#it's nice though it's like there's multiple overlayed maps of the same place in my head.

[italiantea]

this is by no means a groundbreaking revelation but i love how translation forces you to take a step back from autopilot mode and see the little intricacies of a language through the eyes of a non-speaker. and also reveals how something you thought was completely natural and intuitive is actually fucking absurd if you think about it

[1tsjusty0u]

also tarrey town

actually i dont have too many facts about tarrey town! i mean akkala as a whole has little pits on the map that fill up with water while it rains (one becoming octorock lack in totk), and in the files the town is sometimes called Ichikara (which from the fandom wiki nomenaculture means “from scratch.”

the goddess statue is there before the town is ever created or youve talked to bolson, also not town specific but in the akkala wilds you can see dinraal and if youre at the top of the skull lake shrine eye you can even hear the music (maybe on ground level too!) however you cant reach it without moon jump or glitches because its as high as the peak of death mountain. thats not an exaggeration either. nice for viewing either way. based on a minish cap map overlay of botw i like to hc the veiled falls from that game are the akkala falls either in the future or in retellings + the veiled falls from zoras domain thats named after the mc is close by :]. also the little flower korok seems to lead link to the ancient ball near the rist peninsula! OH ALSO!!!! whenever you go into tarrey town it will Always be sunny!!! its also very rare in rito village After the singing rocks shrine quest/after vah medoh for some reason. theres also no night theme for it in totk. theres two dogs!!! bolson construction symbol is everywhere from the wood floors to the hylia statue backing, and its the same symbol on the hammer weapon you can use!! also the hylian script says “builders” . ALSO THERES A DOUBLE AXE THERE BY THE SIDE OF A BUILDING? also grante who is robbies son sells rare armour but you probably knew that. otherwise not much!

speaking of not much i think link wouldnt even finish building it after calamity ganon. he gets everyone there eventually but he takes his sweet Sweet time. and when its finished he wouldnt even visit a lot, unless Things Happen like maddison or helping grante move in. he can get arrows from the lizalfos guarding the road to zoras domains and until those guys move he’d have to start getting arrows at shops. despite the inn maybe being be free to use he doesnt ever use it. i Could see him clearing the guardians near the place each time they respawn though. he goes there soon after learning bolson is going there (he already has the shrine there and was confused about the land just. sitting there). but then he just never or rarely fills out the quest. he gives bolson wood once, doesnt speak to him for months or a year, brings another son, and the cycle repeats. he Would bring the wood all at once he’d just get sidetracked beyond belief. zelda discovers tarrey town while visiting robbie and sends Multiple Letters to link telling him to SPREAD THE WORD. FINISH THIS ALREADY. he might even just spread rumors so the sons do it on their own accord or just. ask the champions descendant to tip him off to any sons in the area (he wouldnt make them do the quest for him though.)

its kind of funny in that regard. like theres a whole lot of past motif kind of just by proxy considering how much i focus pre cal and how he’d look back on it, so lots of people seem to consider tarrey town an omen of the future, that things can and Will get better and they can shape it. if this wasnt an au canon link would probably like it and watch over it for that very reason. however here while it Is an omen of the future and a good sign my link just. doesnt interact/doesnt care. in a bit of a twisted way he might even be glad about a lot of civilization being destroyed (which makes him feel mixed things, with a tablespoon or two of guilt and fear and staying silent about that). he wouldnt want tarrey town Destroyed but he’d either see this as an omen and Panic at it, or would ignore it completely. its not his thing to deal with, after all. which is also kinda funny because i see lots of people view botw link view the world as His Failing, which to be fair i could see! but im honestly debating on if my link would see it that way. he’d feel wrong/guilt about the champions, sure, but if he doesnt see the ruins as a bad thing (besides the people being dead. he does feel Off when he thinks about how people used to be there. about how these werent ruins and someone was living peacefully here.) then would he feel like he failed. to him this world is full of opportunities Without . i dont think this is the right word , joker voice Society, to really fully stop him. there isnt widespread rules anymore that stops him from jobs or moving. he cant be hunted by the royal guard because there Isnt One anymore. he can do whatever he wants! and while i do want to emphasize that society does have its benefits (camping irl can really suck my mom got stung by bark scorpions 3 times at the colorado river while brushing it off and it hurt so bad that she wanted to go to the ER/helicopter outta there. she wasnt in life threatening danger and there was a pain medicine guy there but yeah. also have you heard about mormon crickets. they arent dangers except to crops but if you fear bugs i am so so so sorry. also also somethinf something hiking never gets easier, heat stroke can and will kill you and dont hike in the afternoon in the desert you will feel like absolute shit and always ALWAYS BRING WATER. also apparently my science teacher went to a different country with bugs that lay eggs inside your skin and hatch inside your skin. i dont think i’ll mention those things in universe or add them besides possibly the scorpions because i do actually have a fear of bugs and also i dont want this to mirror irl Exactly) the costs that come with society dont really apply anymore. as long as you know how to Not Die and dont have a debilitating fear of bugs nothing besides death can stop you. the question becomes was the means worth the end, do you want to go back to the past even though you hated it at the time, do you miss it, and is it worth it to stick around to a place that may revert in time and create the good and the bad of the past. you cant move to another country either- its all or nothing. you can either live here or. well. plus dealing with the fear of time just fucking go for it. also i think pre cal link would struggle a Lot with the all or nothing approach and the time going for it thing. uh. hm let me know if i should tag anything

[reyettaclaven]

A Beginner’s Guide to Second Life: How do you shop?

