Combo or seprate units

[Bleeding Green]

Hi Raiders,

Last time I took my boat out the sounder was playing up. Considering it's around 10 years old it's probably time to upgrade. But when I do I'd like to get a decent one. Probably can't afford it right now. However I'd also like to get a GPS so I can see where I am and store co-ordinates,

So, is it worth while looking to get a GPS now and then another sounder later, or should I just wait and get a combo unit?

I fish the south coast, from lakes / inlets to close off shore.

[GregL]

If it's for the boat in your avatar I'd go a combo unit only for dash space. Buy as big as budget allows as it helps when using multi screens just so the picture is of a workable size.

Greg

[Bleeding Green]

Good point Greg regarding dash space. There's not a great deal of it.

What differance can I expect from mid range combo unit which I assume is around the $1k mark to the top end units?

I don't need every function that would be available. Basically I want somehting that can show me the bottom to give a good idea of whats down there, plus a reasonable GPS so I know where I am and get back there if I wish to.

[bwoolno]

I have a Lowrance HDS5 combo on my 5.3 concorde which i find pretty good.Sounder doesn't break up at speed.Gps is pretty good as well.I use a Navionics Sd card in it.

[gummybusta]

yeh need to say i'm a fan of the combos

they save space and do everything the seprate units do in one

most of the time your in one or the other pages so don't do alot of split screen but as greg said get the biggest you can so when you do run in split it is fine

as for 1k being top end nah you need to jump up a fair bit from that try over 3k for the higher end stuff and the stuff that the comercial fleet run is more like 10k

1k will get a decent unit but and the one in my little tinny is a lowrance mark5 combo i brought OS online and that was around $500

[helliconia]

I've got a Humminbird 587ci combo in my Brooker 475. The size of it fits neatly in the corner of the dash and the split screen is adequate. If I'd had a chance to trial one before hand I might have gone up to a bigger screen, since its a bit small when looking at it from the stern end. While I'm driving though it's fine, and even in split screen mode it does OK. If you have around $1k to spend move up to the next series.

Also take a look at the side scan models that are around. Seems they're the bees knees these days and worth the investment if locating structure accurately is your thing.

I'll probably upgrade the boat before I do the sounder

[tareeterror]

I just bought a humminbird 586c hd and a gme gp450x from Huey at Huett Marine for under $1000, they both fit well on my dash of my 4.7 Steber, both have large screens and easy to read.

Edited November 10, 2011 by tareeterror

[Bleeding Green]

Thanks for the input from all.

Tarree terror, what size units are they? If I can get away with it for 1K I'd be happy. It seems the general concensus is that combo units are good, what made you go with the two seperate units?

But I need to wait a bit otherwise my spending will be out of control considering I'm about to pick up the new trailer. Unless I get a xmas bonus....

[tareeterror]

Hi Alfa, I went with seperate units so I didnt have to have split screens,Easier for me to see,I think people go combo units for dash space, my gps screen is 4.5 inch, and sounder is same, ill take photos and add them, the gps is GME which cost under $300 from huett marine, when I was looking I was going to get the Furuno gp32, but they are $600, and the GME does everything that the Furuno does but half the price.which left me money for the sounder. it cost me $1075 for Am/Fm GME radio,Humminbird 586c hd sounder, inflatable pfd1,and the Gps, couldnt get anywhere near that price from other places.

[tareeterror]

Photos of new units mounted. I only look over my windscreen so nothing in front blocks my view, or can still see enough if I need to duck down.

Edited November 12, 2011 by tareeterror

[Bleeding Green]

Units look good. Did you wire them up yourself? Have you been out since you have had them on the boat and if so are they what you were hoping for?

[tareeterror]

Units look good. Did you wire them up yourself? Have you been out since you have had them on the boat and if so are they what you were hoping for?

I wired them up myself, pretty easy,Havent been out yet, only had them on demo mode at moment, but very impressed. will be testing this weekend, will let you know how I go, glad I went seperate units and not a combo though, due to screen size though.

[Bleeding Green]

I'd be interested to know how they go. With the gps, does it need an aerial? How long does it take to get a satelite lock? Did you have to buy a map card or was it ready to roll?

[tareeterror]

Gps has seperate aerial, no cards needed, its ready to go, takes few seconds on startup to lock satellite.

[bisso]

i bought a Lowrance Elite 5 combo. i generally run it with the chartplotter screen only unless i am in unfamiliar waters and unsure of depths etc which i then switch it to a split screen. i prefer the combos for space saving and cant see why you need to buy two units that one combo unit can do.. i dont know where you intend to fish etc but ultimately what you choose is your decision and your money. try one out and see what best suits your needs. make sure you can utilise all the bits included and unless you really need some of the fancy bits, stick with what will serve you well and you will be happy. which ever way you choose, they are easily installed yourself at home with a bit of thought, trial and error and simple tools. dont be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck putting it all together, it is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle and after a bit of help the pieces just fit... do it once and do it right and you will be glad with which ever decision you made...

