|
|
Posts: 10
| I'd like to know how many of you have two sonars at the console and one at the bow---and why? Thanks Bob |
|
| |
|
Location: Des Moines IA | My guess is most people run a sonar, and a separate GPS at the console. Having two transducers both mounted to the transom could cause some interference. And I'm not sure what good 2 sonars would do for you? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Do you mean sonar/GPS units, like you asked about in your other thread, or do you mean truely two sonars? I'm not sure why you'd want two sonar at one spot, but I'd advise against it for the interference of two pucks, and you just don't need two sonar units at one location.
Now if you're asking the same question you asked in your other thread about whether or not to have a dedicated GPS and a dedicated Sonar, that's up to you. I run a sonar/GPS combo at my bow and at my console. You can run two at one location if you have the room, and don't mind the battery usage.
As far as the arguement of "if you lose your GPS from your combo, then you have to swap the whole unit..." to that I reply that when you have a GPS or sonar issue, it's most always the GPS antenna or the sonar transducer. Not that you can't have an internal failure, but it's usually one of those external items that fails, so you just buy a new antenna ($200) or a new puck ($60) and you're back in action. And yes, I know the HDS has an internal antenna (I have an HDS8), but you can install an external LCG-4000 antenna which is more accurate and faster than the internal antenna. So I say do two if you want to, but the majority of guys run one and one.
Edited by esoxfly 2/3/2010 8:35 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I am one of those guys who still likes a flasher unit while running down the lake, so "technically" I have two at the console...one depthfinder and a dedicated GPS. The set-up I have, though only requires the GPS to be mouned on the console as the vexilar is an in-dash unit. I figured since the GPS will be more accurate than the speedo on the boat, I pulled the speedo and installed the vexilar. Then, I have a GPS/Sonar combo at the bow and just an LCD sonar at the stern for when I am walleye fishing.
I have always been one who felt more comfortable with two separate units just in case something goes wrong. If your whole GPS/sonar combo goes down due to any factor that eliminates any usage of it, you are now down two major items. If I were to lose either of them, I would feel more comfortable losing the GPS since I believe being able to read and use a map is extremely important and one shouldn't rely on GPS alone to get around.
Steve |
|
| |
|
| wouldn't you also save $$ by having two smaller units, say both with 5" screens, one for GPS and one for sonar instead of one big unit that does both?
I think that two 5" displays would also give you a much larger screen area than one 7" or 8" unit. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Most of the time, when you see guys with two units on the console, it's so they can run a full screen GPS and full screen sonar. The guys fishing waters like the Missouri River, the Great Lakes and any larger body of water put two gps capable units on their boat just to make sure so if one gps were to go down, they have another. This whole concept originated by the walleye guys. Being able to have a full screen sonar and full screen GPS allowed them to run way point to way point along a trail when trolling. It also allowed them to see what they were running over at 55 mph but still looking at a gps map.
Hammertime, I take it you've not used the larger screens all that much? Once you've used the larger screens, it's not easy going back to smaller screens. The 8" and 10" models kick ass! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | TJ DeVoe - 2/3/2010 4:21 PM
Once you've used the larger screens, it's not easy going back to smaller screens. The 8" and 10" models kick ass!
Agreed. I have different splits set up for fishing and for running and my HDS8 has plenty of screen, and I'd prefer it much more than two smaller screens. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 264
| Have a Lowrance 113-c on the console that i split screen gps and sonar. Then a lowrance 522-c on the bow. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | Last boat had a 510 and x28 on the console, x27 on the bow.
A full screen gps in my opinion running on plane is the only way to go vs. looking at a split screen.
My next boat will have a HDS8 Insight and a HDS5 Sonar on the console and a HDS7 On the bow, If i go the console route. Bigger is always better.
Edited by bridgeman 2/3/2010 6:40 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I like one big one on my dash just because I have to remove my electronics a lot when staying at motels, or leaving the boat in the water at night. I know it's a small chore of having to remove them, but it just gets annoying taking them on and off all the time. Just one less thing to do after a long day on the water or when your so anxious to get fishing in the morning. |
|
| |
|
| TJ, so are you saying that one 8" screen that is split with half GPS and half sonar is better than one 5" with full GPS and another 5" with full sonar? I am not arguing, just curious.
I don't have experience with the larger screens, but I do know that on my 5" screen, when it is split, it can be scary running at 40+mph when you are on a lake with a lot of islands/humps or a river. Can't see enough of the GPS screen to see what is coming. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Hammertime, the difference is how wide are you running you graph, most time my graph is taking up about 1/8 the width of the screen giving you a bigger GPS MAP to view. This can be done by resizing your window. Had 2 5", 1 10" is way bigger and allow better navigation
Troy |
|
| |
|
Posts: 719
| The larger units allow you to zoom in further as well, seeing much more detail. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | hammertime - 2/4/2010 8:49 AM
I don't have experience with the larger screens, but I do know that on my 5" screen, when it is split, it can be scary running at 40+mph when you are on a lake with a lot of islands/humps or a river. Can't see enough of the GPS screen to see what is coming.
