Elite 7 Hybrid Dual Imaging and US2 questions

I admit it. I did not do all of my homework before I purchased this unit. Here is my situation......

I have a brand new Terrova US2 I-Pilot trolling motor, and a brand new Elite Hybrid Dual-Imaging fishfinder/plotter. It seems that US2 is incompatible with Elite 7. (I think it is the DI that makes it incompatible???) I am a neat freak (very OCD my students say) and I do not want cables all over my front deck, so I really do not like the idea of running the Elite 7 transducer cables down the tm shaft, or having the transducer mounted on the botom of the tm (especialy seeing that I already have one internal to tm head). What are my options. Sell Elite 7 and start over? I have considered buying an Elite 5 for front deck (this one is compatible with US2 according to MinnKota) and using Elite 7 at the console. If I do this can I network the two? Or does the elite 5 not have this capability?

You guys are supposed to be the experts, and you usually have no problems stating your opinions, so help me out here. What would you do?

Yes it is the DI (Down imaging) that won't work with the US-2. Here is what will work using the MKR-US2-9 cable.
Lowrance
Cuda 168, Cuda 168EX, Cuda 128, Cuda 240 S/GPS, Cuda 240i S/GPS, Cuda 242, Cuda 250, Cuda 300,
Cuda 350, FishElite 320, FishElite 480, FishElite 500C, FishElite 520C, FishElite 640, FishElite 642C,
FishMark 320, FishMark 480, FishMark 500C, FishMark 640C, SeaFinder 240DF, SeaFinder 245DS,
SeaFinder 250DF, SeaFinder 320DF, SeaFinder 480DF, SeaFinder 500CD, SeaFinder 640C, SeaFinder
642C, SeaCharter 320DF, SeaCharter 480DF, SeaCharter 500CDF, FishEasy 2*, FishEasy 245DS,
FishEasy 250DS, FishEasy 320C, FishEasy 350C
X-4, X-4 Pro, X-47, X-47EX, X-50DS, X-67C, X-86DS, X-96, M-52i, M-56, M-56i, M-68C, M-
68i, Elite-4, Elite-4X, Elite-5, Elite-5X, Mark-4, Mark-5X, Mark-5X PRO

If you look at the stickies you will see you can make it a neat job of running the cable down the shaft. And FYI, you can remove the cable going to the US-2 by unplugging it under the cover of the head. MK assured me this will not affect your warranty. I don't know about the networking

I'd buy a used HDS 5 to put on the bow and move the elite 7 to the console. I'm not familiar with the Elite 7 so I can't say on the networking. You will most likely have interference using the US2.

So.... Is the US2 worth fooling with? Should I just remove the cable and use the supplied transducer?

I use with the HB choke and still get some interference on my HDS 8 2d and structure scan. It's one of those things you have to try. My new Fortrex is worse than the Maxxum it reaplaced.

Where did you get your information? I talked to a Lowerance tech and he told me the Elite 7 would work with my US2 on my Terrova only thing is it would not have the DI but everything else would work
I was going to order one on Monday know I am not sure

He is correct, I think. Everything works except DI. Course, if that is what you are gonna do, I think there is an elite seven that does not have the Hybrid Dual Imaging, and it is $100 less than the DI version.....