360 vs Mega 360— need your input

[mdwhitten]

Got a new Lynx on order, with two 12” Solix units.
I can get a 360 unit installed, when boat is ready in mid September.

Mega 360 will not be available until late October.

Should I go ahead with the regular 360, or try to add the 360 Mega later?

[ntslam]

Wait an extra month for the mega

[Wayne P.]

Also rigging for the two models is different.
The current 360 is an Ethernet accessory with a Ethernet connection.
The MEGA 360 is a transducer connection.

[Spotshooter]

Wayne,

If the new 360 is a transducer interface, how does that work with my current Solix where I have a mega transducer already ?

[Wayne P.]

Wayne,

If the new 360 is a transducer interface, how does that work with my current Solix where I have a mega transducer already ?

"Current SOLIX" has to be a G2.
You use a Y cable on the transducer port. It's described in the MEGA 360 post #1339 here:
http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread....173633&page=67

It was discussed here if you missed it:
http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=993598

[Bob B]

No way would I get a regular 360 1 month before the Mega one comes out.

[BoatBuggy]

Got a new Lynx on order, with two 12” Solix units.
I can get a 360 unit installed, when boat is ready in mid September.

Mega 360 will not be available until late October.

Should I go ahead with the regular 360, or try to add the 360 Mega later?

I'd wait for the Mega but I'd have a properly sized power wire for the Mega run to the bow so you don't need to fish a wire later.

[Spotshooter]

I’m pretty sure my Solix is G1...

so that stinks

[twa]

Depends on your wallet...I promise getting a 360 now is going to be e WHOLE LOT CHEAPER than a Mega 360.

[Tilzbow]

Mega 360 will not be available until late October.

I read on a other thread where Wayne P posted it will be available in December with an MSRP of $1,299. I do hope your October date is accurate so I can get it installed on a new boat about that time.

[Spotshooter]

I’ve already got a 360...

A gen 1 solix 12, and Gen 1 Helix 12 (non mega).

so .. I guess I’m out unless I upgrade the old Helix ?

[Spotshooter]

Wayne,

The other thread says -

All SOLIX G2All SOLIX “G1”All HELIX G3NAll HELIX G2NFAQ:

• How does the MEGA 360 connect?
  
  • The new MEGA 360 connects the same way that a conventional 2D, DI, or SI transducer connects.
  • The MEGA 360 can be connected directly alongside a second transducer with a transducer splitter cable. For HELIX units use: 9 M360 2DDI Y (720107-1). For SOLIX units use: 14 M360 2DDI Y (720108-1).
  • If the MEGA 360 is connected in addition to another transducer, sonar options will be 2D, DI, 360, and SI from the MEGA 360. Stand-alone SI will not be an option while the MEGA 360 is connected

SO —- It sounds like the Mega 360 will work with my G1 solix 12... unless I’m reading it wrong.


:). Maybe all is not lost

[Wayne P.]

Wayne,

The other thread says -

All SOLIX G2All SOLIX “G1”All HELIX G3NAll HELIX G2NFAQ:

• How does the MEGA 360 connect?
  
  • The new MEGA 360 connects the same way that a conventional 2D, DI, or SI transducer connects.
  • The MEGA 360 can be connected directly alongside a second transducer with a transducer splitter cable. For HELIX units use: 9 M360 2DDI Y (720107-1). For SOLIX units use: 14 M360 2DDI Y (720108-1).
  • If the MEGA 360 is connected in addition to another transducer, sonar options will be 2D, DI, 360, and SI from the MEGA 360. Stand-alone SI will not be an option while the MEGA 360 is connected

SO —- It sounds like the Mega 360 will work with my G1 solix 12... unless I’m reading it wrong.


