Lowrance 000-10778-001 HDS-7 Gen2 Touch Insight 83/200 Fishfinders

This unit was an upgrade from my Gen 1 units. I am amazed at the jump in technology. The processor is faster and the touch screen is a joy....just like my S3. The screen does tend to smudge after continued use, but a couple of rubs with the included cleaning cloth does the trick. Although the functions are almost identical to the Gen 2 units, the touch screen does add some time saving features. That comes in handy when you are trying to stay on fish and fight a wind. My only gripe would be the jump in cost, not Amazons, but Lowrance's, these units are pricey. Due to the pricing, I would suggest you take a look at one in operation mode before purchasing to help you make sure you get the right size unit. Another great addition on the Gen 2 touch units is the built in Structure Scan module....no additional black box needed, just make sure the model you buy has the LSS-2 transducer included.

overall a good fish finder, touch screen not very accurate, gps take a while to locate, work good with wifi-1 module.

Loving this unit so far but if you can afford the larger screen model I think it would be well worth it. Displaying a single page works great but when you start trying to split it up into multiple pages they get a little small.Only negative is after seeing peoples screenshots of the structure scan images I'm a little disappointed in what mine shows - I expected a prettier picture. I'm also using this on a shallow, sandy lake so maybe I just haven't come across a lot of underwater things to display yet. Time will tell I suppose.Price is high but considering its all in one I'm very pleased with it. Still in sticker shock after owning it a few weeks but can't see going back to anything less and being happy. Only thing missing is a second display for the bow!

I absolutely enjoy using this thing! I did upgrade the map but it came with a pretty good chart anyway. The sidescan and downscan are absolutely awesome. I find myself just cruising around in the boat mapping areas and then playing the recorded route back in the evening. I've found a couple holes that way that look like they will be good even in the hot Florida summer. Deep water is cooler water.

The HDS 7 gen 2 touch has worked week so far. The side scan is not as helpful as I hoped it would be. Fishing in shallow water 90% of the time it is 1-3 foot .

I really like the insight genesis. Makes mapping smaller bodies of water too easy.

love unit. would by again

I have had the Lowrance non-touch models and two Humminbird down scan models. In my experience, the Lowrance Touch is far better than those. I have only one recommendation: if you can afford the touch models larger than the HDS 7, get them. The 7 inch model works very well and suits me for the budget I have, but if I had more money, I would get the larger screen so that I see more imagery.Here is what I find superb about the HDS7 touch:1. The touch screen is far more user friendly to use than the key pad models. I can access many different options with just a press or two, and do it fast. The non-touch requires clicking through lots of stuff just to find basic functions, and those models also responds slower.2. The screen imagery is very visible in sunlight.3. The resolution is great. I used Humminbird models who say they have better resolution than Lowrance, but I actually see better definition on the Lowrance Touch. This was one reason why I switched back to Lowrance after trying the Humminbirds for a while.4. GPS accuracy has been fantastic. My older Lowrance had average accuracy, and my Hummingbirds had poor accuracy. This HDS7 has been spot on every time within about a 10 to 14 foot radius. Most consumer grade GPS units have an accuracy of 20 to 30 foot radius.5. It includes the structure scan hardware. This means there is no need to buy a separate Structure scan module if you want to upgrade later (assuming you purchased a unit without the structure scan transducer). The sales guys at the sporting store told me you had to buy the structure module, but they were wrong. Lowrance customer service was very good at explaining to me what the truth is: you only need the structure scan transducer and nothing else but the fish finder itself.6. Networking is easy. It works with all of their Lowrance models which can be networked; with both newer units and older units. Therefore I was able to hook up my new HDS7 touch with my older HDS8 and have them work seamlessly at opposite ends of the boat. All you have to do is set witch fish finder is the master unit, and you can swap that setting anytime you want. One network cable is all you need to get two units to be networked. It is that simple. Again, Lowrance customer service was great at explaining the process, which I initially could not believe was really that simple.7. As normal, Lowrance builds very durable cases for their units. This one is no exception. The casing is strong and water tight. Even the door for the SD card is strong and has a water resistant seal.Mapping with chartplotter:I do boating on a few lakes in my area which have no charts. These lakes are very tricky to navigate since they are flooded areas for hydro dams. There are lots of dangers that are just below the water surface. I used the depth recording feature of the HDS7 and then transferred that data to the Insight Genesis program. The program quickly created graphical depth maps of these lakes and I am now able to navigate them safely. This increased the speed at which I can travel on the lakes, and I was able to locate a few new fishing spots.SD card:From what I understand, this unit can accept an SD card up to 32 gigs. I am running a 16 gig card in my unit. It also worked with a micro SD card using the adapter.Waypoints:Before using insight genesis for mapping, I plotted safe routes in the lakes using waypoints. I still use these to mark hazards. The best part of the HDS Touch is that you set waypoints just by touching the screen where you want the waypoint, and then the menu screen pops up with options for setting a waypoint. No more scrolling with the touch pad as older units required you to do. I love it! In addition, moving a waypoint is super easy too. Also, you can easily make a series of waypoints into a route.Base unit mounting:The included mount bracket will fit great on a flat surface. However, I don't have enough room on my dash to accommodate a unit of this size. I used a ram mount and drilled holes in the ram mount plate to get it work with the Lowrance bracket. It is holding very well.Cables:The cables fit great on my 17 foot boat. There is a few more feet of cable that will allow them to work on a longer boat.Using the touch screen with gloves:It gets cold here, so gloves are needed. I found a pair of good quality touch screen gloves here on Amazon that work well with this unit. 180s Enduro Tec Touch Gloves Transducers:The regular transducer seems to be the same as the transducers Lowrance has been using for several years. It is the same size and shape. The LSS2 transducer plugs directly into the HDS Touch units. No need for the module box.Face cover:My HDS7 Touch came with a front cover to protect it from damage when in storage. I remove my fish finder every time I pull the boat out to of the water to keep from getting damaged on the road and from theft. This cover is very durable and takes a beating.I have been using this unit for a while and have loved every minute of it. I recommend any of the HDS Touch units over the older units.