Hello, I am looking to upgrade my electronics. Was looking at the lowrance hds. My question is; Does it come with side imaging, or do you have to buy the structure scan also? Thanks

You'll have to buy the Structure Scan separately. Here is a recent thread on the subject:

Hello, I am looking to upgrade my electronics. Was looking at the lowrance hds. My question is; Does it come with side imaging, or do you have to buy the structure scan also? Thanks

New units are coming to the market in 2012, you can get a good deal on the now discontinued HDS models or wait for the new Gen2 models.

There are "bundles" being offered now with the LSS-1 add-on.

The new HDS Gen2 are also being advertized for a bundled price.

Or you can get a couple humminbirds and they already do side and down scanning as well as natively network to share transducers, gps, waypoints, etc.

I have an 898 on the back of the boat and a 788 on the front. It's a good rig and has opened up the way I fish.

New units are coming to the market in 2012, you can get a good deal on the now discontinued HDS models or wait for the new Gen2 models.

There are "bundles" being offered now with the LSS-1 add-on.

The new HDS Gen2 are also being advertized for a bundled price.

Thanks for the info.. What is the diffrence in gen1 and gen2?

Or you can get a couple humminbirds and they already do side and down scanning as well as natively network to share transducers, gps, waypoints, etc.

I have an 898 on the back of the boat and a 788 on the front. It's a good rig and has opened up the way I fish.

Thanks i will check em out!!!

Thanks for the info.. What is the diffrence in gen1 and gen2?

The "official" announcement is supposed to be Thursday Dec 8, 2011. It has already been kind of announced in South Africa and via an early catalog by Bass Pro Shops Offshore Angler.

Copied from another web site:

New features for HDS Gen2 include:

¡¤ Faster microprocessor (more computing power, improved responsiveness and ridiculously fast graphics redraw)

¡¤ Improved price points on Insight models for 2012

¡¤ Real time StructureMap ¨C The ability to overlay Structure Scan images on your chart screen in real time. Compatible with Insight and all HDS compatible 3rd party charting cards

¡¤ Saved Mode StructureMap ©\ Create detailed overlays of your favorite fishing spots for improved fishing on the water or for review on or off of the water

¡¤ New cosmetic look (new colors for front case/back case/buttons/bezel)

¡¤ Removal of capacitive fly©\wheel feature on 8¡± and 10¡± products, and much much much more!

The "official" announcement is supposed to be Thursday Dec 8, 2011. It has already been kind of announced in South Africa and via an early catalog by Bass Pro Shops Offshore Angler.

Copied from another web site:

New features for HDS Gen2 include:

¡¤ Faster microprocessor (more computing power, improved responsiveness and ridiculously fast graphics redraw)

¡¤ Improved price points on Insight models for 2012

¡¤ Real time StructureMap ¨C The ability to overlay Structure Scan images on your chart screen in real time. Compatible with Insight and all HDS compatible 3rd party charting cards

¡¤ Saved Mode StructureMap ©\ Create detailed overlays of your favorite fishing spots for improved fishing on the water or for review on or off of the water

¡¤ New cosmetic look (new colors for front case/back case/buttons/bezel)

¡¤ Removal of capacitive fly©\wheel feature on 8¡± and 10¡± products, and much much much more!

Thanks bud.

That's a nice set of feature upgrades. I am intrigued by the saved mode structure map. Wonder how that is different from my HB's side/downscan capture mode? Regardless; the main driver for me when I went HB instead of Lowrance on the new boat this spring was that I was able to go to my local BPS and play with both manufacturer's units. The Lowrance really seemed to be doggy rendering and switching between views compared to the HB and I read much of the same. In my very uneducated opinion, they need that processor upgrade pretty bad. That also seemed to me why they shipped the bit crunching off to an external unit for the high definition downscan on the LSS-1.

That's a nice set of feature upgrades. I am intrigued by the saved mode structure map. Wonder how that is different from my HB's side/downscan capture mode? Regardless; the main driver for me when I went HB instead of Lowrance on the new boat this spring was that I was able to go to my local BPS and play with both manufacturer's units. The Lowrance really seemed to be doggy rendering and switching between views compared to the HB and I read much of the same. In my very uneducated opinion, they need that processor upgrade pretty bad. That also seemed to me why they shipped the bit crunching off to an external unit for the high definition downscan on the LSS-1.

Gonna try that myself this weekend... Think im gonna have almost as much in my electronics and trolling motor than i got in my boat.... geez... lol. There are alot of hds popping up for sale now.