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Author Topic:   Lowrance Elite 5 DSI

frontier posted 11-19-2013 10:10 AM ET (US)
Does the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder work OK? I notice the long and skinny transducer is much different than most other Lowrance units.
jimh posted 11-23-2013 11:03 AM ET (US)
I suggest you try your inquiry on a forum that concentrates specifically on the Lowrance SONAR products. You may find that there is a larger group of readers on those forums that have first-hand experience with the particular model of Lowrance SONAR you are asking about. A good website whose focus is particularly on Lowrance SONAR devices is
http://www.bbcboards.net/lowrance-garmin-sonar-gps/
Lowrance uses the acronym DSI to mean down scan imaging. I believe they use the term "down" in order to differentiate the SONAR from their side scan imaging. Otherwise, all SONAR is typically a downward scan. I also believe that in the Lowrance argot, down scan imaging or DSI is supposed to be distinct from their conventional SONAR, which they now refer to as "broadband" SONAR.
I also believe that the use of down scan imaging or DSI with Lowrance suggests that the SONAR operates at a much higher frequency than the usual SONAR, which typically runs at 50-kHz, 83-kHz, or 200-kHz. The DSI SONAR seems to operate at about 400-kHz or 800-kHz.
SONAR transducers which operate at 400-kHz or 800-kHz may have a different physical size and shape than transducers that operate at lower frequencies. This may explain your observation that the SONAR transducer associated with the ELITE 5 DSI has a shape and size that differs from other Lowrance transducers.
I am not certain exactly what operational parameters are included in the scope of your inquiry by asking if these devices "work OK." You might give more specific criteria on which the performance might be evaluated.
jimh posted 11-23-2013 11:09 AM ET (US)
For me, the Lowrance product line of SONAR devices has become extremely complex and filled with models, many having overlapping capabilities. It takes careful study to be able to understand exactly what each model can or cannot do, and how it differs from other models in the Lowrance line of SONAR devices. I am afraid I have lost interest in keeping up to date on the capabilities of every product in the Lowrance SONAR line. These products change rapidly, and often are only marketed for a short period of time.
It may be possible to understand a few of the differences between the ELITE and HDS series by reading an earlier thread on that topic at
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003306.html
That thread gives some good information on what features are missing from the ELITE series compared to the HDS series, and vice versa.
jlh49 posted 12-02-2013 01:06 PM ET (US)
Frontier,
I am not sure what you are looking for, but I have this unit [Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder] on a Polar Saltwater Series II flats-type boat that my son and I use for inshore fishing in shallow creeks. The skinny transducer does an excellent job marking bottom contours and structures, which are hangouts for targeted fish. In the zoom mode, you can clearly identify the markings of oyster bars; they are often locations we seek for redfish, trout, and flounder. The [Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder] is very simple to use operationally, and meets all of our needs. The GPS Mapping feature more than meets our needs in the manner we use the unit. jimh has made good suggestions above along with a link to a forum to get better input and results for this unit. Most on-line sales companies normally provide customer review results for their products to allow potential buyers to see how other customers viewed the product. Good luck with your decision in this regard.
Jeff posted 12-02-2013 02:25 PM ET (US)
Frontier,
I have a Lowrance Elite 5 DSI on my Grady White and love it. For the money, it is tough to beat.
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003360.html
http://www.greatgrady.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20048
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/ 190%201988%20Grady%20White%20details%2013/ d9923707-a783-4fed-a461-7d9eb9036f59_zpse974cb7a.jpg

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Author	Topic: Lowrance Elite 5 DSI
frontier	posted 11-19-2013 10:10 AM ET (US) Does the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder work OK? I notice the long and skinny transducer is much different than most other Lowrance units.
jimh	posted 11-23-2013 11:03 AM ET (US) I suggest you try your inquiry on a forum that concentrates specifically on the Lowrance SONAR products. You may find that there is a larger group of readers on those forums that have first-hand experience with the particular model of Lowrance SONAR you are asking about. A good website whose focus is particularly on Lowrance SONAR devices is http://www.bbcboards.net/lowrance-garmin-sonar-gps/ Lowrance uses the acronym DSI to mean down scan imaging. I believe they use the term "down" in order to differentiate the SONAR from their side scan imaging. Otherwise, all SONAR is typically a downward scan. I also believe that in the Lowrance argot, down scan imaging or DSI is supposed to be distinct from their conventional SONAR, which they now refer to as "broadband" SONAR. I also believe that the use of down scan imaging or DSI with Lowrance suggests that the SONAR operates at a much higher frequency than the usual SONAR, which typically runs at 50-kHz, 83-kHz, or 200-kHz. The DSI SONAR seems to operate at about 400-kHz or 800-kHz. SONAR transducers which operate at 400-kHz or 800-kHz may have a different physical size and shape than transducers that operate at lower frequencies. This may explain your observation that the SONAR transducer associated with the ELITE 5 DSI has a shape and size that differs from other Lowrance transducers. I am not certain exactly what operational parameters are included in the scope of your inquiry by asking if these devices "work OK." You might give more specific criteria on which the performance might be evaluated.
jimh	posted 11-23-2013 11:09 AM ET (US) For me, the Lowrance product line of SONAR devices has become extremely complex and filled with models, many having overlapping capabilities. It takes careful study to be able to understand exactly what each model can or cannot do, and how it differs from other models in the Lowrance line of SONAR devices. I am afraid I have lost interest in keeping up to date on the capabilities of every product in the Lowrance SONAR line. These products change rapidly, and often are only marketed for a short period of time. It may be possible to understand a few of the differences between the ELITE and HDS series by reading an earlier thread on that topic at http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003306.html That thread gives some good information on what features are missing from the ELITE series compared to the HDS series, and vice versa.
jlh49	posted 12-02-2013 01:06 PM ET (US) Frontier, I am not sure what you are looking for, but I have this unit [Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder] on a Polar Saltwater Series II flats-type boat that my son and I use for inshore fishing in shallow creeks. The skinny transducer does an excellent job marking bottom contours and structures, which are hangouts for targeted fish. In the zoom mode, you can clearly identify the markings of oyster bars; they are often locations we seek for redfish, trout, and flounder. The [Lowrance Elite 5 DSI chart plotter and fish finder] is very simple to use operationally, and meets all of our needs. The GPS Mapping feature more than meets our needs in the manner we use the unit. jimh has made good suggestions above along with a link to a forum to get better input and results for this unit. Most on-line sales companies normally provide customer review results for their products to allow potential buyers to see how other customers viewed the product. Good luck with your decision in this regard.
Jeff	posted 12-02-2013 02:25 PM ET (US) Frontier, I have a Lowrance Elite 5 DSI on my Grady White and love it. For the money, it is tough to beat. http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003360.html http://www.greatgrady.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20048 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/ 190%201988%20Grady%20White%20details%2013/ d9923707-a783-4fed-a461-7d9eb9036f59_zpse974cb7a.jpg