Lowrance HDS-7 Live with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transducer

We’ve already covered the HDS-7 Live unit (000-14415-001) which does not include a transducer, so in this post, we’re addressing the part number 000-14416-001, the one that includes the Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer. The unit itself not only supports AI 3-in-1 sonar, but it also has built-in LiveSight real-time sonar and StructureScan 3D. It’s also a chartplotter featuring GPS and a custom chart base.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: SolarMax HD, 7-inch diagonal, 1024H x 600V pixel matrix, full-color, with LED backlight and multitouch technology
• Sonar: Active Imaging 3-in-1, StructureScan 3D, LiveSight Sonar capable
• Transducer: Active Imaging 3-in-1
• Frequency and Coverage (with the included transducer):
  83/200/455/800 kHz
  300 ft. (91 m) on each side – 455 kHz SideScan
  150 ft. (46 m) on each side – 800 kHz SideScan
• Depth Capability (with the included transducer):
  1,000 ft. (305 m) for the CHIRP sonar
  300 ft. (91 m) for DownScan and SideScan
• Supply Voltage: 12VDC (10.8-17 VDC)
• GPS: 16-channel, 10Hz internal GPS
• Maps: U.S. C-MAP Enhanced Basemap
• Routes, Waypoints, Trails: 100; 3,000; 100 (10,000 per trail)

Sonar and transducer

The Lowrance HDS-7 Live unit has several built-in sonar technologies. These are Active Imaging 3-in-1, StructureScan 3D and LiveSight real-time sonar. It includes the Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar which supports the unit’s 2D CHIRP sonar, DownScan sonar, and SideScan sonar. Therefore, if you want to use the StructureScan 3D or the LiveSight sonar, you will have to use the required separate transducer. The unit also supports older transducers, such as the TotalScan model, or the HDI skimmers. It is also 50 kHz capable.

The includes Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer comes with a transom mount and 25 ft. (7.6 m) of cable. It has a 9-pin connector and integrates a temperature sensor. For the unit’s 2D CHIRP sonar, the transducer uses conical beams at 83 kHz and 200 kHz. The exact beam coverage is not specified, but in terms of depth capabilities, the maximum depth that you can reach with it is 1,000 ft. when using the 83 kHz beam.

For SideScan and DownScan, the Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer uses the 455/800 kHz channels. Its maximum depth capabilities are 300 ft. (91 m) at 455 kHz, while the side range of the SideScan beams reaches 300 ft. (91 m) on each side at 455 kHz, and 150 ft. (46 m) at 800 kHz.

The new HDS-7 Live offers two notable new features over the older units. These are FishReveal and Surface Clarity. The FishReveal feature combines the 2D CHIRP sonar with DownScan in order to view the fish arches in relation to the high-resolution view of the bottom, structure, and vegetation. This feature aims to eliminate the need for keeping both DownScan and 2D sonar in separate windows on your display. Surface Clarity is a function that reduces surface clutter by decreasing the sensitivity of the sonar receiver near the surface. Therefore, you can see more fish targets close to the surface.

The unit also offers Live Network Sonar support. This feature gives you the possibility to view and control two independent live sonar sources and view them in split-screen. Plus, the unit offers the full range of standard sonar features, including Circular Flasher for ice fishing, Fish ID, A-Scope, Bottom Lock, Fish Alarm, Depth Alarm, sonar recording and rewind, Temperature Graph, and more.

Navigation features

The Lowrance HDS-7 Live unit integrates a 10 Hz, 16-channel GPS receiver. This means the unit provides position updates 10 times per second showing the movement of the vessel icon on-screen moving in real-time. It supports MSAS, EGNOS, and WAAS for position augmentation. It has a GPS speed function and can store up to 3,000 waypoints and 100 routes in its memory. Also, via the track plotting function, you can record up to 100 trails with up to 10,000 points for each trail.

The unit comes pre-loaded with the U.S. C-MAP Enhanced Basemap platform. These charts provide more detail than the basic platform included with the HOOK2 units. They offer coverage for more than 4,000 U.S. lakes as well as coastal coverage which includes Alaska and Hawaii. The unit is also compatible with Navionics+, Navionics Platinum+, C-MAP MAX-N, C-MAP MAX-N+, Insight Pro, and Lake Insight HD charts.

