News on updated i-Pilot for 2012

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09-07-2011, 11:00 AM
Jason Halfen #511

News on updated i-Pilot for 2012

A number of people have asked me about the upcoming release of the updated MinnKota i-Pilot. Here are some of the details:

The most significant differences vs the current i-Pilot include a new remote that features a larger LCD display (20% larger), and larger, more durable, and more tactile function keys. The remote is slimmer and has a more ergonomic design. Access to the battery compartment is also improved.

In addition, the updated i-Pilot will be capable of storing 6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations.

The new remotes are backwards compatible with current i-Pilot head units. However, the combination of a new remote + old head unit will not provide the additional storage capacity.

Hope that helps! Feel free to post questions and I will be happy to answer them.
09-07-2011, 12:09 PM
Barnacle Bill

Thanks for the info Jason.
09-07-2011, 12:43 PM
Corker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511

6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations

How many releases before I'll be able to offload tracks/spots to a SD card, manipulate them on my PC, and then reload the most promising tracks/spots to the SD card? I'd love to save the data from week to week and year to year.
09-07-2011, 01:12 PM
Crappiegirl1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511

A number of people have asked me about the upcoming release of the updated MinnKota i-Pilot. Here are some of the details:

The most significant differences vs the current i-Pilot include a new remote that features a larger LCD display (20% larger), and larger, more durable, and more tactile function keys. The remote is slimmer and has a more ergonomic design. Access to the battery compartment is also improved.

In addition, the updated i-Pilot will be capable of storing 6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations.

The new remotes are backwards compatible with current i-Pilot head units. However, the combination of a new remote + old head unit will not provide the additional storage capacity.

Hope that helps! Feel free to post questions and I will be happy to answer them.

Jason,
i was getting ready to buy an i-pilot this week. i naturally will wait until the new one comes out. when do you expect that to be, i hope for this winters florida crappie season. bass pro has a great deal going on right now, 6 months to pay for anything over $250.00 in case anyone is interested in the current ones. this is for over the phone or internet ordering only.
09-07-2011, 01:24 PM
Jason Halfen #511

I don't think that we'll be seeing the new units until after the 1st of the year.
09-07-2011, 06:31 PM
Crappiegirl1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511

I don't think that we'll be seeing the new units until after the 1st of the year.

Gee Jason! the winter fishing season will be half over by then, cant you put the pedal to the metal on this?
09-29-2011, 10:17 AM
Mkling

New guy to the forum here. I was just about to buy myself a new Terrova 80 us2 i-pilot for my new to me boat. thankfully I found this post so I can wait for the new one to come out. I wanted to use it for some fall walleye and crappie, but I may as well wait to get the new version. any word on if the price is going up? hopefully there will be some rebates again when the 2012 models are out.
I e-mailed Minn Kota to try and find out when the new model will be released and here was their reply:
"The i-Pilot will be updated for the 2012 line-up. The remote will have a different style and the controller will be able to store 6 tracks and 6 spot lock locations. These will be available in October of 2011. We have stopped production on the current design and will not be shipping the new models until next month."

sounds like we should be able to get our hands on these fairly soon.
09-29-2011, 10:39 AM
Jason Halfen #511

MSRP on the updated iPilot units (remote + head unit) is $449
09-29-2011, 02:28 PM
Mkling

Cant find a thread on this so thought I'd ask here. Will the US2 Transducer be the same in the 2012 models? Or will they be using one that will work with SI and DI locators?
09-29-2011, 03:11 PM
Jason Halfen #511

No changes to the US2 transducers as far as I know.
09-30-2011, 08:05 PM
Crappiegirl1

we still going to have to wait until after jan 1 2012, would make a good xmas present before???????????
10-01-2011, 06:54 AM
jimp

Is the US2 version compatible with most DI units available ? Does it work well or it better to use the ducer that comes with your unit?
10-01-2011, 08:05 AM
Corker

Thanks, Jason, for bringing us a heads-up concerning the i-P2--especially the MSRP of $449. In my opinion, the i-P is the best invention for crappie fishermen since the brushpile!!! The "Spot-Lock" feature, alone, is worth the cost of the i-Pilot. Everything else is a bonus. I've logged somewhere between 1200 and 1500 hrs. with my Terrova/i-Pilot and there's no question that this combo has helped me catch more fish than any other gear I've ever used.

