New HD Lowrance who has one ?

[1 Gearhead]

(ANYONE) I just purchased the HDS 5 with lake insight today and the 2009 navionics premium hot maps card, especially for Badin and Tillery . I think I have to down load the updates from their sight to get the unit to except this card because it has a pop up that says that its not supporting navionics. I'm not 100 % sure how to do it. Do I get a blank SD 512mb card and put it in my computer and then down load from their web site the new free software , then install the card in my lowrance to down load that data to the lowrance and remove. Then install the navionics again. Do I need to leave the Navionics chip in the unit at all times or does it down load. Thats kind of how I read everything. Thanks in advance.

[jerry9497]

congrats on the upgrade Jeremy. youll love them maps. as you know I have a bird. so not much help on HD5 but I here it's a good one.

[Catfishwidowmakr]

rivercatsc ( James , Peedee catmasters ) he has an HD unit. Try him and see if he can help. I bought a X102c at close out on ebay for $227 new in the box with factory waranty and square deal extended waranty for 3 years with full replacement within 3 years if anything happens to it. I was going to buy an HD or sideimaging but at that price I couldn't turn that down. I also got the Garmin 376c GPS/chartplotter and man that vision 2 SD card is as good as the navionics chip. I can take my cursor to a point on the map click on it and there comes your GPS coordinates. It has Navigation view, Fish view 3D,I couldn't believe how clear and good those maps look. Also have XM satellite NEXRAD live radar weather feeds so I know when to go ! when a T-storm comes up. The XM radar weather is sort of pricey but you can pay for it month by month so you don't have to have a yearly subscription. I hope your HD questions get answered. Tom

[1 Gearhead]

I can't wait till the next Tournaments cause I can track vessels moving or not

[Bill_Monteith]

Originally Posted by 1 Gearhead

(ANYONE) I just purchased the HDS 5 with lake insight today and the 2009 navionics premium hot maps card, especially for Badin and Tillery . I think I have to down load the updates from their sight to get the unit to except this card because it has a pop up that says that its not supporting navionics. I'm not 100 % sure how to do it. Do I get a blank SD 512mb card and put it in my computer and then down load from their web site the new free software , then install the card in my lowrance to down load that data to the lowrance and remove. Then install the navionics again. Do I need to leave the Navionics chip in the unit at all times or does it down load. Thats kind of how I read everything. Thanks in advance.

Nice unit.I have a 520 C.
I Downloaded the software from lowrance site to pc for reaing card.
I use a 2 gig card and set unit to record and take the chip to pc and it will show all info then.
Alot of cool apps for reading and changing hot spots etc.
I made some charts of Lake wateree and Monty and sent to my bud (with same unit) and he loved it.Took him righ to the spots with no fish,Na worked good for us.

Good Luck
Bill Monteith

[1 Gearhead]

Thanks Guys but so far I can only get half way through the down load and it gets terminated says theres a problem with the host web. I can't even use the new maps yet that Gander mountain sold me the never mentioned the down load to get them to work . I can't get a hold of a real person at Lowrance to even tell them the trouble im having with the new free down load . The down load has only been available for a week.Just wondering if anyone has gotting it to work. Sure was wanting to play with the maps this weekend .

[jerry9497]

one thing I have heard is if the file on Navionics chip gets corupted, they wont replace it, they immediatly assume you were trying to copy it. 2 thumbs down to navionics for that. I would have thought a bunch of people would have responded to a lowrance HD, as many times as I've heard that it's better than a bird and now no one has one. If you bought it at bass pro shop, lay it on the counter and say fix it,replace it or give me my money back. I have only had the one gps that maps can be loaded in so not alot of exprience but seems like I put chip in and turned it on, went to map screen and it said "loading maps" and after a few minutes it worked. when I looked at SI at BPS there was a Hummingbird tech rep walking around trying to show them. call and see if there is a lowrance rep at BPS

[Bill_Monteith]

Post the link to download you are trying.I will check it out tomorow

[1 Gearhead]

I'll try to , I just went to the Lowrance web site and choose the free download for the HDS5 and it doesn't seem to work . I also tried at work .You have to have Java . Same thing .I need to send it back I guess or catch a rep.at Bass pro or Gander mtn. Main thing I wanted is the Badin and Tillery maps and thats what I can't seem to get .

[beastmaster704]

If it don't work take it back and say fix it ! sounds a little like your card is corrupt.

[1 Gearhead]

Heck, Its brand new and never been in anything but my new unit . Can it still be corrupt ? It sure was hard to open the package the card came I don't think it had every been opened. I really feel like its a problem with Lowrance's download and not the HDS-5 unit or the card but not sure.

[catfishrus]

First navonics chip I ever bought was bad...plotted off the worng cordinates..so they said. It was off 1/4 mile everywhere i went...but it loaded fine. I would take that lowrance back and get a bird....

[Bill_Monteith]

Do I understand correctly that you are getting a Java update error?

Have you downloaded GPS Data Manger from Lowrance?

[1 Gearhead]

No I havent down loaded the data manager . I saw that, should I down load it first. Catfishrus I plan to add Lowrance's structure scan later when they release it . It's detail is suppose to blow the bird out of the water

[1 Gearhead]

It was my fault the whole time . My wife showed me how to download it. I now have my maps. Thanks everyone who try to help . It seems that the download has a signature error so all the anti-virus stuff on my computer want allow that download . Once you get past all that it will download to the SD card also I wasn't choosing the right card file "h" . My navioncs card and Lowrance HDS-5 are working great now.Thanks again

[catfishrus]

LOWRANCE ANNOUNCES SIDE-VIEWING SONAR OPTION FOR NEW HIGH DEFINITION SYSTEMS:



Innovative HDS Multifunction Displays to Offer Advanced Fishfinding Technology Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992, announced today, at the Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, Louisiana, its introduction of a new side-viewing sonar technology option for its powerful line of HDS (High Definition System) multifunction displays. Available in 2009, the Lowrance sideviewing sonar technology depicts the underwater world of bottom and structure in photo-like presentations.

Presenting an advanced new dimension in bottom and structure viewing, Lowrance side-viewing sonar delivers the same legendary total-sonar performance that anglers have come to expect from Lowrance. In addition, the side-viewing sonar works in tandem with existing high-definition 2D sonar displays – powered by the built-in HDS Broadband Sounder.
A simple, cost-efficient add-on module, the new side-viewing technology is easily networked using Lowrance Ethernet connections, allowing anglers to enjoy the Lowrance sonar advantage on all HDS displays mounted on their boat.

Designed by the leader in recreational fishfinder innovation, the new Lowrance side-viewing sonar option is welcome news for serious and pro anglers, as well as those involved in underwater search and recovery, marine archeology and marine ecology sciences.

Full details, pricing and a projected 2009 availability date for the new Lowrance side-viewing supplemental HDS sonar technology option is expected to be released at the American Sportfishing Association’s ICAST trade show in Orlando, Florida in July.


Dont know if it will live up to your exspectations or not gearhead. From my understanding...its side sonar...same thing as you taking your transducer and pointing it out to the side for long range sonaring. Another issue here might be the HD light bulb. Time will tell.

[Bill_Monteith]

Sounds nice,didnt they buy out eagle just for that info?

Wish I had a schmatic of that add on.

Hope it will work on my 520C

[cat hunter]

I have a hds 5 lowrance

[catfishrus]

Bill from my understanding this is for the new HD units.

[Bill_Monteith]

Yea I see that now WOW,another 2k for the HD 10 then addon wow.