I see people on pretty often asking questions about the game, so I decided to use my knowledge to make a few guides for new players. I'll be tossing these up whenever I feel like making a new one. They will be in no particular order, but i’ll be sure to link to the previous guides in each post. If you have any suggestions on what I should make my next guide about, i'd love to hear them!

On today's Beginner's Guide, we're going to be answering the question:

"How do you shop for stuff?"

Firstly, you can wander around grid looking for stores. It's...wildly inefficient, but you occasionally find a gem. You also get to see the weird and wonderful world of SL from a whole new angle! Go without any expectations at all you'll have a good time!

Secondly, you can use the in-built search function to search for keywords related to your style and tp to whatever seems to strike your interest! Not a bad way to shop if you like inworld shopping, and you can sometimes find some underrated gems that most people wouldn't ever see! The downside to this method (as well as the first) is you're also pretty likely to find a lot of shops with super outdated merchandise. Poorly optimized products from a decade ago that just don't look great in the mesh-centric SL of today.

Thirdly, the most powerful, and by far the most popular, is the marketplace! You search keywords related to what style you're looking for, and can narrow it down by category, price, or even land-impact. The marketplace makes it super easy to find anything you're looking for, as well as find some super cheap but high-quality goodies! You can also use boolean terms such as AND and NOT to further refine your search. There are items on the marketplace (and inworld!) in a category called "Gacha" which are resold prizes from games of chance found inworld. They're almost always no-copy, so a majority of people aren't interested. (We like to make copies of our stuff for modification, organization of inventories, and just so we can use more than one at a time!) There are a LOT of them on the marketplace, and they show up in nearly every search, but you can easily weed out most of them by adding "NOT gacha" to the end of your search.

Some good boolean searches I would suggest for first-time shopping would be "[insert keyword here] NOT gacha" "[insert keyword here] NOT demo" and "[insert keyword here] AND gift"You can also add multiple boolean terms to a single search, like "[insert keyword here] NOT gacha NOT demo"

Some general tips for shopping:

Demos are not full-products. They look like absolute steals at L$0-L$1, and it's common for new players to mistake them for full products. However, they're meant to check the fit of an item and sometimes textures, and will often have the word "DEMO" unattractively plastered over the entire thing.

Gifts (sometimes called Promos), on the other hand, are full-products. Stores will often make a certain product and sell it at a very low cost (usually L$10 or less) as a gift for people checking out their store, and an incentive to visit. You can find gifts from some of the top SL stores that are often just as good as their full-priced products, so it never hurts to take a look! Some inworld stores also offer their gifts for free to those in their group, as well as other fun freebies like lucky boards (sometimes lucky chairs) and midnight mania, so keep an eye out for those as well! The group joiners are generally close to the store's entrance

ALWAYS double check the product image, title of the object, and the description (if marketplace shopping) to be sure you're buying exactly what you'd expect. In today's SL, there are so many different mesh bodies out there that it's not uncommon for stores to sell multiple versions of the same product in different fits. It's like sizing in the real world. You wouldn't buy pants without checking the tag for the size, so make sure you double-check the size and color on SL products too!

On that note, always try demos if they're available! Sometimes something looks amazing in the listing image but less-than-stellar inworld. Sometimes the fit isn't quite right, or the item is flawed. It may even be that after seeing it on your avatar, you decide it just isn't right for you. Trying demos is like trying something on in RL, and is ALWAYS a good idea!

Clothing Layers (sometimes called "system") are functionally just textures mapped to specific parts of your body. They overlay over your existing body for a skin-tight fit. Unfortunately, many of them are quite outdated and low-resolution, so look closely at the listing image before deciding whether or not to buy Clothing Layers. They will work with the default LL avatar, as well as many mesh bodies now with Bakes on Mesh. (Appliers work similarly, but are made for specific mesh bodies.)

Standard sizes are meant to fit the default avatar linden labs provides everyone with. The one underneath everything when you're not wearing any attachments. (LL now provides nicer mesh bodies that go over top this, and I have no idea if they fit any other clothing than the ones they provide, so make sure you take that body off too unless you're down to experiment! If someone knows if they are able to fit into standard or fitmesh clothes, please let me know). They may fit some mesh bodies, provided you are willing to edit your shape and/or use the alpha hud that came with your body to alpha some areas. Standard mesh does not conform to your avatar's shape sliders, and you will likely need to change your shape to get a perfect fit, regardless of which body you use.

Fitmesh sizes are made to conform to your shape. They will move with your shape sliders when you edit your shape. These will work with the default LL avatar, and some mesh bodies (though, you may still need to use your alpha hud to prevent clipping, and they may be a bit loose on certain bodies, regardless of your shape).

Unrigged Mesh is a type of mesh that exists as a static object. It does not conform to your shape sliders, or move with your avatar (other than sticking where you place it.) so it may clip through you as you move. The benefit to unrigged mesh is that, provided the object is modifiable, you will be able to resize it how you like, and position it wherever you'd like. Unrigged mesh works well for: jewelry, belts, and other accessories, and some short hairs, or longer hairs that rest away from your body (ponytails, etc) ("prims" and "sculpts"/"sculpties" work the same way, but are generally less detailed).

