Thread: Motorguide Xi5 SW 55 w/gps

Hummm just to be clear if I order gps capabilities which I want do I also need an additional upgrade for transducer or is the transducer part of the gps upgrade?

Originally Posted by Knot2Bad

Hummm just to be clear if I order gps capabilities which I want do I also need an additional upgrade for transducer or is the transducer part of the gps upgrade?

Spot Lock or Pin Point(GPS) units typically come with their built in 2D Sonar transducer in the motor. It isn't capable of all the things a DI or SI transducer can do. This is why so many are trying to come up with a way to mount or use their transducers that come with their High End Fish Finders. The problem to solve is these trolling motors have the ability to turn a little more than 360 degrees. This can get your transducer cable in a twisted bind and break it in half. Then you're buying a new transducer.

I understand that transducers are made specific to the unit they serve because of different reasons and uses i.e. DI vs SI, so angle/frequency/beam spread are manipulated to achieve desired results. Perhaps even type of sound waves ( longitudinal vs shear). The actual crystal that generate the sound are molded into the thing we call the transducer. My confusion comes from the motorguide only being compatible with high end lowerance hds Gen II and new which have all so called in one transducer. 3D so I would think those units would be fully functional when connected while others would not. The turning 360 is a challenge as I see others trying coiled airlines etc to multiple wraps of the coax cable. My fear would also include the cable getting caught on a snags as a result of being loose. Murphy being who he is. Thanks for all the thoughts

The built in transducer is a generic 2D transducer,it will work with many different brands of depth finders with a adapter cable.

That’s good news I think Central Minn. In dead calm turn it off. From information I continue to gather it seems logic shouldn’t be used. I say this because motorguide and lowrence state the Xi5 and HDS gen II and above are compatibile but that seems to be limited as the built in transducer on the trolling motor doesn’t allow full functionality as it’s an 83/200 D2. So can the HDS be rigged to read the trolling motor and the 3D all in one transducer that you would have set up on the back. Is that where the adapter accessory kit and more $ kicks in.
Also is there a required setup upon initial use to get all the functions to work. Like a calibration if you will. I hear the user manual isn’t very good. I know the individual screens can be minipulated as you choose during use.

Originally Posted by Knot2Bad

After looking into the Xi5 a little more it seems it has a built in transducer which the lowrance HDS Gen II and newer can connect to. Am I correct on that point? I hope so cause I really don’t want more stuff hanging over the side than needed. If true I can just move my other finder to the back. Unfortunately it’s a side scan. Life just isn’t perfect is it.

have an xi5 and connect the transducer that is on the xi5 to a gen3 9".

Originally Posted by Knot2Bad

That’s good news I think Central Minn. In dead calm turn it off. From information I continue to gather it seems logic shouldn’t be used. I say this because motorguide and lowrence state the Xi5 and HDS gen II and above are compatibile but that seems to be limited as the built in transducer on the trolling motor doesn’t allow full functionality as it’s an 83/200 D2. So can the HDS be rigged to read the trolling motor and the 3D all in one transducer that you would have set up on the back. Is that where the adapter accessory kit and more $ kicks in.
Also is there a required setup upon initial use to get all the functions to work. Like a calibration if you will. I hear the user manual isn’t very good. I know the individual screens can be minipulated as you choose during use.

Ok, here's my attempt at answering all these questions. The Motorguide Xi5 and Xi3 (Xi3 units do not have a built in 2D Sonar just GPS Capable) can be linked to Lowrance HDS and Elite units (And I think the New HOOK units as well but I haven't ever verified because I don't own one nor am I planning to purchase one) with the PinPoint Gateway which you purchase in addition to your Trolling Motor. You must have your Fish Finders networked together if you are indeed using two. If you are using one......you still need to network the Fish Finder to the Trolling Motor....either through Ethernet or NMEA 2000 Backbone Network (Depends on if you're using HDS or Elite units....HDS Units use an Ethernet Network and Elite Units use the NMEA 2000 Network). If you link the Trolling Motor and Fish Finders, you will get many functions on your Fish Finder to operate your Trolling Motor on the Screen of the Fish Finder. The built in Sonar that comes with the Trolling Motor isn't capable of all the functions you get with the TI or DI transducers that come with HDS or Elite units. So yes, you can network your HDS Unit with your Motorguide Xi5 with the PinPoint Gateway and use your Transom Mounted Transducer from your HDS Unit. The 2D Sonar's that come with these units are very basic.....old school. So if you're looking for ANY of them to do more.....you'll have to add your HDS SI or DI Transducer into the mix.

The adapter kits are to allow you to connect different fish finder brands to the built in Sonar that comes with the Trolling Motor. MinnKota links to Hummingbird and MotorGuide links to Lowrance without adapters.

Is there an initial set up for all this?? Yes, you can find out how to do that from these You Tube Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVkztApaAvw&t=6s

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjLRQqO4lB8

Yes, the screens can be Manipulated but not sure what you need here, so you'll have to play with it.

Hope this helps. Or if it confused you.......so am I...HAHA

Thanks 🙏 raclow for your trouble. Wish these dang companies would package these all in one like they advertise them.
So the original pack only allows for a fraction of the units designed abilities to be used. Yet we pay for the potential. But to use that potential you will more than double the price of the unit. That will be obsolete in 5 years. Okay that seems reasonable to me.
Sorry that’s just me talking.