Which Lowrance?

I think I've decided to put a Lowrance Elite-4 or -5 on my new, second-hand Revo and that's how the trouble got started... could they have more, different models in the Elite line, or make it more difficult to grasp the nuances of each option?

I call it a marketing ploy.  If, like me, you can't quite get a feel for the differences between an Elite, an Elite HDI, and an Elite x, you'll just grab the most expensive in the line-up and hope it does what you wanted.

I want a FF with a color display, GPS and mapping, and CHIRP.  If it also has down-scanning sonar, I'm okay with that.  More toys for me!

Which one of the Elite-4 or Elite-5 line up have those?

Please let me know before I decide to wait for the Elite-5ti Gamepad Version.   

if you can live without the CHIRP, and I think you can based on my use of a non-chirp and chirp Lowarnce, I would grab one of these up fast, great price.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/marine-electronics/sonars-sonar-gps-combos%7C/pc/104794380/c/104707080/sc/104588280/lowrance-reg-elite-5-hdi-sonar-gps-combo/1660770.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsonars-sonar-gps-combos%2Flowrance%2F_%2FN-1100517%2B1000003916%2FNe-1000003916%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104588280%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

if you can live without the CHIRP, and I think you can based on my use of a non-chirp and chirp Lowarnce, I would grab one of these up fast, great price.
...

Thank you, Roger.  I've been keeping an eye on that unit at Cabela's and trying to decide which display size before the sale ends.  And Cabela's hasn't yet confirmed which transducer comes with the on sale units.

The only con with going with an Elite 5 is that the bigger screen drains batteries faster than and Elite 4.  Based on observations of fishing with folks with an Elite 5, I have an Elite 4, is that I get ~1.5 times the life out of the same battery. 

The only con with going with an Elite 5 is that the bigger screen drains batteries faster than and Elite 4.  Based on observations of fishing with folks with an Elite 5, I have an Elite 4, is that I get ~1.5 times the life out of the same battery.

Thanks.  Yeah, I noticed the different amp draw between them.  Unless something changes, I plan to mount it on the gunwale somewhere near my knees where I can reach it but where I won't knee-kick it or have it get in the way when I inevitably have to get back in.  The Lowrance 5's might be too wide for that location, and they're in second place but still in the running.

My confusion about them is the models within either the Elite-4 or Elite-5 series.  At various and sundry online sites, I've run across:

Elite-# (4 or 5)
Elite-# HDI
Elite-# CHIRP
Elite-# DSI

And it's gotten so I'm having trouble distinguishing between them.

The Elite-# and Elite#4 CHIRP seem to be the same thing and the name depends on who is selling it.  They have CHIRP, GPS, and DSI.

The Elite-# DSI has GPS and DSI (and does not have CHIRP).
 
The ELITE-# HDI has GPS and DSI (does not have CHIRP)  but has a higher pixel density than the DSI.

I understand that the Elite-#x series does not have GPS mapping.

Do I have the features right?  Is there an HDI model with CHIRP?

And what in the heck are is the HOOK family of finders?  When I read the Lowrance pages, they seem to be crafty about telling me what the difference is between Elite and HOOK.

I'm back to thinking about mason's twice and a lead weight, since I'll have my hands free while pedaling.  And I've always wanted to shout out, "By the mark, twain!"

And Oh My Sweet and Fluffy Lord, there's a series called "Mark" too.  Saints preserve us!

I had the elite 4 model for a few years, until it quit working.  Loved it, and on a 5 amp hr battery, I could fish all day.  Lowrance made me a great deal under warranty, and gave me 50% off any new model.

I decided to get the Elite 5 HDI model, with the larger screen.  I like the larger screen especially when using the split screen and wanting to zoom in. There are also some new features that I didn't have on my 4.

However, it does draw about 1.5 amps per hour, which on a 5 ah batter, only got me through a few hours of fishing, even when lowering the brightness.

My solution was to get a larger battery, a 12ah, and stow it in a waterproof case under my rear hatch, where I can't reach anyway.

I can go all day on full power and still have  extra juice.

Thank you for that.  Every tidbit helps.

Lowrance in a nutshell:

Mark = Black & White
Elite = Color
4, 5, 7, etc = Screen Size
X = Non-GPS
DSI = Down Scan Imaging
HDI = High Definition (also has DSI functionality)
Chirp = Newest Sonor technology that all the companies are using as a marketing angle

Ahh... the smoke begins to clear.

Thanks.

Lowrance in a nutshell:

Mark = Black & White
Elite = Color
4, 5, 7, etc = Screen Size
X = Non-GPS
DSI = Down Scan Imaging
HDI = High Definition (also has DSI functionality)
Chirp = Newest Sonor technology that all the companies are using as a marketing angle

Perfect. Thank you. 

Avoid the Mark series, you will get much better results from the elite. That Cabela's deal is a good deal .

Thank you, Noah.  Size is the only issue stopping me momentarily.

Lowrance in a nutshell:

Mark = Black & White
Elite = Color
4, 5, 7, etc = Screen Size
X = Non-GPS
DSI = Down Scan Imaging
HDI = High Definition (also has DSI functionality)
Chirp = Newest Sonor technology that all the companies are using as a marketing angle

HDI is actually Hybrid Dual Imaging

It allows you to run both standard sonar and DSI at the same time. You can run it split screen or over lay the two images , thus providing you with the traditional fish arches that we recognize and the better bottom structure image.