Electronics What would you do different?

I am wanting to upgrade my electronics and want your input. Here is what I would like to do, Mark waypoints from both console and bow. Have GPS capability. Not real sure I would use Side imaging much so give your input on that as well. I'm tight so It doesn't have to be the biggest and baddest set-up out there, just want to find brush and mark fish. Give your input, your research findings and just plain old tried and true methods that work. I like to look at all the angles before I jump into a project. Thanks!

a pair or combination of 859 and 959 di series. If your going to keep them for a long time which I suspect you are, get the 959 as the screen size makes it so much nicer. Im sure you can get comparable in lowrance too.

Instead of buying the 998 when I did wish I had bought 898 and 858. Not much difference in screen size and I could have had both for just a few dollars more than the one.

I too like to mark spots from bow and console and I'm finding out now with the new boat you need to have at least one external GPS puck. I have an internal GPS on the front and it will say I'm right on it when in reality I'm 20ft away. That's about all I can say is make sure to get something with at least external puck capabilities

I'm with you Tyler, but when I asked Talon about external puck, he said it wasn't needed, with the quality of today's internal units.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pool13_Jeff

I'm with you Tyler, but when I asked Talon about external puck, he said it wasn't needed, with the quality of today's internal units.

---

That's what I heard and read too. However, I bought one of the new units that are out (a **9) unit. And I'm here to say that in my case anyways... It sucks!!! Could just be the graph I bought too. Who knows. I'm trying to buy a different unit now and will be selling the one I just bought.

Yep external puck, locate it as close to transducer as possible. Both front and back I have within a foot of transducers. Until the units have a setting where you can tell it the transducer is "X" distance and direction from screen I will stick with external.

Got a new 999 couple weeks ago and notice the internal gps is much quicker responding than my old 997 with external antenna. Faster processors prolly helps. No problem finding waypoints with either model.
Also if ya swap (internal gps) finders between two boats you don't have to buy another asgr antenna for 2nd boat.

I have a Point One a Antenna hooked to both my Lowrance HDS 10 at console and my HDS 8 at bow. It is much quicker than the internal antenna.

Dan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeanV2

I have a Point One a Antenna hooked to both my Lowrance HDS 10 at console and my HDS 8 at bow. It is much quicker than the internal antenna.

Dan

---

That's what I need, the internal is slow an when coming on a waypoint when you get close it all of a sudden changes on you. That's the main reason I don't like to fish brush piles.

Let loose of some of those dusty $$$$ and get a point 1.

HB guys, May want to look into getting a Heading Sensor gps puck. It shows the direction the boat is pointing and were its going (drifting). When at the console I can select the HS GPS on the front of the boat. If I want to mark something while driving I can select the rear GPS puck to mark it. My 858 up front is always selected to use the HS GPS.

Tyler, I may have an extra 50 channel external puck laying around you can have.

Before I go out and get "pucked", I seem to have the same issue with my fishfinders with GPS built in. There is usually a lag between the boat moving and response on screen...maybe all the time.

Where can I get one cheap?

As already mentioned whether you go internal or external keep one thing in mind. You want the GPS sensor and the transducer as close as possible. Internal or Puck at the bow and unless you console locator is mounted very close to the transducer on the back I would use a puck on the stern as well. The closer these two components are together the less error you will have when trying to locate the waypoint later. If you have a Bassboat and you are making WPs with the console locator using internal GPS, your new WPs will be off. Since the GPS these locators are using is not that great the distance of error is magnified.

HS GPS or point 1 pucks are also a step up. I have not noticed greater accuracy on the HS GPS but the compass feature allows the user to keep tabs on other WP in the area and helps clarify where the boat is when sneaking up to mark structure while moving slowly.

Me thinks the 1158DI on Birdman's bow will correct his issue!

Cray hit in on the head once again, don't leave the SI off. Have located and caught fish all summer long using the SI, in the market for a bow unit as well and figure it will be SI equipped as well, 360 is the next step if I continue to slo troll, hopefully long lining will take over and one unit is all I will need then!!!

:biggrinWow! And to think I used only triangulation and an old soup can about half full of lead tied to a piece of cord to find my spots... of course I finally started writing them down to remember them!

We joke about it but my dad and my uncle used to drag an old window weight around Lake Shelbyville right after it was built back before the electronic days! We always had a freezer full of fish!

I've got a 998 on console and hds8 on bow. When fishing the brushpiles the si on the hds8 will show me where the brushpiles are exactly when fishing them. I always know whether I am a few feet off and how far the brushpiles are to each side of me. Although they don't communicate, I like the combo. DI of hds8 is far superior to 998 and sitting on brush it is easier to see the brush di and si compared to the 998. Hds is a little harder to learn but shows fish much better and di is much better. I wish my units could communicate but I like this combo. If I had 2 hds I would probably be just as happy. with the hds you get di and si both. Just my opinion, I'm not trying to start an argument (there are plenty of those on here which is better) but I have both and am PERSONALLY happier with the hds, but they will both find brush almost equally well with side imaging, but hds is bit better and down imaging Is accurate on it. The down imaging isn't much on the 998 nor is the ability to see fish. Speed is better on the hds too if you spider rig. I like the 998 o.k. as a search tool though and hds to fish with. If I wanted to link them I would go hds since you said you like di also. You aren't going to gain much over regular 2d with a down imaging unit only though. And don't buy a 999 for the down imaging it is a side imaging unit really. If you don't want side imaging, want good down imaging and want hummingbird I'd get the dedicated 959's though or 859, but they won't really help you FIND brush unless you are right on top of it. I think you would find side imaging very helpful though no matter what brand you get.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by birdman

That's what I heard and read too. However, I bought one of the new units that are out (a **9) unit. And I'm here to say that in my case anyways... It sucks!!! Could just be the graph I bought too. Who knows. I'm trying to buy a different unit now and will be selling the one I just bought.

---

You should be able to add an external puck to the console unit even though it already has the internal......That should go a long ways to resolving the problem. Error is being introduced when marking a waypoint on the console unit since the GPS antenna is too far from the transducer.
The internal at the bow is OK since it is near the transducer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobB

You should be able to add an external puck to the console unit even though it already has the internal......That should go a long ways to resolving the problem. Error is being introduced when marking a waypoint on the console unit since the GPS antenna is too far from the transducer.
The internal at the bow is OK since it is near the transducer.

---

I bought the external only to find out that the graph I got isnt external capable. ha. go figure. I have hookitbaits 1158 on the front now until I can buy a different unit but I sure as heck dont want go give it back iv fallen in love with it.