Puck Vs Internal

I just recently ordered a new boat and I am looking at adding a second unit to primarily run the chart off of. I was running a 958 DI on my old boat, I love the unit and I am transferring it over to my new one. I was looking at the 788 DI for running my chart and using the 958 to run the DI and graph. My question is how well does the internal gps work? I have run HDS’s before and the internal gps was ok but sometimes lost signal… I never had this problem with the 958 that had a puck..

I am open to suggestions on other set ups my decision on the 788 DI is not set in stone.

External GPS pucks will probably always out-perform internal antennae to some degree, but the internal antennae are much, much better than they used to be. If you have anything that might interfere with satellite reception to an internal antenna, get the puck and make sure it has a clear line to the sky.

The internal on the 700 series is pretty good. A few things that will cause it to be less productive would be if you mount the 700 “in-dash” (not on a ram) and also if you have something in the way, such as a trolling motor or windshield.
If your very particular about having the exact gps speed and dont want any glitches in the gps functions I would go with the external. Otherwise the internal on the 700 series will do fine!

I will admit I have become spoiled with the performance of the external puck….

So can I still run off a puck even if I have the internal gps? I am also planing on networking both birds together…

Eric or Jason may correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t you be able to use the same external GPS puck for both units?

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Eric or Jason may correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t you be able to use the same external GPS puck for both units?

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AS SYSLINK – System Link Cable-
Accessory system Y cable that allows you to connect two units to one GPS receiver. One side of the Y cable is 12″ long and the other side is 20′ long. NMEA 0183.

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Eric or Jason may correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t you be able to use the same external GPS puck for both units?

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AS SYSLINK – System Link Cable-
Accessory system Y cable that allows you to connect two units to one GPS receiver. One side of the Y cable is 12″ long and the other side is 20′ long. NMEA 0183.

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Ben just to clarify I could run a Puck and network the 958 and the 788 together? The 788 is the one I would run the chart off of.

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Eric or Jason may correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t you be able to use the same external GPS puck for both units?

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AS SYSLINK – System Link Cable-
Accessory system Y cable that allows you to connect two units to one GPS receiver. One side of the Y cable is 12″ long and the other side is 20′ long. NMEA 0183.

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Ben just to clarify I could run a Puck and network the 958 and the 788 together? The 788 is the one I would run the chart off of.

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You will be able to share 1 GPS puck with 2 units using the AS SYSLINK – System Link Cable. Using the AS SYSLINK – System Link Cable
This will NOT create a “Network” between the two units. With the two units you have, you can fully network them by using Ethernet cables and the 5 Port Ethernet Switch (AS ETH 5PS)

The easiest and most reliable way I have found to share gps and other info on those units would be to ethernet them together. You would need a 20 or 30′ ethernet cable and what they call a doongle to fit the 700 series. With that you can share waypoints, share DI info, 2d info, and also be able to select which gps you want each unit to use. It is very easy to install also. The only down fall is if you wish to add a 3rd unit into the mix or add a I-piliot link you will than need the 5 port hub to be able to connect them together.

Thanks Eric, I think this is the route I am going to go!