Panoptix PS31?

[thatscasual]

Now that people are starting to take delivery of the panoptic transducer PS31 i have a question that will determine if I purchase one. If I buy the PS31 and mount it to the bottom of my trolling motor can I adjust it so it faces down when I am drop shotting. I know I can use LiveVU Forward with the PS31 but will the software on the garmin units allow you to also use the LiveVu Down? There is no way I am going to stick two of those giant transducers (PS30,PS31) on my trolling motor so I can use LiveVu forward and LiveVU down.

[ring fry]

Not sure but I doubt you can. There would be no reason to make two different transducers if they would work either way.

SE Kansas grass grower

[thatscasual]

There is a reason to have two different transducers, one is a transom mount and the other is a trolling mount. The specs on the garmin site are identical for both.

[hawgripper]

There is a reason to have two different transducers, one is a transom mount and the other is a trolling mount. The specs on the garmin site are identical for both.

The mounts are different but the transducers are the same. Its the software that gets loaded in order for them to operate.

[thatscasual]

Anyone have an answer to this yet?

[Diel11]

I have a PS31 but I haven't tried it. I guess if you turned the AHRS sensor off it might work, but the view on the screen might be all messed up. The AHRS sensor is what keeps the beam aligned. Without it I think the beam will bounce too much. I'll give it a run this weekend and let you know.

[LWINCHESTER2]

I'm not sure but I think the PS31 and PS30 are different transducers. They look the same from the outside, draw the same current, etc. but the specifications are different. It's possible that this is a factor of the software but I think the internal elements may be configured differently.
LiveVu Forward
-electronically steerable over a 60 degree region 30 port 30 starboard
-selectable beam shape 10x90, 20x90 and 40x90
LiveVu Down
-electronically steerable over a 90 degree region 45 fore 45 aft
-selectable beam shape 10x120, 20x120and 40x120

Similarly the other views are different. They still could be the same transducer but just with different software but I bet they have some internal controls to prevent installing the software for one on the other.

[RangerSam]

The mounts are different but the transducers are the same. Its the software that gets loaded in order for them to operate.

I have both and when installed the head units identify them as what they are: PS30 or 31 - this was without updated software loaded yet. When using a drop shot and the PS31 mounted near a 45 degree angle on the bottom of my trolling motor I can see my drop shot weight, lure and it appears sometimes the line sort of ghosts an image.
The update rate of these images is not instantaneous and smaller objects are harder to discern but that might be due to the fact that I have just used AUTO settings and have not toyed around with anything yet.
IMO there is no need for both units up front and the PS30 is more for scanning for the cover I need to locate - the 31 allows me to pick it apart and see fish related to that cover as they react to my bait.

I have seen schools of bait being attacked by a mixed bag of striper, and bass. Now that I have used this on two different trolling motors (one motor driven-one manual steer) there are advantages to both - but the best sonar function was from the manual unit. Although identical 112# thrust units some additional noise is transferred by my iPilot.