HB 998 and 898 si, 1 gps external antenna or 2?

[JESSE JAMES]

i am in the process of installing an 998 si on the bow and an 898 si at the console.
Will I be able to utilize 1 external gps antenna for both units or do they both need their
own. If they have to use their own dedicated antenna will I be able to connect the units so that they share waypoints. In other words if I create a waypoint on the 998 how can I get it to save itself on the 898 automatically.

I'm sure I will have further questions but that is all that comes to mind rite now.
:D

[Stymie]

They both come with an external gps antenna and to get the faster refresh rate, you want the dedicated antenna to each.

If you interlink them, they can share waypoint, route, track data. The interlink is an accessory.

If you have patience, you can wait for the ethernet update and not worry with the interlink. You'll need to buy an ethernet cable. Then it will supposedly share waypoints etc and transducer SI/DI/2D images as well.

[JESSE JAMES]

thanks STYMIE, after reading your post i went to the HB website, they offer 2,10,20, and 30 foot ethernet cables. Is that all i would need to connect the two units?

do shorter cables give better performance?

hopefully my wife thinks so!

[Stymie]

I would just buy the length needed to get from one unit to the other. The distance isn't going to affect performance. If you look again, you'll notice they also sell an extension cable.

Also, you will get a better price from jandhproducts.com or some other online retailer than buying direct from HB.

Another thing, remember, the ethernet update is an unknown right now. Its not out yet.

[JESSE JAMES]

do you have to have the update for the cable to work? it does not state that on the website.

[talltimber]

If I understand things correctly, I don't think you'll want the two connected to one gps ant. if you are marking off both units at times. One will have a built-in error, or they both will, depending on where you mount your ant. That error being the distance to the gps ant. from the transducer. For example, if you did all your point marking off the console unit and you had the gps ant. mounted above the transom ducer, then you'd be ok on accuracy on that unit. But if your searching for that point while at the bow (using a tm mounted ducer) then you'd actually be physically off your point the length of the boat when your bow unit shows your on it(by gps not FF-due to using the gps ant. at the back of the boat) Also, when you mark a spot while at the tm, you're actually marking your spot the length of the boat away (whichever way the back of the boat is pointing at the time)