One of the new navigation-related features included with the HDS-7 Live unit is Genesis Live. This is a depth contour mapping function similar to the AutoChart Live offered by most Humminbird fish finders. This application allows you to reveal and draw the depth contours of your favorite lake and create personalized charts with 1/2 ft. contours. Thus, if the unit’s current charts do not offer satisfying detail for your lake, the Genesis Live feature has you covered. Plus, you also have the StructureMap feature if you want to overlay images captured via the SideScan sonar on your maps, for better awareness.

SmartSteer is also a feature supported by this unit. This feature offers autopilot and other functions for MotorGuide Xi5/Xi3 trolling motors; however, this requires MotorGuide PinPoint Gateway. It provides control for Power-Pole anchors. It can also show data from an AIS unit and also supports Radar, including 4G (Broadband), 3G (Broadband), Halo24 (Pulse Compression Dome Radar), Halo 3’/4’/6′ (Open Array Pulse Compression Radar).

Control unit features

The HDS-7 Live features a 7-inch full-color SolarMAX display with a pixel resolution of 1024H x 600, considerably richer than the 800H x 480V of the HOOK2-7 unit. This leads to much sharper imaging. It also has a multi-touch interface; it can be operated via the keypad on the side but also responds to touch commands like a tablet or smartphone. Its interface is highly intuitive and easy to use and offers split-screen possibilities with up to four panels per view.

The unit’s internal processor is dual-core, offering more than enough speed and power to provide faster redraws and a quicker response time to easily drive technology, like StructureScan 3D, Mercury VesselView Link & Lowrance Outboard pilot. It has an internal storage capacity of 8.0 GB, and a dual microSD card reader for external memory.

WiFi and Bluetooth functions are also available. The HDS-7 Live unit is equipped with an internal 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi module and is compatible with WiFi-1 modules. This allows you to take control of your unit via your smartphone or tablet through the Link App. It also gives you the possibility to backup your waypoints and routes with ease into your mobile device. The Bluetooth connection allows you to control Power-Pole Shallow Water anchors equipped with a C-Monster control system or take control of your unit via the LR-1 remote for saving waypoints, zooming, and access various other functions.

Along with the wireless connectivity, this Lowrance fish finder and chartplotter also offers Ethernet connectivity and NMEA 2000 connectivity. These features offer plug-and-play possibilities for different boating tools such as AIS units, Radar, SiriusXM, SonicHub 2 and more.

Finally, the box includes the classic Gimbal mount and a unit cover.

The Pros

• Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar;
• StructureScan 3D sonar;
• LiveSight sonar;
• Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer included;
• Various sonar functions, such as DownScan Overlay, FishReveal, Bottom Lock, A-Scope, Circular Flasher, Fish ID, Sonar Recording, etc;
• C-MAP U.S. Enhanced Basemap included;
• Genesis Live feature for depth contour recording;
• Compatible with a wide array of custom charts, including Navionics Gold, Navionics+, Navionics Platinum+, C-MAP Max N, C-MAP Max N+, Insight Pro, and Insight HD.
• High precision, 10 Hz GPS;
• Autopilot functions via SmartSteer, for Xi5 trolling motors;
• Waypoints, routes, and trackplotting functions;
• Easy to use touchscreen navigation;
• 4-panel view presentation possibilities;
• Super-bright display, excellent readability;
• Dual-core processor for fast responsiveness;
• 8.0 GB of internal storage;
• WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity;
• Dual microSD card reader;
• NMEA 2000 connectivity;
• Ethernet connectivity;
• Supports AIS, Radar, SiriusXM Marine Weather and Audio systems, and SonicHub 2 audio servers;
• Gimbal bracket mount included;
• Suncover cover included;
• Available in multiple language packs;
• Fairly easy to install.

The Cons

• The Genesis Live feature requires a microSD card as support.

Summary

The Lowrance HDS-7 Live is a fish finder and chartplotter featuring LiveSight sonar, Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar, StructureScan 3D, GPS, C-MAP Enhanced maps, Genesis Live, wireless connectivity, and more. It includes the Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer and supports various other transducers including the upcoming LiveSight models, or the older HDI skimmers and the TotalScan transducer. It’s a versatile unit, great for a wide variety of boats, perfect for both inland and off-shore fishing.