Adding a new Garmin echoMAP 93SV with an existing EchoMap 73SV

Hello IDO,

I am looking to add a Garmin EchoMAP 93SV to the console of my boat. I currently have an EchoMAP 73SV (which I love!!) at the console, and I would like to move that unit to the bow. It seems like you need an Electrical Engineering degree to figure out marine electronics these days…but I am hoping someone on here could help me with a couple questions!

1) Can the 93sv and 73sv share my existing transducer? Or will I need to buy a second transducer?

2) What do I need to buy to link the 2 units together? I would like to share way-points and quick-draw mapping information between the 2 units. I see Garmin sells both a “network cable” and a “user-data sharing cable”..

Any other input on what I am trying to achieve would be greatly appreciated. If it makes any difference, I would like to buy the older verson 93sv, not the new 93sv Plus with touchscreen.

Thank you,
Dan

Although the 2 units use the same transducer, I am not aware of a way to get them to share 1 common transducer. Will need a second transducer.

Connecting the 2 units so that they share waypoints and quickdraw maps only require 2 lengths of 18 gauge wire. Each unit will have a transmit and a receive wire (Blue and Brown). Connect the transmit wire from unit A to the receive wire on unit B. Then connect receive on unit A to transmit on B. The Garmin data sharing cable has a 3rd wire that connects ground to ground between the 2 units. I did not purchase the Garmin data sharing cable and only used 2 wires. I did not connect the ground wires and everything works as it should. It was my understanding that if the units are on the same battery system, they are already grounded together. If you put them on separate batteries, you may want to run a 3rd wire for the ground.

You will need to turn on data sharing in each unit.

As far as I know they won’t share quickdraw data. It’s just waypoints and routes that sync between them I think.

I’ll have to look at mine. I know the Quickdraw maps show up on both of my units, but its possible I transferred them with a PC. When I bought my new boat last fall, I did take all the data off my Garmin that was on the old boat and saved it to my new 93SV. I am pretty sure that I only copied it to the 93SV and not the new 73CV on the new boat because I wanted to test the data sharing. I made some new maps this past weekend using my 93SV. If I remember tonight, I will look to see if I can see these new maps on the 73CV.

I have different garmin units, but I know all of my data, maps, and all types of sonar show on both units. They are connected to a nmea 2000 network and also have an ethernet cable to each other. I have the 76xx series, not sure how different they are from the OP’s

The GPSMAP 76xx series do have sonar sharing, but unfortunately, the echoMAPs do not.

Thanks for all the information!

Based on my research, the EchoMAPs can share way points but can’t share live quick-draw maps. I may need to just keep saving my maps to an SD card and copying the information over to the other unit/SD card. Similar to what Trent was saying?

I think I will proceed with buying the 93SV, transducer, and Garmin’s data sharing cable.

I did look at my Garmin’s last night and can confirm that the Quickdraw maps do not transfer from one unit to the other through the data sharing cables.

Trent, thanks for following up!

Is copying quick-draw maps on to an extra SD card the way to go then?

Do the newer HBs share autochart data with networking?

I put the microSD from my 93 in my PC, copy the Quickdraw files to the computer, remove microSD and insert MicroSD from 73. Paste files from PC into Quickdraw directory on microSD. Return cards to the proper locator.

Little bit of a pain, but not bad. Garmin has been pretty good about adding features through firmware updates, so still a bit of hope they can add sharing of Quickdraw contours.

Just an FYI, the newer “Plus” units share everything, including quick draw maps via an Ethernet cable.