Topic: 788c hd linked to a 998si combo

[cdub]

I just purchased a 788c hd to put on my TM. I already have a 998si combo @ the console. When i link together with a ethernet cable will my waypoints transfer back and forth? Did i make a mistake getting a 788? don't see much about them on the site.

[Humminbird_Greg]

No the waypoints will not transfer via the Ethernet connection – the waypoint data is instead accessed by the other unit just like you an external drive on a computer.  As long as your 998c Si unit is on your 798ci HD Si unit will be able to see and use the waypoints on the 998c Si unit but they are not saved in the 798 unit’s memory (this saves memory space on the units).

[cdub]

Greg, I'm a dummy at this , so please go thru the procedure of getting a waypoint from the 998 to the788.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Saw and answered your email cdub.

This gets a little complicated, but here goes:
To actually have a copy of the waypoints from the 998 unit to the 788 unit you should perform an Export All Nav Data function from the 998 unit to an SD memory card.  Take that same memory card and install it in the 788 unit.  The waypoints will automatically load and the memory card can be removed at that point.

Depending on what software each unit has in it:
 - The 998 unit may have the “Export All Nav Data” menu under the “Nav” menu tab.  If it has newer software it will be in the “Waypoints, Routes, Tracks” menu which is also found under the “Nav” menu tab.  You will have to select “Options”,  “Select All and…”,  “Export”.
 - If the 788ci HD unit has older software you can install the memory card with the 998’s waypoints on it before you power it on.  If it is running newer software you have to install it after the unit is up and running before it will recognize and load the waypoint data.

Be aware that the 998 will have a larger waypoint storage than the 788ci HD unit will.  So you could possibly get to the point that 998 has more waypoints than will load into the 788ci HD unit.

Also be aware that if you change anything with a waypoint on the 998 or 788 unit that it will be treated as a new waypoint and you could end up with two waypoints at the same location.  Example: waypoint 0023 gets renamed to Fishintree02.  When you load the waypoints from the 998 the next time the original waypoint 0023 will also still be there so you will see two waypoints at the same coordinates on your unit.  A way to avoid this is to delete all of the Nav Data from the 788ci HD unit before you load the waypoint data from the 998 unit.  Of course this means that you can only save new waypoints on the 998 unit or you would be deleting new waypoints off of your 788ci HD unit that are not saved on the 998 unit.

It would just be easier to allow each unit to subscribe (share) the waypoint data from each unit.

Oh, whichever way you go with this, be sure and occasionally save the Nav Data from each unit onto your computer in case something goes wrong one day and the waypoint data gets deleted from your units (I did this accidentally on my computer yesterday…).