zildjian Posted July 22, 2018 Posted July 22, 2018 Hey guys, I just purchased and installed the MinnKota Ultrex TM with i-pilot, I opted out of the link model. I’m looking to pair it up with a Humminbird Bow unit. Do you guys have any recommendations on which unit to go with? I currently have the 1198 series by the dash but I want something for the bow that’s compatible with the Ultrex. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And I’m assuming I’ll have to purchase a mount for the bow and attachment mount for TM transducer separate? thanks, Zildjian Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted July 22, 2018 Super User Posted July 22, 2018 When you say you want to pair it with a Humminbird Bow unit, I assume you are talking about using the Universal Sonar 2 transducer that is built into the Ultrex. You can use many different fish finders from Humminbird, Garmin, and Lawrance with this transducer. You will need an adapter cable. A complete list of fish finders that will work with the built in transducer and the adapter cable required are listed here. https://www.minnkotamotors.com/learn/technology/trolling-motors/universal-sonar-2 You probably know you must have the i-pilot link Ultex to pair it with a Humminbird fish finder so you can use the i-pilot features from the fish finder. I have the Ultex i-pilot link and Humminbird Solix fish finders. I use the built in transducer on the ultrex and it works great. Mounting a humminbird transducer on the trolling motor would give me a wider range of sonar frequencies and down imaging but I don't want to deal with mounting the transducer and having a wire running down the trolling motor shaft. When I'm at the bow fishing, I mostly just want to know the depth and if there's anything interesting (fish, cover, etc) under the boat. The built in transducer works great for that. 1 Quote
zildjian Posted July 22, 2018 Author Posted July 22, 2018 1 minute ago, Tennessee Boy said: When you say you want to pair it with a Humminbird Bow unit, I assume you are talking about using the Universal Sonar 2 transducer that is built into the Ultrex. You can use many different fish finders from Humminbird, Garmin, and Lawrance with this transducer. You will need an adapter cable. A complete list of fish finders that will work with the built in transducer and the adapter cable required are listed here. https://www.minnkotamotors.com/learn/technology/trolling-motors/universal-sonar-2 You probably know you must have the i-pilot link Ultex to pair it with a Humminbird fish finder so you can use the i-pilot features from the fish finder. I have the Ultex i-pilot link and Humminbird Solix fish finders. I use the built in transducer on the ultrex and it works great. Mounting a humminbird transducer on the trolling motor would give me a wider range of sonar frequencies and down imaging but I don't want to deal with mounting the transducer and having a wire running down the trolling motor shaft. When I'm at the bow fishing, I mostly just want to know the depth and if theirs anything interesting (fish, cover, etc) under the boat. The built in transducer works great for that. Thanks for the reply! Thats exactly what I want, something to hook up to a unit and use the built in transducer to see depth, fish, cover etc. I’m just not sure what unit to get. I want to stick with Humminbird and want something large screened. Yeah I didn’t want the link model because I would barely use that feature. How wide of a range does the built in transducer give you? You seem to like it so I might just use that as well. Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted July 22, 2018 Super User Posted July 22, 2018 The built in transducer supports 200 kHz (20 degree sonar cone) and 83 kHz (60 degree sonar cone). The Humminbird Solix can use both of those frequencies. It can also generate a number of other higher frequencies like 455 and 800 that I cannot use with the built in transducer. These will give you a little more resolution to help in target separation but I don't miss that when I'm up front fishing. Does that answer your question? 1 Quote
