Thread: birds

If you get a 998 I'd specify that I want a heading sensor gps puck.... I didn't know about the exchange program and mounted mine and now it's 200 bucks to just upgrade the puck so I can tell which way the boat is pointing. I'm still a little aggravated at them for sending the puck without the heading sensor, and not giving me the option for the upgrade for the price they charge for these things and so now they want 200 more dollars just so I can tell which way my boat is pointing on the chart. But like I said don't open the puck and they have an exchange program for 50 dollars extra which would be well worth it. Without speed these 998's have no way to tell which way the boat is pointing and pretty slow to upgrade at slow speeds or any speed really. 999's will be the same way and 1198's and 1199's too... I'm sure if you ordered any of the 98 series you could just pay 50 extra and get it sent with a heading sensor puck. And on the new 999's and 1199's they have internal gps so no exchange program for them, to get a heading sensor you will have to pay that extra 200 for a puck with built in compass (heading sensor). Just another way to squeeze another 200 dollars if you ask me doing away with the exchange program and built in gps on 99 models.

Well just changed my order from 2x 899s to 2x 999s figuring on maybe having updates longer. This stuff has really changed from the old super 60 days. So do I need to exchange transducers from the one that will come with 999 mounted on trolling motor to something different. Sorry for all the questions but y'all have a wealth of information that really helps us that don't know.

NO it doesn't have anything to do with the transducers it's the GPS Chartplotter PUCKS....The 999's have built in Gps. The 998's have an external puck that can be traded in for one with a heading sensor. Since you have already ordered the 999's if you want a true heading sensor you will have to buy an additional puck. I checked into it because I thought if the 999's had a built in heading sensor I might sell mine and order a new one, but they don't. I'd try it first before I spent the extra money on the 200 dollar pucks to show you which way your boat is pointing on the gps map screen, it may not be that big of an issue for you. But if you want to know which direction your boat is pointing at any speed you'll have to buy the puck's with the heading sensor, which run 200 each...They will show you boat direction at any speed, where the regular ones you have to be moving for the gps to pick up on your direction.... I know it's all confusing to me also, but I've been reading about them all week and e-mailing hummingbird to find out how I might get my boat direction to accurately show up on the screen. It's kind of difficult finding your marked spot if you cant tell which way your boat is pointing relevant to the marked spot.... You have to know which way north is, set your fish finder chart plotter to north up and kind of go from there. It isn't that difficult on navigation mode but would be a whole lot easier if you could tell which direction your boat is pointed at all times and just drive to your mark and not just when you are moving at a great enough speed for the gps to tell you. When I get close to my mark I have to guess and drive around until I get close enough to throw out a buoy, if I had heading sensor it would point my boat direction relevant to my mark.

They used to call this the "donut". And people with humminbirds complained about it for years. From what I hear they are a lot better now than they used to be, but for it to really work like it should you have to buy a puck with heading sensor....

I think I understand now, thanks for your advice Keeper. Might be me, I know there are a lot of great products out there but these prices are kinda getting way out there when you have to add extras that the units should already have on them.

Originally Posted by kubota57

Well just changed my order from 2x 899s to 2x 999s figuring on maybe having updates longer. This stuff has really changed from the old super 60 days. So do I need to exchange transducers from the one that will come with 999 mounted on trolling motor to something different. Sorry for all the questions but y'all have a wealth of information that really helps us that don't know.

I don't believe the 999 comes with the HD transducer, just the non HD one which is only one frequency.

If so, I would add at least one HD transducer. If you are connected by Ethernet you can use it/share it on both graphs. The same will be true for the HS GPS antenna.

If you decide to add the HD transducer, DO NOT unpack the original transducer until you contact Bird CS for an exchange.

You can order a different trolling motor transducer or unit with a trolling motor transducer if you wish. I think it's the same transducer just made different to mount to a trolling motor more easy. Or another option I am considering since I got a gps trolling motor and don't want the thing wrapping up my transducer cable and breaking it... is a pole mount off the side of your boat. Fishing Specialties makes these, you can look them up on internet. Also it would keep your side imaging from blurring out each time you turned your trolling motor. And they aren't very expensive if you didn't like it you could always put it on your trolling motor later. Actually it's cheaper than a bracket for your trolling motor... like 60 dollars or 70. But everytime you turn that trolling motor the side imaging is going to get blurry, so I'd consider a stable mount.

Originally Posted by Trout Bum

I don't believe the 999 comes with the HD transducer, just the non HD one which is only one frequency.

If so, I would add at least one HD transducer. If you are connected by Ethernet you can use it/share it on both graphs. The same will be true for the HS GPS antenna.

If you decide to add the HD transducer, DO NOT unpack the original transducer until you contact Bird CS for an exchange.

The 999ci HD SI Combo comes stock with the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T ...(HDSI xducer)...

The 899ci HD SI Combo comes stock with the XTM 9 SI 180 T ...(Compact SI xducer)...

There is an adapter kit to mount the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T to the TM...(this is the same hardware that comes with the TM version of the HDSI xducer...)
http://store.humminbird.com/products/460950/AD_STM_7

There is also an aftermarket TM bracket made by Transducer Shield and Saver...
http://www.transducershieldandsaver....mart&Itemid=55

Rickie