Thread: Ulterra/ hummingbird setup?

Originally Posted by BobB

No....The transducer is not an Ethernet device....The Ethernet switch would just be the easy way to share the Ipilot link to 2 locations....It is an Ethernet accessory.

To share the transducer from the bow to a different location, it would require a physical switch......Humminbird does make one, I would have to do a little research to find it........Having a separate transducer on the stern would be the way I would do it if I were going to move a unit between locations. The 859 has an internal GPS, so the GPS is not necessary.

I think most people get tired of moving a unit around, and there is the expense of extra power cables, transducers, etc.......It is possible to move the 859 between 2 locations, but I don't think I would do it.

Hope I haven't completely confused you ......but there are several variables here depending on whether you end up doing the Ipilot link or not.

Makes good sense to me! I was basically trying to figure out how to get by with TM transducer for both location cause I have two transducer on stern already for HDS lss1 & sonar. Hate to drill anymore.

Do they make a extension cable for bird TM transducer I could run to stern? Guess I'd have to have Ethernet cord from ulterra to stern also to plug to bird for i pilot link to work? Then later if I had another bird I wouldn't need transducer cable to stern just Ethernet cord correct?

Will running two sonar one on stern and one on bow affect each other? Or could I run one sonar on each end?

Also I'm going I pilot link so I have it all to learn. I know easiest thing is to buy two units just gonna be awhile since buying ulterra also want one of the units to be a 1159.
5k in electros!
Addictive!!!!

The US3 Unit Switch will allow you to switch one transducer between two units (or unit locations).
The EC-W10 is a ten-foot long transducer extension cable.

As for the running two sonar one on stern and one on bow affecting each other? The answer is probably. If both are using the same frequency there is a chance of sonar cross-talk between them which will change with water depth, bottom composition and a little luck. If it shows up on the Humminbird unit try turning on and up the Noise Filter menu.

If you want to be able to run the Ulterra from either the bow or the stern, you are also going to have to get the Ethernet connection to both places. I think the best way to do this is to have an Ethernet switch ( Humminbird | AS ETH 5PXG )set up at the console. You would run an the Ethernet for the Ulterra to it, an Ethernet for the bow unit, and an Ethernet for the stern or console location.

You also need to think about how you are going to do your power connections. I don't know what your boat has for onboard power wiring, but you don't want to use that for your power to your units. You want to set up your own power circuit tied directly to the cranking battery.
I would run 12 ga wire to a dedicated Bluesea 5025 fuse box under the console. The console or stern unit will wire straight to the 5025. I would use separate circuits from the 5025 to the bow unit and Ethernet switch, with a shutoff switch mounted to kill the Ethernet switch (you don't want it to run your battery down while sitting.) I would use 12 ga throughout.......That may seem like overkill, but you will have less voltage drop issues.....Actually I would probably use 10 ga to the blue sea and 12 for everything else.....but that's just me.
Put a 20 amp fuse in the hot wire close to the starting battery. The rest will be fused in the 5025 with appropriate fuses for the units and Ethernet switch.
When I run power wiring in my boat, I also make sure I use twisted pair wire. The twisted wire wire help eliminate interference from other sources. If you don't want to buy twisted wire, you can easily twist it yourself......just tie one end of the wires to something solid, chuck the other end into a drill, pull it tight and run the drill to twist the wires together.

The cost starts adding up to get the Ethernet and power and transducers to multiple locations.

Originally Posted by BobB

If you want to be able to run the Ulterra from either the bow or the stern, you are also going to have to get the Ethernet connection to both places. I think the best way to do this is to have an Ethernet switch ( Humminbird | AS ETH 5PXG )set up at the console. You would run an the Ethernet for the Ulterra to it, an Ethernet for the bow unit, and an Ethernet for the stern or console location.

