Lowrance has released an update for Generation 1 models.  http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Product-Software-Updates/HDS-Software-Update/

As new technologies emerge in fishing, it seems like anglers
adopt these  technologies quickly, puzzling over how they ever caught fish
before it. Sonar  took anglers leaps and bounds over their previous flasher
follies on the water.  GPS and detailed map chips relieved us of triangulating
with paper maps and that  empty feeling of realizing you’ve been fishing a spot
20 yards from the “actual” spot.

In recent years, side scanning, or as
Lowrance terms it, Structure  Scan gave us a new way to interpret what’s on the
bottom. Now we not only see  below and out to the side of us, but we determine
if what was out there was a  rock, a brush pile, a pod of baitfish or something
else.

Down scan gave  us a more detailed look at what was showing up
below us on the sonar. We could  make out individual branches and fish relating
to each individual branch.   Sonar, GPS, structure scan and all the improvements
to each, without a doubt  make us more efficient in our search for the best
schools of fish on each  fishery.

Now a new advance in contour graphing
may be the last frontier  of exploration in fishing. The new HDS Generation 2
Units will soon be hitting  the shelves and showing up in anglers’ fishing
boats. These units boast a lot of  improvements over the current HDS units, but
the flagship feature on these new  units is something called Structure Map. We
spent a few days reviewing the units  before their release a couple months ago
and have some observations on the new  units.

Structure Map can be a little tricky to explain, but the  technology is going to
take a lot of the trickery out of figuring out previously  uncharted waters.
With Lowrance’s Structure Map, the contours are graphed just  like in Structure
Scan but then overlaid onto your GPS map. So now you can drive  back and forth
over a section of the lake that might not have contours on your  map chip and
chart all the rock piles, stumps, creeks, and more in that area.


Structure
Map has many options  and easily turned on and off with the same method you
activate weather, radio,  radar and other overlays on your Lowrance HDS units.
You can save the graphing  to a SDHD Card and then load it later. So an angler
can now take his time and go  back and forth over an area and have a saved
reality of what the bottom of the  lake looks like.

This is going to be
immensely helpful in those bays and  creeks or smaller bodies of water where
accurate mapping has not been done on  map cards. Pinpoint brush and cover,
break lines and more and then drop  waypoints on your map to go back and fish
them effectively and efficiently. It’s  going to maximize your time fishing and
minimize your time looking.

Structure Map is not a replacement for Down
Scan or Structure Scan. It’s  an added tool in the toolbox. Over the next
several months we’re going to take a  year’s worth of research on how we best
implement Sonar, Structure Scan and Down  Scan in our fishing pursuits and turn
those into instructional articles to help  you use your electronics to their
fullest.

One thing you will notice  about Structure Map as compared to
Structure Scan, is Structure Map cuts out  that part of the picture that is from
the bottom of the boat to the bottom of  the lake. If you’re familiar with
Structure Scan, you know each side shows you  not only what is on the left and
right but also what is below you from the  bottom of the boat to the bottom of
the lake. Structure Map only looks out to  the side so that there is no void
area in the middle.


But
another cool feature is the save and  load features of Structure Map. You can
turn on Sonar Log, turn on the option to  convert to map when complete and you
can save your work as you idle back and  forth marking structure and cover on
the lake. One word of caution though. If  you record a big long trail with the
SL2 sonar log file, it will take the unit  quite a while to process that log
into the structure map file for viewing in  save mode, on other units or in
programs like Dr. Depth.


Structure
Map was not the only  pleasant surprise to the Gen 2 HDS units from Lowrance.
The overall speed of the  units and map updating is greatly enhanced, largely
because of cost effective  upgrades in hardware. When Structure Scan software
was developed, the original  hardware that fit the budget constraints of
building the first units was not  enough to meet the demands of the robust NSS
software. Now with the Gen 2 units  the hardware can keep up with the software
better and there aren’t the delays  between screen switching, mapping and other
functions that sometimes occurred in  the Gen 1 units.

The units are a
bit darker in appearance but have the  same look and navigation that anglers are
now accustomed to with HDS units. The  HDS 8 and 10 units feature the shortcut
buttons like before, card slots for map  cards and cards for recording waypoints
and saving structure and sonar  logs.

