I Pilot?

[HNTNBUX]

I am considering upgrading the trolling motor on my boat this spring and would like to get the linq system. I currently have a Lowrance HDS5 in the rear of my tiller boat with the even older LMS 480 I believe on the bow mount.

I would like to get a Hummingbird 899 in the rear to control the trolling motor but I would prefer to not buy a second Hummingbird for the front. Is it possible to still hook up the Lowrance to the universal sonar but still use the I Pilot Linq with the Hummingbird in the rear? I know it seems like a weird question and I should probably spend the extra 800 for another bird but I really don't want too if there is not a real benefit.

[WolfpackFishNGuy]

I believe all you will need to do is network the trolling motor to the Humminbird directly but you will probably need to purchase the Ethernet cable for the length of run you will need. If you ever to ever add the bow mount you might have to introduce the ethernet hub to have all three devices communicating to each other.

[delcecchi]

I am considering upgrading the trolling motor on my boat this spring and would like to get the linq system. I currently have a Lowrance HDS5 in the rear of my tiller boat with the even older LMS 480 I believe on the bow mount.

I would like to get a Hummingbird 899 in the rear to control the trolling motor but I would prefer to not buy a second Hummingbird for the front. Is it possible to still hook up the Lowrance to the universal sonar but still use the I Pilot Linq with the Hummingbird in the rear? I know it seems like a weird question and I should probably spend the extra 800 for another bird but I really don't want too if there is not a real benefit.

I believe that will work. I don't think the ipilot uses the "depth finder" part of the hummingbird or the trolling motor. I think it totally is a GPS/Map driven system. It follows contours for the link version by using the map chip data, not reading the bottom. I could be mistaken however.

[JohnMickish]

You can do it as the system doesn't know where your "linked" unit is. All you will need is a cable that is long enough to reach your unit at the back and you are in business. You will have to do some of the control work from the Humminbird unit so if you always stand on the bow when fishing with the trolling motor there will be an adjustment for you.

[fowldreams]

This is how I have mine set up. 998 bird on the dash and an older lowrance on the bow . And yes it is a simple plug and go with the universal sonar in the motor for the lowrance. Jack at action fishing rigged up my bird with the link.

[Brad B]

I am considering upgrading the trolling motor on my boat this spring and would like to get the linq system. I currently have a Lowrance HDS5 in the rear of my tiller boat with the even older LMS 480 I believe on the bow mount.

I would like to get a Hummingbird 899 in the rear to control the trolling motor but I would prefer to not buy a second Hummingbird for the front. Is it possible to still hook up the Lowrance to the universal sonar but still use the I Pilot Linq with the Hummingbird in the rear? I know it seems like a weird question and I should probably spend the extra 800 for another bird but I really don't want too if there is not a real benefit.

with what you have I would move the HDS5 up to the bow and hook that into your US2 transducer on the trolling motor and then run the included 30 foot ethernet cable that comes with the link system to the rear where your 899 will be. the 899 can then be your main unit for locating fish and structure and running the link system. the only advantage of having 2 of the 899's would be that the memory capacity would be double for all I tracks, Spot Locks, & such. each of the 899's would allow you 45 I Tracks per unit, 2750 way points per unit. now the down side of having 2 899's would be that you would now need to set up a network in your boat. you would need a cable for each 899 and the trolling motor and the 5 port switch. also the new birds need the ethernet adapter cable for them to be hooked up to the network and link system.

what I will be doing on my boat this spring is to put a 899 on the console and run a 15 foot ethernet cable to the 5 port switch up in the bow and then run a 2 foot ethernet cable from the 5 port switch to the trolling motor, then I will run another 2 foot cable to another 899(might wait a year to add this second unit) on the bow and then with the 30 foot cable that comes with the link system I will run that back to by the splash well and put another 899 there. so when it is all said and done I will be set up with either 3 899's or 2 899's and a 999. as for my US2 I will be hooking my Vexilar FL22-HD to that.

[HNTNBUX]

Thanks for the information. I am really looking forward to using this set up. Now I just have to look up the navionics chip to see if the lakes I fish have the right contour lines.

[Brad B]

the Link system only works with the Lake Master Humminbird specific chip. Navionics chip will not work with the Link system. the good thing thou is that the 899 does have a duel chip slot so you could have the Lake Master chip for running the Link System and then have the Navionics for additional maps and for GPS purposes. you would need to go into the menu on the 899 and select which chip you want to use each time.