Minn Kota Terrova Ethernet

I recently invested in a Terrova, and I am curious about some of the cable connections. The place I bought it from wasn’t able to provide much info. Here are my questions:

1. I have a Helix 9 in the captain’s console and want to ethernet connect it to the Terrova. Will I be able to use the foot pedal while I am using the ethernet connection or is that port the same one as the foot pedal? Or will I have to switch between the two based on the type of fishing I do?
2. Is there such a thing as a Split or Y jack for that 8 port connection on the terrova so I can use both foot pedal and ethernet at once?
3. Is the smaller 4-port cable solely usable for the transducer or can you use that for connection? I wouldn’t want to use the terrova transducer for the 9 since I have side and down on it. I do have a Helix 5 mounted at the bow that gets a pretty good image from the terrova transducer but cannot obviously be ethernet compatible.

Looking for simplified general info on this stuff- hard to find info and the info I have found has seemed to conflict. I would like to use the ethernet connection for the contour feature for fall muskie mostly, although I am sure it’s a feature that once I have I will want to find more uses for as well.

Thank you so much- a little behind the times, but new Helix 9 and new terrova this year after an early-2000s trolling motor and an old Helix 5 means a lot to learn. Any help much appreciated.

Andrew, there should be a connector on your trolling motor cables just for the foot pedal. You can just plug in pedal as needed. With the pedal plugged in, you will still be able to use your remote too. On mine you need a US2 cable plugged into an adapter which is plugged into the black box, guessing it’s the same with the newer motors. Then you need another adapter plugged into the box that your unit plugs into..everything needs a dongle and adapter

If you are connected to your Helix 9 on the onsole you can control the trolling motor from ther also.
Foot pedal, remote, depthfinder oh my, which on to use.

Backing up one step, does your Terrova have i-Pilot Link that enables it to be linked to your Helix 9 for sure? If so you should have four cables coming from your trolling motor. They should be the black and red power cable, the connector that connects to your foot pedal, the cable to connect your Helix 5 to the Terrova’s transducer and a cable that connects to the ethernet cable. Buy an ethernet cable that will be long enough to get back to your Helix 9 on the console and get an AS EC QDE – Ethernet Adapter Cable that connects to the ethernet cable on one end and plugs into the back of your Helix 9 on the other end. You should be able to use the foot pedal, the remote or the Helix 9 to control your Terrova.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your contour map has to be a Lakemaster HD(High Definition) map to use the “follow the contour” feature. Not all Lakemaster lake maps are high definition maps but you can also make your own high definition contour maps using AutoChart Live on your Helix 9 if you are on a lake that isn’t a Lakemaster HD lake.
I use the “follow the contour” feature with my Ulterra all the time trolling crankbaits while following contours at Devils Lake, where I usually fish.
After a bit of a curve while learning exactly how to use it, I much prefer trolling contours at Devils Lake using i-Pilot Link “follow the contour” than without it.

OK. Thanks for all the feedback, I was unaware there was a difference between i pilot and i pilot link. My only remaining questions are whether the foot pedal cord, since it is removeable, does the job of connection to an ethernet box? And will the i pilot be able to upgrade to i- pilot link?

Karry Kyllo wrote:

Backing up one step, does your Terrova have i-Pilot Link that enables it to be linked to your Helix 9 for sure? If so you should have four cables coming from your trolling motor. They should be the black and red power cable, the connector that connects to your foot pedal, the cable to connect your Helix 5 to the Terrova’s transducer and a cable that connects to the ethernet cable.

This is the key piece to the questions and subsequent answers. Along with differentiating between iPilot and iPilot LINK. Big difference.

This might help answer some of the cabling questions. Also, if the Terrova is equipped with iPilot LINK, I’m pretty sure it will come with an ethernet cable (30′ I think) but you’ll still need the AS EC QDE adapter cable. God forbid HB/MK ever makes their connections universal with their units.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/support/faqs/what-are-different-cables-coming-head-my-trolling-motor

Andrew Meyer wrote:

I have the i-pilot stuff, but there seem to be only three cables. But I do have the lakemaster on the Helix 9. And I am fairly certain the i-pilot compatible terrova should just be one series, right? I must be missing something.

Do you have iPilot, or iPilot LINK? This is a huge difference. Regular iPilot does not communicate with the Humminbird unit.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/support/faqs/what-difference-between-i-pilot-and-i-pilot-link