Dsi For Small Boat

[tennsopher]

Guys,I'm looking for a down imaging sonar for a BassHunter boat.I'm trying to decide between a Hummingbird 570 or 345 DI or a Lowrance5x DSI unit.Theses will be used here in Fla where average depth is less than twenty feet.What are the pros and cons of each? Do you have personal experience with any of them?Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.Tennsopher

[Hi Salenity]

I have the 570di I have only used it twice and haven't got it dialed in yet but I am going back out today. Hopefully I can report back later on how it works.

[Bigbarge50]

I have the Lowrance5x DSI unit on a smaller boat......and have been slightly underwhelmed the more I use it. They give the impression of a near photo quality picture...... and it is FAR from that. Got it last Feb and have played with the contrast constantly, with mixed results. Maybe I expected too much out of it.... and maybe year two would be better,

Hindsight being 20/20 wish i waited till the hummingbird came out as I have been looking at the hummingbird but have been thinking about the color model. Quite a bit more money, but seems like would be worth it. The Lowrance5x DSI unit though might be ok for the price...... though I like how the hummingbird has both Di and Dual beam sonar. So guess it depends on budget.

[ctf58]

I have a HB 570di. I'm still getting it dialed in as well. There have been several problems reported with the 570di. Mine would lose depth reading in 10ft or less and I would have to shut it off and move to deeper water before turning it back on. It is a known issue and Humminbird will update software it you get one with the older software version, but you have to send it in. They sell a kit to update yourself that cost about $45.00. I bought/built a kit and they sent me the software. It seemed to fix the issue. I have now heard that they are going to stop providing updates to the 570di in the future so my kit maybe worthless soon. I to am a little underwhelmed with the images. I think it is me and the way I have it setup. The 570di can also pick up a lot of clutter in the water so you have to turn down the sensitivity which hurts your images. If I could do it again I would save up more and buy a color Hb 596di.

Keep in mind that sonar only "see's" 1/3 the depth up to about width is equal to depth. I mean on the 570di the narrow band only shows a 5 foot area if you are in 15 feet of water and the wide band shows you a 15 foot area in regular fishfinder mode. In Di mode it will show you about 15 feet to either side of the boat in 15 foot water.

Either way in shallow water you just about have to go right over the target to see it.

P.s the screen on the 570di reflects the sun really bad. I went to Walmart and bought a generic ipad screen protector that helped reduce the glare. My other unit is color and I can see it 10x better in the sun.

[Wayne P.]

Good point Clint about the sunlight viewability of the gray scale displays. That applies to any brand of sonar. The color displays are a lot better in direct sunlight.

For those that don't know, whether it is the Humminbird DI unit or the Lowrance DSI unit, each one needs movement to produce the images. That process involves a narrow front to back sonar pulse that is wide to the sides. It functions somewhat like a CAT scan to produce the images. The best use of that technology is with the boat moving so the transducer can SCAN. It is basically worthless for vertical presentations like spooning or drop shotting because of the thin beam.

The Humminbird Down Imaging units also have regular dual beam 2D sonar and the Lowrance is Down Scan only.

If you like to ride aound watching the sonar unit, seeing what stuff looks like, then either one is fine for that.

For a good functional fishing setup, you need both technologies and that takes two separate units with the Lowrance equipment.

[ATRoberts]

That's interesting...I knew it was a narrow beam but I hadn't really thought much about the fact that you need to be moving to produce the image. I am glad that I bought the Bird instead of the Lowrance with down scan only...at least I did realize that I wanted both DI and 2D sonar.