Ultrex Without Heading Sensor

[PJ-Rohlf]

Does anyone know if I can use an ultrex without installing the heading sensor? Or if I can use spot lock at least without it?

[granite]

Yes, you can. The heading sensor is only used for the "jog" function, so the motor knows where forward, left, right, and reverse are. Some will say it increases the accuracy of spotlock, but I have never seen any documentation/proof of that.

[PJ-Rohlf]

Awesome thank you

[lpugh]

The heading sensor lets the ultrex know at all times what direction the boat is pointed so it does not have to move the boat to make that determination, it will help avoid a lot of unnecessary turning and movement to hold a tighter position. Without it the motor has no way of knowing which direction to turn for corrections without boat movement first

[granite]

The heading sensor lets the ultrex know at all times what direction the boat is pointed so it does not have to move the boat to make that determination, it will help avoid a lot of unnecessary turning and movement to hold a tighter position. Without it the motor has no way of knowing which direction to turn for corrections without boat movement first

I respectfully disagree. The trolling motor, when in spotlock, knows exactly in which direction to thrust ITSELF (because it knows where the prop and its thrust are in relation to the GPS antenna in the head) in order to return ITSELF (not the boat) to the position matching the GPS coordinates of the spotlock. It doesn't give a rat's a$$ which way the boat is oriented. Without a heading sensor, when using the jog function, the motor could move ITSELF to ITS left very easily, but it couldn't move THE BOAT to THE BOAT'S left without knowing which way that is, which is the information the heading sensor provides.

[Pipercub]

Why would you not install the heading sensor?

[PJ-Rohlf]

Well my fortrex is on my buddies boat which is broke down and the shop just finished his ultrex so thats getting slapped on my boat for a tourny. Not too worried if its not super accurate. Just as long as I can use spot lock lol

[PJ-Rohlf]

So to answer Piperclub I'm not going to go through the hassle to take the heading sensor off another boat when its going to be a temporary install

[db220]

I respectfully disagree. The trolling motor, when in spotlock, knows exactly in which direction to thrust ITSELF (because it knows where the prop and its thrust are in relation to the GPS antenna in the head) in order to return ITSELF (not the boat) to the position matching the GPS coordinates of the spotlock. It doesn't give a rat's a$$ which way the boat is oriented. Without a heading sensor, when using the jog function, the motor could move ITSELF to ITS left very easily, but it couldn't move THE BOAT to THE BOAT'S left without knowing which way that is, which is the information the heading sensor provides.

I've had it installed with and without and this was my experience.
I never thought that the jog function was that big a deal until I started using it. It really comes in handy to fine tune a position.

[granite]

Well my fortrex is on my buddies boat which is broke down and the shop just finished his ultrex so thats getting slapped on my boat for a tourny. Not too worried if its not super accurate. Just as long as I can use spot lock lol

Sounds like a pretty good trade to me! Now you need to find a place to hide your boat so he can't find it.

[PJ-Rohlf]

Sounds like a pretty good trade to me! Now you need to find a place to hide your boat so he can't find it.

Id rather have it on his boat lol we fish a lot of team trails, 97 TR 17 or 18 PHX20...imma chose to fish from the bird lol

[jtracc]

I get it's a hassle to install but why not use/install it when you paid all that money for the unit?

[granite]

I get it's a hassle to install but why not use/install it when you paid all that money for the unit?

RIF

[catdude28]

I used my Ultrex for half a season without the heading sensor. I used spot lock a lot. I don’t use the jog function . After I installed the sensor there was no difference in how spot lock worked.

[Shortbus17]

Didn’t have the heading sensor when I got my new boat with Ultrex. Don’t seem to miss it.