Unit Placement On Aluminum

[Sonik]

I am looking for some advice. I have 3 Humminbird units:

180 (2D sonar, gray scale)

798 (side/down imaging, networkable, color)

859 (side imaging, networkable, color)

The 859 has a much better screen than the 798 but no side imaging. This goes on an Alumacraft Pro 175 with a 60hp So I'm on a lot of 10hp/no wake/electric only lakes.

The 180 is at the console already So I've thought about putting the 798 with it and putting the 859 on the bow.

What would you all do?

[Wayne P.]

First of all, I would learn what models I have. You stated first that the 859 has Side Imaging and neither 859 has Side Imaging. There is a 2D unit and a DI unit.

859ci HD Combo

859ci HD DI Combo

 

What do you mean by "networkable"?

If you have the Ethernet compatable 798, that is the 798ci HD SI Combo. It is also INTERLINK compatable.

If you have one of the other two 798's they can only use INTERLINK to share data. 798c SI Combo, 798ci SI Combo.

 

The 859's are not INTERLINK compatable, just Ethernet compatable.

INTERLINK has been discontinued.

 

The 798's have a much higher pixel density display, 31,170.5 pixels per square inch as opposed to 17,533.4 pixels per square inch for the 859.

The 800 series has a larger display, but not "better".

 

As to which technology you would want where depends on your operating knowledge for Side Imaging. I use Side Imaging for fishing and searching.

Your style of fishing would also determine which technology you would want where.

Your avatar would suggest you fish for crappie, so the DI unit at the bow would be the most useful for fishing offshore cover with split screen Chart/2D sonar.

[Wayne P.]

One more thing, both 859's are also compatable with the 360 Imaging if you decide to add that later.

 

I have four Side Imaging units, two 2D units, a DI unit and the 360 I can use on my 16' Tracker.

I fish mostly 10 HP limited waters and electric-only waters.

Typically I just use three SI units on the HP limited waters and just one SI unit on electric-only waters, maybe one of the 2D units for extra stuff like sonar logging. I do more than just fishing.

[Sonik]

Haha. Well, I did write that while sitting on the can. Sorry. Yes, the 859 is down imaging, not side imaging. It's the 859ci HD DI. The 798 is the 798ci HD SI. As far as the screen quality, I suppose I was intending that to mean size. And thanks for the clarification on connecting them. I would still need to pick up the interlink equipment down the line.

I do a fair amount of crappie/bluegill/redear fishing. It's about 50/50 between that and bass.

[Wayne P.]

You cannot use the AS INTERLINK accessory with the 859ci HD DI Combo. You can only use Ethernet and you would only need the Ethernet cable and an Ethernet adaptor for both units to get the connection.

You would only need extra stuff if you want to add additional Ethernet equipment.

 

The discontinued INTERLINK is a data storage box and two cables to connect two units together to share GPS data.

 

I don't know for sure about the 798ci HD SI Combo, but both 859 series units and larger display models will cross-share technologies and display Side Imaging from a Side Imaging unit. That is a new feature added via software update. You will find that out when you do the Ethernet connection.

[Sonik]

I need to look into this Humminbird ethernet and how that works with units. If this was computers, routers, switches, and firewalls, I would be much more comfortable with that IEEE 802.3 version of ethernet. Maybe it is the same and Humminbird is just putting proprietary connectors on it instead of RJ45's using 568B. A quick google search looks almost like coax barrel connectors though.

One with data networking experience would say to connect the units directly through a cat6 crossover cable with RJ45 connectors. Or run them the same wau but through a layer 2 switch and straight through cables. The connectivity could be done at 1Gbps speeds to 5 units for about $50.

But nooooo. Humminbird has to go do all this proprietary stuff that needs adapters.

[Comfortably Numb]

700 on console with si transducer on transom.

800 on bow with transducer on trolling motor