Topic: Comments Sought On Network Configuration

[jnordyke]

Hi All.  I have a 20 ft aluminum X-Press boat, ostensibly a catfishing boat. I am reconfiguring the boat to serve both for catfishing (anchoring and back-bouncing from the transom end) and crappie fishing (primarily spider rigging from bow).  Currently, I have a 998 C HD SI on the console.  I also have a Terrova trolling motor with US2, and just added I-Pilot Link upgrade.

First, will the following networking configuration work: 
1.  Add a AS ETH 5PXG Networking Hub. 
2.  Put a Helix 7 Chirp GPS G2N (no di/si) on the bow which will plug into the US2 of the trolling motor.   
3.  Move my 998CHDSI to rod rack at back of the boat, and remove/sell/discard the existing SI transducer. 
4.  Connect existing XNT 9 transducer to the 998, as my high-speed depth indicator.
4.  Add a Helix 10 Mega Chirp SI G2N to the console, and install appropriate transducer.
5.  Add a transom-mount 360 system (I'll use offset when fishing with trolling motor down).

My expectations, which you are free to shatter, are that:
1.  The non-DI Helix 7 on the bow can read the US2 of course, the transom 360, and the standard (not mega) 2D Chirp from the Helix 10's MEGA Chirp SI.
2.  The 998CHDSI at the stern will be able to access standard (not mega, not Chirp) 2D, SI, and DI from the Helix 10.
3.  I can get depth when running at speed on the Console Helix 10 from the 998's XNT 9.
4.  I can drive the Ipilot Link from any of the three heads.
5.  All three heads can share waypoints/routes.
6.  All three heads can deploy the transom 360.

An additional question - since the bow-mount Helix 7 will not be installed when I am not using the trolling motor, what type of arrangement or method for protecting its' Ethernet cable can I install when the cable is not plugged into the Helix 7?

Thanks in advance...

John Nordyke

[rnvinc]

Seems to me all of your assumptions should work  ...
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The HELIX 7 will need an AS EC QDE Ethernet adapter cable  ... which will install in the same cable collector that holds the power cable and xducer cable  ...

The cable collector should be secured somewhere it won't get stepped on when not actually connected to the HELIX 7  ...

Rickie

[jnordyke]

Thanks.  I've got stuff on order, but still thinking about which pieces go where for sure, especially since the Helix 7 at the bow and the 998 at the stern are not always necessary depending on how I am fishing (but might be necessary if their transducers/external GPS puck) should be/can be made available on the network.  I may try and frame a shorter, more clear description and post again for advice on how best to connect all the pieces.

[rnvinc]

The AS ETH 5XPG requires 12v power so plan it's installation  ... It should be powered thru a switch so it won't pull power when not in use  ...

Then you will need an Ethernet cable long enough to reach from  ...:

*AS ETH 5XPG to HELIX 7 G2N
*AS ETH 5XPG to 998
*AS ETH 5XPG to HELIX MEGA
*AS ETH 5XPG to Transom 360 (comes with 20ft Ethernet cable)
*AS ETH 5XPG to iLink in Terrova (comes with 20ft Ethernet cable) 

You will need an AS EC QDE adapter cable for the both HELIX units (AS EC QDE is 1ft long)  ...

And you will need the Minn Kota MKR-US2-R to connect the HELIX 7 to US2 for sonar  ...
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The HELIX 7 cables (power, AS EC QDE, and MKR-US2-R) will all reside in the included cable collector that "quick connects" to the Helix 7... Simply disconnect the cable collector when the HELIX 7 is not going to be on the boat   ...

Rickie

[jnordyke]

Thank you.  I had all but the US2 to Helix 7 cable already on order.  I don't want to get transducer happy (it is hard enough to find calm water behind my boat).  So, would you keep the HD SI transducer that came with the 998 installed next to the new MEGA SI, or would you feed the 998 non-mega over the network, and perhaps put the spare XNT 9 DI on the 998 and hope it serves for high speed depth readings when running down the lake?  Or get a dedicated, simple 2D transducer for the high speed depth? 

[jnordyke]

Actually, what transducer will come with the non-di, non-si Helix 7 Chirp G2N?  Would it be a candidate to mount on the transom/attached to the 998 as the 2D high speed depth?

[rnvinc]

Actually, what transducer will come with the non-di, non-si Helix 7 Chirp G2N?  Would it be a candidate to mount on the transom/attached to the 998 as the 2D high speed depth?

HELIX 7 CHIRP Sonar G2N comes with the XNT 9 20 T  ... So it could be used connected to the 998 for 2d  ... (In the 998 Sonar tab - select "Dual Beam" in the "Transducer Selection" Menu to shut off the SI transmitters)  ...

The XHS 9 HDSI 180 T that came with the 998 has the same 2d piezo contained in the XNT 9 20 T  ...

Housing design is what makes the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T more challenging than the XNT 9 20 T for obtaining high speed depth readings  ...

Rickie

[jnordyke]

Thank you Rickie.  I've just about checked everything off my list.  Last one:  Power.  I have a dedicated Type 27 Deep Cycle, 110AH at 20 hour rate, available for sonars exclusively - all pumps and lights are on two Type 27's in parallel.  Are you in the take-the-power-leads-to-the-battery-terminal or the install-heavy-wire-and-a-quality-fuse-block camp when it comes to sonar power?  In my boat layout, there wouldn't be an appreciable difference in wire length...

[rnvinc]

Thank you Rickie.  I've just about checked everything off my list.  Last one:  Power.  I have a dedicated Type 27 Deep Cycle, 110AH at 20 hour rate, available for sonars exclusively - all pumps and lights are on two Type 27's in parallel.  Are you in the take-the-power-leads-to-the-battery-terminal or the install-heavy-wire-and-a-quality-fuse-block camp when it comes to sonar power?  In my boat layout, there wouldn't be an appreciable difference in wire length...

Absolutely I'm in the take-the-power-leads-to-the-battery-terminal or the install-heavy-wire-and-a-quality-fuse-block camp when it comes to sonar power  ...

I use 6 Gauge marine tinned copper multistrand to a Blue Sea spade type Fuze panel  ... and then 10 Gauge marine tinned copper multistrand from the fuse block to each unit  ...

https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/16/61/Fuse_Blocks/ST_Blade

http://www.bestboatwire.com/marine-wire/flat-duplex-dc-boat-wire

A little more spent now is cheap insurance for down the road  ...

Rickie

[jnordyke]

Thank you