Thread: Humminbird 570 DI/Lowrance Mark 5x DSI

Originally Posted by mduncan62

I've been completely still and watched fish swimming through. If you're using side scan, then you need to be moving. DI will work just like 2d when sitting still.

Side Imaging will work the same way as well.

In a perfect environment this is true. It will depend on wind and current. The SI and DI beams are very small and your jig has to stay in the beam.

Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg

The 2011 500 and 700 series model DI units are a different type of DI Jaxsprat. They use a dedicated element within the transducer to provide the two DI beams (455/800kHz) and so should work up to the same speeds as 2D sonar will work. Actually they are 2D sonar but are very narrow front-to-rear and wide left-to-right where most traditional 2D sonar is circular shaped.

Why 2D sonar if you have DI sonar? Because of the shape of the sonar beam as stated above. Although the DI sonar can give a clearer view of what the boat has passed over, it can only do so from a narrow area while the 2D sonar can give readings from a larger area. Plus many are so used to traditional 2D sonar that they may prefer to use it versus DI sonar, especially when jigging as it will be easier to locate your bait in the wider coverage area of the 2D sonar.

Real world scenario....I spider rig...ALOT...so my baits are actually 8 ft in front of the Xducer....

A brush pile that I'm "sneaking" up on shows up on the 2d at the same time that my baits start contacting the brush....

That same brushpile doesn't show up on the DI until my baits have already passed by the brush...

This is because the shape of the cone on the 2d sonar shows an area of the water in front (and to the sides) of the Xducer and not just a slice of the water directly under (and to the sides) of the Xducer...

I have a question about the new down imaging units as well. If you have a wider (left to ride) but narrower (front to back) beam for down imaging and say your in 20 feet of water. If a tree appears on the left side of the beam of the transducer how will that show on the screen. Because it would be useless to see structure but not know which side of the boat it is located on? I am getting ready to order the Hbird down imaging and this is the last piece of information that I am curious about.

Originally Posted by Fish Assassin

I have a question about the new down imaging units as well. If you have a wider (left to ride) but narrower (front to back) beam for down imaging and say your in 20 feet of water. If a tree appears on the left side of the beam of the transducer how will that show on the screen. Because it would be useless to see structure but not know which side of the boat it is located on? I am getting ready to order the Hbird down imaging and this is the last piece of information that I am curious about.

I have the exact same question.

Originally Posted by Fish Assassin

I have a question about the new down imaging units as well. If you have a wider (left to ride) but narrower (front to back) beam for down imaging and say your in 20 feet of water. If a tree appears on the left side of the beam of the transducer how will that show on the screen. Because it would be useless to see structure but not know which side of the boat it is located on? I am getting ready to order the Hbird down imaging and this is the last piece of information that I am curious about.

With down imaging, if you see it, it's directly under the transducer, drop your bait down there if you don't believe me.

Originally Posted by Humminbird_Greg

Side Imaging will work the same way as well.

Agreed, SI is much harder to read sitting still, compared to DI though.

I've got the Elite 5 DSI but it's been too cold to install it. The only problem I see so far is a sticker on the box that says Made in Mexico.