Topic: Recommendation for 2nd console unit

[bass1958]

I have a 858 on the bow and a 998si on the console.  They each have their own antennea and are interlinked.  I was thinking about getting a 2nd unit for the console so I can watch side and down image on the 998 and have the 2nd unit display gps contours only (don't need it for sonar).
I have heard that attaching two units to the same antennea will slow down refresh rates a lot, so perhaps one with an internal antennea is the option.  Though it would be nice if I had the y-cable so a waypoint would show up on all 3 units. I have room for anything but a 500 or 700 series would be fine for just gps.
I would like recommendations for the 2nd unit setup.
Thanks

[Wayne P.]

For GPS only, Humminbird has:

Internal GPS antenna models--786ci and 785c2i

External GPS antenna models--785c2, 955c, and 1155c

[bass1958]

Anyone have experience with the internal antennea models and how well they work in a dash?   

[Wayne P.]

I have the 798ci SI but not flush mounted. A friend of mine has the 798ci SI flush mounted at his bow. Both function very well for GPS.

Even all the Lowrance HDS units have an internal GPS antenna and work well flush mounted or not.

Internal GPS antenna models are not an issue with navigation.
Most prefer the GPS antenna as a remote and located near the transducer for accurately returning to a sonar referenced waypoint when the display is console mounted. With the unit mounted at the bow, an external GPS antenna is not a benefit for any reason.
For craft with a radio frequency blocking material (canopy, etc.) above the display, a remote GPS antenna is needed/preferred.

[FuzzyGrub]

Three units in one boat.      Anyway, not sure of how you are using the 898 with GPS maps, but the current 500 and 700 series can not use the platinum cards with the 3D contours.  2D only. 

[Humminbird_Greg]

Just an FYI here:
We currently do not make any of the GPS only models anymore and have not made them for at least a couple of years.  Any of our Sonar-GPS Combo units can be run as a GPS only unit though.

Currently there is no way to connect three units and have them share waypoints “live”.  I’m not sure if this will change with some of the units that have an Ethernet port on them (many of the 2011 model 700 series units will have these).

You can configure two units to use the same GPS Receiver and still be able to have it update at the faster 4x per second rate by using the AS-SysLink cable.  They will not be able to share waypoints through this connection, but that can be accomplished by also sharing an InterLink module between them.

FuzzyGrub is right: depending on which model unit you choose, there may be limits to which map cards they can use.

[bass1958]

3D contours now!?!  Y'all need to stop coming up with this stuff for a second and let me catch up
2D contours will be good enough - just so I can motor around a point or see a hump.  I think I will try the 500 or 700 series with the AS-Syslink cable.