You also need to think about how you are going to do your power connections. I don't know what your boat has for onboard power wiring, but you don't want to use that for your power to your units. You want to set up your own power circuit tied directly to the cranking battery.
I would run 12 ga wire to a dedicated Bluesea 5025 fuse box under the console. The console or stern unit will wire straight to the 5025. I would use separate circuits from the 5025 to the bow unit and Ethernet switch, with a shutoff switch mounted to kill the Ethernet switch (you don't want it to run your battery down while sitting.) I would use 12 ga throughout.......That may seem like overkill, but you will have less voltage drop issues.....Actually I would probably use 10 ga to the blue sea and 12 for everything else.....but that's just me.
Put a 20 amp fuse in the hot wire close to the starting battery. The rest will be fused in the 5025 with appropriate fuses for the units and Ethernet switch.
When I run power wiring in my boat, I also make sure I use twisted pair wire. The twisted wire wire help eliminate interference from other sources. If you don't want to buy twisted wire, you can easily twist it yourself......just tie one end of the wires to something solid, chuck the other end into a drill, pull it tight and run the drill to twist the wires together.

The cost starts adding up to get the Ethernet and power and transducers to multiple locations.

What if I ran transducer cable to stern and Ethernet cable from ulterra to stern then power cord straight off battery with inline fuse all to 859 that work?

Then if I got another bird just just hook it to ulterra and transducer on bow. Then use Ethernet cord from bow 859 to stern 859?

I already have power cord for HDS on bow gonna swap ends out.

[QUOTE=TowboatTroller;2897848]What if I ran transducer cable to stern and Ethernet cable from ulterra to stern then power cord straight off battery with inline fuse all to 859 that work?
That would work if you are only going to have 1 unit.

Then if I got another bird just just hook it to ulterra and transducer on bow. Then use Ethernet cord from bow 859 to stern 859?
This is where the Ethernet becomes more complicated......The bow 859 only has one Ethernet connection. If you are going to connect it to the Ulterra directly, you won't be able to connect to anything else........in order to connect the Ethernet from the Ulterra to 2 different locations, you are going to have to have some way to connect multiple Ethernet connections.....That is where the switch comes in. I'm not sure if there are other ways to do this

I already have power cord for HDS on bow gonna swap ends out.
The main thing with the power is to have direct connection to the battery good connections. The forums are full of intermittent problems caused by poor power.

[QUOTE=BobB;2897852]

Originally Posted by TowboatTroller

What if I ran transducer cable to stern and Ethernet cable from ulterra to stern then power cord straight off battery with inline fuse all to 859 that work?
That would work if you are only going to have 1 unit.

Then if I got another bird just just hook it to ulterra and transducer on bow. Then use Ethernet cord from bow 859 to stern 859?
This is where the Ethernet becomes more complicated......The bow 859 only has one Ethernet connection. If you are going to connect it to the Ulterra directly, you won't be able to connect to anything else........in order to connect the Ethernet from the Ulterra to 2 different locations, you are going to have to have some way to connect multiple Ethernet connections.....That is where the switch comes in. I'm not sure if there are other ways to do this

I already have power cord for HDS on bow gonna swap ends out.
The main thing with the power is to have direct connection to the battery good connections. The forums are full of intermittent problems caused by poor power.

Got you now. Thought the bird had a in and out Ethernet plug would make sense to have it that way seems.
a splitter would be nice off of ulterra one lead to each bird.

Does the 1159 have two Ethernet connections or another bird unit that's I pilot link compatible?

I will check power cord wire to make sure its big enough and direct to battery with in line fuse. Hope ulterra hooks right up from old minn kota PD hook ups.

All the Humminbird units only have 1 Ethernet connection.......Same with the I-pilot link........Only way to do multiple is with the 5 port switch.

See the Ethernet diagram at the beginning of this manual.....only add an Ethernet connection for the trolling motor I-pilot Link too the switch.... file:///C:/Users/Bob/Downloads/531951-2_A_ASETH5PX_IG.pdf