Lowrance HDS-10 GPS Review

In July 2009 Lowrance High Definition System-10 Chartplotter / Fishfinder won the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) new product showcase award. That's not surprising seeing how Lowrance has been a top brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS systems since 1992. Lowrance's new HDS-10 system is a must have GPS Navigation / Chartplotter / Fishfinder unit for boaters this year!

I first saw this Lowrance HDS-10 (then 10 just means it has a 10.4" display screen) on display at a local boating store. I played with it for quite awhile and I love its new HD look and features.

Lowrance HDS features easy to use high definition charting with awesome views, high definition fish finding with amazing bottom detail, high definition Sirius weather option, and high definition digital radar options.

The Lowrance HDS-10 has a built-in 16-channel GPS+WAAS antenna. The internal GPS antenna networks with NMEA 2000 systems so that you can share data.

The GPS Chartplotter features include life-like mapping detail on its bright, easy to read screen. Software with this HDS-10 includes New Insight USA, Lake Insight, and Nautic Insight, Expanded Basemap Marine Detail, and Navionics World Background map. Expanded Charting Options include Navionics Platinum+, Platinum, and HotMaps Platinum with TurboView. The Base maps look like regular flat Garmin maps we have on our Garmin 2210 unit, or what you see on many paper maps. The Insight maps in this Lowrance unit show 3-dimensional structure and contour views. You can learn more about each on Lowrance's website.

The high definition broadband link between the transducer and screen has less noise, exceptional clarity and detail, and great bottom reading even at higher speeds. Take a look at the comparison with Lowrance's broadband 83khz and the 200khz here.

With the optional Sirius subscription, you get added high definition radar, sea surface temperature overlays, winds, wave conditions for inshore and offshore. You can learn more about Sirius on their weather website.

The buttons on Lowrance can take getting used to, especially going from Garmin's easy navigation to Lowrance's new menu scrolls and buttons. However, it seems quick to get used to.

There's a system demo you can try out at Lowrance's HDS website here as well as videos. It's like standing in front of the actual unit on your boat or in the store. There are also screenshots that show the great detail of the high defition features.

With these high definition enhancements, the Lowrance HDS-10 GPS Chartplotter / Fishfinder Combo unit is on my new wish list. It's priced anywhere from $2200 to $2800 and available at most all boating and marine stores. It also comes with a 2-year warranty at no cost.

Sources:

"What is HDS", Lowrance.com.

"Lowrance HDS-10 ICAST New Product Showcase Award," Lowrance.com.