Regards

Mick

[Bleeding Green]

Cheers for the advice. I guess I need to get down to some shops and have a look to see what is available. I fish the Sth coast, from the Illawarra down.

I'm not prepared to spend my full budget now, that's why I'm trying to work out which way to go. If I go with seperate units I'd consider replacing my seemingly faulty sounder now and getting the gps later.

I'll have a look in store.

[cc6264]

Cheers for the advice. I guess I need to get down to some shops and have a look to see what is available. I fish the Sth coast, from the Illawarra down.

I'm not prepared to spend my full budget now, that's why I'm trying to work out which way to go. If I go with seperate units I'd consider replacing my seemingly faulty sounder now and getting the gps later.

I'll have a look in store.

I know this is a little old - but I am now in the same boat (so to speak) as you Alfa. What did you end up going with?

Cheers

Craig

[Bleeding Green]

Hey mate, sorry it's taken so long for me to reply.

I haven't got a round to replacing my unit yet. However I did go down to the local boating store to have a look at my options. TBH, I wasn't that impressed with the combo units as a fish finder. Maybe I just couldn't get them to work properly, but in the fish finder mode I could only bring up a split screen. In nav mode I could easily switch to both. I suppose the split screen is good if you are drifting, but when at anchor I'd prefer a full screen for fishing.

When I get around to it I'll look into it a bit more and see what other options are available. I'll probably put it off till next summer now though, as the depth gauge on my existing unit is working again and I don't use the boat much over the cooler months / footy season.

[Bleeding Green]

Ok so I'm actively looking for a new unit now (I like to take my time, lol).

The elite 5 appears value for money but can someone tell me what's better with the elite 5 dsi? It's slightly more expansive but is suitable to shallower depths.

Also if some one can recommend a better unit for the dollars (under $1k) I'd be happy to hear you opinion.

Cheers

Edited October 17, 2012 by Alfa-Rosa

[a boat]

Hi, if you take my advise and you are wanting to spend less than a grand the best value combo is the GME because it has the biggest screen and comes with charts in the price. Now if you want DSI than really only Lowrance Elite 5 DSI, but you may already know, that unit is only DIS not 2D as well. If I did not buy the GME, the best unit, much better screen, much quicker, better all round is the HDS-5 Gen2 and then save your pennies to fit LSS-2 down the track that give you ALOT better features than just DSI.

PM me if you would like Raider prices on these units and just to throw you a curve ball, I have just played with the new Raymarine A67 touch screen and that was awesome.

Cheers,

Huey.

[Bleeding Green]

Thanks for the advice Craig.

What does 'dsi' do? I don't know a lot about the different types, trying to research on the net

Thanks

Edited October 18, 2012 by Alfa-Rosa

[Bleeding Green]

Thanks for the advice Craig.

What does 'dsi' do? I don't know a lot about the different types, trying to research on the net

Thanks

Ok so I know dsi is down scan imaging. But what do units use that don't have this, and how good is the hds 5 without the structure scan?

Edited October 18, 2012 by Alfa-Rosa

[a boat]

Hi Chris, see your PMs and as simple as it gets, DSI shows the bottom and structure in a different view to the 2D fashion that most users are used to. The Elite DSI will only do this and in my opinion sometimes you see more with 2D and can also shot deeper. The HDS-5 Gen2 is FAR superior all round to the Elite series and as it comes with the 2D view it will go deeper and if you ever want structure scan, giving you not only down imaging but the much cooler side imagining too with structure map, you can have both. I have not fitted many Elites because for a very little amount more you get the HDS-5 that as I said is much better.

Cheers,

Huey.

[Bleeding Green]

Craig, thanks again for your advice. As I touched on in my pm it would be nice to have the ray marine unit but it a bit more than I was planning on spending.

That leaves the gme or hds. I haven't seen the gme in the flesh but I like the slightly bigger screen and the horizontal split rather than vertical. But it sounds like to hds is a better overall unit I just have to work out if it comes with mapr or if I have to buy another card which would push the cost a bit closer to the raymarine.

[helliconia]

Alfa, you haven't mentioned what you want the GPS for? I really only use mine to mark spots where I catch fish (not many of those in memory haha) or some structure I think is worth revisiting. You really don't need add-on maps to use it for simple things like that.

If you are exploring an area, looking for an underwater landmark like reef and you don't have a rough area, the contours on the maps can give you a rough area to look, but they're not done in fine enough detail to spot a 2 metre drop off etc. You can always save up and buy them later like I did.

Personally,I think you should forget the maps for now (even if they're free, they're not REALLY free) and get the best unit you can afford. If the inbuilt maps aren't doing the job, buy the extended maps later. You'll thank yourself for getting the better quality unit.

[EDIT] Perhaps Huey can confirm, but I believe some of the better units can save data like sounder depth when you mark a waypoint as well.

Edited October 18, 2012 by EmptyHooks