By the way Dick, did you daisy chain it through an ethernet cable? Unfortunately, unlike the Lowrance units, where you can attach them directly, you have to get the extra communication hub for the multi-units for Humminbird. Rip-off.

Dick ,The hummingbird ICE  35 is a fine flasher and I enjoy using it . I've gotten three seasons so far out of it ,helps keep me focused on the zone to fish in . Good purchase at about 300 bucks. Have not really gone deeper than 25 feet with it to find fish . The Eagle open water Fish ID is set up portably on my boat .I have the transducer mounted on a board that I C clamp to my stern .Ha ha ,really high tech here man!   

I found the youtube video very helpful when I bought my ICE 35 flasher .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-Rh8wXTY0

Humminbird side imaging with a little bit more detail. Setting up your humminbird.

Amen Leo to see it done step by step sure makes it easier. I haven't figured out what you meant going through my Ethernet cable.

John what ever it take to work for the task at hand. Doing that way you can use it other places makes perfect sense.

How right you are John. Youtube is a useful tool on our finders. I go there all the time.

I usually fish from shore (haven't had a boat out this year at all), so my open water sonar just gathers dust. On the ice however, I would hate to venture out without it. Looking at an upgrade for the upcoming season, considering the Marcum LX-9, or the less expensive LX-7. Just depends on whether or not I think I need an underwater camera in addition to the sonar, and what my wallet can stand!

Dick, something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAEh9G9FRM4

When you have two units, whether the high end HDS G2, break your bank accounts units or the down to earth gray scale, the ethernet is like your PC connecting to your router, connecting to your internet layout we've been playing with.

Take the same analogy between Humminbird and Lowrance:

Lowrance units are like PCs. You can connect a PC to a PC using an ethernet wire (the same wire type you use to connect your PC to your router). Now, in real life, you can't connect a PC-to-PC without a thing called a crossover cable. But, that's another lesson altogether. 

But Humminbird likes to make some extra cash. So, they design a MUST HAVE unit to connect multiple Humminbird units together, but through this ethernet hub, and not directly with one another. The best analogy is, you connect several PCs together to a router/switch box (hint hint..techno geek lesson coincide with what you're doing), and the router/switch box to your internet modem. This is where the Lowrance downright wins the game for simplicity connectivity.

I agree - the extra hardware is a dollar maker. But Lowrance isn't above making an extra buck, either.

You're gonna pay handsomely to use their mapping service, Ive noticed.

If you know where to look, their "up-to-date" maps are a laugh, since the map updates from Navonics are contributed by various free sources. If you're a geek, you can upload your own latest-and-greatest updates of your map sources into your own units.

Making your own data tracks on-site, and then processing them through their services is what I'm referring to.

It is a very valuable thing, to be able to make your own hydrographic contours. If you are able to access the same bodies of water on a regular basis, it is an edge.

Is it available at a good price? Depends on how you look at it. They are subscription services, and not cheap. On a per map basis, they are $20.

Tony them camera's are great. I have an old black and white but they do work and have come a long way in picture quality..

Thanks Leo now I understand what you meant. I have the 2 units and they run separately. One on the transom and the other on the trolling motor both having there own transducer and GPS.

Dick, the cool thing about the sharing is, you can share one transducer (with additional side scan) for both units, and since you have two transducers and two separate unit, the data report back will even be more fierce, providing you with all the underwater data from the front to the back of the boat.

one great thing to think about;; we can look;; evelaluate different sonar units; consider prices;;  the pro;s and cons of units;; share all of our information. and;; Christmas is not far away;; might be a good time to put knowledge;; (  under the tree))!!!

Underwear?! Come now..we are Commandos. We don't believe in panties. They are for sissies. Hm..better be safe than sorry.

David;; I have kids;; and grand kids to!!  and im avenging myself now!!  I;m spending their inheritance now!!!

Interesting Leo you lost me. why would I want to connect the 2 units if they work well by themselves. I don't quit understand what your saying.

LOL, don't worry Dick, you'll get the points soon. Imagine if you will, using the current tech:

Two side imaging fishfinders, let just say the 1159CI HD model. An upgrade to QuadraBeamPlus transducer (rather than the normal dual beams transducer) is an upgrade ($100).

Toss in 360° Imaging unit ($1500) instead of side imaging ($800)

Let's be super geeky, and toss in Radar ($850)

Let's toss in AutoChart for navigation ($200)

So, you are telling me you want to purchase separate upgrades for both units? Eerrr..NOT!! So, what do you do? You purchase enough of the upgrade parts for only ONE unit. However, you also have to purchase Humminbird "5 port Ethernet switch" to connect all your devices together. That means, connecting your 1st and 2nd fishfinder, the Radar, the 360° imaging, the QuadBeam Plus transducer, and of course, power, and your 1st and 2nd fishfinders will utilize all the hardware you've purchased.

