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Lowrance Elite FS 9 is one of the latest additions to the brand’s line of fish finders. It was released at the end of 2020, offering a few improvements over the previous Elite models, giving anglers all the tools to catch more fish. It offers the power of Lowrance’s newest fish finding technology, excellent maps, and high resolution imaging. We’ll talk about these features in more detail in our Lowrance Elite FS 9 review below.
Lowrance Elite FS 9 Features
Sonar Capability
This fish finder includes an Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer. It’s a transom mount transducer, which offers some of the best structure imaging technology. It features CHIRP, SideScan, and DownScan with FishReveal sonar. Moreover, the system is compatible with StructureScan 3D and ActiveTarget Live sonar. The latter would allow you to track fish swimming under your boat in real time.
The supported frequencies include 83/200 kHz for CHIRP sonar and 455/800 kHz for structure scanning. Keep in mind that the transducer does not support 50 kHz, so it might not be the best choice for those mainly fish in deep waters. The maximum depth capability of this unit’s CHIRP is 1,000 feet. As for the depth range of SideScan and DownScan, it’s 300 feet when using the 455 kHz frequency and 150 feet when using the 800 kHz frequency.
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SideScan provides a highly detailed image of the seabed to the sides of the boat. DownScan, on the other hand, scans structure and fish directly below your boat. With the two frequncies available, you can choose to either opt for the sharpest image or maximum range. With the DownScan sonar, you can also use the FishReveal feature, which displays the fish arches caught by CHIRP sonar into the DownScan view.
There are also different settings that you can adjust to get the best performance for your specific fishing conditions. For example, you can select a fishing mode, such as shallow or deep water, fast or slow trolling. You can also adjust depth range, frequency, sensitivity, and color line. Additionally, there’s adjustability of noise rejection, surface clarity, scroll and ping speed.
When using this fish finder, you can select how to view the sonar. You can select fish arches or fish symbols. Alternatively, you can switch to the Flasher mode, which is often used in ice fishing.
Some of the other sonar features include Bottom Lock, sonar recording, alarms, temperature graph, depth line, and more.
Navigation
Lowrance Elite FS 9 Active Imaging fish finder chartplotter features also a built-in high sensitivity GPS receiver. It’s a 16 channel, 10 Hz receiver that provides position updates up to 10 times per second.
The fish finder comes preloaded with C-Map Contour C+ charts. These are inland and coastal charts that include over 15,000 U.S. lakes and over 9,400 lakes in Canada. They feature 1-foot contour coverage, making it easier to find ledges, drop-offs, and other key fishing areas.
If you would like to update the charts, the system is compatible with a variety of other options. You can additionally purchase Navionics Gold, Navionics Platinum+, Insight Pro, Insight HD, and others.
The GPS system in this device also offers a speed tracking feature. There’s also the possibility to save waypoints, routes, and tracks. So you can mark positions that you would like to return to, as well as routes how to get there.
Giving you the option to create your own charts, there’s the bathymetric mapping feature. You can access this feature through the Genesis Live application, which combines the data collected from the GPS and sonar in order to create maps with the most up to date contours.
Moreover, the fish finder’s chartplotting system supports a variety of radar sensors. The unit also supports AIS data, so it can display and target AIS targets. You can display them as overlays on charts, which can be helpful for safe traveling and collision avoidance.
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Display
The Lowrance Elite FS 9 fish finder comes with a 9-inch display. If you have a lower budget or would just prefer a smaller screen, there’s also a 7-inch version available. Both of these options contain the same technology, so you can choose whichever best fits your eyes, budget, or the size of your boat.
The resolution of the display is 800×480 pixels. It comes with LED backlighting that offers brightness over 1200 nits. This allows the user to view clear images even when reading the display under direct sunlight. It also provides improved readability at night.
For controls, the unit combines touchscreen and keypad technology. It features an intuitive interface. Even if you have little knowledge of fish finders, you’ll find it easy to navigate and fine tune it to your preferences.
You can customize the homepage so that you would have your most used applications always ready for quick access. You can also customize different viewing options, such as displaying several types of applications on a split screen.
The display is equipped with one microSD card slot. It can take cards up to 32 GB, so you get plenty of storage space for your sonar recordings, mapping, and updates. This card slot you can also use for updating the system with premium charts.
Moreover, the display is waterproof. With the microSD card slot closed, it has an IPX7 rating. It means that you won’t have to worry about leaving it out in the rain.
As for the installation, the display comes with a gimbal bracket that you can mount anywhere on your boat or kayak. The gimbal gives the convenience of being able to tilt and swivel the display for getting the perfect reading angle.
Networking
What sets Lowrance Elite FS 9 apart from many other popular fish finders is its superior networking capability. It features an NMEA 2000 port with a micro-C connector and an Ethernet port with a speed of up to 100 Mbit. Using this connectivity, you can integrate this fish finder into your boat’s existing network. This would provide wireless communication between boating instruments.
Moreover, there’s WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Using the wireless connection, you can pair the device with your smartphone in order to get access to Lowrance’s Link app. When connected, you can remotely view and control the system, personalize maps, get software updates, and more.
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Lowrance Elite FS 9 Pros and Cons
- 7/9-inch display options.
- Includes Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer.
- CHIRP, SideScan, and DownScan with FishReveal.
- Supports ActiveTarget Live and StructureScan 3D sonar.
- Maximum 1,000 depth capability.
- Includes C-Map Contours+ charts.
- Compatible with a wide range of other charts.
- Real-time mapping function with Genesis Live.
- Radar support.
- NMEA and Ethernet connectivity.
- Bluetooth and WiFi.
- Touchscreen and keypad control.
- Includes swivel bracket mount and cover.
- 1-year warranty (can be upgraded to 5 years).
- Expensive.
Final Thoughts
This newest addition from Lowrance is packed with features that will help you get the most out of your time on the water. It will help you to easily separate fish from structure while using its superior sonar capabilities. Moreover, with the help of its navigation system, you’ll know where to find the best fishing spots. On top of that, it comes with excellent network capabilities and lots of other useful features. It also supports plenty of add-ons, such as updated maps and ActiveTarget sonar. All this makes this Lowrance Elite FS 9 Active Imaging 3-in-1 fish finder a device that offers great value for money, even though it might not be the cheapest product on the market.
