Networking? Is that really true?

Now, it seems the buzzword in chart plotter/fish finders is.......networking. But are they really? Let's say I have two chart plotter/fish finders on my boat; one is at the helm and is for navigation (primarily) and side imaging while trolling along. The second chart plotter/fish finder is on the front of the boat and is primarily for navigation (by trolling motor) and down imaging.
And let's say they are "networked" according to the manufacturer - with a network switch or whatever. And let's say both have the same Nav card. And finally let's say the two displays are the from the same manufacturer and the same model.

So here's the question, after all of that, if you plot a fishing point while side scanning/trolling, does the same plot show up on the front chart plotter/fish finder? Which manufacturer has incorporated this ability into their line of products? From what I see on the big three, no where in their descriptions are the words confirming that you can "write" a point on one and it automatically "writes" on the other. Seems to me this would be of great importance to fisherman. Am I wrong?

This maybe a help to your question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf4xpFtwOAs

Well, that does help. Seems within compatible "series" plotters waypoints can be shared back and forth. It also seems the take-away from this is this, a waypoint created on one plotter is stored on that plotter but shared with the other one, provided the network is working properly......but these points are not necessarily "created" on both units. Is that what I"m seeing? Might not be a problem, but I guess you could go back on the "shared" waypoints and physically create them on the other unit.

You are right. If you creat a waypoint on one unit....it will show up on the other unit when networked IF the unit that originally created the waypoint is ON.

So if you creat a waypoint on the console unit, it will show up on the bow unit IF the console unit is still ON. Turn the console unit OFF and the waypoint on the bow will go away. It is not CREATED ON the bow unit. It is just shared with the bow unit.

Or at least thats the way my birds are.

I'm not familiar with Humminbirds but I do know about the Lowrance networks. I have Lowrance HDS units that are networked via Ethernet cables between them and an NMEA network. I only use my NMEA network to share my Point1 GPS antenna with my units. I'm running a touch9 unit at the bow with an HDI transducer that gives me 2d and downscan. On the console I have a touch9 that I use for 2d, downscan and structure scan and an older HDS7 that I use for mapping.

With Lowrance HDS units you can have full waypoint sharing when using Ethernet networking. Any waypoint marked on one unit is automatically copied onto all units on the network. If a unit is off when a waypoint is marked on another unit they can be synced the next time they are on at the same time. The waypoints are actually copied to each unit instead of being shared over network.

All Gen2 and Gen3 HDS units can also share one map card across the network. Any Lowrance units that do not have Ethernet capabilities but have a NMEA port can do GPS antenna sharing and limited waypoint sharing.

LR,

Thanks, that is the info I was looking for. I plan to get a new boat this fall and after searching, I've landed on Lowrance HDS Gen 3 units as the best buy (for the money) that will do what I want, which is to write the waypoints on both units. Last night I watched a couple of YouTube videos of some installs very close to what I want and it didn't look too complicated to do. I'm not familiar with NMEA networks but with proper instructions I think I can get it right. And the fact that one map card can be used saves some serious bucks that could be spent elsewhere.

By the way, what type transducers are you running on trolling motor and the stern?

I'm using an HDI 83/200/455/800 transducer at the bow. It is mounted on the trolling motor. It gives me 2d and downscan directly below me when I'm fishing up front. I can also look at sonar and structure scan from the transom mounted transducers across the Ethernet but that info would be 19' behind me so it's not something I normally do.

My console units are connected to a 2d and an LSS2 transducer mounted on the transom and I do most of my scanning and waypoint marking from the drivers seat.

If you go with Lowrance I'd definitely get a Point one antenna. It has the GPS receiver and a heading sensor in one unit. The heading sensor is great because your waypoints are positioned on the map relative to your boats heading. Even if your boat is drifting backwards your map won't be spinning around because your GPS plotting thinks you've turned around.

Lowrance Network sharing page 22

http://lowranceprostaff.dk/download/...emOverview.pdf

HB Network resource:

http://www.humminbird.com/WorkArea/D...t.aspx?id=3047

I have no problem managing my WP library on the PC and once I have edit out any I don't want or need - done any renaming, etc - I can upload all of the same way points to each unit in seconds inserting a SD card with the identical locations - though I do have sharing enabled.
I like the ability to mix and match sonar technologies between control heads and can display most anything from one unit to another.
I cannot share Chirp from my Helix 12 DI to other displays, if I turn the chirp off - I can share anything between the 4.
I cannot share Maps where Tom can with his units.