Rigged Mesh is a type of mesh that conforms to (usually) your shape sliders, as well as moving with your avatar's movements. You can not change its size or shape except via your shape sliders (which also changes your shape in most cases), nor can you change its position. Rigged mesh works well for: all clothing, shoes, longer hairs, etc.

Maitreya/Belleza/Freya/Jake/Kemono/Kuroo, etc etc. or other names listed on the object mean that product is meant to work with a specific mesh body. If you do not own and use the mesh body/ies listed, the product will not work for you. However, if you do own and use the body/ies listed, the product should be a perfect or near-perfect fit with perhaps only a bit of alphaing needed.

Many products need to be unpacked. If you purchase a product and go to wear it and it's showing up as only a box on your avatar, you didn't get scammed (probably)! Go to a sandbox sim inworld, or any other rez zone and drag and drop the item from your inventory to the ground. Click on it, and it should bring up a window showing its contents. Click "copy to inventory" and you're good to go! Just make sure you delete or pick up your boxes afterwards! Many products also now come with scripts in their boxes to automatically unpack them to a folder in your inventory when you attach them, so it never hurts to try if you don't feel like finding a rez zone!

Gachas aren't all bad! I know I taught you how to filter them out earlier, but hear me out here! Gachas, provided you're fine with them being no-copy, can be just like gifts/promos if you shop smart. You can often find single colors of commons from gacha machines for extremely cheap prices being resold on the marketplace. I've put together entire fatpacks of some very nice common gacha shoes for cheaper than a normal fatpack from the original store would have been. AND, if you ever get tired of the product, you can always sell it again in your own store, or pass it on to a friend as a gift! The major downside to gacha products bought on the marketplace (other than the no-copy thing) is that they are being resold by third-party sellers who can not provide support for the product. If something goes wrong, you'll need to live with it, or rebuy the product. So, if you do decide to get some gacha products, treat them carefully, and accept that any modifications you make are there to stay! (Bonus: If you rez a no-copy item and it says it "Failed to rez" or something similar, and disappears from your inventory, don't panic! Just relog. It should be right back where it's supposed to be, or in your lost and found folder!)

If you have any other questions, or have anything to add to this guide, let me know! I'm, by-no-means, an expert, but i'll do my best to answer you!

[fishfinderbrand]

Lowrance HOOK2 Series Fish Finder Reviews & Tips For Choosing

In this review, we are going to show you the best Lowrance Hook2 Series unit. After that, we will also point out the difference between the Lowrance Hook and the Hook2 series later in this guide. We're going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on the Hook2 series. With this in mind, let's get started.

Lowrance HOOK2 Series Rated Comparison Charts

Image

Product Name

Transducer Option

Size

Price

Lowrance HOOK2 4X - 4-inch Fish Finder with CHIRP Sonar

Bullet Skimmer

4.2-inch

Lowrance HOOK2 5 - 5-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot / SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

SplitShot

TripleShot 

6-inch

Lowrance HOOK2 7-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot/SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

SplitShot

TripleShot 

7-inch

Lowrance HOOK2 9-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot/SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

SplitShot

TripleShot 

9-inch

Lowrance HOOK2 12-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot/SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

SplitShot

TripleShot 

12-inch

Lowrance Hook2 Series Fish Finder Reviews

1. Lowrance HOOK2 4X - 4-inch Fish Finder with CHIRP Sonar

The 4.2 inches Lowrance Hook2 fishfinder is equipped with a lot of fantastic features to make your fishing hunt a breeze. The main function of HOOK2 is to help you spend more time fishing and less time playing with settings.

Autotuning Sonar

With the aim to create an enhanced sonar clear display and imaging, the Autotuning Sonar imaging was introduced. Housing 3lbs weight design, the Hook2 mode features an autotuning sonar to help you correct your settings automatically to the clearest underwater view.

This means you won't need to carry out any manual adjustments when setting up the transducer.

SolarMax Display

To even make this fishfinder more crisp and clear, the Lowrance Hook2 features a SolarMax display to give you an ultra-wide and clear viewing angle, which translates to the best resolution you can find around.

This means you have the full detail of underwater view without tilting your head or adjusting your body.

GPS plotter

While this unit offers a multiple sonar functions like a circular flasher, Bottom Range, Fish ID, it also houses a basic GPS plotter that looks like those of Garmin Striker device.

My little complaint is that the GPS plotter doesn't come with specified frequency or channels.

But it does offer a blank page to help you mark waypoints and save routes. The waypoints come with longitude and latitude coordinates to track the vessel's movement on the white sheets.

Tripleshot Transducer

The HOOK2 4X also did a nice job by offering a Tripleshot transducer that allows you to mark fish, track baits, identify the underwater structure and help you scan large areas.

It also offers a 3 in 1 model that allows using the PLUS SideScan, traditional high CHIRP, and DownScan imaging.

Wide-Angle CHIRP

The included Wide-Angle CHIRP sonar is an awesome feature that deserves massive. This fantastic feature does not only double your sonar coverage but also allows you to view more fish in the water column.

You will be able to cover more water in less time with this wide-angle CHIRP.

Easy-To-Use Interface

The Hook comes with Quick Access to Key Functions, which makes it one of the most intuitive fishfinders on the market.