“Each technology will enhance the
other in different situations,” says Scott Glorvigen, the only angler to ever
win the FLW and PWT Walleye  championships. “When I see the structure on both
Structure Map and Structure  Scan, it fills the gaps between each
other.”

“It’s going to be huge for  ice fishing,” said Chris Meyer,
Dealer Service and Prostaff for Lowrance. “That  was my first thought. I could
drive the lakes in my boat when the water is open  and then come back drive on
the ice in saved mode with Structure Map in my truck  to get back to all my
favorite spots. But really I think it’s going to be a  great tool for helping
enhance and reinforce what guys are seeing.  Folks that  have gotten in my boat
that did not fully understand Structure Scan see  Structure Map and immediately
they understand Structure Scan better. It just  makes sense for
folks.”

The Generation 2 Lowrance
HDS units are shipping now. In fact  we’ve already
heard of at least one prostaff angler who ordered and already  received his new
units. These are going to be hot items for avid anglers in  2012. We’ll have a
lot more shorts on understanding individual features in the  HDS units and how
to apply them to your fishing.

LOWRANCE has announced a massive
price reduction across the entire range of Lowrance High-Definition System (HDS)
units this summer.

Effective immediately, the discount structure has
arrived just in time for Christmas as people prepare for the holiday boating
season.

As an indication of the savings, the top-of-the-line Lowrance
HDS-10 "blowout" RRP is $2699 (standard RRP $3099), HDS-8 RRP is now $2399
(standard RRP $2699) and the HDS-7 is $1299 (standard RRP $1699). The smaller
HDS-5 and HDS-5x (in their various configurations) have RRPs ranging $699 to
$999, with the HDS-5 kits starting at RRP $1349.

Lowrance HDS has
dominated the market since it hit Australian shores just over two years ago,
delivering significant advantages for boaters.

This series of
multi-function displays combines built-in award-winning Broadband Sounder
technology, innovative chartplotting and intuitive operation in an attractive
case design that is very easy to install. Fully expandable, the HDS also
accommodates Ethernet radar and NMEA2000 networking for fuel, engine and
boat-operations management solutions.

Available in fully
sunlight-viewable HDS5 (12.7cm), HDS7 (16.3cm), HDS8 (21.3cm) and HDS10 (26.4cm)
screen sizes, in several configurations, the Lowrance HDS series is the ideal
solution for boaters who require an easily networked or standalone electronics
package.

The first multi-function system to bring together true
high-definition sonar, charting and radar in a best-in-class display and
interface, the flexible HDS series protects against obsolescence to ensure
future expansion capability for next-generation Lowrance
technologies.

Never before has a compact chartplotter/fishfinder been designed specifically to meet both the performance standards and the value demanded by anglers and boaters.

Elite-4 is much more than a compact product, with all the proven Lowrance® features you could want, plus the brightest LED backlit displays--providing clear viewing in any boating condition. The 300W RMS sounder reaches to depths of 800 ft/243 m with its dual-frequency 83/200 kHz Skimmer® transom-mount transducer including internal water-temp sensor and up to 120° of wider sonar coverage- at 83 kHz operation.

And the exclusive TrackBack™ feature lets you scroll back through four pages of sonar-display history to review targets in closer detail and save waypoints. Built-in memory allows for up to 3,000 waypoints, 100 routes/100 waypoints per route and 100 retraceable plot trails/up to 10,000 points per trail. 

The Elite-4 is easy-to-install with a quick-release mounting system featuring tilt and swivel bracket for plug-and-play use. Or, it can be flush-mounted using the accessory mounting-kit option. For fast and smooth one-hand operation, the Elite-4 design includes easy-to-use page and menu controls. The simplified menus make the Elite-4 easy to learn and use right out of the box.

Comes preloaded with a detailed basemap, and is compatible with Fishing Hotspots® Pro, Navionics® Gold and Premium charting upgrades through the built-in, waterproof microSD card slot.

Available early January 2012 at DJ's Marine Electronics

Lowrance has introduced a new line-up of compact, dual-frequency fishfinders with DownScan Imaging™ (DSI) and sonar/chartplotter options, the Mark-4 and Elite-4 series.Ideally suited for use in kayaks and small open boats, both series feature bright, LED-backlit, 8.9cm displays that provide exceptional visibility at wider viewing angles, as well as readability in all conditions, including direct sunlight.

