If you’re like a lot of anglers, you’re planning – or at least contemplating – adding or upgrading your electronics before next season.
And why not? There have been a lot of new and amazing electronics and upgrades added by top marine tech manufacturers. They can make you more efficient and your fishing experience better in the coming years.
Also, given the influx of new electronics, some anglers may put their former graphs and accessories up for sale. That’s a great way for anglers with smaller, limited feature graphs to upgrade without spending a bundle.
However, before you make the change, be wary of some things you may have overlooked.
Compatibility is a big issue. Unfortunately, there is very little standard connect-ability between graph manufacturers.
One brand won’t network with the other, so mixing brands can be limiting. In fact, some models within a brand won’t network. For example, if you currently have Humminbird Helix graphs and purchase the new Xplore units, they won’t be able to share waypoints with your Helix through a network system.
Networking is a huge benefit. Let’s say you find a hotspot while fishing from the front of the boat and save that as a waypoint. With networking, that waypoint, along with others, will appear on other graphs on the boat.
If you buy a Garmin LiveScope, it will only work on Garmin units and can’t be networked with Lowrance or Humminbird. So, you will need to include a graph.
Lowrance offers its Eagle Eye that includes forward-facing sonar and many other features for less than $1,000, but it cannot be networked with other Eagle or Lowrance units.
Or, if you add the new Humminbird Live 2 it will only network with Apex, Solix and Xplore models. It doesn’t work with Helix.
Xplore units eventually will replace Helix units. The Helix has been an incredibly popular sonar with cool features but was limited in its capabilities. The Xplore units have bigger memories, processors and features and will sell for about what new Helix units cost.
If you’re a budget-minded angler, the addition of new models may be out of your price range, but it may open opportunities to improve what you have.
For example, if you’re tired of squinting at your basic 7-inch screen, look around for guys who have upgraded and have bigger, and perhaps full-featured, used graphs for sale.
However, make sure the connections and transducer are compatible with your current setup. If you have a transducer built into your trolling motor, will the additional graph work with it?
Mapping is another issue. Does the unit have slots for mapping cards or does it come loaded with maps of your favorite lakes? Will the graphs you’re adding share mapping? How many waypoints will the added graph hold in its memory?
If your graphs require an ethernet box to network, is the one you have capable of handling it, or do you need to purchase one with a bigger processor?
Battery power and wiring are other issues. If you’ve got an older boat and currently have smaller graphs but plan to add more or bigger graphs, 360 or forward-facing sonar, can you deliver the necessary power?
Older boats have smaller diameter wire. Hence, you lose the juice that the accessories and bigger screens demand. You may have to upsize your wire and add or upgrade your batteries to get maximum efficiency out of your equipment.
There’s no question – adding or upgrading your electronics can get confusing, but it’s also very rewarding. Be sure to ask a lot of questions of a dealer or with other tech-minded anglers before making a change.