:). Maybe all is not lost

You are looking at the wrong part of the description that covers the SOLIX G1 and Helix G2N

MEGA 360 Compatibility:

• Direct Connect MEGA 360 Sonar Transducer:

SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G2SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA DI+ G2 CHOSOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G2SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA DI+ G2 CHOSOLIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G2SOLIX 10 CHIRP MEGA DI+ G2 CHOHELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3NHELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA DI+ GPS G3NHELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3NHELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA DI+ GPS G3NHELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3NHELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA DI+ GPS G3NHELIX 8 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3NHELIX 8 CHIRP MEGA DI+ GPS G3N(Note that due to a hardware limitation in the SOLIX “G1” and HELIX G2N, MEGA 360 cannot directly connect and be controlled by these models)

• Indirectly via an Ethernet subscription to a SOLIX G2 or HELIX G3N model:

[Spotshooter]

Huh.. back to half stuck... good to now though, thnx Wayne.

it’s hard to know when to jump these days.

Garmin has pretty much perfected the livescope / panoptics, but doesn’t have 360..
Low doesn’t have 360 but just added a live view like the early Garmin ones...

5-7 years from now all 3 will have live & 360 would be my guess.
But who can wait that long :)

Given this I’m really watching how the head units “all” require upgrading... which is biting everyone in the tail. Garmin is doing best there so far.

[pfisher]

Huh.. back to half stuck... good to now though, thnx Wayne.

it’s hard to know when to jump these days.

Garmin has pretty much perfected the livescope / panoptics, but doesn’t have 360..
Low doesn’t have 360 but just added a live view like the early Garmin ones...

5-7 years from now all 3 will have live & 360 would be my guess.
But who can wait that long :)

Given this I’m really watching how the head units “all” require upgrading... which is biting everyone in the tail. Garmin is doing best there so far.

Garmin is not being completely honest either. I started out with LS and a 9" unit, then a 10 and 12. The higher end 10 and 12 were much better than the 9 budget unit for the LS. Now I have the upper end new unit and it's another game all together. Garmin will tell you the image and detail are the same. I'm saying from experience they aren't close. The next gen of LS will need a higher end unit I would bet. I would much rather a company just tell me, "You will need a more powerful unit to run XYZ." In the long run they save the consumer money.

[Pelican]

I talked to a tech at the electronics shop I use and he said HB told him they’re coming out with a cable that will allow the Mega 360 and the SI Transducer to be plugged in to one unit but it’ll be after the first of the year B 4 it’s available. Time will tell.

[Wayne P.]

I talked to a tech at the electronics shop I use and he said HB told him they’re coming out with a cable that will allow the Mega 360 and the SI Transducer to be plugged in to one unit but it’ll be after the first of the year B 4 it’s available ����*♂️

That is already posted in the information released.
BUT you cannot have SI from a SI transducer and MEGA 360 at the same time.
The MEGA 360 REPLACES the SI piezos in a SI transducer.
You would use the MEGA 360 for 360 or Side Imaging.

Read the bold print in post #12.

The new Y cable will disconnect the two SI piezos in the SI transducer and connect the MEGA 360 in its place.
Same function as using a Y cable to disconnect the 2D piezo in a SI or DI transducer and connect an added 2D transducer in its place.

[brianf.]

Still confused... So are you saying my mega SI transducer on my G3 Helix will be unuseable when the mega 360 is connected? It’s one or the other until this cable comes out in another year?? Tell me it’s not so...

[Bob B]

Well ..... The Mega 360 isn't released til December. Not sure when you will be able to actually get one. If the cable is available the first of the year, that's only about a month .... and who knows, it may actually be available wit the release of the mega 360. You are going to have "hard" water at that time anyway.

[Pelican]

That is already posted in the information released.
BUT you cannot have SI from a SI transducer and MEGA 360 at the same time.
The MEGA 360 REPLACES the SI piezos in a SI transducer.
You would use the MEGA 360 for 360 or Side Imaging.

Read the bold print in post #12.

The new Y cable will disconnect the two SI piezos in the SI transducer and connect the MEGA 360 in its place.
Same function as using a Y cable to disconnect the 2D piezo in a SI or DI transducer and connect an added 2D transducer in its place.

Yes i know, I was complaining about that today while at the shop. The tech said HB told him they both will be useable
with the new cable/adapter. He said he thought it will use the Ethernet plug but that’s a guess on his part. We can hope!