Lowrance has once again outdone themselves with their new Elite-5 HDI series, which is made up of the finest elements of Lowrance technology. If you’ve ever used Lowrance before, you know how amazing their DownScan Imaging is, and you know how great their basic Broadband Sounder is. The new HDI technology (which stands for Hybrid Dual Imaging) combines both technologies into one high-resolution package!
The Elite-5 HDI is the most powerful fish finder in our list because it’s rated at 250 Watts, and Lowrance claims you can see down to a depth of 1000 feet at 50 kHz. That’s an amazing statistic! The Elite-5 HDI is your one-stop shop since most fish may be found considerably shallower than that, with its 5 inch high-resolution color display showing crisp, clear images of the bottom, structure, and schools of fish on board.
You’ll find everything you need in this tiny, 5-inch package to set and follow tracks and waypoints, get your location on a map, use the wide-angle 83 or 50 kHz beam to discover promising locations, and really zoom in on them with the 200 kHz and DownScan frequencies. DownScan alone is quite successful at revealing what sort of bottom and structure there is so that you can see a tree as a tree, a pylon as a pylon, and a rock as a rock.
You can also use the Broadband SONAR to discover fish arches or fishing lines, watch your line go in and how you jig it, and finally observe as an arch approaches closer and closer to your line until you get a bite!
Recommended For
For the fisherman who wants all of the features of more expensive models but in a smaller and more cost-effective package, the Elite-5 HDI is an excellent fish finder. It’s suitable for kayaks to bass boats and rigs, and it can be used on boats of all sizes. The new HDI series is also the recreational angler’s version of the higher end HDS series. If you want performance without carrying around a full computer (literally), the HDI is your best bet.
Downscan Overlay
The HDI series includes a unique function that combines the advantages of DownScan and conventional SONAR. DownScan is primarily used to detect structure; it isn’t very effective in identifying individual fish. Traditional SONAR, on the other hand, is more reliable for locating specific individuals. The Elite-5 HDI has closed the gap with a DownScan overlay that allows you to see one screen that displays bottom and structure with DownScan images, so you can see every tree, rock, and submerged object for what it is – and it will also show suspended arches from traditional SONAR, which are most likely fish. You can now detect those sneaky fish who hide deep inside cover using this method – which you couldn’t have done with either a classic or a DownScan SONAR.
Easier to Use Than Ever Before
To get the best readings, you had to manually adjust and customize your fish finder’s settings before. It was a time-consuming process of trial and error. Lowrance Elite-5 HDI units feature Advanced Signal Processing Technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to analyze the readings it receives and automatically modify the SONAR settings so you can detect fish, structure, and bottom with greater clarity.
If you forget anything, go back into SONAR history using the Trackback function to see what was recorded, and you can even make a waypoint out of a trackback location so you don’t have to guess.
Because all of the keys are on one side, this device may be easily operated with only one hand, allowing you to maintain your other hand on the wheel or motor.
Split-Screen Viewing
The Lowrance Elite-5 HDI’s large 5-inch screen may be split into three panels, allowing you to view the charts, DownScan, and broadband SONAR all at once. There are a variety of pre-designed views available; for example, you can choose between viewing a combination of SONAR/GPS, SONAR/DownScan, frequency 1/frequency 2, or DownScan 1/DownScan 2. The views are already installed; simply cycle through them using the touch of a button.
Gps Capability
The BPS-2 has a built-in GPS antenna that will accurately show your location on the included US map, which features over 3000 lakes and rivers with depth contours and information about the shoreline, as well as coastal contours down to 1000 feet. Lowrance Lake Insight, Nautic Insight Pro, Navionics Gold, Hotmaps Premium, and Fishing Hotspots Pro are some of the charting software alternatives available.
Insight Genesis Mapping
Let’s say you’re in a tiny town and the body of water you’re on doesn’t have a detailed map. You can make your own Lowrance Insight Genesis map! Simply switch on SONAR recording to the memory card in your fish finder’s settings to create your own map. After you’re finished, connect your phone to your computer and upload the maps into the Insight Genesis software (which is available for a one-year subscription price from Lowrance), which will then crunch the data. After that, download the newly processed maps onto your memory card, insert it into your fish finder, and you’re done! You have a map with distinct contours, vegetation, and bottom composition that has been analyzed.
Fast Installation
Because there is only one transducer that includes all four frequencies, attaching it is simple. You may also mount it where the old transducer was or line it up with it if you like. If this unit will be utilized on a kayak or a polyethylene-hulled canoe, you may install the transducer inside the hull on a flat surface using enough marine goop or silicone.
You may either mount the fish finder unit on the top of your dash or use a ram mount to fit it in a tight location.
Specifications:
- Display: 5″/12.7cm Full VGA SolarMAX™ PLUS Color
- Resolution: 256-color TFT 480 x 480
- Backlighting: Fluorescent cold cathode
- Power Output: RMS (PTP): Max 250W RMS, 30,000W Peak to Peak (analog equivalent)
- Languages: 30
- HDI Operating Frequencies: (50/200 kHz or 83/200 kHz) + 455/800 kHz
- Operating Voltage: 12 vDC (10-17 vDC min-max)
- Media Port: One (1) microSD slot
- Languages: 30
- Output Power [kW]:12 W (0.9 A @ 13 vDC)
- Memory Card Capable: Yes
- Warranty: One year
Sonar
- Depth Alarm: Yes
- Sonar Frequencies: (50/200 or 83/200 kHz) + 455/800 kHz
- Shallow Alarm: Yes
- Temperature Readings: Yes
- Transducer Type: Multiple selections Lowrance and Airmar®Max Depth Per Transducer Type
- DownScan Imaging™: Max 300′ / 91M @ 455/800 KHz
- Broadband Sounder™: Max 1000′ / 305M @ 83/200 kHz
- Broadband Sounder™: Max 2500′ / 762M @ 50/200 kHz
- Technical/Environmental
- Waterproof Standard/Rating: IPx7
- Product Width: 6.9″ \ 174mm
- Product Depth: 2.5″ \ 63mm
- Product Height: 5.4″ \ 136mm
Power Supply (Supply Voltage)
- 12 vDC (10-17 vDC min-max)
GPS Navigation
- Navigation: Routes: 100
- Navigation: Waypoint Storage: 3,000
- GPS Antenna Type: Internal high-sensitivity WAAS + EGNOS + MSAS (optional external antenna)
- Plot Trails: Up to 100 trails – up to 10,000 points / trail
- GPS Alarms: Yes
Networking Connectors
- NMEA Output: NMEA 0183
