Topic: DIGITROL V w-Cannonlink and 997C

[Turkeyhunter1]

I received a Cannon MAG5 ST electric down rigger for Christmas and I may want to exchange it for a Digitrol 5 unit.

I know I need a Cannonlink controller, but both Humminbird and Cannon both state they no longer make this unit. It is still available it seems on-line. Cannon said they stopped making it because of limited interest in the unit and not for performance.

I was looking for some feedback on the cannonlink system and bottom tracking feature using the 997C, (unit is from ~2008).  I hate to invest the $$ if the system is unreliable. My main desire is the bottom tracking and jigging capability it is supposed to have.



Thanks,

Steve

[babarosa]

I have the 798 and would not want the digital 5 with out the cannonlink. it makes everything so much easier to use. all the functions are available on the screen of the plotter making for much easier programing and monitoring of the downrigger. No need for the digitroll 10 if you got the cannonlink and the digitroll 5.

[EZM]

If you are asking if the digitroll 5 works with cannonlink as advertised - with all the features such as bottom track the answer is yes it does.

I have seen it in use and was amazed at how easy it works - and you don't leave the captain's chair!!!!

This is why I have now turned to the "dark side" and went with humminbird and cannon equipment on my 2013 boat.

My Lowrance and Scotty stuff will be sold with my 2011 boat ......

The only piece of the puzzle missing for Johnson Outdoors is getting Lakemaster to make some maps for Western Canada.

[Turkeyhunter1]

Thanks for the replies.  I am fnding that several of the on-line sites that advertise the Cannonlink modual do not actually have it.

Do you run it off your engine battery or did you install a separate battery as recommended?  I am limited on space.

[babarosa]

I run two dig fives off my start battery and my i piolet off a seperate battery. 16 ft welded john, average six hours per a trip,never had a problem so far. Just don't have the room for the extra battery. I have carried a jump start pak,but have never needed it. Hope this helps.

[Turkeyhunter1]

Well it took me forever, but I found myself a Cannonlink module.  The first company sent me an AS-Interlink module .

It appears that because my unit has a GPS I need a Y-Cable which did not come with the module unfortunately.  In searching the box my humminbird came in.. (2008)... There was a Y-cable in it. However, the cable for the accessory com section only has 4 pins while the wiring for the cannonling module-to-fishfinder has 6 pins.  Does anyone know if this Y cable is the correct one? Are two of the pins inactive on the cannonlink module?  The cannonlink manual calls out a AS-YC(Y) cable, but there is no marking on the Y-cable I have that came with the  997C fishfinder.

Thanks,

Steve

[Trytoofish]

they should be the same. you want to plug the cannon link into the acc plug,not the NMEA plug

http://store.humminbird.com/products/322946?product_id=1e8bbd959b03c5e54a87fa951d9aaa83

[autopilot70]

Does this setup use the Humminbird transducer, or do you need the seperate Cannon transducer? I'm very interested in the bottom track feature.

[Turkeyhunter1]

If you have a Humminbird system that works with the Cannonlink module it works with the Huminbird transducer.  I have yet to hook it up and try it, but others say it works very well.

[Mark Saikaley]

I installed my newly purchased Cannon Digi 5 downrigger and cannonlink module and connected it to my existing 997 C SI Humminbird sonar. The sonar has the latest software installed available for the 997 C SI.  I did the installation in my laneway so have not put it on the water yet, so I am wondering if the issue I encountered will be resolved with the boat actually launched?

The issue is that none of the downrigger views appears except in the "accessories" menu. But in this one there not as many menu options visible as documented. Simply the cannonlink edit option, but none of the others such as park or activate.

I have since noted in the manual two things. In activation it says to press menu during start up of the 997 which I neglected to do and plan to try this evening when I get home from work. I still would have thought that this would be the same menu visible from the accessories menu? Is this not the case?
BTW, the 997 CSI is in advanced mode and yes the views for the downrigger screens are all set to visible.  The status also shows that the cannonlink is detected

The second thing I noticed in the cannonlink manual found at the Humminbird website is that it only stated that the cannonlink support the mag 20's ??

[Mark Saikaley]

In case anyone is interested, the CannonLink worked great with my 997 CSI and new Cannon Digi Troll 5 . Caught a nice 4.1 lb lake Trout on a lake that this would be a desireable size catch within a few minutes of running on the cycle mode. I was also running on the bottom tracking mode for a couple hours prior and it worked exactly as set up. I dont understand why the cannonlink would have been discontinued as I love this capability. Still need to get used to the operations but got up to speed on it pretty quick. Exception is I seem to need to do some sort of reset if I use the "auto up" feature on the digitrol console to bring the ball up . This seems to remove soem of the controls from the 997 .

[Turkeyhunter1]

I hooked mine up about 4-6 weeks ago, but Turkey season held me up on really trying ot out. I have used it a few times since and it worked great and did everything as advertised. It did drain my engine battery though when trolling 1mph or less with the kicker. I placed a Davis Lil' Fella trolling plate on the kicker so I could run at a higher RPM at low speeds and no issues with low battery voltage since.

I agree, I do not understand why they stopped making the module. The rep said it was because of minimal interest in it by customers. They were not selling enough of them.

[Mark Saikaley]

Thanks for the heads up regarding the battery. I have a trolling plate for slow trollubg but when fishing for salmon on Lake Ontario this summer the rpms and speed are up higher

In regard to the demand, all I know is with so many high priced 'toys' now for fishing it takes a while to get around to all the equipment and its more budget than interest that took me time to add this. It more the price of the down riggers that was daunting than the cannonlink itself but Im glad I took the plunge.  Id love to have a second digi down rigger .

[liketrolling]

any one know where to buy the Cannonlink, I would like to buy a digitrol 5 if I can find a Cannonlink.   

[Trytoofish]

might check here, Cannon quit making ,

http://www.marinegeneral.com/productdetails.asp?productid=1552086&directoryid=11600&parentid=11406

[liketrolling]

Thanks for the help but they don't have any Humminbird CannonLinks. looks like I will not be able to find one. so will buy another Cannon Mag 10 Stx Electric Downrigger. 

[Turkeyhunter1]

I got mine at boaterbarn.com

[newkid4si]

This has worked for me in the past. Contact Canon and ask for the District Rep for your area.
Contact the rep directly. They may be able to help find one for you.