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Posts: 74
Location: Minnesota | With technology continuing to progress and wireless connectivity being well established and deployed why do we still have to go through the pain of pulling wires through our hulls to connect our devices like one Hummingbird/Lowrance unit to another or to the trolling motor (ILink) etcetera? Can anyone "in the know" provide an insight into when Hummingbird or Lowrance is going to get rid of the wires necessary for connecting devices and finally transition to wireless connectivity? |
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Posts: 143
| The only wireless I see happening is perhaps the iLink as that is the most logical. Either way you'd have to run power wires to the transducer and the unit. I am not an expert but I am sure being under water also hinders the wireless range? It would be great but I still see a person needing to run power to the unit at the bow or dash, so whats 1 more wire to connect the transducer? Also, no wireless connectivity issues on the water that way... could ruin a few days.
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/Who-We-Are/News/Press-Releases/Detail... |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | It could be done and I'm surprised it hasn't yet. Vexilar has one out that you can use your phone/tablet as the screen connected to the transducer via WiFi. They also have an underwater camera that does the same thing and works great - used it all last year through the ice and could get reception out to 200'+.
I do see someone releasing a similar thing and it should be easy enough - just a transducer and small box with the brains that you can mount anywhere, then connect via WiFi to any device (and appropriate app) & presto! This would allow for nearly any screen you wanted. Could also be customized as a package as the transducer & components would be the same, just pick a screen size for your tablet.
I currently run Navionics on a tablet for contours instead of split screen on my Humminbird - portable go anywhere in the boat and bigger read out for both. Might go with a bluetooth GPS receiver for better battery life on the tablet.
You could rig a WiFi yourself by running the video out feed from the unit to a WiFi box. not sure how you'd rig it but I know there are components out there to do so.
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | I hope never!! If it'd be anything like the connection I get half the time with my wireless phone, it would result as quite an aggravating day on the water!!! |
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Posts: 437
| Wireless capability is already available on Lowrance. The HDS Touch units all have built in Wifi and if you have a Wifi hub like the GoFree Wifi from Lowrance you can connect/control your HDS units from a handheld unit (smartphone/tablet with an app). I have thought about just getting the Wifi unit, then installing the app on my tablet for an additional display in the boat. I haven't gone that far yet though. Perhaps next summer so I have time to find a decent mount, etc for the tablet. Since the capability is there with handhelds, I cannot imagine its far off between dedicated units in the boat. |
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When will Hummingbird or Lowrance Introduce Wireless Connectivity