Adding FFS

[Nitro 882]

Happy Holidays to all.

My son is pressuring me to add FFS to my Nitro nx882. I currently run 2X Helix 7's Si/Di, 1 up front 1 at the console. More than enough tech for this 78 year old but the young'uns want to play video games.

Anyway, I've attempted to "search" but all I find are explanations of technology but no guidance as to what, exactly, I need to purchase to add this capability to my particular rig.

Any help is appreciated.

[A-Jay]

YOU do Not Need to Purchase anything.

Your Son does.

Good Luck

A-Jay 

[Nitro 882]

Just now, A-Jay said:

YOU do Not Need to Purchase anything.

Your Son does.

Good Luck

A-Jay 

That's friggin awesome. Thanks pal.

[Logan S]

FFS consists of the FFS transducer and the 'black box' which houses the brains of the system.  The FFS ducer connects to the black box, which then connects your unit.  You'll need a unit compatible with the FFS system you get. 

 

If starting from scratch like you are, it seems that Garmin is the most affordable for a unit and FFS setup combo.  Look for an LVS 32 or LVS 34 setup and then pick a unit that is compatible.  

 

I personally run Lowrance's flavor of FFS, but the generalized components are all the same.  

[Craig P]

At your age, even mine, I know your son is old enough to figure it out. I’m with @A-Jay you’ll get it on your boat as soon as he figures it out….and buys all the parts.  
 

But seriously, I don’t know that your units are compatible. Even if they are, 7” screens would be tough to see for FFS.  You might want to look into upgrading the unit you intend to use FFS and then of course add FFS along with it. I don’t know if you want to share waypoints screen to screen but if you do, make sure your old one can interface with the new one. 

[Born 2 fish]

Get the biggest screen you can for ffs. I run 3 Helix 10’s and  a garmin 1222 and LVS 34  for FFS and maps only. There’s to many factors at play to tell you what to get. 
what’s the budget do you want to stay with all Humminbird? 

[Tennessee Boy]

If your current units are Helix G4N models then you can add the current Humminbird MEGA Live transducer.  If they are older models they will not be compatible.  You will also need to connect it using Ethernet.  If your current units are networked together then you will need to add an Ethernet switch so everything can be networked.  If your current units are connected then you can just connect the Live transducer to the Ethernet port on one of the units.  Humminbird has announced MEGA Live 2 that will be available in January.   It is not compatible with Helix units.

[gim]

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

FFS consists of the FFS transducer and the 'black box'

 

Not every unit requires that black box anymore.

 

Lowrance's Eagle Eye 9 connects directly from the transducer to the dedicated 9 inch screen.  They come as a bundle, hence the "kit."

[Logan S]

15 minutes ago, gim said:

 

Not every unit requires that black box anymore.

 

Lowrance's Eagle Eye 9 connects directly from the transducer to the dedicated 9 inch screen.  They come as a bundle, hence the "kit."

Good news - Hopefully they all go that way in the next iterations.  I think the 'big 3' - LS, AT, and ML all still use the box though.  

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

If your current units are Helix G4N models then you can add the current Humminbird MEGA Live transducer.  If they are older models they will not be compatible.  You will also need to connect it using Ethernet.  If your current units are networked together then you will need to add an Ethernet switch so everything can be networked.  If your current units are connected then you can just connect the Live transducer to the Ethernet port on one of the units.  Humminbird has announced MEGA Live 2 that will be available in January.   It is not compatible with Helix units.

this is the correct answer for the OP specific to the gear he has. if they are G4N units then you can add mega live directly. Otherwise it’s going to take an Ethernet hub.  You’ll need a cable adapter for helix units (the Ethernet plus is different from the head unit and the cable) which is about $35 last I checked. Plus the cables that come with the mega live transducer. 

 

also, a 7” screen is pretty small for a live imaging unit. So even if you have g4n units, adding mega live might not be a good choice. The easiest solution would be to upgrade the bow unit with a 9-12” cho since the cables will just plug right in that you already have (power, transducer, Ethernet if you have it).  The helix models are discounted right now since they are being discontinued. 
 

adding to this setup would mean mega live 1.  I’ve said before that it is the least good of the live imaging units for image quality. If you’re going to have to upgrade to a bigger helix (which is being discontinued) to add ml1 (which is inferior and being discontinued) then I would second guess that choice. A standalone garmin with lvs34 is probably a better choice to just run live imaging. 

