Tips 'N Tricks 226: Don't forget your Dongles & Other Accessories

[@jasondill5372]

Good video Doug. Thanks for all the info.

[@DougVahrenberg]

Thanks. Glad it helped.

[@rmfishing6047]

Great series of videos. I run Helix units 10 & 12. Just p/u Mega 10 for double 10's @ the console. Moved the Helix 12 DI to the Bow. Adding 360 to Ultrex.

[@kleingroup966]

Doug, I am enjoying your videos. You have been a great help. May I ask where you got the netting for your cables at the console and where you got that stainless looking rainguard flashing or whatever it is where your wires come out at the console through the fiberglass? You are doing awesome.

[@DougVahrenberg]

You can get wire loom from Electrical Supply Store. I got mine in 100' roll from TH Marinr. The Clam Shell come with my Skeeter Boats but sure some electrical supply sells those too.

[@Psychobilly]

Doug, I’ve seen you with that H’Bird SD Card case. Where does a fella locate one of those?

[@DougVahrenberg]

When you buy Humminbird LakeMaster Mapping Card you get one.

[@Psychobilly]

Got’cha I’m using FishSmart by H’Bird. Since I don’t fish a bunch of different lakes it made more since to just by the couple I needed. Been watching a bunch of your vids to learn my Solix15. Learned heeps from you already. Thanks bud

[@finsfeathersandbone2823]

Hey Doug great video. I have a question. If I have a solix 12 SI ON CONSOLE, and I want to mount a New Helix 8 at the bow would I need a dongle cable to network together? If so which one? I know video only shows Helix to Helix and Solix to Solix? Thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

All HELIX Models require Dongle to connect ethernet to the unit. SOLIX do not need dongles

[@timward3685]

Doug, I am planing to replace my Lowrance sonars with a pair of Humminbird Helix units and my Minn-Kota Edge trolling motor with an Ultrex with the i-Pilot link and built-in Mega DSi transducer. My question is I want to network all three units together, If I put a Helix 9" Mega DI at the bow and a Helix 9" Mega SI at the console will I be able to see side imaging at the bow? I would be using the Ultrex DSI transducer on the bow Helix and the SI transducer at the console. Thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

You will need a 5 Port Switch to network all those accessories.

[@timward3685]

I understand that I will need a network switch (i'm an old IT guy), but will the firmware in the Helix Mega DI allow me to see the side imaging being received from the console mounted Mega SI unit? Thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

I have not personally tried this but I think in the network tab you can select the SI Source and DI Source, I'll have to see if I can try that next time I'm on the water.

[@timward3685]

Thanks Doug I look forward to hearing how it goes.

[@V1Sim]

I run two solix 10s, 1 on the bow 1 on the console, they are networked together. I also have the Gen 1 Ultrex with the heading sensor. I understand the gps in the ultrex and solix are separate systems, however, is it possible for the bow unit to receive heading information from the ultrex's heading sensor?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Nope. 2 different type heading sensors.

[@jonholloway192]

I saw you had a choke on your front unit in a previous video and it looked like the TM power cable? thx

[@DougVahrenberg]

I had one on a transducer with one of my motors gets a little RFnoise and it kills the noise

[@jonholloway192]

@@DougVahrenberg Was it the TM power cable?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Transducer

[@jonholloway192]

@@DougVahrenberg I'm confused, choke on the duce, what was choke made from? Or where did you buy the choke?

[@DougVahrenberg]

It's a Ferrite Choke and I got it from Humminbird. It's only needed if your trolling motor produces Radi Frequency or Electrical Noise at the same level the sonar unit is listening for.

[@michaelrogers404]

what do you do with your old electronics

[@DougVahrenberg]

I sell them with my boat.

[@jbryan2]

What are those two things you have under your back deck lid?

[@DougVahrenberg]

The LED Lights under the lid or the storage trays?

[@jbryan2]

@@DougVahrenberg the two silver things on the lid?

[@DougVahrenberg]

LED Lights factory installed by Skeeter

[@johnhall3860]

I just got myself 2 helix 10 mega chirp si g2n units have not installed yet. Decided to order a bow 360 unit will I need an eithernet 5 port junction box to hook everything up. Thank you

[@DougVahrenberg]

Correct. To connect more than 2 units or accessories you need 5 Port Switch

[@artxmaverick2796]

I was told with my G2 Helix 12 at console and G3 Helix 12 at the bow I can share the Ultrex GPS for heading info with my Helix 12 at the bow via bluetooth and the ipilot link ultrex. Is this not true?

