Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992 — announced today the next-generation series of the world’s top-selling multifunction displays, the HDS® Gen2 High Definition Systems. Delivering the same award-winning benefits of the popular HDS fishfinder/charplotter series, the all-new HDS Gen2 provides faster processing speed and StructureMap™ view — a powerful, innovative tool that allows users to overlay and save StructureScan® sonar images on a chart for review on and off the water.
The new Lowrance HDS Gen2 displays feature double the memory and twice the processor speed of first-generation HDS models — providing boaters with enhanced responsiveness, faster start-up and menu operation, and lightning-fast chart panning and zooming speeds. When paired with the LSS-1 StructureScan Sonar Imaging module, users can activate the StructureMap overlay and scan images directly on a chart in real-time, or create StructureMap charts of their favorite boating, fishing and diving areas.
Compatible with Lowrance enhanced basemaps, Insight™ HD cartography, Navionics® and all HDS-compatible third-party charting cards, the new StructureMap view provides a greater perspective of the areas covered by StructureScan sonar imaging. In addition, with the built-in recording capability of HDS Gen2, users can easily create and view StructureMap detail on or off the water — without the aid of a computer.
“The all-new HDS Gen2 delivers the same feature-packed consumer benefits that have made HDS a leading multifunction display worldwide,” said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. “Now, with Gen2’s faster processing speed and the new StructureMap feature, our early field-test reports indicate that boaters and anglers will be blown away by the performance and amazing views of real-time StructureScan overlay.”
All HDS Gen2 models with chartplotter capability feature an internal, high-sensitivity GPS+WAAS antenna — with an LGC-4000 external 5Hz GPS antenna available as an option. HDS Gen2 models with fishfinder capability incorporate the award-winning Broadband Sounder™ that delivers legendary Lowrance sonar performance with greater sensitivity, peerless echo clarity and underwater definition proven to find more targets. Lowrance’s premier TrackBack™ functionality allows HDS Gen2 users to scroll-back in the recorded history of Broadband Sounder or StructureScan sonar imaging to review structure or fish targets and pinpoint locations with a waypoint. To avoid losing important sonar data, HDS Gen2 continues recording throughout the use of TrackBack to ensure valuable readings are not lost.
Designed for easy viewing in all conditions, all Gen2 models feature a SolarMAX™ PLUS display with LED backlighting, for exceptional viewing in the brightest sunlight and from wide angles. Users can also adjust the screen brightness to as much as zero-dim for low-light conditions. HDS Gen2 models offer plug-and-play operation with an easy-to-use graphic menu system for more convenient access and control of key functions. In addition, HDS-8 and HDS-10 models feature six programmable softkeys for one-button access to the most commonly used menu functions.
HDS Gen2 built-in mapping includes a U.S. enhanced basemap with coverage of more than 100,000 bodies of water with detailed shorelines and depth contours. In addition, select HDS Insight Gen2 models come preloaded with Lowrance Insight cartography, featuring shaded-relief depth contours. Lake Insight™ inland mapping (available with HDS-5 Gen2) includes nearly 5,000 freshwater lake maps with life-like perspective of bottom structure and topography. Nautic Insight™ (also available with HDS-5 Gen2) offers a superior life-like view of bottom structure with detailed coastal and offshore depth contours, plus navigation aids for the entire U.S. coastline. Insight™ USA (available for HDS-7, -8 and -10 Gen2 models) combines inland and coastal coverage areas of Lake Insight and Nautic Insight. All HDS Gen2 models are compatible with Navionics charts, and feature Turboview™ for high-speed seamless zooming and transition between 2D and 3D modes.
Setting the new standard in performance-module options, HDS Gen2 models can be networked and are compatible with Lowrance’s comprehensive range of innovative boating and fishing marine-electronics gear — including Broadband 3G™ Radar and the new Broadband 4G™ Radar with 36-mile range and beam-sharpening for unprecedented target separation; StructureScan Sonar Imaging for sidescan and DownScan Imaging™ picture-like views of underwater structure; SonicHub® marine audio server for integrated access to music stored on an Apple iPod or iPhone; and LWX-1 Sirius® satellite weather/radio. In addition the systems connect with the complete line of NMEA 2000® sensors for affordable, real-time onboard systems tracking and engine monitoring data for improved fuel management.
The HDS Gen2 multifunction display lineup consists of seven models: the HDS-5m chartplotter, HDS-5x fishfinder, HDS-5 fishfinder/chartplotter, HDS-7m chartplotter, HDS-7 fishfinder/chartplotter, HDS-8 fishfinder/chartplotter, and HDS-10 fishfinder/chartplotter. Featuring the same 5-inch, 6.4-inch, 8.4-inch and 10.4-inch screen sizes, rugged and stylish industrial design, and plug-and-plug connectors as their predecessors, HDS Gen2 models can be easily networked together using high-speed Ethernet cabling for waypoint and data sharing.
AAll Gen2 fishfinder models are available with 50/200 kHz Skimmer® transducer packs for deep water coastal and Great Lakes applications, or 83/200 kHz Skimmer packs for inland fishing. HDS Gen2 models are also compatible with Airmar® in-hull or thru-hull transducers for up to 1 kW operation. Lowrance HDS Gen2 displays are protected by a 2-year limited warranty, and backed by the 5-year Lowrance Advantage Service Program.
Scheduled to be in stores by January 2012, Lowrance HDS Gen2 multifunction displays can be purchased from authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada. Minimum advertised prices range from $549 for the HDS-5x Gen2 fishfinder to $2,449 for the HDS-10 Insight USA model. For more information on the Lowrance HDS Gen2 series, the entire Lowrance line of marine electronics or to locate an authorized Lowrance dealer, please visit www.lowrance.com.
