Todd Driscoll

Simply put, if it is moving it's a fish. I'm not an ice angler, but have been using Panoptix since the beginning. I do know ice anglers have been raving about this bundle on other forums.

QuickDraw contour recordings are laid over your built-in contours, but you don't "lose" anything. You can simply toggle the QuickDraw contours display on or off in the menu at any time to view the built-in LakeVu mapping. Yes, you can simply record all your QuickDraw Contours to the Ultra card itself.

Right, you don't necessarily need the actual Garmin data sharing cable to complete the wiring. But I would recommend using marine rated wire to make this connection. Of course, the cable from Garmin is marine rated, and includes 3 wires within the single sheathing. For nearly all installations you only need to use two of those three wires of the Garmin cable (the third wire is to establish a common ground between the two echoMAPs, but nearly all bass boat installations will already have this established between the two units).

About networking, the Garmin echoMAP units do not provide Ethernet networking. The echoMAP CHIRP units do have NMEA 2000 networking, while the nonCHIRP echoMAPs do not. All that will share between echoMAPs are waypoints, and waypoints are only shared with Garmin High Speed Protocol. You do this by connecting the the blue and brown wires on the unit power cables together as I describe above, then making sure that data sharing is enabled on both units. Garmin offers the data sharing cable to connect the wires at the link below. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/pn/010-12234-06

You can share wpts between the two units using Garmin High Speed Protocol and the blue/brown wires on the unit power cables. Connect blue to brown, brown to blue between the two units.

First, download Garmin Homeport software: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/64242 Then directly import the Google Earth .kmz file into Homeport. Once the .kmz file is loaded, insert your SD card in the computer, then simply drag/drop this imported .kmz file on the card. The file will then be saved in .adm (Garmin proprietary format).

I also verified that the trolling motor adapter made for the GT30 will also work with the GT40. This would be your best option relative to minimizing potential impact damage to the ducer. This adapter is part number 010-12105-10. This pic is actually the adapter with a GT30, but again, it will also work with the GT40.

The 73 SV has been an extremely popular unit at a great price point. There is no specific trolling motor adapter for the GT 40. However, you can easily use the transom bracket and a hose clamp.

The Panoptix Forward and Panoptix Down are separate transducers. The Forward is designed for the trolling motor and the Down for the transom.

Given the three you list, I agree with Wayne. But, take a look at the Gen3 Touch 9 - it's worth the extra money. Touch screens are much more user-friendly, and I find the 7-inch screens too small for multi-pane views.

Information on the Lowrance warranty policy below. This has been in place for several years. http://www.lowrance.com/en-us/Support/Advantage-Service/

As a general rule, you will get more benefit with CHIRP as you move to deeper water. With that said, even in 5-10 feet of water CHIRP provides noticeable improvements in clarity and resolution when compared to traditional sonar.

The ONLY disadvantage with Touch units is the cold weather/gloves deal. Otherwise, it's all positives moving from the keypad units to the Touch. The biggest advantages include easier, quicker, more intuitive unit navigation and menu selections, built-in LSS capabilities, and complete compatibility with the HDI ducer (gives you both 2D sonar and downscan at the bow unit when mounted on the trolling motor).

Simply put, there are no disadvantages. The Point-1 provides a position update 10X/sec, while the Gen2 internal antennas update 5X/sec. The biggest advantage is that the Point-1 has a built-in heading sensor (compass). This completely stabilizes the chart at slow boat speeds so you always know exactly what direction the wpt is from the boat while fishing. It is an absolute must-have item for offshore, pinpoint fishing. With some experience, the Point-1 completely eliminates the need for marker buoys.

Good news, thanks for the follow-up.

What you say directly above is not redundant, is the best way to wire them, and is what several of us already suggested. In your previous post, you mentioned wiring the units direct, BUT THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL TOGGLE SWITCH - the additional toggle switch is redundant and not needed. The units have their own PWR buttons, so why add the extra switch in the circuit?

I completely agree. The proposed switch would just be redundant since the head units have a PWR button (i.e, switch). Just wire units direct to battery with fuse protection with either the supplied inline fuse or through a fuse block.

There are several styles of info gauge pages to select from. Yes, each of those pages and gauges can be edited to show whatever avaliable data you want.

The Elite 4X is not networkable. Relative to the whole Mark and Elite series units, the only unit that is networkable (NMEA 2000 only) are the Elite 7 models.

Our CS reps have been unable to replicate what you are seeing on your unit. Have you allowed the unit a few minutes to "normalize" from the intial boot up to see if the noise is reduced? If the noise is still there after several minutes, try a hard reset (reset to default).

For the money, you can't beat that unit. 2D sonar, downscan, built-in CHIRP capabilities, good mapping. High value for the price.

For the entire Mark and Elite series units, the default settings really work great. Looking at your specific settings, you are really close to the defaults. Sonar and downscan color palettes are just personal preference. The most important 2D sonar setting is fishing mode. Make sure you have it set to "shallow water", assuming you are in less than 60 feet of water.

Strange, for sure. Are you sure that the card is unlocked (switch on outside edge of chip)?

No, it is not possible to share GPS to the 5X. The Ethernet cable would share 2D sonar ducers among the two units.

Could be several things. Take a look at the LED diagnostic lights on the LSS box, report what you see. Note that these LED lights are hard to see in sunlight, so look at the lights closely.