The Function of the direct-access keypad helps to reduce the time spent working on settings, and let you keep your focus on fishing.

GPS and Mapping Options

The HOOK2 4X also features a preloaded C-MAP® US Inland mapping system to allow you to narrow your search for efficient water features.

This can be drop-offs, points, and ledges with a broad eye view.

One-Year Warranty

Due to its awesome performance, this fishfinder comes with a one-year warranty.

Drawback

While this unit looks awesome, I do have some main complaints.

First, the unit did not come with adequate instructions. Another major complaint is that it has no Downscan, Sidescan, or Structural scan. While that is true, it can't see in elevation, and the GPS unit is in minimal quality.

On top of that, the top screen has a broad color band which interferes with bottom depth - Only 2000 points allowed, so the trail ends in a matter of hours.

Also, it doesn't come with any generic map, so all you get is lines with no reference to where you are. It is also a pain to know that there's

No microSD or SD card slot

No split-view feature

No A-Scope function

No NMEA or Ethernet

And doesn’t offer Sonar Record, Rewind

I can understand this is why it is cheap. I also wonder why Lowrance chooses to make its keypad operational.

PROS

High-resolution

SolarMax display

Autotuning sonar

Double the CHIRP sonar coverage of most fishfinders

Broadband Sounder

High CHIRP

SideScan and DownScan Imaging™ sonar options

Full Chartplotter

Basic GPS navigation options

Three transducer options are available

TripleShot 3-in-1 sonar

SplitShot 2-in-1 sonar and Bullet 

One year warranty

CONS

Inadequate instructions

No Downscan, Sidescan, or Structural scan

No ability to see in elevation

The GPS unit is in minimal quality

The top screen has a broad color band

No any generic map

No microSD or SD card slot

No split-view feature

No A-Scope function

No NMEA or Ethernet

And doesn’t offer Sonar Record, Rewind

2. Lowrance HOOK2 5 - 5-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot / SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

The HOOK2 5 - 5-inch comes with the same sweet perk with the HOOK2 4X - 4. One of the remarkable differences between the Hook2 5-5 and the HOOK2 4X - 4-inch is that the former is 6 inches in size, compared to 4.2 inches size of the latter.

While that is true, it also retains the same impressive features of the previous generation. Its uniqueness comes from the ability to supply navigation features for inland fishing, and an optimal array of sonar, while eradicating unnecessary features that have no significant effect.

Sonar and Transducer

The introduction of the SplitShot transducer paves the way for a Wide-Angle High CHIRP and DownScan.

This feature lets you scan depths up to 500 ft (152 m), thanks to its Wide-Angle High CHIRP mode that can scan up to 300ft (91m) when using DownScan.

The best part is that it can maintain an efficient fish targets reading at speed up to 20-30 MPH.

Apart from that, the SplitShot transducer also integrates a temperature sensor and features 20 ft (6 m) of cable, alongside an 8-pin connector.

Downscan Overlay

The DownScan Overlay features let you use both the two sonar technologies to help you get a clear understanding of the position of the fish arches and their vegetation structure.

GPS Features

Unlike the Hook2-4x, Lowrance Hook2-5 is equipped with a standard GPS alongside the US Inland charts. The high-sensitivity internal GPS can also use the information from, EGNOS, WAAS and MSAS satellites to deliver the most accurate results possible if they are available in your area.

This GPS will calculate the speed of your vessel and show you coordinate patterns.

C-MAP Charts

With the C-MAP charts, you will get a high-detail US mapping alongside 1-foot contours for more than 3,000 lakes. Even though they don’t deliver super detail, they will show you the boundaries between land and water accurately.

You will get to use premium charts C-MAP Navionics, C-MAP Genesis and more, to give you superior detail and, contour shading, tide information, etc.

While this unit can save about 3,000 waypoints, it can still create up to 100 routes. You will be able to track plotting functions and record up to 100 tracks, within 10,000 plots per track.

SolarMax Display

This gorgeous feature offers a SolarMax Display that houses a LED backlight. This backlight offers optimal visibility even in direct sunlight.

The display angle visibility is 70°/50°/70°/70° top/bottom/left/right. The good news is that the unit has a colorful display coupled with a horizontal layout. It has a pixel matrix of 800H x 480V, which delivers a sharp and crisp imaging.

Waterproofing Features

The Lowrance HOOK2 5 - 5-inch is IPX7 waterproof, meaning it can withstand rainfall, water exposure, and snow with no problem. The design is tightly sealed without allowing water to damage the metallic parts of the unit.

It also has a microSD card slot, which is skillfully placed on the right side of the unit. This will let you upgrade the internal software, upgrade its charts database, and transfer data.

Drawback

Just like any other unit, this device also comes with its own downsides. 

It has a short transducer cable that requires you to buy an extension cable.

It doesn't offer networking features, and the included transducer is not ideal for ice fishing.

And the fact it offers only one MicroSD card slot makes it a hassle to insert and remove.

