Can I purchase a HDS 8 Gen 1 or 2 that will have the down scan capability with out having to purchase the side scan xducer and the SS-1? If I can what xducer do I need to purchase for the down scan capability? Thanks

Ok, I got my answer, just like I thought, can't be done without the LSS. Talked with Lowrance Tech.

But wait!

If you buy an HDS-9 Touch you can get it without the LSS transducer and substitute the HDI transducer instead for about $100. With that you get broadband and downscan, but not side scan. Good solution for installation on the trolling motor.

Yep, it can only do 2D sonar without the LSS unit.

Well, 2D + downscan if you use the HDI transducer.

Can't use a HDI with an HDS 8 and that's what he asked about. I know you're talking about the 9 but it might not be in his budget:

If I am understanding the replies correcly, I coud purchase a HDS9 Touch without a xducer then puchase a HDI xducer and I would have 2D & down scan capabilities. Is that correct?

you can with an Elite 7

Yes, he was correct.

And as mentioned above, the elite 7 will do the same. Just not as fancy.

The advantage of having an HDS 9 Touch in this case is that you could later network it to either an HDS 8 or an HDS Touch and use its LSS for sidescan.

Recently replaced my Elite 7 HDI up front with a Touch 7 keeping the HDI transducer from the Elite 7. Good setup, networked it with my HDS8 Gen2 at console mainly to share waypoints and my Navionics card. The Elite 7 was very limited in sharing waypoints and could not share Navionics card at all. HDS8 needed recent HDS software update to share the Navionics card. Card sharing is not possible with the GEN1 HDS units.