Ipilot Link spot lock

Tested spot lock for the first time today. When it drifts off the spot it powers to what seems to be 10 toward the spot. Is this normal operating procedure. If so not too impressed with this feature.

Spot lock on ipilot has always been that way. Pretty much useless in any wind at all. On a calm day it works great though.

Thanks Feelay. I was hoping someone on here had some kind of fix for it. Pretty sharp guys on here with a lot of great ingenuity. I don't remember the last time I went fishing and the wind didn't blow.

Most of us don't buy an ipilot for the spot lock....an anchor and rope is lots cheaper.

Well didn't buy it for spot lock but you'd think for $1800 all the features would work in any conditions. JMO.

If you think about it...it would be almost impossible for that to work. The thing would have to constantly monitor actual wind speed to compensate. Not to mention that not all boats are affected the same by wind. That is a tall order.

It is an awesome feature when you are rigging a pole or taking a leak when fishing by yourself. Keep using it tho, you will get accustom to its tendancies and find it very use full, much better in lower winds conditions.

Thanks Rees. Not giving up on it. I like all the other features. Really like the go to waypoint feature. It was worth the money alone just for that. I'm sure I will like it when the winds not blowing. Wanted it mainly for fishing shallows during the spawn but marked some fish in 25 ft deep water today and was trying to stay on top of them but the wind was a little more than it would handle.

Chains works better in high wind conditions for sure, heck I used em in Turkey Creek most of last spring.

From what I understand it monitors a GPS location. That being said all I would like to do is be able to control the speed at which it goes back to that point. Instead of going at a power of 10 you could set it to be max power of 5 and this would slow down the rate of which it returns to the spot. The 5 being an adjustable max speed by the boat owner due to every boat being different as you explained.
I'm no engineer but as smart as this thing is it would seem as though they could enhance this feature as they do with software on fish finders.

Im not bashing the unit but if enough fishermen asked for this enhancement Hummingbird would consider it.

Rees, will the chain hold you in one spot? I know I've seen people dragging chains for slowing your speed but I didn't know you could actually use them as an anchor. I guess if you had enough chain it could work as an anchor. Thanks for that idea I'll use that as an option.

Depends on what size chains you got, with my extensions on mine I HAVE to pull em. Also more rope out gives you more leverage .

The new update helps it makes it not ramp up the speed so quick. You have to have a hb unit to do it with

That's what I'm talking about. I'm going to call HB tomorrow. Thanks CLF1! Have you installed the update or know someone that has?

Got to have the Link in order to update and have it hooked to a Bird if not mistaken.

Got the link connected with the Ethernet cable to the 1198. Rees is this what you're talking about? Has anyone on the site done this yet?

It can be updated then, there are some threads on BBC about it and I think I saw one hear in the electronics forum.

You have to download it to a card along with updates for your hb then put your card in unit and it does it

Yes I have done the update

Yes on the update and spotlock working better. Great tool just takes some getting used to what it will and won't do or I guess you could say how it does it. Not perfect, but an advantage.

Gotta agree with Rees, it's a great feature when your changing baits or rigging. I don't use it to hover over say a brush pile or something but overall it's a great unit. Love the track system.

The problem with the spot lock is the same problem with the cruise control, and even the auto pilot in the wind. The processor in the TM doesn't think in REAL TIME. It takes to long to figure the wind speed, especially when it's gusting. It allows the wind to blow you off course to far before it figures out where you are. Then it Rips you back to the spot, or on gusting days, it blows you off course in auto pilot, and you have to keep adjusting the speed and turning it manually to keep it in position.

You still gotta drive em in windy conditions!!!!!!! :-)

Yep. Know what you mean about the auto pilot as well on windy days. All in All its a good unit. I don't know anything comparable. Been known to be on the bleeding edge before. I know it will get better as technology advances. Thanks Shine Runner and BRM!