PROS

The 2D Broadband Wide CHIRP Sonar is pretty spot on

DownScan sonar

Included SplitShot 2-in-1 transducer

Fast and accurate GPS

US Inland base maps included

Compatible with superior charts, such as C-MAP Genesis, C-MAP®

Color display

Adjustable backlight for superb readability

Split-screen view for three panels per view

MicroSD card reader

Easy to use Bracket mount and panel mount kit

One year warranty

CONS

Short transducer cable

No networking features included transducer is not ideal for ice fishing

One MicroSD card slot makes it difficult to insert and remove

Does not support external GPS

3. Lowrance HOOK2 7/9/12 - 7/9/12-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot/SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

Lowrance HOOK2 7 - 7-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

The Lowrance HOOK2 TripleShot & SplitShot comes as a revamped version of the Hook2 series as it offers a big and bold HOOK2 12 inch design and the 5 sizes, which are the 5, 7 to 9 and 12-inch size.

New TripleShot Transducer

The Hook2 TripleShot & SplitShot offers a new 2-in-1 skimmer transducer and also has DownScan and High CHIRP technology to give you the best fishing experience.

DownScan and Side-scan sonar allow you to see the fish arches better with the vegetation or structure viewed in DownScan crisp and bright display.

Simple Set Up

Lowrance HOOK2 9 - 9-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed

Just like the Elite and Hook transducers, this unit also sports a molded-in rib that lets you mount it against a trolling motor housing.

It also comes with a TrackBack feature that lets you record sonar feed, and allows you to scroll back through the sonar history to review a specific spot.

Internal GPS

Another nice feature is that the HOOK2 TripleShot fish finder flaunts an internal GPS, alongside 3,000 preloaded lake maps with 1 ft contour lines.

Fish ID 2D

I also admire the included Fish ID 2D sonar mode feature, which allows fish icons to the fish arches. Meaning, this feature interchange the sonar returns that it deduces to be fish.

Circular Flasher and A-Scope are also available.

For ice or stationary fishing, the included Circular Flasher mode assigns all the sonar information into a ring format while it displays the depth in the middle.

Also, the A-Scope comes with a vertical flasher which is displayed next to the 2D view and, shows in detail the most recent sonar beam.

GPS & Maps

Did I mention that the Hook2 also delivers a high-sensitivity internal GPS? 

Its operating frequency is estimated to be about 5 Hz, meaning that it will deliver position fixes five times per second.

The device can also make use of position enhancements from EGNO, SWAAS, and MSAS satellites to let you see coordinates of any point of interest and display and calculate the speed of your boat.

More Views

TripleShot transducer gives you DownScan sonar (straight down), SideScan sonar (up to 300' to each side), and CHIRP sonar (fish arch) views.

Detailed Lake Maps

Preloaded CMAP mapping with 1-foot contours for over 3,000 lakes plus standard coverage of an additional 9,000 lakes. The trail recording functions and waypoints routes are also available here to give you the best spot to locate fish.

While this may sound great, this unit doesn't offer super detail, as we hoped for. Even with this, we discovered that it shows the boundaries between water inland accurately and also include various points of interest.

Navionics Chart

This unit is compatible with Navionics charts to have access to SonarChart Live, to create current icons and to change the tide.

It also comes with a StructureMap feature to help you SideScan images to visualize crisp and clear underwater environment. This will give you a better interpretation of your position. 

Control Unit Features

The control unit is a gorgeous feature that lets you view fish in an underwater environment in a 9-inch display WVGA color LCD, sweetened by a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V.

To make this sweeter, the display also boasts a SolarMAX type coupled with an adjustable LED backlight. This will ensure you get an excellent picture even in direct sunlight.

To make it more gorgeous, the interface of this bad boy is highly intuitive, and its homepage can be customized in multiple ways.

The best part is that you can even set up a split-screen from about 4 applications per view.

Waterproof

Yes, your guess is right; the HOOK2 7/9/12 delivers a lPX7 waterproofing feature that can withstand water splashes or any incidental water exposure like rain or spillage.

Downsides

One bitter pill about this unit is that it is not touch screen enabled. You can only operate it using the keypad on the right.

Lowrance did not include an extended cable. And we also notice that the device is not networkable. It does not offer any networking features like NMEA or Ethernet.

The included transducer is not great for ice fishing and with a single Micro SD card, it will be hard to save lots of screenshots.

As we’ve mentioned above, this unit doesn’t offer the extensive range of features as the Elite Ti units, or Simrad units. Thus, it doesn’t provide NMEA support or Ethernet support, and it’s not networkable. It does have one microSD card slot, though, for chart upgrades or data transfer.

Finally, the box includes both front-dash and the classic gimbal bracket. A unit cover is not included, though. 

PROS

Wide-angle High CHIRP (2D)

DownScan, and SideScan

Includes TripleShot 3-in-1 transducer

Gps is accurate and fast

Route creation function

3,000 waypoints

Features U.S. Inland maps included

SolarMAX color display

A superior backlight is adjustable excellent readability

Offers Split-screen modes

DownScan overlay

Easy to install

Sonar recording

One year warranty

CONS

No NMEA or Ethernet ports included

No unit cover

AIS is un-inserted

Lowrance HOOK vs. HOOK2

We've had a lot of people asked; what is the difference between the Lowrance Hook and Hook2? In this guide, we will show you the difference. Here is a table below to give you a quick view of the difference between the two models.

Lowrance HOOK

Lowrance HOOK2

User-friendly

Less

More

Exit-button

No

Yes

Touchscreen

Yes

No

Easy to setup

Yes

No

Connector

Turn-knob

Push-connectors

Manual ducer-selection in the menu

Yes

No

Medium CHIRP

Yes

No

Cone Angle

22 degree

42 degree

Broadband Sounder Module

No

Yes

Autotuning Sonar

No

Yes

SolarMax Display

No

Yes

Touchscreen

One significant difference between these two models is that the Hook2 does not feature a touchscreen. It has a well-planned button configuration, which makes it a lot easier and natural for you to navigate the device with less hassle.