Like was said, you can resize your windows so that for example, you can run the chart at 80% and the graph at 20%. I like one screen as all info is in one scan as I glance down.
That said, I fish LSC litterally 100% of the time, so I usually run 100% chart while on plane, though there are a couple of exceptions when I run a graph. I'm not looking for dramatic drops and shelfs ('cause we don't have any! LOL) and I can go from the north end of the lake to the south end and never leave 12-15' over sand and weeds. I also now know the lake well enough to know what's out there and what I'm over. If I was on new water or a lake that has proper structure, then I'd for sure run a section of graph. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Hammertime, what Troyz said is correct. On the Lowrance units, their is a custom feature where you can actually choose what screens you want so if I wanted to match two different screens together I can. Then like Troyz also said, I can resize the windows to the size of my liking. So, for running, I have one where the GPS map takes up about my whole screen while the sonar part is shown just enough to where I can see what I'm running over. Now if I'm fishing and working around structure/suspended bait fish, I may or may not even have my gps up, just depends where I'm fishing.
I know one thing, I don't think I'll ever be without one of the larger Lowrance units! |
|
| |
|
| imo having 2 combo units on your dash is the way to go if you can swing it..reason being is we all know things break..if you only have one unit and it goes down..you are left blind, correct? if you have 2 combo units you simply switch wires and run it on split screen...I have a Lowrance 8.4" unit and 5" unit on my console and run the GPS soley on GPS as it is nice and big and when I run the boat from the back I can see it a lot easier than the old 5"er I had there...and I run the 5" on sonar only...
I also have 2 at the bow..redundancy is nice when 1 or more go down..which we all know on a week long trip could be a real pain in the *ss.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Bn you are correct, if one can swing having multiple units that is the way to go. I've gotten away from it because it's more than I've needed for how I fish. If something goes down for me, I have two of the same units, networked. I can pull one off and put the other in it's place. Sure, I'm down a unit, but I'm not completely out of commission. Only time where I'd feel uncomfortable is if I were on Lake Michigan or maybe the Missouri River/LOTW. Cross my fingers, breaking units hasn't been a issue for me! |
|
| |
|
| I also have 2 at the bow..redundancy is nice when 1 or more go down..which we all know on a week long trip could be a real pain in the *ss.
redundancy is a good strategy in case things break. of course, you could also buy Humminbird and just know that it'll work right out of the box...
i too have fallen in love with having a big 10" screen on the console and splitting it in various percentages depending on what i'm doing. i run 80/20 gps/sonar when on plane on familiar waters, and usually 60/40 when fishing a spot that's accurately mapped.
i'll probably get a Side Imaging/Down Imaging unit this year, and in that case i may consider adding a secondary unit to display the GPS map.
|
|
| |
|
| the cost of an 8.4 and 5"er is/was less than one 10"er at the time I bought mine...
not sure what prices are now but for those looking to rig up a boat look into that set up at the console and 2 5"ers at the bow is a sweet set up and costs less overall than getting 2 10" units |
|
| |
|
| Lambeau you know you just set yourself up for one of those 'Birds goin' down on a trip!!! lol. |
|
| |
|
| Lambeau you know you just set yourself up for one of those 'Birds goin' down on a trip!!! lol.
oh yes...karma's a cruel mistress!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | After having numerous of issues, module going down at take off on Petenwell. This best thing is to do is get interchangeable unit installed on your boat. I can move my console to bow and viceversa. One down, I simply move them, litlle extra work, but you are never without a unit.
Troyz |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32945
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I was married to that Karma lady...twice, it seems, before meeting Sue.
I use a single sonar unit and a hand held GPS because I don't fish much anymore anywhere I don't really know the water well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | TJ DeVoe - 2/4/2010 11:25 AM
Bn you are correct, if one can swing having multiple units that is the way to go. I've gotten away from it because it's more than I've needed for how I fish. If something goes down for me, I have two of the same units, networked. I can pull one off and put the other in it's place. Sure, I'm down a unit, but I'm not completely out of commission. Only time where I'd feel uncomfortable is if I were on Lake Michigan or maybe the Missouri River/LOTW. Cross my fingers, breaking units hasn't been a issue for me!
Same here. Power and sonar plugs are the same so I can just swap units to get through the day. If you can swing two, it'd be awesome. Same with Power Poles, if I could swing two, I would, but one gets me by. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 10
| Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to purchase the HD7 for the console and the X135 for the bow. The power and sonar plugs are the same and I'm going with them!
Bob |
|
| |