The Mark-4 (greyscale) and Elite-4 (colour) range comprises six models: the Mark-4 fishfinder/chartplotter; Elite-4x dual-frequency fishfinder; Elite-4x DSI fishfinder; Elite-4m chartplotter; Elite-4 fishfinder/chartplotter; and Elite-4 DSI fishfinder/chartplotter.

Non-DSI models feature Lowrance’s legendary dual-frequency, transom-mount 83/200kHz Skimmer® transducer with up to 120° of coverage, advanced signal processing and accurate water temperature readings. Utilising proven greyscale or colour technologies, the units reach depths in excess of 300m (1000ft) to deliver clear readings of bottom and fish.

DSI-equipped models deliver remarkable below-the-boat views of bottom structure such as rocks, vegetation and drop-offs, as well as thermoclines, baitfish and target fish. Providing crystal-clear underwater definition in shallow and deep, fresh or saltwater, the DSI models also help anglers recognise variations in weed growth and bottom composition.

The rugged, low-profile, dual-frequency DSI Skimmer transom-mount transducer with built-in temperature sensor operates at 455kHz for wider and deeper coverage, or at 800kHz for more concentrated scans in shallower conditions with greater target separation.

All fishfinders in the Mark-4 and Elite-4 series also feature Lowrance's TrackBack™ function, which allows anglers to scroll back into sonar history and pinpoint possible fishing hotspots.

Featuring a built-in GPS antenna, the chartplotter models are pre-loaded with a built-in background map and also feature a waterproof microSD memory-card slot for Navionics charts. Owners can store up to 3000 waypoints, 100 routes with 100 waypoints per route, 100 retraceable plot trails and up to 10,000 points per trail.

Easy-to-use, all Mark-4 and Elite-4 models feature a simplified user interface with a start-up wizard to optimise performance for specific user needs, while the backlit-enhanced keypad provides fast one-handed control of the menus.

The slimline design allows the units to be flush-mounted or bracket-mounted for tilt-swivel operation, and each model features a quick-release latch for easy removal. Fully waterproof to IPx7 standard, all models are also covered by a one-year limited warranty.

Lowrance’s new Mark-4 and Elite-4 series will be available to consumers in the first quarter of 2012. RRPs start from AU$349 for the Mark-4 and round out at AU$499 for the Elite-4 DSI.

LOWRANCE has announced a massive price reduction across the entire range of Lowrance High-Definition System (HDS) units this summer.

Effective immediately, the discount structure has arrived just in time for Christmas as people prepare for the holiday boating season.

As an indication of the savings, the top-of-the-line Lowrance HDS-10 "blowout" RRP is $2699 (standard RRP $3099), HDS-8 RRP is now $2399 (standard RRP $2699) and the HDS-7 is $1299 (standard RRP $1699). The smaller HDS-5 and HDS-5x (in their various configurations) have RRPs ranging $699 to $999, with the HDS-5 kits starting at RRP $1349.

Lowrance HDS has dominated the market since it hit Australian shores just over two years ago, delivering significant advantages for boaters.

This series of multi-function displays combines built-in award-winning Broadband Sounder technology, innovative chartplotting and intuitive operation in an attractive case design that is very easy to install. Fully expandable, the HDS also accommodates Ethernet radar and NMEA2000 networking for fuel, engine and boat-operations management solutions. 

Available in fully sunlight-viewable HDS5 (12.7cm), HDS7 (16.3cm), HDS8 (21.3cm) and HDS10 (26.4cm) screen sizes, in several configurations, the Lowrance HDS series is the ideal solution for boaters who require an easily networked or standalone electronics package.

The first multi-function system to bring together true high-definition sonar, charting and radar in a best-in-class display and interface, the flexible HDS series protects against obsolescence to ensure future expansion capability for next-generation Lowrance technologies.

Navico -
Published November 15, 2011

Tulsa, Okla. - Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992, announced today its new lineup of compact, dual-frequency fishfinders with DownScan Imaging (DSI) and fishfinder/chartplotter options, the Mark-4 grayscale and Elite-4 color series. Both series feature high-bright, LED-backlit, 3.5-inch displays that provides exceptional visibility at wider viewing angles, as well as readability in all weather conditions, including direct sunlight. Lowrance Elite-4


Easy to use and install, the new compact lineup is feature-packed for convenient performance at affordable prices. All Mark-4 and Elite-4 models feature award-winning Lowrance sonar with exclusive TrackBack™ functionality allowing anglers to review up to 1-foot of sonar-display history. On chartplotter models, boaters can also mark and save a waypoint using baitfish, game fish or structure on the sonar history.