On the other hand, the Hook features a touchscreen, which a less natural because it misses a few buttons, making them less user-friendly. 

User-Friendly

Because of the easy navigation button of the Hook2, and coupled with the fact that it offers a widescreen Interface of 7” and 9”, the Hook2 offers a more friendly approach than the Hook.

Redraw-Speed

The redraw speed of the Hook has been pretty slow beforehand. But since the introduction of the Hook2, it has now boosted with faster internals compared to what you have in the Hook.

Connectors

While the Lowrance Hook comes with a turn-knob connector, the Hook2, on the other hand, sports the push-connectors. 

Manual Ducer-Selection in the Menu

Unlike, what you will get in the Lowrance Hook series, the Hook2 does not come with manual ducer-selection in the menu. That means using another ducer in it than the 3 new ducers will not give optimal results.

Medium CHIRP

While the older Hook version will boast of an 83/200/medium/high chirp, when it is connected to a ducer, the Hook2 has no 83 kHz (or medium chirp).

The reason for this change in the Hook2 has upgraded its 22-degree cone angle at 200 kHz to 42 degrees cone angle with Bullet/ SplitShot/ TripleShot. So there's really no need for the 83/ medium-frequency.

Broadband Sounder Module

The Lowrance Hook did not include the gorgeous Broadband Sounder Module we all loved in Elite Ti and HDS. But thank goodness, the Hook2 features the BSM-based software, even at a low price to give you less tinkering with settings.

Auto-Tuning Sonar

Unlike the Hook device, the Lowrance Hook2 flaunts an "Autotuning Sonar" feature to help you clutter noise and give you a precise fish targets as the conditions change.

Apart from this, the autotuning feature is built around the Lowrance 200kHz ultra-wide beam transducer.

SolarMax

While the Lowrance Hook failed to include the SolarMax feature, the Hook2 decide to pick up the mantle by housing a SolarMax Display with LED backlight.

This gives more optimal visibility and direct sunlight and a colorful display, alongside a delivering very sharp and crisp imaging.

Final Verdict

With a touchscreen display, the Hook series open the doors for ease of operations with just a single touch of the screen. But the truth is that the touchscreen is expensive and often cost more than other models.

Hence, one of the reasons why the new Lowrance Hook2 offers an easy to use interface, which translates to easy to use operations and high-end features to make your fishing hunt a lot more fun.

The fact that the Hook2 provides a more comprehensive screen format to allow you have a viewable screen area and gorgeous features that let you use the device to catch fish, make it the go-to unit for anglers.

FAQ's

1. My Lowrance Hook2 7 will restart randomly when I have downscan turned on. How to fix it?

 To have this fixed, get the 57.6.94 software Navico and the issue will be fixed.

2. Why is my Lowrance Hook2 4X not showing speed?

When this happens, edit the data fields by heading to the menu options of the page you want to edit. After that, select the SOG option. This will show you the unit to display the speed ground in the data location you have selected.

3. Lowrance or Ipad Screen ?

Marine electronics monitors can be seen in the sunlight. These screens have more powers compared to displays on a phone and tablet screens of the same size.

4. Does The Lowrance Hook2 Have A Mapping Problem?

The Hook2 has no X supports Map, and the ones with X does not support mapping ( avionics and charting capability).

Most people confuse this concept. So, ensure you don't get confused when want to choose a version with Map support.

5. Which is better; the Lowrance Hook2 7 vs. Garmin Striker 7?

The Lowrance Hook2 7 offers a split-shot with maps for a reasonable price, but it excluded the side view imaging. The Garmin on its own has no maps. So, I think the Hook2 takes Lion's share.

6. Has Lowrance retired its HSTWSBL era transducer with Hook2?

The answer is No! The HST-WSBL isn't retired yet. It is still a gorgeous and a standard transducer for HDS series. The Hook2 still stand firm and blazing with its new line of transducers, Bullet Skimmer, charting, TripleShot, and SplitShot HDI.

To use the Hook2 with the WSBL is a breeze. You can use this via the WSBL adapter, and it is not the conventional transducer that comes out of the box. Also, keep this in mind that Hook2 transducers are not compatible with any other displays beside Hook2.

Conclusion

While the Hook series seem to hold a solid ground when it comes to the best fishfinders for the money, the best model that blew other brands out of the water is the Lowrance Hook2 - 5 TripleShot Transducer. The reason why this fishfinder comes as a clear winner over other models is that:

It comes with the ability to supply navigation features for inland fishing, and an optimal array of sonar

The introduction of the SplitShot transducer paves the way for a Wide-Angle High CHIRP and DownScan to let you scan depths up to 500 ft (152 m).

The Wide-Angle High CHIRP mode scans up to 300ft (91m) when using DownScan.

It can maintain efficient fish targets reading at speeds up to 20-30 MPH.

The SplitShot transducer also integrates a temperature sensor and features 20 ft (6 m) of cable, alongside an 8-pin connector.

The DownScan Overlay features let you use both the two sonar technologies to help you get a clear understanding of the position of the fish arches and their vegetation structure.

