Lowrance 000-10236-001 Elite-5 DSI DownScan Imaging Chartplotter/Fishfinder

• Fishfinder/Chartplotter with unique imaging, precision GPS navigation, and brilliant 5-inch color display
• Detailed, automatic photo-like viewing locates prime fishing spots under the boat
• Built-in precision GPS antenna and detailed basemap U.S. inland waters and coasts
• Dual-coverage imaging (455/800 kHz); 4,000W peak-to-peak, 500W RMS power
• Exclusive Lowrance down-looking sonar imaging innovation

I have had this unit for about a month, and have had it out 4 or 5 times. There is a lot to like about this product; but there are also some irritations. The fishfinder is excellent, and give a very clear image of the bottom. Also, the unit has built in GPS, which is great for marking locations with just a touch of the button. The screen size is good, and one has the option of full or split screen with combinations of GPS and/or fishfinder, however, it appears the fish finder does not have a full color option; but instead, a variety of two color options. I may be wrong on that, but I could not find a multicolor display option, and none of the two color options were as satisfying to me as the multicolor option on my past locators. The GPS works great, and automatically feeds both boat speed, and location to the screen, while the fishfinder transducer provides both depth and the water surface temp.

The unit has an array of automatic settings, which load presets, so the beginner does not have to bother with a lot of "set up".

Unfortunately the manual for this unit is one of the worse that I have ever seen on a fish locator. This is particularly troublesome because navigating through the menus is not particularly intuitive. In fact, it can be quite confusing. This is especially troublesome as the initial "Setup" selections may result in some options being left off the menus, with no simple way to access them if needed. The pathetic lack of good guidance in the instruction pamplet (it hardly qualifies as a manual) only serves to complicate the situation. It will tell you very little that will help in your pursuit of understanding.

There is a computer "Simulation Program" available from the Lowrance site, for the very simular Elite 5 model, which would have been very helpful if it were reliable; but I down loaded the program to four different computers running Win 7, Vista, and XP, and the program kept freezing on all four computers.

Also, the unit has a mini memory card slot, so maps can be changed or upgraded. The popular "HotMaps" series of HD lake maps can be loaded into this unit, according to the literature. I am not yet ready to pay an additional $100 plus for this upgrade.

In summary, this appears to be a great unit for the money. But I will not really know until I can find out how to fully access the features. A good manual, a reliable simulation program, and better yet, an instructional DVD would serve the purchaser well, but alas, for some reason Lowrance decided not to support this product to the degree it deserves. Too bad, as I suspect many persons will give up before they can figure out how to fully utilize this versatile, and seemingly well made little unit. This is the best fish finder that I have owned; far better resolution, and better clarity and detail when set up properly.

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The basemap of course shows me driving on land when im in the cuts. The depth finder works well but i drive and fish in a lot of 2-3ft water so i havent seen any trees under me yet like the pic, im in Texas and with the drought im lucky to squeeze the boat in the lake!

Lost two stars cause the first one installed and worked untill i tested it just before its first trip. The screen would cut out but stay lit up.

Lowrance customer service was a joke. Told me 50 or 60 bones just to see what was wrong with my band new unit!!!!!!!!!!

Amazon on the other hand was super cool and overnighted me a replacement with no hassle and i didnt have to ask for it. Just told them mine was broke and they said okay youll have one in a day!

I would buy one again and i will be using Amazon more often.

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It was easy to install,took all of 15-20 minutes for my son and I to install the transducer pull the wires and mount it on the console . We did not do a flush mount,I mounted it next to my trusty Raytheon fish finder that I like so much. We fish Puget Sound for salmon with downriggers. Quite frequently we get fog bound and need a GPS. The GPS on this unit is spectacular. It gives us way-points to exact locations when we catch a fish that we can return to in the future. Also shows bottom contours on the maps for easy navigation for fishing. It has a lot of features that I have't used yet. The depth sounder is totally accurate as compared to my old one,but it only reads to 299 ft. depth. We fish in deeper water but rarely fish below 200 ft. I haven't seen a fish on it yet even though the Ratheon fish finder shows lots of fish. I have read and reread the instructions and still can't figure out how to see fish. I have used it at least six times already and the sonar screen just has little flecks on it,and shows the bottom contour. I wish the instructions were more user friendly. For the amount I paid for it I had hoped that the fish finder would be better than my old one,I could have just got a GPS for a lot cheaper. I am hoping that once I learn how to use it,it will get 5 stars,for now only 3 stars.

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I am astounded that such a marvelous piece of technology can be so ineptly marketed. It does everything it is supposed to do, if you can figure out how to make it do it....the only thing more amazing than the lack of a manual is the unmitigated gall it takes to include in the package a circular from a THIRD PARTY provider to SELL you an instructional DVD!!! I just laid out about $600, and they want me to BUY the instructions?? It's spelled C-H-U-T-Z-P-A-H ! All that said, after suffering through the learning curve on YouTube videos, it is an AMAZING little bit of technology.

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I am sure this a good piece of equipment, but without any step by step instructions, it is almost worthless. I wish I had a book to give me instructions that make sense.Lowrance 000-10236-001 Elite-5 DSI DownScan Imaging Chartplotter/Fishfinder with 5-Inch Color LCD and Basemap