[@michaelwilburn5258]

Hi, Doug, At the moment i have a Helix 10 si g2n Mega at the console and a helix 9 chirp at the bow. But I want a Solix si mega in the console and the helix 10 si on the bow. I will be networking with a ulterra, it has universal sonar only. What will I need to buy to make this happen?

[@jehill87]

Just got a new skeeter fx 21 le currently have a solix 12 si dash and a solix 10 si bow just ordered a solix 15 si for console and putting 12 & 10 on bow question is do you prefer the mega di or the 360 more have the ultrex with us2 sonar but trying to decide which to go with mega di or 360 thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

I use 360 all the time when I'm fishing. DI is most used when fishing deep and vertical fishing. You can add a External transducer to the ULTREX and have both

[@jasoncasteel8123]

Doug, if I run (3) Solix 12 SI on my boat (2 @ console & 1 @ bow), would I need the switch box to connect them together or can it be done with cables and splitters?? I know that (3) or more Helix you have to have the switch box, just not sure about the Solix units.

[@DougVahrenberg]

You need 5 port switch when ever you have more than 2 units or ethernet accessories to network. So the answer is yes.

[@geraldsmith8878]

Question ... I am up-grading to the Helix 12 si 3gn. I will have only 1 unit, the Helix at the console. My bow motor is an Ulterra with I-pilot link. I would like to get the us2 2D, from the Ulterra, on to the Helix. Is it as simple as using the Y connector or do I have to use the 5 port switch? 2nd... I may add (present unit) a 999si to the bow, only for jigging, with the 2d but would like to be to share way points and see the 2d on the Helix 12. What do you suggest? Thanks

[@kingfishing5058]

Hey Doug I have an older 998. Have you ever run into or heard of a problem where it’s not recognizing your charts/chips. The gps screen is Not even coming up on the screen. This is my console unit. I moved it to the front and the gps screen comes up and it recognizes my charts. So it has to be something wrong with the plug going into the unit? Any suggestions ? I already updated and reset everything

[@DougVahrenberg]

Could be the GPS Connection of the GPS Receiver at the console. If it does not get GPS signal it will not display that view

[@kingfishing5058]

Doug Vahrenberg yes that’s exactly what’s happening

[@paulfladeland7059]

I have a helix 7 si g2n and a 999hdsi. I have the two dongle cables and a networking cable, the 999's hd transducer and the hi speed 920 transducer along with the Y cable. I cant seem to make the 999 do side imaging and old sonar on a splitscreen while i would share the DI and autochart live on the split screen for the 7. I played with the settings for hours. Both work if hooked up independently to the hd transducer. And i know the helix7 works with the y cable and the 920 and the hdtd Any ideas? Seems to be a bad network cable or dongle ?

[@DougVahrenberg]

I'd recommend calling Humminbird to see if they are compatible to share sonar data. Not all models especially different generations of units can. 800-633-1468

[@skwira000]

Doug, I absolutely agree with putting the Humminbird heading sensor on the back especially for the unit on the console that's connected to the back transducer. I think the biggest difference in boat performance is to have the Minn Kota close to the trolling motor but not right on top of it where it has interference. I tried moving the Minn Kota to the console and got awful results. I think (not 100% sure but pretty sure) this is due to a weak signal. Bluetooth is only short range connection. While it will sync to the trolling motor even if it's all the way to the back of the boat, it doesn't get a very good connect vs. if it were WiFi. Also, I have a video as well. I think if you put both of our videos together people will start to get a clearer picture: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6LbcoV5mL6Fo80

[@thomascheatham3519]

Enjoy tie video you know your stuff.

[@DougVahrenberg]

Thank You. I'm very fortunate to work with some great folks at Humminbird that help me learn so I can share

[@markburgess8648]

Where are you going to mount your Minn Kota puck? Would up on bow next to bow light plug in be a good spot?

[@DougVahrenberg]

MinnKota Heading Sensor is to the left of my foot pedal on deck. But you can mount it where there is absence of magnetic field. Use a handheld compass to confirm. I did video on Humminbird Heading Sensor install to show how I check for magnetic fields