DID YOU KNOW?
Lowrance releases its latest software update for all HDS units.
Version 4.0.36.56 is now available for free download from Lowrance’s website. HDS-8 and HDS-10 users now have the ability to save and recall favorite page views using the soft keys. Let’s say you like the Page view that shows four panels (chart, sonar, sidescan view, Downscan view) whenever you want to see the total picture. But you also like a full chart Page view when running between locations, then a split screen sidescan and Downscan Page view for larger detail when searching with your StructureScan feature. To switch between these views in the past, you’d have to scroll around between Page menus from one to the other.
With 4.0 software, simply assign each of these Page views to a soft key, then bounce between them with only two keystrokes! And since these units have six soft keys, you can save three more Page views and toggle between any of them quickly and easily. Very cool, and very convenient. It’s one of those features you’ll never want to be without once you have it.
For HDS-5 and HDS-7 owners, 4.0 software lets you now display a third panel of either sonar or chart images combined with split screen sidescan and Downscan images. 4.0 has a Setup Wizard that greets you the first time you use the unit after update. It takes you through a series of questions, and based upon your responses, automatically selects some appropriate settings, including the unit’s Fishing Mode.
Changing Fishing Modes is especially important for bass, because from the factory, HDS units are set for much deeper performance than what most bass fishermen encounter. Now that it’s part of the Setup
Wizard, unless one skips
this feature, many more
bass anglers are going
to have their units set to
the Shallow Fishing Mode,
which is best suited to
their use. This one feature
alone should really help
even the average user
get better performance
and satisfaction from his unit. To check out all
the additional new features of update 4.0, visit
Lowrance’s website at
www.lowrance.com.
To learn many more
features that will help
you maximize the use
of your unit, there’s
good news. For HDS
unit owners, we are
building a library
of short “how-to” videos on specific topics you can view online. To access these videos, go to www.sonargpstraining. com and follow the links. Anglers owning Lowrance LCX, LMS, and similar Eagle units can immediately take advantage of our Sportfishing Workshop DVD covering the operation of all these units which is available now. For more information on the DVD go directly to http://sonargpstraining.com/ instructional_dvd.html.
ASK THE SONAR GUYS
Several readers asked why their units seem to go into a lockup searching mode and give false digital readings of the water depth. You’ve probably experienced this on your own unit, especially when fishing shallow water. It typically happens something like this: the sonar graphics stop scrolling across your display, and the digital depth readout begins flashing. It flashes a while, then displays some new depth
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All photos courtesy of Lowrance and Navico.
ISSUE 2 June 2011
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