Topic: 898 + 858c HD DI Sharing Navigation

[Jerzrae]

I currently have an 898 at the console but I am currently thinking of adding an 858c HD DI. What I would like to do is have the 898 run SI and the 858 run DI and navigation. If I have the units connected through ethernet, and just use the GPS puck connected to the 898, will the 858 be capable of displaying the navigation without having a GPS puck connected to it? Is this all possible if the only transducer being used is the one connected to the 898? Thanks in advance!!

[bobcoy]

You can choose to use any gps or transducer on the ethernet network. Just assign those features to the units you want them used on. Bob

[Humminbird_Greg]

With both units Ethernet connected, they can use just the one GPS Receiver.

The 858c HD DI unit will not be able to use the Di sonar from the 898 unit – only the 200/83kHz 2D sonar.  You would need to make a change to the Connected Transducer menu setting in the 858c HD DI unit for this.  If this is how you are going to run these units it would be cheaper to buy a non-DI model unit like the 858c HD (if you can still find one) or the 859ci HD model.

[Jerzrae]

So if I wanted to have DI and SI displayed separately on each unit, they would have to be connected to their own transducer correct? Or are there any other units that would be able to show DI sharing one transducer?   

[Humminbird_Greg]

Correct, each unit would need to be connected to their own transducer to be able to display Si and DI sonar.

The only way for two units to display Si and Di sonar off the same transducer would either be for them to both be Si units, like two 898 units, or for them both to be ONIX (or ION) units.
The first because there is no way for a DI transducer to work like an Si transducer.  The DI transducers have only one downwards pointing sonar beam – not two sideways and down pointing sonar beams (one pointing left the other right).  So you would have to use an Si transducer.  The Di sonar from an Si transducer is derived from the left and right Si sonar data.  So the Di sonar you would be seeing would be the same that you see on your 898 unit (the 858c HD DI unit uses a transducer with a dedicated DI sonar element).
The ONIX/ION units use a different Si transducer which has an additional DI dedicated element within it and so can produce the same level of DI sonar that you see on the 858c HD DI unit.

[bobcoy]

It looks like we will soon be able to share DI with SI?DI units an vs-vrsa very soon.   Software Update 6.900/6.940

[Jerzrae]

If that's true, that woud be so sweet!!

[bobcoy]

NEW Software Update 6.900/6.940
General Fixes

Removes NMEA0183 functionality when i-Pilot Link is connected
Corrects issues caused when user follows the contour while recording an iTrack and AutoPilot is turned on.
Corrects issue where iTracks were not being deleted from all units on the network
Corrects POS mode allowing Chart/Side Combo view to now be seen

New Features


Adds support for AutoChart PC and Zeroline SD cards*
Adds sonar sharing features where the 999ci HD SI transducer on the network can be shared with a non SI (X)X59ci HD (2014) product through the Network Source Set Up Adv. tab. It also allows SI units to subscribe to dedicated DI. Both units must have software version 6.900 or higher. This software release for other 2014 products will be staggered between March 31 and mid May 2014.

Approximate release schedule of other models:
1159ci HD DI, 959ci HD DI and 859ci HD DI - April 21
1159ci HD, 959ci HD and 859ci HD - May 8
1159ci HD XD, 959ci HD XD, 859ci HD XD - May 28
Model specific changes
Added Navionics Platinum+ compatibility to the 899ci HD SI. This feature will also be added to the 859ci HD DI, 859ci HD and 859ci HD XD based on above release schedule.
*This feature will be available on earlier HD versions of the 800, 900 and 1100 Series products in July 2014.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Sharing the dedicated DI transducer or the HDSi transducer may be possible when your units get the 6.900/6.940 software update but you still will not be able to get both Si sonar and dedicated DI sonar out of one transducer.  The HDSi transducer of your 898 unit does not have the dedicated DI element within it.  The DI transducer does not have the Si elements within it.  The best you would be able to do is use the HDSi transducer and (if the software allows it) display the Si derived Di sonar on the 858c HD DI unit.  You would be able to do this with a less expensive 858c HD (non-DI) model unit.

If you run both transducers you will have to watch your frequency selections on both units so you are not using the same one in both or you could start seeing sonar cross-talk.

[Jerzrae]

Is it the same result if I moved up to a more current 859ci hd di instead?

[Humminbird_Greg]

Yes.

[Jerzrae]

Would the setup work if the other unit was a SI one? 

[Humminbird_Greg]

Yes and No.
Yes is that both units would be able to share Si sonar and therefore the Di sonar that is derived from it.
No in that the Di sonar that you would see would be the same Di sonar that you have now with your 898 unit – not the more dedicated detailed DI sonar of the DI model units.

I just don’t see any way to do this with one transducer unless you buy two ONIX units.

[Jerzrae]

I was afraid of that. Thanks Greg for clearing things up. Any idea how much of a difference there is between the DI display between SI and DI units? 

[Humminbird_Greg]

Not sure how to explain it but it is a noticeable difference.
I don’t have any screen snapshots of the same structure for comparison purposes.