The GPS Features high-sensitivity internal GPS can also use the information from, EGNOS, WAAS and MSAS satellites to deliver the most accurate results possible if they are available in your area.

The GPS will calculate the speed of your vessel and show you coordinate patterns.

The C-MAP Charts will give a high-detail US mapping alongside 1-foot contours for more than 3,000 lakes.

You will get to use premium charts C-MAP Navionics, C-MAP Genesis and more, to give you superior detail and, contour shading, tide information, etc.

The SolarMax Display has a LED backlight to give you optimal visibility even in direct sunlight and has a colorful display coupled with a horizontal layout.​

The included Waterproofing Feature can withstand rainfall, water exposure, and snow with no problem. Thanks to its tightly sealed design to prevent water from entering the unit.

All these exceptional features are nicely and neatly packed in the Hook2 - 5 fishfinder. It will be a wise choice to go with this fishfinder for the next fish hunt.

Do you have any thought or experience about the best fishfinders to share with us? Let us know in the comments below.

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[wanderlust225]

Peace is the only way

I woke up from my Pod around 5:30am. What is a Pod you may ask? Well a few years ago the Japanese, short on city space but large on wacky inventions, decided to upgrade the tired hostel into a morge-like experience. Basically, it's a cheap place to sleep where they maximize space by giving guests small boxes to sleep in - the dark death reference comes from the fact that they are often stacked as was the case in Ginza. After I got my key card and bag lock I headed down to the women's floor which was only accessible with my key card (step in the right security direction). There was an anteroom where you changed your shoes to slippers and left your large bags (hence the lock) and then the sleeping room where you had to use your key card again for entry. They must have seen that I was an "older" traveler because they took pity on me and placed me in a bottom bunk so I didn't have to use the little ladders. Behind a little red curtain was my bunk with a super fluffy bed pad and comforter, a pull out TV, shelf, cubby and safe deposit box - everything you need! To the other direction of the anteroom was the WC with the nicest toilets I've seen so far and the sink and shower rooms, the latter of which I would compare to a nice gym or Soul Cycle locker room with tons of thoughtful toiletries. Although I wouldn't call it the most comfortable place I've ever stayed, nor would I want to stay there for multiple nights, for a super-conveniently located place that I wanted to crash for 6 hours and at about $40 a night, it was a great deal! I donned the pjs they give you to use (because I kind of felt like it was part of the experience) and woke up at 5:30 with my alarm, very well rested and ready for a big day. After 5 days exploring Tokyo it was time to head South to see what many have told me is the true heart of Japanese culture. One of the men at the Meet Up that I went to on Friday night suggested I use my Japan Rail Pass (basically unlimited rail for tourists for 7 or 10 days) to go all the way down to Hiroshima. The trip was almost 5 hours but given how moved I was by the Korean War Memorial, I decided to commit a day to see the infamous place the US dropped the first atomic bomb. To be fair, I didn't know that much about Hiroshima before I went their today -- funny how our history books tend to breeze over the sections that paint the US poorly (Side note: I'm pretty certain this is true for most countries, perhaps with the exception of Germany which does an incredible job educating their youth about its horrific past). I did a little research on my way down and read that this was President Truman's last ditch effort to get the Japanese to surrender as he was scared that the kamikaze missions were reflective of a people who would literally fight until their last man had perished - and after many more Allied casualties. History though does not look favorably on this decision however, stating that there are some that believe the Japanese would have surrendered if the Allied forces had agreed to let them keep the emperor in place. We will never know though because at 8:15am on August 6, 1945 (almost exactly 72 years ago) we dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, instantly killing the ~70,000 inhabitants of the city. I later learned, and believe it is important to note, that similar to London moving many children out of the city during the Blitz, Hiroshima was a military stronghold for the Japanese and many women and children had left in months prior. Still, the "Little Boy" bomb that hit the city did kill innocent civilians - and in my mind, that's enough to mark the action contrary the ethics of war, however tough it is to define any justified killings. Another side note: I did some research on how this is similar / different to what is happening today with North Korea and learned that the atomic bombs of the 1940s (which both the US and Russians were developing and testing) were fission bombs that split unstable radioactive atoms. The nuclear bombs we talk about today, especially in the context of North Korea, are fusion bombs that compresses hydrogen (the "science" is similar to what the sun does) and have 1,000 times the power that the former fission bombs. If that doesn't scare you, I'm not sure what will. OK, back to the day. I arrived in the beautiful Shinkansen (bullet train) station with my backpacker's pack, backpack, purse and canvas bag (all my luggage during my almost 5-week long trip) and prayed I would be able to find a locker large enough and I did! Then I headed towards the food hall to try okonomi-yaki. If you've been reading carefully you may note that I had that last night at dinner - but the kind served in the South is very different. It is a crepe base, topped with cabbage, then tempura batter, bean sprouts, pork, lard, Chinese noodles, egg, okonomi-yaki brown sauce and finally green seaweed flakes. It is made at what I can best describe as a diner short-order grill, which with the same light-colored wood diner seating, reminded me of a Denny's. While I waited in the 30-minute line I took out a paper map to plan my day and I could almost feel my dad looking down on me smiling. It was absolutely delicious, though I had to laugh when I passed another restaurant later that described it as also being "healthy." I guess it's all relative right? Fueled up and ready to explore I headed out of the station and into the suffocating heat. It was 95 degrees / feels like 104, so I took a page from the Japanese and used my umbrella for shade. My first stop was the Shukkeien or sunken garden