Lowrance hds vs elite fs

I would bet that the only things you would be missing out on are things you probably dont use in the first place. I am in the same boat in that I dont use half the features an HDS offers, but I still have HDS units. Onboard diagnostics like linking to your outboard, etc are some of the types of things I dont think you can do with an elite unit. Otherwise I am pretty sure you can still link units together to share waypoints. You can control motorguide trolling motors from them, do active target if you have that as well.
When I upgrade units I always look for leftover prior generation models. I just bought 2 new HDS 9 live units 2 years ago when the Pro model came out. Saved like $1000 per unit.

The HDS has always been the better model from the elite. What’s different and by how much I have no clue. I still own an older elite that I rarely touch anymore it used to go on the bow and I would use it for navigation on ice in the truck. Have had an hds on my console along with my Garmin and still like using that for 2d sonar as it has one of the best imo.

John Rasmussen wrote:

The HDS has always been the better model from the elite. What’s different and by how much I have no clue. I still own an older elite that I rarely touch anymore it used to go on the bow and I would use it for navigation on ice in the truck. Have had an hds on my console along with my Garmin and still like using that for 2d sonar as it has one of the best imo.

I really like my hds gen 2 touch units, but I need better mapping, I bought the new c map which says it’s compatible but wow does it dog down my units so I have to go backwards on finding a older map card. But I’m about to fully rig that crestliner and instead of putting old graphs on it I’m thinking of buying new. Trying to figure out what I’d loose going the elite over hds is my real concern. I don’t feel like dropping 5k on new graphs.

Is the gen 2 hds total scan transducer the same as the newer ones ? I’d assume not but if i only needed control heads that would save me a bunch of cash

I bought new units a couple years ago and never re-rigged a new transducer. They work fine I dont think they have changed at all. Mine was originally from an HDS Gen 3 Touch. My new units came with the total scan transducers which I ended up selling.

Couple options you could look for used live units. Not a big difference from the pros. The new elite that came out this year have come along way. I talked with the lowrance rep about them at the show. Don’t remember all the differences but they are not as far apart as the hds units like they once were. Worth a call to lowrance or stopping at a shop like Thorne Brothers and getting the specifics.
I have 1 live and 1 pro and the difference is not noticeable except on startup.

Thanks guys.
I think I’m wrong on transducer. Think the gen 2 touch has the lss2 but I have to dig and make sure. The new ones are active 3 in 1 and I’d have to re rig. And yes I am all about last years new model used.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I need better mapping, I bought the new c map which says it’s compatible but wow does it dog down my units so I have to go backwards on finding a older map card.

I guess I’m not sure if the mapping is any better on the new ones. Glad I never bought a c map chip I guess.

Not sure on the ducer being the same question or not, but would think they changed/improved it in what 8 years or better.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
I need better mapping, I bought the new c map which says it’s compatible but wow does it dog down my units so I have to go backwards on finding a older map card.

I guess I’m not sure if the mapping is any better on the new ones. Glad I never bought a c map chip I guess.

Not sure on the ducer being the same question or not, but would think they changed/improved it in what 8 years or better.

The cmap is top notch, my old gen2 is just to slow to feed me all the information.

Yeah you most likely have the lss2 active imaging HD 3 in 1 is actually the newest. Needs an additional black box.
Regular active imaging 3 in 1 was the newest before the HD model. Doesn’t need additional black box.

Ripjiggen wrote:

I have 1 live and 1 pro and the difference is not noticeable except on startup.

One thing I REALLY noticed when I got my Live units is that they are VERY slow to boot up compared to the Gen3 Touch I had. Otherwise they are much better. The Pros are supposed to be considerably faster, but I have no first hand experience with them.
I generally like the C-Map mapping that is preloaded on the unit. Havent found a need to get a chip for either unit. Pretty much matches what I had before which was an old Lowrance Chip. Its just nice having it all preloaded. Seems faster this way.

You can run the HD 3 in 1 without the box with the HDS Pro units, but my understanding is all the other units need the box to run the latest and greatest HD 3 in 1.

Man if I could fit a mapping unit only on my counsel along with what I already have, I’d be happy. But I don’t think I have room for a 3rd unit. As far as side and down image, I’m happy with what I have. I just want the latest up to date maps and something that can process them fast.

mojogunter wrote:

You can run the HD 3 in 1 without the box with the HDS Pro units, but my understanding is all the other units need the box to run the latest and greatest HD 3 in 1.

That is correct. Elite and live need the module.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Man if I could fit a mapping unit only on my counsel along with what I already have, I’d be happy. But I don’t think I have room for a 3rd unit. As far as side and down image, I’m happy with what I have. I just want the latest up to date maps and something that can process them fast.

Then just replace 1 unit with an Elite for mapping maybe? Not sure how far backward compatibility goes with hds say live to a gen 2. I don’t believe they are.

