HDS 12 Live Tranducer Help

[Spanky06]

I just ordered my new Lowrance Carbon HDS 12 unit and I would like to mount it on the cockpit, I have a 2010 Ranger 188VX with a 175 HPDI, where would be the best place to mount the transducer?, I have seen most mounted on the jackplate. I have an 8 in Slidemaster on mine, is there a special bracket required ?, and finally is the unit compatible with a NEMA 2000 set up?, Thanks for any and all positive feedback, your help is appreciated.

Spanky

[Stratos21XL]

When you say live transducer, are you talking the Active Image 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 or do you mean the actual live scope transducer?

[Spanky06]

I am talking about the first one you mentioned, the long one that comes with the unit, Thank You

Spanky

[Stratos21XL]

Ok, first thing is you will have to make sure the carbon has 18.3 software loaded in it. Yes the unit is NMEA 2000 compatible. You will need a NMEA 2000 starter kit. Transducer Shield will be the one to contact about the mount that bolts to the jackplate but with the AI transducer being so new, I am not sure if anyone has a bracket made yet. One critical thing when mounting the transducer...it must have clear line of sight to the left and right as well as down to get optimal images.

[Spanky06]

I already had a NEMA 2000 network in the boat it has 2 Lowrance HDS units on it already a 5 in the bow and a 7 in the cockpit, my plan is to move the 7 to the front and put the new one in the cockpit, does that make sense?, I am already searching brackets and the TS model seems like its the way to go although I have seen some guys fabricate their own and the installs look pretty clean with no port/starboard or down restrictions. Again Thank You for your input.

Spanky

[Spanky06]

Bryan,
It comes with the 3 in one transducer...

Spanky

[Stratos21XL]

If you already have HDS units installed it should be pretty much plug and play other than adding the new transducer. The bad thing is I dont think you will be able to share the Structure Scan down and side imaging from the Carbon to the other HDS units unless they are Carbon or Live units.

[Spanky06]

Bryan,
Thank You for all of the answers you provided, I truly appreciate your help. I have all of the items necessary to get a nice clean install on the jack plate of my boat, I went with the Transducer Shield mount for the jack plate and like you said it is pretty much plug and play after that. I will post on the install when I get done...

Spanky