Fishfinder/GPS advice Side imaging?

[fowlthing]

On my wish list over the next year is to upgrade my electronics.  I have down imaging 5 inch screen Lowrance  up front and 7 inch down imaging and GPS at the console.

 

I believe I want to go with Hummingbird next time.  My real question is concerning SI on the front unit.. does anyone use that much?  And would it be helpful up front... or more for cruising around with the console unit?  

 

Thanks for any input

[176champion]

I have heard pros and cons of SI on the bow....i think you have to be moving at about 2 mph for it to work the last i heard....I have a helix 7 sonar and down scan on the bow....i believe it's like golf balls and golf clubs it would be a personal choice....lol

[bobby b.]

I have the Helix 10 mega Chirp SI on the console and the Helix 9 Sonar only using the universal sonar of the trolling motor on the front and the two are connected together.  I can see the console DI and SI image on the front if I choice but I find that the front screens I use almost exclusively are as follows:chart/sonar, sonar/2x sonar split, chart/sonar/rear DI.  So I find that I don't need the SI upfront - I do use the SI rear allot to cruise looking for fish and structure.  This setup saved about $1000 as the front unit was only about $600 versus the console at $1600.  Tying the two units together is important to me.  I think there was a couple hundred in cost for wiring for the connection.  I'm very pleased with the setup.  

[Dutch]

When I first got into structure scan I had the side imaging at the back.  I'd see all kinds of stuff while fishing but could never get a good fix on going back to it so I mounted one on the trolling motor.  I use it quite a bit when fishing banks that I don't know real well.

[bobby b.]

14 minutes ago, Dutch said:

When I first got into structure scan I had the side imaging at the back.  I'd see all kinds of stuff while fishing but could never get a good fix on going back to it so I mounted one on the trolling motor.  I use it quite a bit when fishing banks that I don't know real well.

That's why I tied the two units together.  When I see something of interest on the rear I "mark" it and the location shows up instantly on the front.   The same with the front unit marking showing up on the console.     

[fowlthing]

Thanks for the feedback... very helpful

[marimac1944]

I have hummingbird helix 5 si/gps unit up front mounted to trolling motor. There is a way that with mmc card and multi-card reader to a usb port on computer. you are able to download recorded data from unit and use computer screen to enlarge  views and pick up waypoints that can be transferred back to unit. Cost for mmc card and adapter is about $20 bucks. You can find on internet a step by step  process which you can name point and info on a list. Been a while since I saw on tips and tricks of larger units that have same software installed. Have only used the side range to get larger pic on smaller unit. Believe tutorial is attached to a 1198 unit as far as how to setup and document all data. Of coarse the larger unit owners probably know more about this trick, just suggesting something I found a couple of years ago, maybe things have changed or updated. Just found that trick when I was updating equipment for next boat. 

[dan hufferd]

3 hours ago, Dutch said:

When I first got into structure scan I had the side imaging at the back.  I'd see all kinds of stuff while fishing but could never get a good fix on going back to it so I mounted one on the trolling motor.  I use it quite a bit when fishing banks that I don't know real well.

I had that trouble too until I figured out that what I was seeing and where I marked it are two different things. In other words when you place a way point it places it on the map where the head unit is, not where the transducer is. Say there is 6 feet between your transducer and your head unit, you are moving forward and you drop a way point, later you turn around and try to find it now it is 12 feet from where you actually viewed it, even though you are on the way point. That is if you are exactly 180 degrees from you original mark. .

Through the hull transducers, auxiliary gps antenna mounted  over the transducer, or the head unit in the front right over the transducer, will over come this.

I hope that helps. My set up is very inexpensive compared to most.

[Dutch]

You also have to take into account that you may be +- 20' to begin with.  Most gps units aren't that accurate.

[nomolites]

2 hours ago, dan hufferd said:

I had that trouble too until I figured out that what I was seeing and where I marked it are two different things. In other words when you place a way point it places it on the map where the head unit is, not where the transducer is. Say there is 6 feet between your transducer and your head unit, you are moving forward and you drop a way point, later you turn around and try to find it now it is 12 feet from where you actually viewed it, even though you are on the way point. That is if you are exactly 180 degrees from you original mark. .

Through the hull transducers, auxiliary gps antenna mounted  over the transducer, or the head unit in the front right over the transducer, will over come this.

I hope that helps. My set up is very inexpensive compared to most.

If you drop the WP on your SI image with the cursor it will place it where you put it....that is how I usually mark brush, boulders, etc.  I also have the puck for my head(yes, I have an older 998) mounted above the transducer so I get an accurate mark either way.   Trouble is, at times I still can't catch fish....🤔

Mike