Hey Jason, I see you have been running the 2nd generation equipment for a while. I should have my new HDS10 2nd gen. by the first of the week. Replacing and HDS8. Have you had a chance to experiment with the settings yet, i.e. shallow water setting, and any other particulars like we did on the 1st gen.?

Just used your same setting as your Gen1 HDS unit.

Thanks Jason. It came in today,already have it mounted.

Can the generation 2 units be utilized using the existing HDS or LCX cables? Also will one have to change mounting brackets? Thanks!

You can used the same pwr cable, but I always recommend changing out the pwr cable for the hds, just because the yellow wake wire thats on the hds pwr cord.

As for the nmea cables all depends what lcx unit you have.. You will have change out the bracket. The lcx bracket does not work with the hds unit.

I have a combined HDS/Skeeter question. I just got a 2010 FX21. It has hummingbird units in it now and i am switching to HDS units. I have the adapter for the trolling moter transducer. My question is, can the in-hull transducer be used for the HDS unit also? I haven't dug around in the wiring to much yet b/c the boat is at the dealership getting warranty updates to the motor. I am going to install the units myself, but i was going to have a guy put in the in-hull transducer if the current one won't work. Thanks in advance.