You will see the entire 360° Imaging, You will see your Radar, you will see your navigation data from one unit sharing to another, you will also see your sonar info share to both fishfinders at one time. See where I am going?

Dick, if both units are capable of doing more than one function at a time, but only have the transducer or no GPS, and you network them together, you can get all functions on all screens.  Say the front FF is GPS enabled, but needs an external GPS antenna, and the back FF already has a GPS antenna, when you network them, you get the GPS features on the front unit.

If I understand this right :)  probably works for side-scan, down-scan, navigation, etc....

Take this with a bit of caution.  My FF is just a basic, no-frills, grey-scale 2D sonar.  I would love to have one of the latest-and-greatest Sonars, but fail to see the logic in mounting a sonar on a boat when the sonar costs MORE than the boat itself......

Although I have seen people do that.

Leo both my units have quad beam. All I have to do is learn and use it enough I won't forget it. Do it till it becomes second nature if you get my drift.

Thanks Allen there is lots to learn. I know both my units do many things my problem is I don't use them enough to retain the info so next time I use it it's the learning process all over again.

Both units have quadbeam, and you're not using them until they blow a fuse? Dick, it's time we school you on the great features your fishfinders have to offer my friend. What do you want to know and do? Let's create a separate discussion for your two units so other can follow and provide inputs.

Leo I started the group cause I want to know it all. I know there is so much I don't use and really didn't know it would do till I watch Doug on you tube the Humminbird Guru. He told me right out that I was the problem cause I don't use then and he's right. I can count on 1 hand how many time I've use them in the last 4 or 5 year. So I can say stay connected with your equipment use it.

Understanding mapping on the humminbird unit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRg5sCiabwY

Another you tube video! Agggghhhhh!!

Curse you you tube!

I can tell you David that Doug will help you anyway he possibly can. I picked the video cause he knows humminbird and knows what he's talking about. He has helped me out a couple times and the stuff interest me and he demonstratives it all so you can see what you have to do step by step and understand it. My only problem is he is a humminbird guy so I'll have to look around for different manufacture's info. If anybody has any suggestions or knows where to go please jump in.

Yeah, Dick I wasnt complaining more than usual - and certaily not about the video or its host.Sometimes I threaten to move back to town so I can have better internet.....

Dick, what kind of info are you looking for? Side-by-side comparison? Opinions on options and designs? Tech vs Tech from different companies?

Leo I was interested in really how to operate the different machines and all there potentials. Not so much the humminbirds lord there lots of info out there for them and I'll keep posting some video's along with others but info on other brands and how to bring out some of it's functions and what they can do. We have these machines and most of us use the basic functions because we may not know it does these other things or we may know but don't know how to get the machines to that point.

here is my trolling motor depth finder;; does a great job showing exactly what is below surface;; in grey scale;;  this unit will do a split screen; down scan; gives water temp. shows thermoclines;  a lot of great features .  only real drawback is;; sunlight!!  when the sun shines on the screen; its impossible to see

this is my main unit;; great one to!!  altho; it does not have a sim port card slot; for maps and things;;  it does a outstanding job of showing everything ;; ledges; drop offs;; brush piles; thermoclines;; weed identification underwater; shows difference of ; hard/or soft bottom.  it has the capability of down loading maps; somehow.  for around 500 bucks.  There are a lot of great features with this unit!!

Looks like a great unit Carl Lowrance would be my 2nd choice humminbird my 1st. They both preform well and do the same things if it's built in the machines. I have 2 ports in mine and have only used them for updates.

One thing I will say make sure to use never seze on the bolt for the transducer I found out the hard way 200.00 later with a new transducer, I tried to fix it they would not cover it mine. it is  a Hummingbird 598

Great advice Mark something to think about I would have never thought of that and we know them transducer are not cheap it's the heart on the machine.

whoa nice tip mark just checked mine... nylock

Changing screens on the Humminbird Side Imaging units.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je2KYuzn2Jw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79zb_umbVOs

Lawrance sensitivity setting for the elite7 and elite 5

that is a great tip Dick especiall vertically jigging and for ice fishing

How to update Humminbird sidefinders software.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZtvcpzQRM

http://youtu.be/goTZs0kzRV4

How to update Lowrance HDS classic fish finder/plotter

Side Imaging and Down Scan Structure Scan Sonar: How to set it up and how to read your graph.

http://youtu.be/9tdYT3i9ip8

Hey Dick, the posting will be drowned within the main page of posting. Create a small separate discussions for the Methods, like Fishfinder Functions and How To Use Functions. Nesting the methods into the discussion there will make it nice and clean, and we won't lose it. Just something to think about.