Lowrance HOOK2-12 TripleShot US Inland

The Lowrance HOOK2-12 is the largest unit of the HOOK2 series. Despite its size, it does not offer the feature range of the Elite-12 Ti2 unit, or the older Elite Ti. It’s a fish finder & chartplotter combo, though, featuring CHIRP sonar, DownScan, SideScan, GPS, and the basic U.S Inland chart platform. For reference, this is the Lowrance part number 000-14305-001.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 12″ diagonal, 1280H x 800V pixel matrix, WVGA color TFT, with LED backlight
• Sonar: Wide-angle High CHIRP (2D), DownScan, SideScan
• Transducer: TripleShot
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • 2D CHIRP: 40° @ 200 kHz
  • DownScan: 55°/2.5° @ 455 kHz & 35°/1.5° @ 800 kHz
  • SideScan: 55°/0.8°/600′ @ 455 kHz & 35°/0.5°/300′ @ 800 kHz
• Max. Depth Capability:
  • 2D CHIRP: 500′ (153 m) for the CHIRP sonar
  • DownScan: 300′ (91 m)
  • SideScan: 300′ (91 m)
• Power Output:
  • Broadband Sonar (2D): 200 Watts (RMS)
  • DownScan/SideScan: Max. 500 Watts (RMS)
• Power Input: 12 VDC (10.4-17 VDC min-max)
• GPS: Internal, WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS
• Maps: US Inland
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 100; 3,000, 100 (10,000) points per trail)

Sonar and transducer

The Lowrance HOOK2-12 supports three main frequencies. These are 200 kHz for its 2D traditional sonar, and 455/800 kHz for DownScan and SideScan. The 2D traditional sonar uses CHIRP technology to modulate the sonar pulse over a range of frequencies; however, the CHIRP interval is not specified. DownScan and SideScan do not use CHIRP.

 

As the title suggests, the transducer included with this Lowrance fish finder is the TripleShot 000-14029-001. This transducer includes a transom mount, integrates a temperature sensor, has 20′ (6m) of cable with an 8-pin connector. It supports all three types of sonar of the unit.

For the 2D traditional sonar, the TripleShot transducer uses a High Wide conical beam with a coverage of 40°. The maximum depth capability of the High Wide CHIRP beam is 500′ (153 m). Also, when using this sonar mode, the system should be able to maintain a bottom reading at speeds up to 55 MPH.

For DownScan, the transducer uses oval beams, very thin fore-and-aft. Their coverage is 55°/2.5° @ 455 kHz and 35°/1.5° @ 800 kHz. Also, the maximum depth capability of the DownScan sonar with the included transducer is 300′ (91 m), when using the 455 kHz mode. At 800 kHz, the maximum depth capability is only 150′ (46 m). These depth capabilities are similar for Side Imaging as well.

For SideScan, the transducer also uses oval-shaped beams. Their coverage is 55°/0.8° @ 455 kHz and 35°/0.5° @ 800 kHz. Also, their side-to-side coverage is 600′ (183 m) when using the 455 kHz mode, and 300′ (91 m) when using 800 kHz. The recommended boat speed for the best DownScan and SideScan imaging is 10 MPH (or even lower).

Of course, the HOOK2-12 TripleShot offers the full range of standard sonar features. To begin with, it has the Overlay DownScan application which allows you to blend the 2D CHIRP sonar image with the DownScan image in order to have a better view of the fish arches in relation to structure. This also brings basic DownScan options to the 2D window. Fish ID, Bottom Lock, Amplitude Scope, Split-Zoom, Noise Rejection, Sonar Recording, Sonar Rewind, and many more other useful applications are also included.

Navigation features

First of all, the Lowrance HOOK2-12 TripleShot 000-14305-001 comes with the U.S. Inland basemap. These are charts based on the ones from C-MAP. They cover more than 4,000 US lakes with 1′ depth contours. They don’t offer super detail, but they show the boundaries between water and land accurately, and also include various points of interest.

Of course, the unit supports various other high-detail charts. For example, you can update its chart base to Navionics® HotMaps® Premium, Fishing Hotspots® PRO, Navionics+, and C-MAP MAX-N charts. The Navionics charts give you access to SonarChart Live, which is a real-time feature where the device creates an overlay of depth contours based on your own live sonar soundings. Navionics charts also include dynamic tide and current icons.

The unit does not have the Genesis Live depth contour draw feature like the new Elite-7 Ti2, for example. However, it does have the StructureMap application. This function gives you the possibility to overlay recorded SideScan images on your map, in order to get a better view of the underwater imaging in relation to land, your position, or in relation to other points of interest.

Needless to say, the unit has an internal GPS receiver. Its operating frequency is not specified (probably 5 Hz). It shows the coordinates for any point of interest and your location. It also has a GPS speed function.

The unit also has waypoint creation, route creation, and trackplotting functions. It can save up to 3,000 waypoints in its memory. It can also save up to 100 routes and 100 trails, with up to 10,000 plot points per trail. Each recorded track can be converted to a route so you can add waypoints to it later on if needed.

Control unit features

The Lowrance HOOK2-12 features a 12-inch display, LCD type, WVGA color TFT, with a pixel resolution of 1280H x 800V. The display is a SolarMAX type with adjustable LED backlight which offers excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. Also, the unit is IPX7 waterproof, meaning that it can support incidental water exposure such as rain or splashes.

The unit has a user-friendly interface. Its start page can be customized with the applications that you use the most for quick access. It does not have touchscreen technology; the navigation through the menus and functions can only be done from the keypad on the right side of the unit. Also, its display can show up to four applications simultaneously.

Just like the other HOOK2 units, this Lowrance fish finder does not support NMEA and does not have Ethernet. In other words, its networking possibilities are limited. It only has two connectors on the back, one is the 8-pin connector for the TripleShot transducer, the other is the power connector. It also does not have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The unit is equipped with a microSD card reader. It only has one slot for one card. This gives you the possibility to upgrade its chart base or save data on a blank microSD card.

The unit includes the classic U-type bracket mount. The only mount included for the transducer is the transom mount. The unit cover and the panel mounting kit are not included.

The Pros

• 2D High-Wide CHIRP Sonar;
• DownScan Sonar;
• SideScan Sonar;
• TripleShot 3-in-1 transducer included;
• Sonar recording;
• Overlay DownScan, A-Scope, Fish ID, Bottom Lock, and multiple other standard sonar features included;
• Fast and accurate GPS;
• Trail recording function;
• Route creation function;
• Can save up to 3,000 waypoints;
• U.S. Inland maps included covering over 4,000 US lakes with 1′ contours;
• Compatible with premium charts, such as C-MAP®, C-MAP Genesis, Navionics® and more;
• SolarMAX color display;
• Adjustable backlight for superior readability;
• Split-screen view up to 4 panels per view;
• MicroSD card reader (1 slot);
• Fairly easy to install;
• One year warranty.

The Cons

• No networking features;
• Unit cover and flush mounting kit are not included;
• Trolling mount for the transducer is not included.

Summary

The Lowrance HOOK2-12 000-14305-001 is a fish finder and chartplotter offering 2D High CHIRP sonar, DownScan, SideScan, GPS and the US Inland base charts. It also includes the TripleShot transducer with a transom mount. It offers a wide range of standard sonar and navigation features but it’s not networkable, so it does not support Radar, AIS, or other navigation instruments. It only has connectors for the transducer and power cable. This makes it considerably more affordable than the newer Elite-12 Ti2 unit. Therefore, it’s a great unit for anyone who only wants the standard 2D, structure scanning sonar, and navigation features.