Topic: Best Transducer for 859 DI/959 DI?

[Jerzrae]

What would be the best transducers for the 859 DI/959 DI units? Either on the transom or shoot through.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Transom mount you don’t have a choice: XNT-9-DI-T

Shoot through you have a choice between transducers that have the same 2D/DI sonar beams as the XNT-9-DI-T or one that has different (wider) 2D sonar in it:
- XIH-9-DI-T is the standard transom mounted XNT-9-DI-T transducer but comes with an epoxy kit for inside-the-hull mounting.  DI sonar is 75/45 degrees at 455/800kHz plus 2D sonar of 28/16 at 200/455kHz.
- XTM-9-WIDE-DI-20-T is made for the trolling motor (only has a 15 foot cable) but can be installed as an inside-the-hull transducer if you supply the epoxy.  DI sonar is 75/45 degrees at 455/800kHz plus 2D sonar of 20/60 at 200/83kHz.

Which is best would be determined by how you want to use your sonar and if you want to use it while running another sonar unit at the same time.

[Jerzrae]

Preferably, I would like to place it in the bilge area, and only use the unit for GPS and DI. I will be running an 898 with the HDSI transducer at the same time. Which one should I go with in your opinion Greg?

[Humminbird_Greg]

I would go with the XIH-9-DI-T transducer.
The 859/959ci HD DI and 898c HD Si units are going to be getting a software update that will allow them to share DI or Si sonar. This will include the 2D sonar as well.  The transducers will both be mounted at the rear of the boat so I would want the option of the 16/28 degree 455/200kHz 2D sonar.  But you should base this decision off of how you are going to use the two sonar units.  You will not be able to run them both at the same time while using the same frequency without the chance of sonar cross-talk (unless you are sharing sonar through an Ethernet connection which will require that upcoming software update).

[Jerzrae]

Ok, I will go with that transducer. If the 898 is just doing SI and the 859/959 doing gps and DI, what frequencies should I run each of the transducers at to avoid any cross-talk?

[Humminbird_Greg]

Your 898 unit will be using the 200kHz 2D sonar all the time, so your 2D frequency on the DI model unit will have to be set to 455kHz.  The 2D sonar frequency setting on the 898 unit will not matter.

Since you will be using 455kHz for the 2D sonar on the DI model unit you will have to use the 800kHz Si/Di frequency on the 898 unit.  The DI frequency on the DI model unit will have to be set to the 455kHz frequency.