Sharing on HDS7s

I have 2 HDS7s on my boat linked together to share sonar and contour. Can I also share a Navionics chip between them?

I sometimes put unit #1 up front with the chip in it for trolling contours, but when running from the console I don’t have the lake contour on unit #2.

Do I have to buy a second chip?

yep! will need two chips

If your HDS 7 is a gen 2 I think lowrances 2.0 update will let you share mapping. The touch units for sure do.

If you have Gen 1’s or Gen 2’s you will need two mapping chips. With the new update for the Gen 2’s you can use one chip but you have to purchase another hardware module of some sort to make it work and that is more expensive than buying another chip. At least that is what I was told from the guys at Reeds.

This thread appears you only need 1 chip if they are gen 2…

http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/1248246/fpart/1/one-map-chip-2-hds-units

Yes shared mapping on Gen 2 units.
enjoy.

Quote:

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With the new update for the Gen 2’s you can use one chip but you have to purchase another hardware module of some sort to make it work and that is more expensive than buying another chip.

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That is an incorrect statement. I have an HDS-8 and an HDS-10, both gen 2s. I run one chip in the console and the bow unit reads it just fine. No additional hardware is required, just the latest software update.