Honestly I don't know, I haven't used that graph before and the HDS series that I do have has a different color. But it is possible that the green means a softer item. On my graph yellow is hard, red is medium & blue is soft.

The sonar returns look pretty decent, you were sitting still or moving slow correct?

All my manual said was yellow is hardest return and reddish blue(?) was the weakest. I'm still playing with the colorline setting even though I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking at.

Yes sir, just drifting with the current. Though at 3.5-4mph it looks the same to me.

Thanks for the help.

I am having hell getting anyone to be able to get my Lowrance units to communicate. I dont think it should be that big of an issue. I have three units and a sonic hub but none of them communicate and the sonic hub isnt powering on. Do you guys have any recommendations in northeast houston or baytown area. Do we have any pro staffers in this area?

Used to have a pro staffer but he doesn't post here much anymore. First thing I'd check if I was you is the Ethernet cables, there have been a lot of complaints about bad ones. Make sure the sonic hub has the yellow wake up wire attached to the graphs yellow wire.

I recently purchased a new (used) bay boat that has a HDS8 with structure scan and side imaging. I'm slowly but surely figuring out the settings on the HDS8, but I'm having some problems navigating from screen to screen. My other boat has all Humminbird electronics (997,interlink,858). The humminbirds have three preset buttons for your "favorites" but I can't figure out how to do it on the Lowrance without hitting PAGES and scrolling to the screen I want. There has to be an easier way!!!! Please Help

J- Spencer,

Yes you can save your most commonly used pages. Press the page button to enter the pages screen and then perform the following. This was copied from the HDS-8 owners manual.

To save pages:
1. Select the desired page or tool.
2. Press and hold the desired softkey until
the saved pages field is populated with
the selected data.
3. To view saved page data, press the
softkey directly below the desired saved
page icon.

Thanks MAK747, I'll try that

The soft keys are a big time saver!

wont work for me!! It's running version 2.1something...I tried updating it and it wont take the update????

What gen is your HDS 8? If it's a gen 1 then you need the 4.1 update. If it's a gen 2 then 2.1 is the newest; but make sure you aren't downloading the Touch graphs update instead of the regular gen 2 update.


Also you have to be on the main pages to save the soft keys.

It's a GEN 1, I've been trying to put the 4.1 update in it. I played around with a friends HDS10 so I would know how to set the soft keys. Mine wont do it.... I've tried to do it every which way. I've erased the card and started over at least 5 times. I'm gonna try a different SD card today. Not trying to knock Lowrance, but I've never had this trouble with any of my humminbirds!! So far I'm really impressed with the quality of returns I'm getting compared to the Bird, but navigating from page to page is making me crazy !!!!!

Thanks again for every ones help.

Yes do try a different sd card and I've even read that certain computer software programs can make a difference. You are following the directions on Lowrances site exactly, right? (I'm sure you are but they are pretty detailed). The page setting issue is a bit odd and I wonder if maybe you need to try a soft reset or call Lowrance tech support. I have a gen 1 and have had no problems with it but I will admit the new Touch series are ALOT better to navigate through the pages.

The updates can be a problem for both brands apparently, there's a post on BBC right now about how mad a guy is because his brand new 998's won't update (neither of them, (2)).

I currently have a 9Touch on the console and an HDS8 Gen 1 on the bow.
Plan to upgrade soon to a 9Touch on the bow.
I'm asking for help on how to go with the transducer.
IF the Spotlight transducer is as good as advertised, I'll probably go with it.
I understand it does side scan/down scan and 2D sounder all in one??? If so, I don't need the LSS-2 transducer. Anyone know for sure if this is correct?
Also understand the CHIRP is built into the Spotlight xducer too but, not sure I'm reading right.
I understand the Spotlight is scheduled to start shipping this week, can any one confirm this?

The spotlight doesn't do side image. It does down, sonar and a sweeping image which requires you moving the pedal constantly. I'm going to wait this one out because I'm skeptical.

I would consider 2 options for the Touch on the bow:

*Lowrance HDI transducer 83/200/455/800khz that will give you 2D sonar and down scan and plugs right in to a touch unit.

*Spotlight scan transducer that has 2D Digital Broadband Sonar (NO CHIRP) , Down scan and Spotlight Scan and will also plug in to the Touch.

*In order to use the TM150 Chirp transducer, You will need the SonarHub as it will not work on the HDS units w/o it.

Brian