ThomWV

[Trent]

You seem to know a few things about Marine Electronics. Iv never done this before.. Customer wants to install a New Garmin 178C on a pontoon boat. He already has a SiTex 106 depth sounder mounted on one of the pontoons. Do you think if I mount the transducer on the other toon they will work at the same time? Thanks. Trent<br /><br />Both units are 200/50 and are used in 150 feet or less.<br /><br />I dont think it will work..Am I wrong?

 

[ThomWV]

Re: ThomWV

I know that the bass-boat guys get away with it sometimes, but for the life of me I can't figure out how. If I had to guess I would say that it really depends on how far apart the pontoons are spaced and how deep the water is. The farther the pontoons are apart the better and the shallower the water the better.<br /><br />My thinking is that in shallow water with a wide spacing it is quite possible that the return echo is not swinging a large enough arc to hit the second transducer. You know how it is easy to visualize the cone angle of a transducer as being an upside down ice cream cone? Well once it hits the bottom the cone grows at the same rate comming back. It might still be narrow enough that the second transducer would be left relatively undisturbed - or at least be receiving a sound on a frequency it was sampleing so faint it wouldn't register.<br /><br />At any rate I know that some of the bass-boat guys can get away with it and some don't. I have no experience with it myself. Just about everything I've ever delt with was saltwater oriented.<br /><br />Unfortunately there is no way to export the signal from a single transducer to two machines at once. I suppose if I were you I'd tell him that it might work but the chances are not good. Its his money but once you install one its really hard to justify a return if there's nothing wrong with the machine. That's how I see it at least.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Bondo]

Re: ThomWV

I don't know if this would apply or not,<br />But, I've got a Hummingbird on the back of my boat,+ a Lorance/Eagle mounted on the dash........<br />The Hummingbird is a Wide angle 3D unit...<br />The Lorance is an early model GPS/Fishfinder....<br /><br />Both transducers,+ both speed/temp sensors mounted within 2' of each other on the transom.....<br />Both are the same mhz.s<br />Neither Seems to talk to the other...<br />Most days they read very close to the same... <br /><br />Don't Know.......<br />Maybe I'm just Lucky.......

 

[18rabbit]

Re: ThomWV

Trent – the short answer is “no, can’t do it”. Obviously, there will be situations where it has been done but overall the results will be unpredictable. Don’t know why the need for two sounding graphics…tho I understand the desire for redundant sounding. Possible solutions:<br /><br />(1) I believe that Si-Tex will accept a 150khz transducer. If so, swap out the 50/200khz for a 150 and you are good to go with a 50/200 on the Garmin, both ‘ducer pounding away simultaneously.<br /><br />(2) Keep the 50/200 ‘ducer for the ff and swap the redundant sounding transducer for one at 233khz. This means the Si-Tex has to go, or the Garmin swapped for a Furuno RD-30 with a 233khx ‘ducer, but the boat owner will be able to operate both ‘ducers at the same time. Note: the RD-30 will also interface with GPS for redundant GPS & Sounding, but no bottom display. It will do hiways, etc for navigation.<br /> <br />Also, when mounting separate ‘ducers (regardless of frequencies) rule of thumb is 18-in apart, minimum. Hopefully the ‘toons are that far apart.

 

[Trent]

Re: ThomWV

Thanks for the tips guys. The toons are about five feet apart. He still wants to do this so I guess I will (told him I dont think it will work). I just have to weld a bracket on the other toon. If it does not work I guess he will have a new step on his pontoon. Anyway thanks for your thoughts. I will let you know if it works.

 

[Trent]

Re: ThomWV

Just an update... The two sounders work great together. To me the Garmin is alot better than the Si-Tex but the Garmin is hard for me to see in the sunlight. It might be my "Photo Sun" Glasses I wear?? Again thanks for your input.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: ThomWV

Well, that is good news. To be quite honest with you I didn't think it would work and I still suspect that every now and then its going to sort of just crash - both machines probably, but maybe just now and then. What I think will happen sometimes is that the two machines will sort of fall into sync with each other and become comfused. Turn either one off for a moment and it should be OK. That's just a guess though. I'd like to hear how the two machines fare over time too. Could be interesting. I've never in my life had the chance to use two different machines at the same time side-by-side. I'm sure it would be an eyeopener.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Trent]

Re: ThomWV

It was different..It was too rough to go into the bigger water today but I will. The only problem was the Garmin lost the bottom at around ten knots. But I think thats an adjustment. Cause I welded a bracket just like the other sounder on the other toon. I will post later when I can go out with him again. The Garmin did a better job of showing the contour of the bottom than the Si-Tex did. And iv used many sounders and liked the Si-Tex.... Now ?? We will see.