New products : USA, Lowrance Introduces Elite-5 HDI Series

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992 — announced today the newest addition to its Elite family of fishfinder and chartplotter products, the Elite-5 Hybrid Dual Imaging™ (HDI) series. Setting the standard of feature-rich, high-performance, easy-to-use electronics with affordable pricing, Elite-5 HDI is available as a fishfinder/chartplotter combo model — as well as a standalone fishfinder or chartplotter. Replacing the previous Elite-5 and Elite-5 DSI series of products, all Elite-5 HDI models feature Hybrid Dual Imaging, which combines two award-winning technologies  — Broadband SounderTM and Downscan ImagingTM — to provide the best possible view of the water column and everything in it.

Built into the new Lowrance HDI Skimmer® transducer design, Broadband Sounder technology is ideal for marking fish arches and tracking lure action, while Downscan Imaging provides easy-to-understand, picture-like views of structure and bottom detail. With the exclusive Lowrance Downscan Overlay™ feature, boaters can layer the Downscan Imaging view over the Broadband Sounder for a stunning presentation that separates and clearly exposes fish targets from surrounding structure. In addition, the overlay transparency is fully adjustable and easy to change using the Elite-5 HDI’s rotary knob.

To maximize fishing time on the water, Lowrance’s exclusive Advanced Signal Processing (ASP) reduces the need to manually adjust settings to see fish, structure and bottom detail more clearly; and TrackBackTM allows anglers to scroll back in recorded sonar history to review structure, transitions and fish targets. When used on an Elite-5 HDI model with chartplotter capabilities, users can also TrackBack and pinpoint locations with a waypoint — eliminating the need to circle back and retrace their path.

Elite-5 HDI models with chartplotter capability feature a highly accurate built-in GPS antenna and a detailed U.S. map with more than 3,000 lakes and rivers, plus coastal contours to 1,000 ft. A micro SD card can be used to display Lake Insight™ and Nautic Insight™ HD and PRO cartography, as well as Navionics® Gold, HotMaps® Premium, Fishing Hotspots® PRO and Jeppesen C-Map Max-N charts. All Elite-5 HDI chartplotter models are compatible with the new online Insight Genesis™ map creation service, which allows users to make their own custom, high-resolution contour, bottom hardness and vegetation maps from recorded sonar logs.

“Elite-5 HDI provides powerful Lowrance chartplotting and dual fishfinder display capabilities for cost-conscious anglers," said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “We first introduced Hybrid Dual Imaging with the Elite-7 HDI in late 2012, and it’s been incredibly popular with our core market — fishermen. Now, we have the same innovative solution available for a wider range of fishing consumers — at even more affordable prices.”

All Elite-5 HDI models feature Lowrance-exclusive, high-resolution 5-inch, color display and an easy-to-use menu system with quick access to all features using one-thumb operation. The multi-window display options — which show a variety of sounder/imaging/chartplotter screen configurations — are easy to access thru eight preset page layouts. You can even select a multi-window view while the live sonar and chart are displayed. The new Elite-5 HDI series consists of Elite-5x HDI fishfinder-only, Elite-5m chartplotter-only and Elite-5 HDI combination models. Each model offers a range of bundled packages that includes 83/200 kHz or 50/200 kHz transducer options, as well as Navionics Gold cartography featuring U.S./Canada coastal, Great Lakes and major Canadian lakes detail. Sold exclusively in Canada and Latin America, Elite-5 HDI bundles with Jeppessen C-MAP Max-N cartography feature nav aids, bathymetric contours, spot soundings and more, with coverage of North, Central and South America.

All Elite-5 HDI models with the HDI 50/200 kHz Skimmer transducer are ideal for deeper coastal and Great Lakes applications. Models featuring the HDI 83/200 kHz Skimmer transducer are suited for inland fishing. The Elite-5 HDI 83/200 kHz and HDI 50/200 kHz models’ Broadband Sounder will reach a depth of 1,000 and 2,500 feet, respectively. DownScan Imaging depth capability on both models is 300 feet. Optional accessories include a series of bronze thru-hull HDI transducers, a trolling-motor transducer adapter kit and a flush-mount kit. All Airmar® transducers used with Lowrance HDS models are also compatible with the Elite-5 HDI series.

Protected by a one-year limited warranty and the Lowrance Advantage Service program, the Elite-5 HDI series can be purchased from authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada beginning in August 2013. Minimum advertised prices range from $349 for the Elite-5x HDI fishfinder with no transducer to $669 for the Elite-5 HDI 50/200 kHz fishfinder/chartplotter model bundled with Navionics Gold cartography. 

Source Lowrance