 

 

1 minute ago, Logan S said:

Good news - Hopefully they all go that way in the next iterations.  I think the 'big 3' - LS, AT, and ML all still use the box though.  

you can run mega live 1 without a box. You have to have N units and not have a full network. But for a single unit you can just plug the mega live into the Ethernet port and run. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

The only thing missing is a good power source.  Make your battery is big enough to handle the extra amp usage.

[Nitro 882]

Thank you all for your input. Very helpful to this old dinosaur.

I knew I would have to get a much larger graph/screen. Hell, I can hardly read the 7 incher I have (screen that is.) I just mentioned the Helix 7's to give you guys an idea as to the level of technology I'm used to. I think I've seen where some guys mount the transducer on a separate "shaft" so it can be directed independently from the trolling motor shaft.

You've brought up a good point. I need to closely monitor where the tech development is so I don't end up with an obsolete, less effective, more "user unfriendly" unit. Fyi, I have a flip phone currently.

Thanks again for everyone's response. I feel really good about being able to, at least, begin the shopping phase. You all seem to have developed a preference, and I just have to pick my particular "flavor".

As I get more into it, I'm sure I'll have questions, and I'll tap you guys again. 😎

[casts_by_fly]

8 hours ago, Nitro 882 said:

Thank you all for your input. Very helpful to this old dinosaur.

I knew I would have to get a much larger graph/screen. Hell, I can hardly read the 7 incher I have (screen that is.) I just mentioned the Helix 7's to give you guys an idea as to the level of technology I'm used to. I think I've seen where some guys mount the transducer on a separate "shaft" so it can be directed independently from the trolling motor shaft.

You've brought up a good point. I need to closely monitor where the tech development is so I don't end up with an obsolete, less effective, more "user unfriendly" unit. Fyi, I have a flip phone currently.

Thanks again for everyone's response. I feel really good about being able to, at least, begin the shopping phase. You all seem to have developed a preference, and I just have to pick my particular "flavor".

As I get more into it, I'm sure I'll have questions, and I'll tap you guys again. 😎

if you like humminbird and are NOT networking them, then a new explore with ml2 isn’t a bad choice. It looks like an upgraded helix and an upgraded mega live. But you won’t be able to network it with the console helix. 
 

if you’re going to have a non networked live unit then I’d go with garmin. Leave the two helixes where they are and add on a 9-12” head unit and lvs34. A 9” uhd2 and lvs34 bundle would be $2200 at TW though if you buy a gift card right now they are 10% off so right about $2k.
 

if you like humminbird and have them networked, then it’s either a full new set with explore units and ml2 or a new helix and ml1.  A helix 9 cho and ml1 unit are $1k each. 

 

 

[Smokinal]

Fwiw...I added FFS to my boat this past winter so I used it for the first time this past season. 

Mixed thoughts

My other 2 units are HB but for the FFS I went with Garmin and run a 106SV Ultra and the LVS34.

I gotta be honest with you, I like my Mega 360 better for my fishing style. Sure, FFS, when you get it dialed in and are around fish, works well but that doesn't mean you can get them to bite. I found myself focusing too much on it instead of fishing. On my last trip out, I decided not to even get the ducer wet...and we wacked 'em. We spent our time fishing what we knew would work, and it did.

That said, I did have a few times where the bite was tough, I used the FFS to see if fish were in the area, and it helped to figure them out. But most of the time, if I just went with gut instinct, I'd be better off.

But I'm a tech junkie so here we are. 

[FrnkNsteen]

I decided to bite the bullet and add FFS year before last. I already had a Minnesota Ultrex networked to two Humminbird units and didn't want to mess with that.

 

I decided to go with a discounted Garmin 12" Echomap unit and a LVS34 transducer, then wired it to a standalone lithium battery to avoid interference from wiring it to the boat. I think my battery is a 32 AH lithium from Ampped Outdoors. I just plug it in when I get in the boat in the morning and take it with me at the end of day for a recharge.

 

Pretty happy with the system. I get good clean sonar images in all units.