Topic: Mounting an SI transducer beside a standard transdoucer

[Gord Schultz]

Morning All,

I'm getting ready to start mounting my 1198 and 1158 this week and I've been getting conflicting information on mounting the 2 transducers.  I run both of these units at my console.  The 1198 show DI/SI and standard Sonar while the 1158 show my map and sometimes standard sonar.  Can I mount (and run) the two transducers side by side or should I run them on opposite side from each other?  I have been told that I will get too much interference running them side by side and then I was told it was okay.  I would prefer to limit the number of holes in my transom   My beam is 96" if that makes any difference?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Gord

[Humminbird_Greg]

Gord,
Running two sonar units on the same boat (or even close to another boat) that are using the same frequency (200kHz) can result in sonar-to-sonar interference – no way around that.  The water depth, how the transducers are angled, the distance between transducers, water conditions and the type and shape of the lake bottom will all influence this.  Best bet is to mount them as far apart as possible.  The bonus here is that the farther apart you install the two transducers: the less Si sonar will be blocked by the 1158’s transducer.  The Si sonar radiates out of the sides of the HDSi transducer, so anything directly to the left or right of it can cause some blockage of the Si sonar to that side.  At the same time you are trying to install these two transducers as far apart as you can you have to also install them so that they will both work.  If you want either or both units to work at high boat speeds you will need to locate that transducer in an area where the transducer will not get any air bubbles flowing across it.

Some things to think about:
1.) If you want high-speed depth readings than consider installing an inside-the-hull transducer if you have a fiberglass boat.

2.) The 1158c and 1198c Si units are both Ethernet capable units.  Instead of installing the 1158’s transducer: just have it share the 2D sonar from the 1198c Si unit over the Ethernet connection *you will have to buy an Ethernet connection cable for this).

[Gord Schultz]

Hey Greg thanks for the reply.  I was thinking the ethernet is the way to go as well sharing the GPS puck as well as the transducer info (certainly a lot less clunky).  I was going to install the second transducer as a backup, but I think I'll keep it in a box for the time being.  Thanks again!