How to take screenshots (screen captures) with your Lowrance HDS Gen 1 and older software for Gen 2. Also read about screenshots for for HDS Touch and Gen 2 with the latest software updates.
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The Lowrance HDS does not have ICON only choice like the LCX/LMS models. The ICON method in previous Lowrance models saved ICONS differently than waypoints, you could identify the ICON only by symbol so you couldn’t find them in a list like waypoints, you couldn’t navigate to them like you can with a waypoint and they couldn’t be used in map software like Google Earth like waypoints are.
You can save waypoints without names by selecting Icon instead of Icon and name when you press the WPT button once.
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Knowing how to level out the StructureScan transducer is important for side scan sonar. Notice in this image it is brighter on the right side but does not see as far to the right side. The transducer is not level so the right transducer crystal is shooting more straight down than the left side. This is an easy fix by adjusting the right side a little higher. Remember that the boat is not level when you add two 250 lb anglers on one side and you leveled the transducer for just one person. I hope this quick piece helps you to understand how to level out StructureScan.
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Learn how to get the most out of your HDS.
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Read magazine article by Bruce Samson about structure maps. How will it help you catch more fish?
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The DownScan and side scan both have wider cones than the 2D. The difference between the DownScan and side scan is the DownScan is aimed straight down like the 2D sonar and the side scan is aimed to the side so it "sees" out farther. Learn more about side scan range settings in this article.
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If you are using the StructureScan™ the HDS is recording information for playback. If you activate the cursor with the arrow button, you can scroll back in memory of the display that has disappeared (TrackBack). If you used the sonar cursor on LMS/LCX models as demonstrated in this video (link to sonar cursor video), you could stop the screen and move the cursor to a fish and create a waypoint on a fish that is on the display. New for the HDS, you can use the left arrow to view memory that is not on the display.
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HDS Sirius Weather Review
I have the Sirius Weather for my HDS this year. I was pre-fishing for my last tournament and saw a storm to the south.
The storm appeared to be moving west and it looked like it was clearing to my west. I calculated that the storm would miss me.
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Looking for fish near weeds can be difficult because the fish and weeds look similar with sonar. Whether you have DownScan or not, these examples will help you understand your sonar better. My understanding of using sonar to fish near weeds has improved with the DownScan feature on my Lowrance HDS. The cone is narrower with the DownScan and the transducer is a higher frequency so you get improved target separation. I would not be surprised if Lowrance offers DownScan only instead of traditional sonar in the future.
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Sonar sensitivity settings or "auto sensitivity" on Lowrance sonar is very important. This feature has changed over the years from manual to having the model do it automatically.
The sensitivity is like the volume on the radio. The radio receives the signal from a tower and the volume control raises or lowers the level we hear. The sonar receives the signal from the transducer and the sensitivity control raises or lowers the level we see on the display.
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