which was established in Hiroshima around 1620. Although it was completely demolished by the A-bomb (save one ginko tree that survived, though slanted), they rebuilt the garden shortly after. At the entrance I was greeted by a super friendly tour guide who asked where I was from and then explained to me that although they only give tours in Japanese, she wanted me to have something. In any other country this would be a cue for someone to distract you so they could rob you, but not in Japan. She pulled out a beautiful handmade paper crane and told me it was a present from Hiroshima to me and mentioned how significant it was that President Obama came to visit - the first sitting president to do so. She then insisted on taking about 20 pictures of me with her and the other guides. It was so hot that I look terrible - but I'm laughing and smiling because it was one of the kindest random encounters I've ever had. The garden was lovely and will certainly be on my must-do list for anyone that visits. Next I started my walk to the epicenter of the blast but on the way was struck by a huge modern art image of the US and Japanese flags superimposed on each other, with a final nuclear warning overlay. There were side pieces of Trump and the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. I stopped to speak with the artist and he told me that both men embody their people; Trump embodying the power-hungry American. The piece in its entirety represents that first the US brought the A-bomb to Japan and now it's looking for support in the region (and many would say Japanese puppets) to keep hold of its nuclear bomb. To say this piece was gripping would be an understatement and for a second I wished I had told him I was Canadian. Instead, I used my sign language to say 'Trump' + crossing my hands over my chest + 'Americans' = to say "Trump is not most Americans." He laughed in a friendly and knowing manner and I remembered that part of my responsibility as a traveler is to be an ambassador for Americans. The next step along my tour was the old castle ruins. Prior to the A-bomb there was a castle that had been in Hiroshima for hundreds of years and in the late 1800s had been used as military headquarters during the Sino-Japanese War. After the A-bomb, they had only rebuilt the main gate. Within the castle moat and walls there was a gorgeous shrine which I stopped by to say a little prayer for peace. Outside of the shrine they also had umbrellas for you to borrow - for rain OR shine - so apparently the unbearable heat is commonplace! I walked a bit further and finally arrived at the Peace Dome. This had once been an exhibition hall in Hiroshima and then during the war was taken over by the Interior Ministry and given that the A-bomb exploded above the hall with the blast moving outwards (vs downwwards) much of the structure remained intact. For a long time there was debate whether this should be a memorial or whether it was a brutal reminder, though the former support won out. It was really moving and I must say I got a bit choked up thinking about it. If that wasn't enough, the next stop was the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by a girl who survived the blast but then died 9 years later from leukemia. While she was sick she made tons of paper cranes (like the one I received from the tour guide), with the hope they would protect and heal her. Now, people make and send paper cranes from all over the world in support of this site and their mission to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Now I was really tearing up... I ended my day at the beautifully renovated museum where I learned a lot more about the city before, during and after the blast. They also had many first-hand accounts of that day. To me, the most moving was a man who was 13 and in school in Hiroshima. He saw a B-29 out the window and realized it was flying really low, and then the blast was "like a flash of pale lightening." Only 10 of 45 of his classmates survived the attack and immediately after they started singing the school song as a sort of call for help -- until they realized no one was coming to help. There were also some artifacts that were eerily close to life like a melted tricycle which belonged to a 3-year old boy and a watch that is forever stopped at 8:15, the time of the bomb. One thing that bothered me, was that they painted the US in a very very bad light - mostly in the past, which is completely fair and warranted, but also to some extent in the modern day, which bothered me. It is too much to write here, but I would be happy to share more pictures and findings from the museum - or better yet, you should go check it out yourself. Needless to say, it was one of the most touching exhibitions I have ever been to, along with the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. "Hiroshima is a testimonial for all humanity and a warning never to repeat such a tragedy. We must promise to be builders of peace in the world." - Adolfo Perez Esquivel I then walked back, through the city center, which had a covered arcade of shops that seemed to go on forever. It was incredible to see that only 72 years later Hiroshima is a bustling metropolis of more than 1.1 million people (about 1.5 times the size of SF). About a block away from the station my favorite sandals (which I've repaired twice) broke again -- I'm going to call it serendipitous that they lasted me through over a month in Asia and almost 8 miles today and thank them for getting me (almost) back to my bag. Back at the train station I easily found my locker, changed my shoes and started looking for a train snack. I finally ordered a matcha smoothie and to my delight it had sweet beans in it; sounds weird but it was delicious. As I was waiting for the train an American family came upstairs, super confused at how everything worked, and asked me for directions on where to go and wait. With my backpacker's bag and super "tired" looking from the hot day I must have looked like someone who had been traveling forever. That said, I've always been known as the directionally-challenged one and this proves that when left to my own devices I can figure anything out. I took the train to Kyoto, where I'm staying the next few days. At a crossover I bought a bento box -- though it was not the tastiest meal I have ever had, I'm starting to feel like Sosch from Girls -- I'm getting a handle on this Japan thing! Jokes aside though, today was one of those transformative travel days where I learned a ton about history and culture and was forced out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. There is a lot of drama back in SF at work but every time it pops into my head I am reminded of how incredibly lucky I am, in spite of all the little problems that take up my normal mental space. Om.