Is anyone out there using an external GPS puck on their units that already have internal GPS? I have a Humminbird on the console and a Lowrance on the bow. Just put the Lowrance on and the GPS lags a little to much for me. Wondering if anyone has any experience with them. Do they have faster returns to reduce the lagging? Sure makes it a lot easier to find piles if your GPS isn't lagging.

if im not mistaken the lag is due to how many times it updates per second. Make sense? Like some units in a car and handhelds update 5- 10 times per second I can tell you where you can find your answer for the external puck! over at humminbird soft forums the tech guy for bird is there once or twice a day and good about answering questions his forum name is humminbird Greg lots of people over there have complained about the gps even the older 998's that came with an external.

Yes I believe that is correct, for some reason I can not find how many times they update per second. I remember about a year ago I heard about a puck that humminbird was coming out that was similar to what you have in a car for smooth GPS operation. I am just not sure which one that was or if they even make one like that anymore.

1) Press �Page�

2) Press the right arrow on the cursor pad to scroll over to �Waypoints, Routes and Trails�

3) Use the arrows to select �trails� and hit the �menu� button.

4) Use the cursor pad to highlight settings, then press the enter button

5) Change the �logging type� to �Time�

6) Finally, set the time to �1 sec�. Press close and exit out.

The update rate drove me crazy with both HB and Lowrance. Upgraded to the new puck for HB and it worked so much faster and better. Then after switching to all Lowrance, bought the Point 1 and it also is much, much better.
The new pucks have built in compass, which the internal GPS antenna does not include. That is why it is able to update direction (heading) so much faster with the same update rate. So update to the fastest rate and get the new puck and you'll be much happier.

I have always used external pucks on both Lowrance and Humminbird. no problems.

I have the same issue with my HDS8. Ping speed of the internal puck is wayyyy toooo slow. External puck is on my list of GOTTA have's along with another sonar transducer and a switch so I can look directly below my trolling motor while fishing.
I have actually seen fish looking at a jig on the sonar of the person fishing in the back & predicted the THUMP!
I will look and see if the settings can be increased for the internal GPS before I make the purchase

Bird makes two I was considering the same thing you are with my old bird I would turn and had to wait for unit to correct when I turned then I would over correct my path and wait again was a pain, I rid myself of the bird and went with all Garmin units that problem is gone it updates position 10 times a second and love the sonar too. bird makes 2 pucks one around 150 and one at 199.00 seen them cheaper on amazon.
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/AS-GPS-HS/

http://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-Precision-Receiver-Heading-Sensor/dp/B009KSD0GO

Thanks everyone for the responses. I got off the phone with humminbird a few hours ago and they said they do not actually update faster they just have the heading sensor. That was a little surprising to me if i am going to spend $200 on an antenna i would like it to update faster. Do the pucks for both the lowrance and humminbird plug directly into the back of the unit or do you have to get that nema(whatever it is called) setup?

Here is what you need!

I personally for what your using it for don't think it will ever make you happy. I do understand you having it built in and wanting it to work! But I know a guy that has a HDS10 and still uses a handheld to get on his brush. A desent used handheld can be had for less than new puck. notice I said used. I dont think the 150.00 cheep ones work that well. but I'm no expert. I know I had the same thoughts your having and looked at the pucks on my 999 bird. I also had the same gps issues on a older lowrance I had they were frustrating! Thats just one of the reasons why I switched brands. On my bird I could be navigating to a way point would turn boat then few seconds later the unit would catch up but by then I had already over corrected and so on so on

Yeah its really frustrating some times when your pulling up to a waypoint and it says your right on track then all of a sudden your too far left or right cause it was lagging. I am considering all options right now.

Yep been there its kinda like get close switch to DI and look for the pile all over again like you've never been there before

I always mark spots on my SI screen & not the map, gets me a little closer. Usually still have to make a couple of passes with split screen, map/SI and once I see bp on SI throw bouy accordingly to where I locate it. Then make another pass by with full screen on SI to see where BP is located in reference to bouy. I like to have my bouy slightly upwind of bp and will sometimes throw out another to accomplish this.
Pain in the rear
On shallow bp's I set the SI on full to one side or the other, so I don't have to pass as close.
With my HB 997c SI that I used to have, I'd drive towards my waypoint, throw out a bouy as I passed over, repeat the process from the other direction and the BP was ALWAYS in the middle. That and the speed that it would change from one screen to another was what I liked about the HB.
Still will search to see if I can increase the ping speed of my HDS8 next trip out, heck might as well play with it while boat is parked, waiting for the thaw

Todd, IF the new Lowrance Spotlight works as advertised, all this will be a thing of the past!
I try to do the same thing you do and it still takes a little effort to get right
on the mark. With Spotlight, it should be quick and easy! I ordered one from David and it is supposed to be here early next week! I'm excited!!!