Looking to get a 5 for the console and a 7 for the bow. Am I able to hook these 2 together? What do I need to do that? Want to be able to mark way points and have them visible on both units. SI for both if it matters.

You will need units with G3N in the title.  I don't think they make a Helix 5 that is networkable but two 7s would work.  All you need to connect the two is an ethernet cable.  A 10ft cable cost $55.

8 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

A 10ft cable cost $55.

My word - where are you getting your cables or are they specialty cables?

 

Micro-Center my friend - 10' cables: $10 for Cat-5, $15 for Cat-6, $26 for Cat-7.

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

My word - where are you getting your cables or are they specialty cables?

 

Micro-Center my friend - 10' cables: $10 for Cat-5, $15 for Cat-6, $26 for Cat-7.

They have different connectors than your standard ethernet cable.  Yes they are expensive like all Humminbird cables.  I looked into building my own and found that I could save about $15 a cable but decided it wasn't worth the trouble and I was concerned that my homemade cable might not be as reliable as a factory made cable.   

Hummingbird the way to go? Seems to have good reviews. 

4 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

They have different connectors than your standard ethernet cable.  Yes they are expensive like all Humminbird cables. 

Captive audience - like Apple use to be...you couldn't use a third party anything in the old Apples, had to buy from them. Ethernet is a standard protocol, the connectors should be too.

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Captive audience - like Apple use to be...you couldn't use a third party anything in the old Apples, had to buy from them. Ethernet is a standard protocol, the connectors should be too.

If you think the cables are bad,  the five port ethernet switch cost $269.  If you network more than two things, you need the switch.  I have two fish finders,  360 imaging, and an Ultrex on my network.  Ethernet switch and all the required cables cost a fortune.  It does use the standard protocol and I thought about making my own cables and using a regular $20 switch.  I wasn't sure a regular old ethernet switch could handle the harsh environment of a boat so I chose not to go the cheap route.  Nothing worse than going on a week long fishing trip and having your network die. 

On 10/30/2019 at 7:00 PM, Tennessee Boy said:

If you think the cables are bad,  the five port ethernet switch cost $269.  If you network more than two things, you need the switch.  I have two fish finders,  360 imaging, and an Ultrex on my network.  Ethernet switch and all the required cables cost a fortune.  It does use the standard protocol and I thought about making my own cables and using a regular $20 switch.  I wasn't sure a regular old ethernet switch could handle the harsh environment of a boat so I chose not to go the cheap route.  Nothing worse than going on a week long fishing trip and having your network die. 

There’s a guy on here I think @jaimeastin who made his own hub for his Garmin. Seemed like it worked and was super cheap. Maybe he’ll chime in with how he did it. 

37 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

There’s a guy on here I think @jaimeastin who made his own hub for his Garmin. Seemed like it worked and was super cheap. Maybe he’ll chime in with how he did it. 

I think it would be easy except for the cable connector issues.  Ethernet is a standard so I would expect any switch to work once you got the cables connected.  The switch I have at home takes 12V DC so that's not a problem.    The question is,  how long would it last on a boat?  I'm sure it's not designed for the temperature extremes and voltage fluctuation you would have on a boat.  Of course at $15 each you could afford to keep a couple of extras on board.  

 

Edit:  I looked on amazon and they have a industrial switch for $40 that's operating temperature is (-22F ~ 167F).  Thats well beyond my operating temperature. ?