I plan to thoroughly check out the sample Lowrance HDS-10 I recently received, and will probably write about it a lot too. It marks not only a major MFD refresh for Lowrance, but also, I'm told, the first MFD series based on NOS, the Navico Operating System. In other words, the underlying software was created not only by Lowrance developers but others in Navico's now global R&D department, and some form of it will likely show up in future products from Navico's other brands, like Simrad and Northstar. I'm going to save the sexy stuff for next week, when I try the unit on the water; today I'm going to mostly discuss some geeky but important data networking aspects of the machine...
While the last generation of Lowrance MFDs were what I called "good N2K citizens," the HDS seems even better. New features, besides a dramatically slicker presentation of all devices and data on the network, is the ability to add custom names to N2K devices -- i.e. generic tank sensor can become "port fuel tank" -- and the ability to specify preferred data sources either locally or globally. The HDS is also quite adept with NMEA 0183, and I was pleasantly surprised that the Digital Yacht Class B transponder I easily wired in got added to the device list, and I could even label it with a custom name. All this is illustrated in the slide show below, along with some hints at how good HDS is at data overlays and windows. You can view all the screen shots below, but it's best to click outside the slide controls and thus go to the bigger images, and better "slide show" at Picassa. Enjoy!
I hope they fixed the water intrusion problem that plagued the HDS 7 model plus improved customer support. The new series has some good functionalities; hopefully they will get their act together.
Posted by: bluewaterpirate at May 8, 2009 8:47 AM
A recent very long thread on THT captured a discussion of a difficult VHF noise issue with a Lowrance MFD with a few owners utilizing the ethernet port.
Understandably owners were becoming frustrated with an inability to solve the issue via customer support and were coming up with various potential solutions on their own which all failed.
After a few weeks NAVICO solved the issue with a software change, apparently with each change specific to each problem MFD. This followed some failed attempts to solve the issue with ferrite filters.
This demonstrates that no amount of testing will uncover exery potential problem with a new product. It also demonstrates that a determined engineering staff will find a solution. I'm impressed that NAVICO worked with each owner in order to provide full customer satisfactin despite the small numbers involved.
Posted by: Butch Davis at May 8, 2009 9:53 AM
BZ for fixing the VHF noise issue ..... The water intrusion problem should have never happened. I've installed four to date (HDS 7) and all have been returned because of water damage (bad gaskets). The owner's have been less than satisfied with Lowrances support. Let's hope they fix it.
Posted by: bluewaterpirate at May 8, 2009 1:07 PM
HDS is an amazing cutting edge product. Have been using an HDS-8 now for several weeks and it is impressive. A bit of a learning curve when compared to the previous models, but are really easy to use.
I don't think there is any doubt the NAVICO has got their "act" together. Could be time for GARMIN to take some "acting lessons".
Posted by: Bill at May 8, 2009 1:41 PM
Don't you have to keep in mind that if you want to do overlay on a chartplotter AND a PC that you have to buy the Radar, Chartplotter and software all from the same vendor. Correct?
Lowrance doesn't seem to offer a PC software package from what I can tell. Is that correct also?
Acting lessons from Navico? for Garmin? I sincerely hope not, Bill. But if you are impressed with their customer support, you are a model customer, to say the least. (Or one of the few remaining employees!)
Posted by: Sandy Daugherty at May 9, 2009 6:51 AM
Ben, 'Dirty' is a common programming term, used to describe a database or variable that has been altered but not saved yet. You found this on a database screen; I'm assuming the screen shows that all the database changes have been saved at the point you were viewing the screen.
yes and it still miss some functions. I think it's "a first" version with turboview but there is still many things to add... photo overlay transparancy, the new screen informations can't be change, underwater 3D, etc etc.
I have a HDS-8 which is only three weeks new and has only three trips on it. Got caught in a rain storm like we all do fishing in Florida and I encountered the same issue. I can hear the water inside the unit, I don't need to tell you that it's not working. A unit that is to be used on a boat that's not waterproof is worthless regardless of how good it is when it was working..
I spent some serious green backs on this unit and it's not even good as a paper weight because it's leaks water when you turn it on it's side. Here's a thought, paper Nav. charts are waterproof I guess I can hold them down with my water logged state of the art HDS-8.
Posted by: Ray Hernandez at June 7, 2009 1:17 PM
I too have had 4 units replaced due to water damage, I did complain enough & got upgraded to hds 8 s . I hope they are water proof. 5 & 7 are not!!!!!!!
at May 9, 2009 6:51 AM
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