zildjian Posted July 22, 2018 Author Posted July 22, 2018 36 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said: The built in transducer supports 200 kHz (20 degree sonar cone) and 83 kHz (60 degree sonar cone). The Humminbird Solix can use both of those frequencies. It can also generate a number of other higher frequencies like 455 and 800 that I cannot use with the built in transducer. These will give you a little more resolution to help in target separation but I don't miss that when I'm up front fishing. Does that answer your question? absolutely, thank you! also, what recommendations of sonar units could you prefer for use of the MK's Universal Sonar 2 built in transducer and does this transducer support water temps? i don't want to purchase a unit that i'll be paying for extra features not capable with the use of the US2. It looks like the US2 only supports 2D sonar,/Gps. so i'm really looking for a 2d sonar unit with the largest screen and best picture. Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted July 22, 2018 Super User Posted July 22, 2018 It's very hard for me to recommend a unit for you. There are many factors to consider like cost, what type of fishing you will be doing, what maps are available for each unit for the lakes you will be fishing. You said you wanted Humminbird. I have two Humminbird Solix 10s and I'm happy with them but I see no reason you can't consider other brands if they meet your needs. Here are some things to consider based on my experiences. If you will be fishing much away from the bank, GPS is critical. I spend more time looking at the map when I'm fishing than I do looking at the sonar graph. I have found that the Lake Master maps for the lakes I fish are much better than any other available. This is one of the main reason I went with Humminbird. Lake Master maps are not available for many lakes so this may not apply to you. You should also consider how the unit you buy fits into any other electronics you have or will add later to the boat. Do you want to network them? Will you want to add some more expensive options in the future like 360 imaging which will require a Humminbird or Panoptix LiveScope which is coming this fall which will require a Garmin? Will you someday want to use the unit you buy on the console and replace it with another unit for the bow? If so you may want to pay extra for side imaging even though you will not be using immediately. Many things to consider. 1 Quote
PECo Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 On 7/22/2018 at 11:20 AM, Tennessee Boy said: I have found that the Lake Master maps for the lakes I fish are much better than any other available. Ditto. Humminbird’s US2 transducer is NOT compatible with DI or SI. In fact, using the US2 transducer with one of Humminbird’s DI units can damage the transducer. However, it CAN handle CHIRP in the 2D bands (i.e., 75-95 kHz and 175-220 kHz). 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted July 27, 2018 Super User Posted July 27, 2018 The cool thing is...now you can get DI built into your Terrova, Ulterra, Ultrex or Fortrex! ...OK, not "now", but soon! 1 Quote
zildjian Posted July 29, 2018 Author Posted July 29, 2018 On 7/26/2018 at 10:04 PM, Further North said: The cool thing is...now you can get DI built into your Terrova, Ulterra, Ultrex or Fortrex! ...OK, not "now", but soon! will this be a swapable option for the US2 transducer? Or only avaiable on the newer units? On 7/26/2018 at 12:17 AM, PECo said: Ditto. Humminbird’s US2 transducer is NOT compatible with DI or SI. In fact, using the US2 transducer with one of Humminbird’s DI units can damage the transducer. However, it CAN handle CHIRP in the 2D bands (i.e., 75-95 kHz and 175-220 kHz). I was just going to ask this. i just bought the HB Helix 7 CHIRP SONAR GPS/G2 specifically for use with the US2 transducer. Is “CHIRP” built into the unit? Or only in use with the factory HB Transducer? I’m worried that I won’t get CHIRP with only using the US2 built in transducer on my Ultrex. Quote
Super User Further North Posted July 29, 2018 Super User Posted July 29, 2018 3 hours ago, zildjian said: On 7/26/2018 at 9:04 PM, Further North said: The cool thing is...now you can get DI built into your Terrova, Ulterra, Ultrex or Fortrex! ...OK, not "now", but soon! will this be a swapable option for the US2 transducer? Or only avaiable on the newer units? Newer units. Transducer is a different shape. 1 Quote
PECo Posted July 30, 2018 Posted July 30, 2018 14 hours ago, zildjian said: i just bought the HB Helix 7 CHIRP SONAR GPS/G2 specifically for use with the US2 transducer. Is “CHIRP” built into the unit? Or only in use with the factory HB Transducer? I’m worried that I won’t get CHIRP with only using the US2 built in transducer on my Ultrex. Yes, CHIRP is built into the unit and, yes, the Ultrex’s US2 transducer can handle it. 1 Quote
zildjian Posted August 2, 2018 Author Posted August 2, 2018 On 7/29/2018 at 9:52 PM, PECo said: Yes, CHIRP is built into the unit and, yes, the Ultrex’s US2 transducer can handle it. Perfect! I also contacted humminbird directly and they confirmed this about chirp as well. Thank you!! Quote
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