Topic: Ideas on adding a second unit to the bow.

[Rotus623]

The best thing that I have noticed about SI, being a live bait fisherman, is that it makes catching schools of bait, even in the winter, way easier. THe only complaint that I have is that the transducer is on the transom, so I have to really backtrack to net the bait once I find it.

 I have an 898 on the console. I'd like to be able to read and cater to my graph while Im on the casting deck. I have 2 options to make my life easier.

Option #1. Get a swivel mount so that I can turn the unit to face up front, and also get a second transducer for the trolling motor with a transducer switch. Id also have to get a swivel mount.This way I can see whats going on up front, and have my SI working from the front when bait hunting, instead of way out of reach in the rear of the boat. Can be had for about $280. Upside is larger screen, SI up front, and no more battery draw. Down side is the sides would be backwards, and it is a bit pricey.

Option #2. Get a humminbird 345 DI and mount in on the bow, with the transducer on the trolling motor. Can be had for $217.00 Upside is dedicated unit, and who wouldnt want a second unit? Down side is DI but no SI up front, smaller screen, more main battery draw (for very little time), and chance for sonar interference. Id like to be able to network two units, but I don't want to drop the $700 for the network capable 788 DI.


What do you guys think? Seems like Im leaning toward option #2. My main concern is the interference between units. Is there an easy way around this?

[Rotus623]

Was thinking about getting a 346 with DI for the bow, with a TM transducer. Then keeping my 898 on the dash. Could I run 200khz for 2d and 800khz for DI up front, and then run 83khz for 2d and 455khz for SI on the dash? That way I could keep the tighter beam up front so when Im trying to castnet bait I can keep it concentrated, without getting cross talk from the units? Or is it not possible to dictate which frequencies the 346 puts out?

[Rotus623]

I know one of you guys have a good answer!!

[Rotus623]

C'mon guys gimme some insight! Can I run one unit on 200khz and the other on 83khz?

[newkid4si]

The person with the answer to running that many frequencies at once would be Greg.
He checks in nearly every day. Hang on.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Well he would be if his home PC didn’t die on him!

Some problems I see with using the 346c DI would be that with the DI transducer normally mounted on the trolling motor, it does scan outwards nearly as much as an Si transducer does.  I don’t know at what water depths you are looking for bait in but they would have to be pretty close to under the transducer for the unit to show them.  Than all you would know is that they were somewhere between XX feet to the left, directly under or XX feet off to the right of the transducer.  By default the 346c DI unit will use the 455kHz 2D sonar for water depth.  I don’t think that will interfere with the Si sonar from your 898 unit but cannot guarantee that.  Using the 455kHz DI sonar may interfere with the 455kHz Si sonar of the 898 unit but only when you have the trolling motor at a 90 degree (left or right) angle.

The 898 unit will always be using the 200kHz 2D sonar even if you have it set to display only the 83kHz 2D sonar.  It uses the 200kHz to determine water depth and so will always be transmitting and receiving at that frequency.

Your best option may be with the second Si transducer, swivel for the unit and Transducer Switch.  You could use a less expensive Si transducer, like the Compact Side Imaging XNT-9-Si-180-T transducer to lower your cost but that would also lower the detail the unit would have for the 455kHz Si sonar (and there would be no 800kHz Si sonar).

Another, more expensive, option would be to go with a more expensive unit that has Si sonar capability like the 598 or a 798 unit.

[Rotus623]

Well ok then! Thanks for the detailed answer. I guess I have some thinking to do.

[Chuckd67]

 Use your video out to a 12 v remote monitor on the front. They can be found very reasonable. Then mount a trolling motor transducer on the trolling motor with a switch. This is also a perfect for controlled drifting while reading your chart and 2d on the front. Jusayin.

[Rotus623]

Good idea chuck! I will look into that.

[Rotus623]

Chuck any ideas on waterproof 12v monitors?

[Dieago]

There is a third option that will save you money! Get a fishing buddy teach him to throw cast net and pay for half your gas expenses Then you sit at console and tell him when to throw. and he can also help clean fish.

[Rotus623]

Diego, I have fishing buddies that come all the time. Often it is a different person. Plus I want to be the one responsible if I snag and lose my $200 cast net. I love marking and catching bait. It's one of my fav things.

Anyways, I added a swivel mount up front and got a foot pedal for my minnkota terrova. That way I can see my graph and have both hands on my net. I will see how that goes in tracking and netting bait, and ill check back in!

[Rotus623]

[Dieago]

Rotus Did anyone ever get back with you on where to get one of the extra monitors ? Im curious to see one of those

[Rotus623]

Yea you can find em on ebay. Look for 12v monitor. They are around $300+ for waterproof ones so I decided ill get a 798 and network it if I have to.