I am not very familiar with the operation of these HDS units. My boys and I are in the hunt for one And was wondering if a HDS-5 is easier to operate than say an HDS 8 unit??
Does a person go big right away?? Should we get the unit with lake in-site built in it?? We will need a chip for LOW is Lakemaster the best one?? Which transducer is needed.
Thank you for your help,
Gundy
Gundy ask to join this group and you will get all the right answers you need.
Go to groups and ask to join Jolly Ann Marine Electronics IDO Specials 
I just bought a HDS-5 simply due to that is all I need 
If there is not a problem with money I would go with the 8, or the 10. I puchased the 8 and a friend of mine purchased the 5 for his boat and he’s already looking to upgrade. If you plan on using the spit screen functions, like map/sonar, or side imageing features splitting a 5 inch screen gets small. User controls should be about the same. Good luck and enjoy.
buy the biggest unit you can afford the bigger screen lets you see in much greater detail. I don’t think there should be that much difference to operate the dif units.
Stan 
If money is not a problem the 8 is the way to go. The 10 is nice but for the money you get so much more with the 8.
5 and 7 only 2 screens, must go to menu for everything. If you plan on adding Structure Scan forget the 5 or 7.
The 8 is much more user friendly than the 5 or 7. Also there is a new 4.0 software upgrade coming out that will make the 8 and 10 even better. If you want to save money get the basemap, thats all you need. The insight is better suited to off shore fishing. They all use the same chips. I like Lake Master the best, they just came out with LOW 1′ contures. 83/200 is standard transducer, stay away from the 50/200 unless you are Tuna fishing.I have a 10,8 5 and structure scan on my boat and just love them. Also use the 5 for ice fishing.
I will have to disagree with the others that say go with the biggest you can for the $$. I have an 8 at the console and a 7 that I move from the bow to transom based on how I am fishing. But for me, the one thing that I dislike about the split screen is that I frequently want to change the split screen layout from 2 screens to 3 screens etc. And while I am in the menu switching, you might miss something on the sonar etc. So I could leave it in the 3 screen mode, but then two of the screens are smaller than what I would see with two ‘5s side by side. So I guess what I am saying is that I should have considered a 7 and a 5 for the console or 2 5’s. Not that it would have made it better, as the 8 is still an awesome set up, or that I would have gone dual units at the console route. But I never even considered it because everyone said to go with the biggest single unit I could afford.
The built in lake info is overkill unless you are going to be fishing many out of state waters. I would save the $$ on the insight maps and get a lakemaster chip instead. WAY better in my opinion.
The 83/200 transducer is what you need.
I agree with the bigger screen, just depends on how much you want to spend. I have over 6 big ones tied up in mine. A 8 on the bow 10 and a 5 at the helm and structure scan. I have the 5 dedicated to chart so I wouldn’t have to switch sceens and I use it for ice fishing to. The 8 would be a good place to start,one less screen but a lot less money.
I just bought an HDS-8, an upgrade from the 5 I had. I think the 8 is much more user friendly then the 5. The 6 quick buttons on the bottom of the unit seem to make things easier for me. And the bigger screen really makes a difference also. As far as the Lake Insight goes I would save the money and buy a good mapping chip. I have found the accuracy of the Insight maps to be suspect in the waters I fish here in Iowa and the ones I fish in Minnesota (Leech Lake especially). I had Insight on my HDS-5, but didn’t get it on the HDS-8. Thats my 2 cents.
I would agree with DeepDiver. Get as big as you can afford. I have an HDS 10, I just added structure scan, once you start splitting the screen things get small even on the 10″. I’m even thinking about adding an 8 just to run my mapping. BTW, mine is an Insight, unless you travel all over the nation fishing save your money and by a mapping chip, either for your region or state. I ended up buying a Lakemaster MN chip anyway.
As long as HDS is being discussed, I have an HDS 5. I am not real up to date on all functions. I am planning a trip to Ontario/Manitoba in September. What will my unit show me in Canada? Any difference in what I see now in Michigan? I have the Lake insight form.
Thanks for all the input!! A buddy of mine runs 2 5’s and he thought for the money that I should start there with a 5 and add when more $$$ come available.
I sure like it when experience talks!!
Gundy
Quote:
The built in lake info is overkill unless you are going to be fishing many out of state waters. I would save the $$ on the insight maps and get a lakemaster chip instead. WAY better in my opinion.
The installed INSIGHT from Lowrance is better than nothing, but as a user of both LakeMaster mapping chips and Lowrance INSIGHT…you’ll be much happier going with the LakeMaster chips.
My take on this is if you are looking at getting just one unit to do it all the hds7 is the best bang for your buck. I had an 8 in my last boat and havent decided how I am going to rig the new one. Either a 7 and 8 or 2-7’s and a 5. They all have the same features but the 8 is nice with the quick keys.
I can tell you from personal experience your HDS-5 is not going to show you much in Canada. Roads are OK, lake info is nonexistent. No help from Lakemaster either, only card available is Rainy/LOTW. Try getting some real maps from the MNR and translate them to what you’re seeing on your chart screen best you can…
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