Lowrance Elite 4 without ice transducer

[Malox]

Anyone using the Elite 4 without the ice transducer? If so how does it work? Thinking of getting one if they work OK as a first time unit.
Thanks,
        Malox

[NYSporty]

You mean the open water edition?
They work fine but you need a 12v battery and some kind of stick for the ducer to shoot straight down.
My brother used an old tip up and a motorcycle battery in a small cooler before he got the ice bag battery and ice ducer.
Its a good choice if your on a tight budget. Then put the Lowrance PPP-18I Elite/Mark Icefish Bag w/Transducer on your Christmas list.

And FYI I would rather have a x67c than the E4

[Malox]

Thank you for your reply...That was my thought exactly...Does the ice transducer come with the bag and battery?

[NYSporty]

Thank you for your reply...That was my thought exactly...Does the ice transducer come with the bag and battery?

Yes
Welcome to the shanty!

[Sprocket]

And FYI I would rather have a x67c than the E4

Can you elaborate as to why?
Thanks

[NYSporty]

I had the 67c and yes its discontinued but the operation was easier and the screen was bigger I thought the E4 was a step up I was wrong The e4 does have better features for open water though. My next sonar will be the Elite5 with gps

[kc_]

should be able to get the elite 5 at a bargain as they have discontinued them.

[Douger]

NYSporty, I packaged my Elite 5 HDI from my boat in an Ice Bag this year and am totally happy with it's operation.  The 5 HDI is a little pricier though.

[NYSporty]

NYSporty, I packaged my Elite 5 HDI from my boat in an Ice Bag this year and am totally happy with it's operation.  The 5 HDI is a little pricier though.

Yep thats what I want

[Douger]

NYSporty, if you go back in this thread to a post date of 25 Jan 2014 you will find the original post I did on how I put the package together.  The ice pack is not directly configured for the Elite 5 HDI so I ordered a power plug and blue plug ice transducer.

[NYSporty]

I was afraid of that I may just get the lx7 and keep using Navionics on the phone then give the E4 to my daughter lol

[Eddie Spaghetti]

NYSporty, if you go back in this thread to a post date of 25 Jan 2014 you will find the original post I did on how I put the package together.  The ice pack is not directly configured for the Elite 5 HDI so I ordered a power plug and blue plug ice transducer.

Good write up in the referenced thread Douger. Does the HDI offer the option to fish in the "ice mode", or are you just fishing the softwater mode?

[NYSporty]

It has ice mode and a flasher mode in split screen

[Eddie Spaghetti]

It has ice mode and a flasher mode in split screen

Thanks NYSporty!

[Douger]

I was afraid of that I may just get the lx7 and keep using Navionics on the phone then give the E4 to my daughter lol

The Navionics app on the phone is awesome, on an iPad it is really great.

[mungo544]

Mount the transducer to an old tip up and put it in  a separate hole drilled as close to your fishing hole as possible. If you drill a triangle of holes you can fish two rods or share your machine with a friend.

[Douger]

If you are fishing about 15 foot or deeper you can drill the holes in a row and put the transducer in the center hole and you can fish both outside holes and see both baits also.  Just don't spread the holes out too far or your baits will end up to far out in the outer edges of the cone and the signature won't be as strong.  May have to play around with the sensitivity a little.

[tef bandit]

I own both of these units and I think the elite 4 is a lot better after you figure out all settings you can set to ice mode with amplitude you can have it split screen with 2x or 4x and can watch any part of the water column great unit

[tef bandit]

I do have the ice bag with battery and ice ducer  also

[Eaglecrg]

I have an Elite 4 HDI and sent an email to Lowrance asking if it can be adapted to the ice.  Here's their reply:

"Thank you for your inquiry.
Look at our PPP-18I is a portable ice pack that comes with a sealed 12 volt battery. It will work with the Elite-4 HDI but you will need the adapter kit part# 000-10346-001. Both of these can be purchased at store.navico.com."

I looked up those kits and they totaled $200 which is more than my HDI cost me at Wally's World.  I have a marcum LX-5 so guess I'll stick with that.

[Shack man Shoney]

Shop around.... I got my PPI-18I kit (bag, battery, and transducer) on Amazon for $95/free shipping and my new Elite 5HDI with lake insight pro chip for $300/free shipping from E-BAY. That's a complete setup for under $400 that I can pull out of the ice bag and throw on the kayak or boat... The deals are out there just gotta find em.