Lowrance 000-11172-001 Elite-5 HDI Combo with Navionics Gold U.S. Charts and 50/200-455/800KHz Transducer

I don't have the unit installed yet, but the information provided for installing transducer and power cord, are almost WORTHLESS!! I am not a total dummy, but the transducer unit, I got had a two piece bracket and removable ratchet wheels. The mumbo jumbo about the wheels and using positions, A, B, C and etc, were totally un-necessary. They could be mounted permanently, by the company. They, apparently don't understand the purpose of a ratchet. Could be all one piece, instead of four. Power cord instructions, black, red and yellow wires. yes I understand + and -, but don't on yellow (n/c). Sure I can try and look it up, but why not be clear. Thankfully, I am not using auto pilot wires, because the lack of instructions, is worse. Sent Lowrance an email, complaining and they thanked me for my inquiry, guess they don't care about a complaint. I would think, the number of years, they have been in business, they could provide a better transducer bracket and make installation, simpler, but guess not..

I purchased this on Amazon in December. It showed up in the time frame advertized and I love this unit. It took very little time to install and so far I have no complaints other than there is a lot of information about getting it set up that is hard to find and doesn't come with the unit. When you get the unit you'll need to do a firmware update. It's available on the Lowrance website. Couldn't find instructions but you can download the update (it's in a zip file), extract the file, put your provided Navionics+ card into your computer card reader and place the update file onto the card. Put the card in your unit and power it up. It will take a couple minutes to go thru the update process. Then remove the card and put it back into your computer and remove the update file. Now go to the Navionics website and start working with the downloading the area of the country you want to put on your card. The card is NOT preloaded with maps. Be careful and pickey on the area that you choose. According to the FAQ on the website it can't be undone once you choose. I was able to include all of Florida and much more. Your task is to draw a rectangle around the area of the country that you will be fishing as big as you can without exceeding memory space requirements of the unit.

Haven't had it in the water yet , still assembling the transducer. There should be a better way to do this. The holding bracket should never be in two pieces. If you don't have them located the correct distance apart you can't tighten em. And then you have to drill new holes in the transom . And why in the world the connector (3/4'') can't be disassembled so you don't have to make a 3/4 in hole instead of one just the size of your line is beyond me! As far as the wiring, the battery connection is pretty straight forward. But the GPS, forget it. Good thing I don't plan to add apps! I just hope the in water transducer works as proclaimed, because the at speed water flow is an entirely different scenario. And to adjust it so it works for both at rest and trimmed is a very tricky feat. As I said am still waiting to see what type of images are produced at speed and at rest ...for a full review, but you asked...

All I can say is get this deal while it lasts. The chip alone is worth $200. I was looking at many combo units and was going to have to spend over $500 to get a comparable unit, not including the chip. I took it out on the Detroit River today, helped me get a half a limit of walleye in just a couple hours weeding through the white bass. If I had more time there is no doubt I would have got my limit. This unit is great and helped me find the fish! My last unit was a Humminbird, older model but I am starting to see what all the fuss is about with Lowrance!

Haven't tried it out on the water yet. But the mounting hardware for transducer is for a different transducer. Which makes me wonder if there is a way to check if I got the right transducer 83/200-455/800 KHz Transducer, before using it. Any suggestions appreciated.

i think i am going to like it. that is if i can learn how to use it. I haven't really tried it yet. i am having the boat shop i use to install it. I wanted it professionally installed. They told me it is a good one. we will see.

Somfar very nice. A litttle tough to get scrolling thru all the settings n screens. If u mount the transducer in fhe hull deprh is not accurate. Ill have to mess with that or drill holes thrrunthe hull wich i didnt want to do.

Good GPS tracking.... I use it on my boat overtime i go out..... it works as advertised the only thing I do not like is the screen is hard to keep clean because no matter what you use it has some weird purpleish,smear and it looks like it's dirty