The Mark-4 and Elite-4 line consists of six models: the Mark-4 fishfinder/chartplotter, Elite-4x dual-frequency fishfinder, Elite-4x DSI DownScan Imaging fishfinder, Elite-4m chartplotter, Elite-4 fishfinder/chartplotter, and Elite-4 DSI DownScan Imaging fishfinder/chartplotter.

"The Lowrance Mark-4 and Elite-4 clearly prove that customers don't have to compromise features or performance when shopping for a new fishfinder or fishfinder/chartplotter at a lower price," said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. "We designed the new series to exceed customers' expectations while providing great value and even greater performance."

The Mark-4, Elite-4x and Elite-4 non-DSI fishfinder models feature Lowrance's legendary dual-frequency, transom-mount 83/200 KHz Skimmer® transducer with up to 120 degrees of fishfinding coverage, advanced signal processing and accurate water-temperature readings. The units reach depths as great as 1,000 feet and utilize proven grayscale- or color-display technologies that help distinguish bottom hardness, as well as identify game fish that are on or near the bottom.

Elite-4 Micro SD
The Lowrance Elite-4x DSI and Elite-4 DSI models feature award-winning DownScan Imaging™ technology that allows anglers to experience a new standard in fishfinding with remarkable below-the-boat, picture-like views of bottom structure as well as thermoclines, baitfish and game fish. Providing crystal-clear underwater definition in shallow and deep, freshwater or saltwater, the Elite-4x DSI and Elite-4 DSI not only let users see vegetation and bottom structure more clearly, but also help anglers recognize variations in weed growth and bottom hardness.

The rugged, low-profile, dual-frequency DSI Skimmer transom-mount transducer with built-in temperature sensor operates at 455 kHz for wider and deeper coverage, or at 800 kHz for more concentrated scans with greater target separation in shallower conditions. DSI models are also equipped with exclusive Lowrance TrackBack functionality that allows anglers to position the cursor anywhere on the display and rewind sonar history to determine the depth of a marked object - such as suspended baitfish or a thermocline.

Featuring a built-in GPS antenna, the Mark-4 and Elite-4 chartplotter models are pre-loaded with a built-in U.S. basemap that provides more than 3,000 enhanced lake maps with detailed shorelines and depth contours as well as coastal contours down to 1,000 feet. Giving boaters maximum flexibility to use their choice of charts, the units also feature a waterproof microSD memory-card slot for compatibility with multiple mapcard options, including Navionics® Gold and HotMaps® Premium and Fishing Hot Spots®. In addition, owners can store up to 3,000 waypoints, 100 routes with 100 waypoints per route, 100 retraceable plot trails and up to 10,000 points per trail. Elite-4 Mount


Easy-to-use and attractively priced, the new compact Mark grayscale and Elite color models feature a simplified user interface with a start-up wizard to optimize performance for specific user needs, allowing boaters to customize favorite settings. Simple to install, the compact units' slim case design can be flush-mounted or bracket-mounted for tilt-swivel operation, and features a quick-release latch for convenient removal and remounting. The backlit, enhanced keypad provides fast one-handed control of the systems' easy-to-use menus. All models feature a quarter-turn uniplug cable system with watertight seals for longer, trouble-free connections in all marine environments. Fully waterproof to the IPx7 standard, the new Lowrance Elite-4 and Mark-4 series are protected by a one-year limited warranty.

Available in January 2012 from authorized Lowrance dealers throughout the United States and Canada, the Lowrance Elite-4x fishfinder, Elite-4x DSI DownScan Imaging fishfinder, Mark-4 fishfinder/chartplotter, Elite-4m chartplotter, Elite-4 fishfinder/chartplotter, and Elite-4 DSI DownScan Imaging fishfinder/chartplotter will be offered at suggested retail prices of $169, $269, $199, $199, $299 and $349, respectively. To learn more about the Lowrance Mark-4 and Elite-4 series, or the entire Lowrance line of marine electronics, please visit www.djsmarinelectronics.com