I am looking at buying a hds 8 and I have no idea what I'm looking for. I see one is offered with structure scan and one is not. So for start,to have downscan and side scando I have to buy the structure scan package with the graph? I also see where you can "link" them together if I buy one for the front. How do you do that and what all extra is there to buy with that? About how much does it cost to set up graphs on a boat for front and back with hds 8 systems and they link together and what all would I need to buy? I hate to be a pain, but really appreciate the help I get on here. Thanks again and tight lines.

Yes the LSS (Lowrance structure scan) is required for side/down imaging. If you are buying a brand new graph then I'd get the bundle since it is a tad cheaper and tends to come with everything needed to link 1 graph to the LSS box.

For an additional graph you will need a extra Ethernet cable. It also ties into the LSS box.

The LSS box has 3 out ports so it's possible to connect 3 graphs to it. Sounds complicated but it's not too bad once you get the idea.

Ok so if I can just get the head unit and a Ethernet cable I can connect one in the front of the boat?

From what I understand from talking to the guy working the counter at BPS, if you get the new touch screen models, downscan and side imaging is built in.

yup.

Correct. The touch screen units basically have the LSS built in them so all you would need to do is run an ethernet cable from it to the other units you want linked to it. Even if the other units are Gen 1 or Gen 2 units, they will link fine thru the ethernet cable and will have side/down scan.

Concerning original post, it's really easier than it sounds to link the units. The LSS box is basically the "junction" for all units. Your units will share waypoints, they all will read the side/down scan, etc. The part that is a little tricky is in your settings where you tell your units where to "get" the information to read. For example, on the front unit, you will have to set it to know where to get the sonar reading from, where to get the temp reading from, where to get the side image reading from, etc.

The HDS 8 is a fine unit with great resolution. The HDS 9 Touch is a fine unit too, but there is a substantial cost adder. You can get some good deals on the HDS 8 Bundle.