I have an HDS Live 12 with the FFS for sale here at a substantial reduction vs new. I must say, the resolution in down imaging is amazing. On my Humminbirds, weeds show up as sticks but on the Lowrance, you can see the leaves and often tell what kind of plant it is. I was up on a northwoods lake and the crappie schools were easy to see and target.

The new depth finders are slower to boot up, I suspect because they are more like computers now than before. A lot of power to the processors than before.

Hummingbird has the best mapping. Get yourself a Helix Gen4 as they just came out with a newer model Xpore and they are on clearance right.

Looks like the Elite is for Avid Weekend Anglers and the HDS PRO is for Tournament & Serious Anglers according to their web site. So you have to ask yourself are you a Serious Angler? LOL

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bigcrappie wrote:

Hummingbird has the best mapping. Get yourself a Helix Gen4 as they just came out with a newer model Xpore and they are on clearance right.

I thought about that as well, then I’d get mapping and link it to my terrova, but there isn’t a single thing I like about the helix units. And after talking with a guy who’s buddy sells and fixes electronics, he said 70 of the 79 units he has in the shop broken at the moment are helix models. Pretty on par for how I feel about them as well. How much better can hummingbirds mapping be compared to the new c maps?

mojogunter wrote:

You can run the HD 3 in 1 without the box with the HDS Pro units, but my understanding is all the other units need the box to run the latest and greatest HD 3 in 1.

Not exactly. The Live will run the 3 in 1 but won’t have the 1 megahertz imaging capability built in. If you want to have 1 megahertz imaging, you’ll need to buy the S3100 sonar module for almost $1000. With the Pro, you’ll never need the S3100 module unless you want Fish Reveal on your imaging.

https://www.lowrance.com/lowrance/type/sonar-transducers/s3100-sonar-module/

If you go with a Live and go without the S3100, your side imaging quality will be the same and your current HDS gen 2 units with no upgrade.

I’ve been window shopping for about a month now and it seems unless you are putting 16” screens on your boat, it might make sense to get the Pro on sale if the 1 megahertz means something to you.

Amazon occasionally has some pretty decent discounts on the Pros bringing it within $200-$300 of a new Live unit sometimes.

I fished next to a guy Sunday on Tonka that had a old 16ft tiller with an 1989 mercury 2 stroke. He had 4 large graphs all stacked on top each other. He had the 360, Maga Live, one for mapping and one for depth. $10k in electronics in a $1500 boat, I asked him about all his electronics and he said he was devoiced. LOL

Bearcat89 wrote:

How much better can hummingbirds mapping be compared to the new c maps?

Unless something has drastically changed it isnt better. C-maps is the next gen of the Lowrance Lake Insight mapping. Lowrance Lake Insight was identical to LakeMaster chips. I had them both and compared side by side no difference. Where you WILL see variation is if you are in Canada, but MN is the same or at least I have not found any differences.

I have been a bird/garmin person for many years and now will be all Lowrance. I haven’t run lowrance since bird came out with SI and I bought a 1197. I have watched way too many videos, and the Lowrance seem pretty user friendly. I’m guessing a bit of a learning curve, but easier than the solix. That thing has so many different levels to find what you’re looking for, Way too many times on my phone trying to find a feature to change, turn on or off. FYI: I was told to run this mapping on the Lowrance from a Lowrance sponsored pro rather than the C-map. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/843478

I see 2 major differences between HDS Pro and Elite.

– Elite requires the S3100 module to be compatible with Active Imaging HD (1 megahertz side imaging)

– Pro has a better display. Sunlight and no shadow from polarized glasses.

Just my opinion, these two things are enough for my to go with the Pro. Especially for someone who fishes as much as you do and how long you hang onto the units. I am still running my Gen 2 7” and 8” on my boat because they still do a lot of what I need.

I really want to upgrade my stuff to get better side imaging and to be able to create my own contour maps. Some places I fish are very poorly mapped.

biggill wrote:

I see 2 major differences between HDS Pro and Elite.

– Elite requires the S3100 module to be compatible with Active Imaging HD (1 megahertz side imaging)

– Pro has a better display. Sunlight and no shadow from polarized glasses.

Just my opinion, these two things are enough for my to go with the Pro. Especially for someone who fishes as much as you do and how long you hang onto the units. I am still running my Gen 2 7” and 8” on my boat because they still do a lot of what I need.

I really want to upgrade my stuff to get better side imaging and to be able to create my own contour maps. Some places I fish are very poorly mapped.

I will most likely be going with 2 12 inch pros as well. I was just hoping to be a cheap ass.

bigcrappie wrote:

I fished next to a guy Sunday on Tonka that had a old 16ft tiller with an 1989 mercury 2 stroke. He had 4 large graphs all stacked on top each other. He had the 360, Maga Live, one for mapping and one for depth. $10k in electronics in a $1500 boat, I asked him about all his electronics and he said he was devoiced. LOL

Was that the guy in the old ‘northwoods’ tin boat? If so I saw him Saturday as well and thought the same thing. I think I’m at about even in boat/motor to electronics cost ratio. Easy to get there with any older boat.