2 Sonar units simultaniously?

[MarkG]

I am now running 1 Lowrance X65 with a Transom mount 20 deg 192khz transducer. I would like to add a bowmount unit up on the trolling motor.I know that if I use another lowrance unit at 192
I will not be able to run them at the same time. I was considering one of the Garmin units either the model 160 or 100 which run at 200khz. Is this a large enough frequency separation that I can run them together? Also ,regarding the Garmins ,other than the differance in the screen width,is there any performance or power differance between the 160 and the 100 ? Any other suggestions?

[REW]

Lots of us run a Lowrance or Eagle unit on 192 khz, with another sonar of a different brand on 200 khz, with absolutely no problems on either sonar.

go for it.

Take care

REW

p.s.
If you can afford it - go for a sonar that has a "fast" update - and a high pixel count. Neither of the units that you are considering - fall into that catagory.

[MarkG]

REW,what would be an example of a model with "fast" update? Would the 240 pixel Garmin ,or an x85?

[KLH]

I am currently running a Pinpoint 7420 and Lowrance X 85 at the same time one on the bow and the other onthe transom with no interference.

Good luck, KLH

[Jerry]

Mark,
I went thru the same decision process this year. Lowrance told me I "might" get interfernce depending on conditions when running like transducers. My dealer told me I'd be ok. My dealer's been right in the past so I went with two lowrance X65's on my 18.5 ft boat with the 20deg/192frq transducers mounted on the transom and the bottom of the bowmount trolling motor. I have not gotten any interference when running both units at the same time in water up to 50 ft deep. I usually fish in water 10-30 ft deep so I thought, worst case, I might have to turn off the console unit while I was up front.

I wanted two units that worked the same for simplicity. You may want a different look. You'd probably be even safer with a 200 frq unit.

[RJ]

I am running an x-85 up front off of a Minkota Maxxum bow mount and a Bottom Line NCC5300 on the rear and cannot use the two at the same time. Both are on an 1850 Crestliner. Anything deeper than 12'-15' and I start to get a bad read from the x-85. I think the Bottom Line runs at 200khz and the Lowrance at 192khz. I see that most of the responses say this should be no problem but I can't seem to get it to work. Any suggestions as to what I may have going on would be appreciated. Thanks, RJ in Montana..

[Phil T.]

Why is it necessary to operate both units at the same time? When I was a kid, we had a neighbor who was cockeyed, but even he couldn't watch depthfinders at opposite ends of a boat at the same time.
If they interfere, turn off the unit you're not watching.

[Big D]

Some of us do have FRIENDS that we like to take fishing with us and its nice to have a locator on that they can see. I have a X85 in the front and a LMS 160 on the console and have never had any interference between the two but have only fished depths up to 40 feet with them both on.

[mlc]

I have a similiar problem as I have an X85 mounted on the console and have an 8 and 20 degree skimmer on the transom. The "experts" all seem to say that you need 40 khz of seperation between frequencies to avoid interference. Bass & Walleye Boats, in a recent issue, stated the same thing.

The only unit I am aware of that fits that description is "The Edge" by Vexilar. It is a dual freq. unit that operates at 100 kHz and 400 kHz.

It would be nice to see Lowrance step up to the plate and offer a higher frequency unit for such applications.

Take care,
mlc

[DaveIN]

Because my wife insists on having the unit on the console working all the time so she can watch it from the back.

[Cangl]

Good question on whether you really need 2 on at once, afterall its draining twice the power and adding twice the noise. Yes the pings are audible. If using 600watts or less even like models do not always interfere with it other. With more wattage you get more definition and deeper depth reading, more interference and with salt water densities this may be a most deeper than 150ft, but for every day fishing 150 and less? Save power 275 watts up front on the trolling motor/ battery, (you can't do that?) and 600watts on console for trolling and depths to 600ft and then learn to interpet what the graph is showing, and how to program them manually. On mine the transducer and power cables are interchangeable between units, another perk. Both graphs Ultra Classic Plus, Magna II together cost 430$ Budget pricing that gives, 2 units bowmount trolling, speed, distance, surface temp, split screen/zoom, group A diagonise, alarms...and gasmotor still starts ater leaving 600watter on for 3-5 days/ perk?

[Daren]

Actually it comes down to how the two will be operated as to whether you will get interference. First off, interference occurs when the two units start picking up each others signals. This can be a problem if the units are not seperated by a large enough distance, if they run on the same frequency, or if they are operated in too deep water. Basically if the cones of two units overlap and they are running at the same freq you will have problems. A 21 foot boat may be able to run two identicle units using a trolling motor mount transducer and a transom mount transducer simultaneously without problems as long as they do not use the units in too deep a lake with the wide transducers. The same two finders mounted on a 14 foot boat would have problems much more often as the shorter seperation of the two units allows for more overlap of the cones. Using two units that have only a short frequency difference such as the garmin and lawrance products together can result in interference but this will be reduced also depending on the seperation of the two units. In short, I would get a Garmin from Wallyworld, try it on your boat in the deepest water you normally fish, and if you experience interference return it and look for a unit with even a larger frequency seperation. Also, I would look at getting the 240 if you can afford it. Much better unit than the 160.

Daren

[Mr. Pike 17]

I run a Garmin 100 from my bow mount trolling motor and a Eagle Ultra Classic from my console. They both work fine and I don't see any interference.

[Brewhunter]

Last week I ran my Lpg2000 about four feet from a buddies X70A on the same transom. No interference on either unit. The Lpg2000 has the dual transducer and the X70A the regular 192 from Lowrance.

We were comparing the two units. We both gained a lot of confidence in our sonar units. Side by side when we both saw the same thing we knew it couldn't be noise. I could see why someone would want to run two at the same time.

Latter

KDS

[RVRRAT]

>Good question on whether you really
>need 2 on at once,
>afterall its draining twice the
>power and adding twice the
>noise. Yes the pings are
>audible. If using 600watts or
>less even like models do
>not always interfere with it
>other. With more wattage you
>get more definition and deeper
>depth reading, more interference and
>with salt water densities this
>may be a most deeper
>than 150ft, but for every
>day fishing 150 and less?
>Save power 275 watts up
>front on the trolling motor/
>battery, (you can't do that?)
>and 600watts on console for
>trolling and depths to 600ft
>and then learn to interpet
>what the graph is showing,
>and how to program them
>manually. On mine the transducer
>and power cables are interchangeable
>between units, another perk. Both
>graphs Ultra Classic Plus, Magna
>II together cost 430$ Budget
>pricing that gives, 2 units
>bowmount trolling, speed, distance, surface
>temp, split screen/zoom, group A
>diagonise, alarms...and gasmotor still starts
>ater leaving 600watter on for
>3-5 days/ perk?

Thats 600 watts peak to peak.divide by 8 for R.M.S.!

[Virgil Burris]

For what its worth I have a 18ft lund I run a Optima 20 deg.,192 mhz a Bottomline 200 mhz 9 deg. 50 mhz 45 deg.on my transom and
a Humming bird 4 ID on my bow mount and at times all are on at
the same time and have no problems with this setup. works on lake McConaughy most fishing is under 100 ft.

Have fun go fishing

Virg