Overall, it is a budget model. It is basically a lower-cost version of the Garmin fish finders. Still a great choice for those who are looking to start their career in fish tech.
This is a review on GPS, so let's get into it. You get network compatibility, which means that you can use live radar, camera features and Bluetooth to connect with your smartphone. Chartplotting, live maps and other functions are all possible. All of these can be done from the fishfinder.
I like the Lakemaster feature. It's similar to the structure scan that you can find in many Lowrance fishfinders. This helps to find areas of vegetation where fish might be lurking. Lowrance Hook Reveal is available in three models. Reveal 5, Reveal 7, Reveal 9, and Reveal 10. The screen size is the only difference, just like most fish finders. It does have some impressive features though. It starts with the GPS tech.
Let me address the elephant in this room. The fish finder is equipped with GPS and mapping, but not with a MicroSD slot. This means you are stuck with the unit that came with it and can't purchase or download any additional Garmin mapping.
Worldwide Basemap is Garmin's standard offering. It is the same technology used by their land GPS. Access to ocean maps, rivers maps, and streams up to 100 feet long will be available. Access to land data such as airports, urban areas and territorial boundaries is also available.
There are many options for sonar, navigation, and GPS. This is why I believe it is the best choice. DualBeam sonar offers great down- and side imaging. This feature will give you the greatest flexibility on the water.
C-Map Genesis Live is also available in the HDS. This allows you to download maps that aren’t even on the Navionics app. While it's not impossible for recreational anglers, it might not make you happy if you travel a lot to fish.
