Second plotter with HDS 9 Live

M1SF1T

M1SF1T

Active Member
I'm looking to dial in my new to me 20' center console. Current electronics:

Lowrance HDS9 Live
Airmar P66 & Lowrance 3 in 1 transducers
Simrad Halo 20 radar
Lowrance GPS antenna
Mercury SC1000 Tachometers
Standard Horizon GPS/AIS radio, I just ordered the cable to connect to my plotter

I'd like to add a second larger MFD and Mercury Vesselview Link, possibly an autopilot in the future.

I like the Simrad Evo3S. What will I lose in cross display ability by mixing brands?
If I add a NEP2 hub will that change anything?
Does anyone use a sonar hub? or S3100 sonar module?

I'd like to have full functionality on both displays. I also understand the Simrad gives better integration with the Mercury Vesselview and better controls for autopilot.
The other option would be a second Lowrance HDS unit, HDS Live has been replaced by HDS Pro now... or if I can avoid hubs and modules, maybe the cost of a second Evo3s and selling the current HDS Live is a wash.

Marine electronics is a pretty deep rabbit hole... Other recommendations that will maximize my system capability are appreciated.
 
As you add more things you do end up needing the Nep2 hub. Two screens Radar and autopilot start to take up ports.

I’ve stuck to Lowrance, they drop in price like clockwork on bass pro and now harbour chandler/ gps city with refurbished and last years model. Lots used on eBay and Facebook marketplace too. Easier to find Lowrance units and parts than simrad it seems.
 
well simrad, zeus and lowrance are the same brand and use the same hardware and software sooo.......
you need an ethernet and nmea 2k connection for both chartplotters. nmea 0183 for the radio. do you even need an NEP2 hub ? its a very expensive way of buying what is basically a gig travel switch. i use this dude - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B074W7CJ3G
i connect it to this router - https://www.amazon.ca/TP-LINK-TL-WR902AC-Wireless-Travel-Router/dp/B01N5RCZQH
to give me wifi on the boat. which means i can repeat all my chartplotters to my phone if needed. handy for checking sonar while peeking over the bow. get some of these for additional usb sockets - https://www.amazon.ca/DaierTek-Waterproof-Aluminum-Voltmeter-Motorcycle/dp/B07SYWRTHJ
the router usb port will power the switch. just duct tape em together and use 1ft ethernet between them. cost of everything < $100 even with buying preterminated ethernet cables.
 
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I’ve got a similar set up to you.
If you want a second screen I would grab another lowrance hds of whatever series and use any extra money for lowrance ap. 100 percent would reccomend ap.

Most of your other network will run through NMEA 2000 I don’t see why you’d need more Ethernet ports.

I have 2x HDS, radar, ap, antenna. One plotter is using both Ethernets to receive radar and share with second scree. Both plotters are connected to NMEA network. Engine info, autopilot, gps, all shared by NMEA. Screen to screen and radar are the only Ethernet.
 
tannerc said:
I’ve got a similar set up to you.
If you want a second screen I would grab another lowrance hds of whatever series and use any extra money for lowrance ap. 100 percent would reccomend ap.

Most of your other network will run through NMEA 2000 I don’t see why you’d need more Ethernet ports.

I have 2x HDS, radar, ap, antenna. One plotter is using both Ethernets to receive radar and share with second scree. Both plotters are connected to NMEA network. Engine info, autopilot, gps, all shared by NMEA. Screen to screen and radar are the only Ethernet.
Click to expand...

Second this advice go with a second Lowrance HDS and buy the lowrance autopliot. I have same thing. I also run a standalone Simrad for engine stuff/sonar.
 
Thanks for all the comments...

I guess my concern was AP functionality the NAC 1 doesn't seem well reviewed, whereas the NAC 2 wasn't functional previously with the Lowrance MFDs, only Simrad. It appears that a recent update has changed that though and added functionality with the HDS Live and HDS Pro so that makes an easier choice to stay all Lowrance MFDs.

I don't think I need more Ethernet ports, but was just thinking if I had mixed brand displays and fed both transducers into an S3100 and then that into a NEP2 along with radar I would be getting everything to each display. MFD comptability would be less of an issue. Plus I would get the better rendering on sonar data from the S3100.

Anyway, that's moot now... I'm not sure if my system is complex enough to gain any benefit from external processing of sonar data anyway from something like an S3100.

So my list is:
HDS Pro 12
NAC 2 autopilot kit
Precision compass 9
Vesselview Link
NMEA backbone kit

Anything I'm missing on?

And @kaelc when was it that the Lowrance sale usually dropped? I see a few low level discounts around, but willing to wait if a clearance is around the corner.
 
As tannerc said, there is no issue at all with a NAC1 system, I would guess most people on here are running that system. I couldn’t be happier with it. Have not seen the NAC1 poorly reviewed but may not have looked in the same places. My understanding from Tim at Harbour Chandler is that the only real difference is the NAC2 ability to keep a tighter waypoint track than the NAC1 system. Maybe there are other features I’m unaware of but for my application the 1 system does it incredibly well.
 
Reading on The Hull Truth and a few other spots, complaint seems to be it searches for the track, S-turning along the way. Several started they switched out to the NAC2 immediately.

I'm on twin 90 Mercs, maybe twin 115s with future repower. No kicker.

For the few more bucks it's piece of mind.
 

Lowrance HDS PRO 9 3-in-1 Active Imaging NOH - Radioworld

9420064136490 HDS PRO 9 3-in-1 Active Imaging NOH 055-10001-001
www.radioworld.ca www.radioworld.ca

Usually Bass Pro leads the way with sales but nothing big now. Google AI says spring, summer and winter sales. I used Ruteken the affiliate app as well when ordering from bass pro.

I guess the difference w my network is I move my second screen from my helm to stern, so for wiring sake it seems like I have 3 screens since I have 3 sets of wires.

There is a Facebook Lowrance group where guys trade up mostly from the US but you get some Canadians as well. Russel Marine also has used units.
 
I have almost the same setup twin 150's with vessel view, HDS12 inside and 9 outside, Halo radar, Point-1 antenna, P66 and 3 in 1 transducers. It all works pretty well together and my next addition would be the autopilot, so I am really interested to see how yours works out. I have a Simrad radio, but I haven't connected it to anything as it has no AIS.
 
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