Thread: Any Lowrance experts here?

Post your questions ... it helps others that may have the same questions ...

I'm sure we can answer them (or find the answers) ..

Rickie

Originally Posted by rnvinc

Post your questions ... it helps others that may have the same questions ...

I'm sure we can answer them (or find the answers) ..

Rickie

Okay, here we go.

1. Lowrance's new line of FF/chartplotters (HDS Carbon) says they have an internal gps antenna. If I network two of them together (console and front deck), which one will be the "master"? Can the internal GPS antenna be turned off and just take the data from one of the units?

2. Also, in the previous generations of FF/chartplotters (HDS Gen 3) installation of the GPS antenna was recommended as close as you could get it to the transducer, which meant on the rear deck, driver's side as far back as possible. With the new HDS Carbon, with internal antenna, there's going to be an offset of at least 5 feet from the transducer. Is there a method to enter the "offset" into the set-up of the HDS Carbon? Or would the best solution be to install the external GPS antenna for the best results.

3. Has anyone "previewed" the HDS Carbon? I'd like to know if the screen quality is better than the HDS Gen 3's enough to warrant the extra $ for the Carbon.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll have more questions. I'm trying to figure if the HDS Carbon is worth the extra $ over the HDS Gen 3.

#1, You will select the GPS source, which unit.

#2, all HDS units have internal GPS antenna, as mentioned the purpose of having the external antenna "near" the td was to be as accurate as possible when finding/marking way points. Also some of the older HDS units had a slower refresh rate so the External antenna helped. The biggest benefit of the Point 1 was the built in heading sensor.

#3, I haven't previewed the Carbon at all.

Originally Posted by justinp61

#1, You will select the GPS source, which unit.

#2, all HDS units have internal GPS antenna, as mentioned the purpose of having the external antenna "near" the td was to be as accurate as possible when finding/marking way points. Also some of the older HDS units had a slower refresh rate so the External antenna helped. The biggest benefit of the Point 1 was the built in heading sensor.

#3, I haven't previewed the Carbon at all.

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. In my opinion the Point 1 would still make sense to use as opposed to an internal one.

Originally Posted by Tellicorick

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. In my opinion the Point 1 would still make sense to use as opposed to an internal one.

Using a Point1 antenna and putting it near your transducers on the stern will increase accuracy when marking waypoints from the console unit but the best thing about it is the heading sensor. The heading sensor will keep your waypoints on the map oriented in relationship to the direction the boat is pointed.

I have a Point1 and it is connected to 2 units at the console and a bow unit. I have mine set up to use the point1 to supply heading info to all of the units. I have the console units set to use GPS from the Point1. The bow unit uses its internal antenna for GPS since it is right by the Trolling motor that has the transducer on it.

Originally Posted by lowe rider

I have a Point1 and it is connected to 2 units at the console and a bow unit. I have mine set up to use the point1 to supply heading info to all of the units. I have the console units set to use GPS from the Point1. The bow unit uses its internal antenna for GPS since it is right by the Trolling motor that has the transducer on it.

^^This^^

I don't think the Carbon is shipping to customers yet ...

Rickie

Originally Posted by justinp61

^^This^^

Yep, sounds like the smart way. Question: I'm assuming you can share waypoints between the units with this set-up? Or do you mark with the console unit only?