker on the bottom.


Little bit of squid on the bottom. (represented by the green)


Heres an interesting shot, broadband, dsi, and sidescan side by side of a small school of baitfish at cabrillo.



Just so you know that, seeing what things look like in pictures is no substitute for being on your kayak and in the water and studying your FF. You will learn alot more being on the water putting the time in than to have me or someone else explaining it to you.

[GregAndrew]

Hell, Tony can tell you what the baitfish had for dinner last night by the color of their fart bubbles with that contraption of his .

[Deamon]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

I can swear I have posted this several times....oh well..here we go again...

You may have...I don't open up all of your posts...