Where to mount a heading sensor

I have a Humminbird heading sensor with GPS and want to know the best place on my boat to mount it. I have a 360 Mega ordered and a Helix 9 that will be mounted on the front and a Helix 10 on my console. I will be trolling cranks and jig fishing brush piles in deep water. Where will be best place to mount the sensor?

The advantage of having a HS GPS is that it will show what direction the boat is pointed even when moving slow or sitting still. Most people want the HS GPS at the bow since that is normally where you are fishing from if going less than .6 mph. Moving less than .6 MPH with a regular GPS will result in a "donut" zero looking symbol and loosing heading information with a GPS that doesn't have a heading sensor.

The advantage to having an external GPS on the transom for the console unit is that there is less error introduced when marking a waypoint .... but that would not necessarily need to be a HS GPS since you are typically moving faster when using the main motor.

I would put a HS GPS at the bow and a regular GPS puck at the transom.

Pre testing is important because any magnetic field will affect the accuracy of the HS. Check locations with a regular compass first and then do a temporary mount .... The HS can be greatly affected by the trolling motor when stowed. Some people don't care about that ...otheres do.

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Originally Posted by BobB

The advantage of having a HS GPS is that it will show what direction the boat is pointed even when moving slow or sitting still. Most people want the HS GPS at the bow since that is normally where you are fishing from if going less than .6 mph. Moving less than .6 MPH with a regular GPS will result in a "donut" zero looking symbol and loosing heading information with a GPS that doesn't have a heading sensor.

The advantage to having an external GPS on the transom for the console unit is that there is less error introduced when marking a waypoint .... but that would not necessarily need to be a HS GPS since you are typically moving faster when using the main motor.

I would put a HS GPS at the bow and a regular GPS puck at the transom.

Pre testing is important because any magnetic field will affect the accuracy of the HS. Check locations with a regular compass first and then do a temporary mount .... The HS can be greatly affected by the trolling motor when stowed. Some people don't care about that ...otheres do.

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Bob, is the combined HS GPS still desirable over the regular HS if you do not have the TM linked to the depth finder?
Thanks

Sent from my SM-T580 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by slowhand

Bob, is the combined HS GPS still desirable over the regular HS if you do not have the TM linked to the depth finder?
Thanks

Sent from my SM-T580 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Yes

There are actually 2 types of heading sensors ... one connects to the trolling motor via Bluetooth and then you can use that for heading information on a Humminbird unit. This won't do any good on the unit if the trolling motor is not connected via Ethernet.

The other is an external HS GPS antenna that connects direct to a Humminbird unit and will have the benefits as described above.