I’ve got a HDS 8 Gen 1 with structure scan at the helm of my skeeter wx 1880. I’m looking to add another unit that would be compatible with what I have. Basically what I’m wanting to do is use my current unit and hook them together so I can run my SI/DI on my HDS 8 and run my sonar/ gps on another screen.other then getting a used gen 1 HDS What options do I have?
The question is how much do you want to spend? If you’re looking to get by cheap, finding a used Gen 1 or button Gen 2 would be the best bet. If you’re looking to upgrade to a newer unit, if you can swing it get a new Gen 3 of any size you desire. Otherwise retailers still have new Gen 2 touch units still hanging out there.
Either way it will have to be a HDS unit. Then you could share maps, sonar and waypoints.
Thx for the reply- yes I should have included a price range- looking around $1000-$1300. Are the GEN 2 touch a good unit? I found some on sale for 699 plus a 100 rebate
Big difference between the Gen 2 touch and 3 is a few things….. It’s how bad do you want them..
1st is processor speed is noticeably faster in the Gen 3
2nd The GPS Refresh rate is 10Hz in a Gen 3 vs 5Hz in a Gen 2 touch. You don’t get the choppy update when you’re moving around slow cause it updates faster.
3rd, Chirp Sonar in the Gen 3
4th is the Gen 3’s have built in Wireless. You link an iPad to a Gen 3 and mirror the image which then you can control from your iPad. This is cool if your boat is in the garage. You can turn it on and sit on your lazy boy and play around on the iPad in the house to mess with settings and stuff. This is also great if you have the Navionics App because you can link the HDS Gen 3 to the App and do live mapping on the water.
So again, are the Gen 2 touches fine? Yep they are and they will work just fine if you don’t care about the above features. 
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