The i-P2 price represents a $50 (12.5%) increase over the MSRP of the original i-P. Will i-P2 be worth the wait and an extra $50? Maybe, but many potential buyers would be smart to grab any kind of "clearance" offer as the original i-Ps are sold out.

For me, the i-P2 would be a better choice--but mostly because Jason says the rubber cover on the remote will be "more durable." I'm now on the 3rd replacement cover. Even though the parts and labor have been covered under M-K's warranty, I've spent at least $50 running back and forth to the repair shop for 3 replacements in 18 months. I'm told that most users have had little or no problem with this rubber cover.

For many i-P purchasers (especially those with a tight budget) the original i-P may be preferable to the i-P2--because the new features don't represent big improvements in an already great product! Moreover, most of the improvements are in the remote, and Terrova/i-P buyers may prefer using the foot pedal for most i-P controls. Looking at Jason's list of the most significant differences vs the current i-Pilot, here are my thoughts:
- a 20% larger LCD display [I have good vision and no trouble viewing my display]
- larger, more durable, and more tactile function keys [I have fat fingers & key size is not a problem; durability of the rubber cover is important; relocation of the "bunny button" would be an improvement]
- remote is slimmer and has a more ergonomic design [Except when I'm running to another location, I'm holding and using my remote all day. I have short fingers & have no problem with the size and feel of the remote]
- access to the battery compartment is also improved [Battery should last much longer than a year for most users, so this is of little concern]
- 6 recorded tracks (an increase from the original i-P's 3 tracks) [If you do a lot of long-line trolling, this might be useful, BUT (unless I've missed something), you can't save tracks and spots--when you power down the unit, the session is erased. The ability to to save and reload these data to/from a SD card and manipulate them on a PC would be a REAL improvement]
- 6 spot lock locations (an increase from the original i-P's 3 spots) [I use this feature on every trip, but rarely need to lock more than 2 spots at any one location]

Buy now? Wait 'til later? You can't go wrong buying an original i-P & the sweeter the deal, the faster I'd snap one up!
10-01-2011, 08:15 AM
Mkling

Any idea what the price increase will be for a Terrova 80lb 60" US2 with i-pilot pre-installed? most places normal retail on this is $1399 for the current model.
Corker makes a good point. maybe I will see if I can find the current model on clearance somewhere.
10-01-2011, 10:29 AM
Jason Halfen #511

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimp

Is the US2 version compatible with most DI units available ? Does it work well or it better to use the ducer that comes with your unit?

No, the US2 transducer supports the frequencies used in traditional 2D sonar. It does not support the high frequencies (455 kHz and/or 800 kHz) used for Down Imaging. To get a DI image, you will need to use the transducers that come with the DI units; you can still use the US2 transducer with the DI units, but you will only get access to 2D sonar, not the high resolution DI image.
10-01-2011, 11:41 AM
Corker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511

No, the US2 transducer supports the frequencies used in traditional 2D sonar.

...rendering US2 worthless to high end users who have high end gear in all categories.
10-01-2011, 11:56 AM
jimp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Halfen #511

No, the US2 transducer supports the frequencies used in traditional 2D sonar. It does not support the high frequencies (455 kHz and/or 800 kHz) used for Down Imaging. To get a DI image, you will need to use the transducers that come with the DI units; you can still use the US2 transducer with the DI units, but you will only get access to 2D sonar, not the high resolution DI image.

thanks for the clear and understandable answer. I am considering a DI unit up front, so good info to have.
10-01-2011, 12:22 PM
Jason Halfen #511

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corker

...rendering US2 worthless to high end users who have high end gear in all categories.

Under those circumstances, DI would be accessible from a transom mount transducer and could be shared with all DI-capable units through ethernet networking.
10-01-2011, 12:34 PM
Corker

A transom-mounted DI/SI transducer doesn't give me what I want. I'm up front and a transom-mounted transducer is 16' behind my TM and almost 30' away from the water I'm fishing. Sharing a view of the wrong water isn't helpful.
10-01-2011, 08:27 PM
Cane Pole

1 Attachment(s)

I have had good luck with the US2.

Pic is US2 with DI overlay (right screen) and DI only (left screen).
10-02-2011, 08:00 AM
wilbur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corker

A transom-mounted DI/SI transducer doesn't give me what I want. I'm up front and a transom-mounted transducer is 16' behind my TM and almost 30' away from the water I'm fishing. Sharing a view of the wrong water isn't helpful.

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