Topic: GPS Receiver Compatibility-Old & New HB 900 & 1100 series

[nwifishnut]

I currently have a 917c which is not Ethernet capable and an older external GPS receiver. I am not sure what the GPS receiver model number is but it is about 5  years old.  This spring I will be purchasing a 1199 si for the console and a Minn kota Terrova US2 sonar with I pilot link.  I will continue to use the 917 in the bow hooked to the US2 transducer on the Terrova.  I would like to replace the old GPS receiver with the AS GPS HS heading sensor receiver & Y cable it to the 917c and the new 1199.  However, the HB website indicates that the 917c isn't compatible with the AS GPS HS.  I really don't care about the heading sensor capability for the 917c if I have it on the 1199.  My questions are:  1. If a 917c is connected to the AS GPS HS, will the 917 c GPS functions operate normally minus the heading sensor, or will the 2 units (receiver and  917c) not work together at all?   2.  If they will not interface minus the heading sensor, then I may or may not want to purchase a ASGRP receiver instead.  My question here is will either the ASGRP or AS GPS HS receivers interface with the 1199?  The accessory website doesn't indicate that they will or will not.  3.  What is the difference in accuracy between the ASGRP and the internal GPS receiver in the new 1199 and will the 1199 internal receiver have sensor heading? 

[LocDown]

Install the HS puck to the 1199 and tell the 1199 to use that GPS instead of the internal one.
The GRP puck is a 50sat sensor, while the HS is also 50sat but also has a built-in compass to always show you what direction the boat is pointing to. I would believe both of those pucks would work with the 1199. As for if these are better than the internal, I don't know that answer but placing the GPS receiver close to the transducer will improve your chances of finding your waypoint again. Your +/- distance error between the display and transducer is greatly reduced.

[Humminbird_Greg]

My guess is that the GPS Receiver you have from your 917c is either a GR16 or a GR50.  You can tell which it is by what is printed on the top of it.  The GR16 will have: “GPS ACCESSORY SYSTEM” while the GR50 will have: “AS-GR50 GPS MODULE” printed under the “HUMMINBIRD” text.  Either will work with the 917c or the 1199ci HD Si units.

The GRP and GPS-HS should have the same accuracy.  I don’t know about the accuracy of the internal GPS Receivers for the 1199ci HD Si unit but fully agree with what LocDown stated about wanting the GPS Receiver closer to the transducer for better accuracy.

The 917c will not work at all with the GPS-HS GPS Receiver as it will not have the correct software to do so.  I’m not sure what would happen if you plugged it up but I suspect that it would not recognize it at all.  The 917c will work with the GRP GPS Receiver if you are running the latest 6.300 update in the 917c unit.

Both the GPS-HS and the GRP GPS Receivers will work with the 1199ci HD Si unit.

The 1199ci HD Si units do not have an internal heading sensor.

My recommendation is to keep the GR16/GR50 GPS Receiver with the 917c unit and since it sounds like you want the heading sensor on the 1199; get the GPS-HS GPS Receiver for it.  If you want to link the two units to share waypoints that still can be done through an Ethernet connection.

[nwifishnut]

Greg & LocDown,

Thank you for responding.  Greg, I did not think the 917c was Ethernet capable.  The specs say it will work with interlink, but no mention of Ethernet.  Was there an update?

[Humminbird_Greg]

No, it was just a senior moment for me. 

The 917c is not Ethernet capable, sorry about that.

[nwifishnut]

Greg,
You had me pretty excited there about Ethernet for the 917c.  Here is a different idea.  Is there some way to interface the 917c, 1199, and the terrova  with the old Interlink system using a single non directional gps puck?  There would be 2 gps inputs....1 from the terrova to the 1199 and a second from the non directional puck shared by the 917 & 1199?   I would rather not go this route, but would like to find a way for the units to share gps data.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Not that I know of.  The 1199 will be able to use either the InterLink or Ethernet communication.  Once the Ethernet (i-Pilot Link) is connected it will not communicate via the InterLink.