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Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]!

Posted By: Tx Tree Grower

Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/12/17 08:21 PM

So I decided to buy an Xi5 a few months back. Before purchasing the Xi5 it never crossed my mind that there would not be a display on the remote comparable to what my old i pilot had. Since I operate my trolling motor from behind my center console 95% of the time, not having a display is a real pain. During peak daylight hours you cant see the lights on the motor itself from very far off. When I get off of spotlock I never know if the unit is on or off. If it is on you never know what speed. Seems like coming up with a small display or series of lights on the remote would be a no brainer. Does anyone know if a different remote option is something Motorguide is considering? If not I have a brand new Xi5 for sale.
Posted By: Capt Craig

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/12/17 09:10 PM

I think the Xi5 is a very poor attempt to compete with the Minn Kota units. Sadly, the remote is missing many options and features offered standard by MK.

Congratulations on your decision to come back to MK.
Posted By: tmd11111

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/12/17 09:54 PM

If you cancel spot lock with the manual button (M with a line under it) the trolling motor will stay running at whatever speed it just happened to be at the time you cancelled it. From there just press the Prop On/Off button to shut it off or press the speed up/down button to adjust speed. Really not that difficult to learn.
Posted By: Tx Tree Grower

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 03:45 AM

Not really a matter of learning anything. Has way more to do with being user friendly and adaptable to different conditions and fishing styles. Again I ask, WHY NOT JUST PUT A FREAKING DISPLAY ON THE REMOTE? At least provide it as an upgrade. I can't imagine anyone that has ever used an I pilot being pleased with the XI5. Oh and don't give me the "Way more accurate gps" line either. That's a load of bull manure to. I could go on and on about issues with the XI5. The crappy remote just seems like one issue that could easily be fixed by a company that cares.
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 05:32 PM

Never used one but I have the terrova. I don't really look at mine much at all except for the speed setting. It takes it a minute to get the boat up to speed so I look at my setting them go back to fishing. How does yours tell you what speed you are at?
Posted By: 44 Diesel

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 06:38 PM

I think minn kota somehow found a way to get a paten on the remote with a digital readout
Posted By: fordnut

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 07:22 PM

Originally Posted By: 44 Diesel
I think minn kota somehow found a way to get a paten on the remote with a digital readout


That and I was wondering if it came with a digital readout or is that an accessory? Buying a $2500 to $2800 trolling motor I would not expect to through out another $180 to $330 for the remote. Just curious.

Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 07:42 PM

MK Terrova, Ultrex and Ulterra come with the digital readout. The ones you have pictured are either replacements for lost remotes or (the non digital screen) extras to add to your system for passengers.
Posted By: tmd11111

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 07:45 PM

Originally Posted By: Tx Tree Grower
Not really a matter of learning anything. Has way more to do with being user friendly and adaptable to different conditions and fishing styles. Again I ask, WHY NOT JUST PUT A FREAKING DISPLAY ON THE REMOTE? At least provide it as an upgrade. I can't imagine anyone that has ever used an I pilot being pleased with the XI5. Oh and don't give me the "Way more accurate gps" line either. That's a load of bull manure to. I could go on and on about issues with the XI5. The crappy remote just seems like one issue that could easily be fixed by a company that cares.



I've never owned a MK so I cant compare. I will say though I picked up my 60" 80# Xi5 from Hodges marine as factory rebuild for only $650 and it qualified for MG's $100 rebate. I also got the Pinpoint GPS kit from them for $350. So I'm into a $1500 setup for $900. I have absolutely nothing to gripe about. Maybe one day I'll get to try MK's $2500 setup and then I may say "yeah mine sucks" but until then I'm pretty pleased with it.
Posted By: Davedave

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 07:54 PM

I have never had an I pilot. I do have an xi5. By no means am I trying to talk you into keeping it. But, I'm happy with the unit. I crappie fish, so holding over a brush pile is important to me.

Maybe these things will help. It took me a while to get the hang of it. Obviously you know how to spot lock. When I want to take it off of spot lock, I hit the spot lock button again. That takes it automatically into manual mode. You can adjust your speed again from there. To turn off the manual mode, hit the button that looks like a propeller.

When you first start up the unit, hit the propeller button to take it into manual mode. For example, I am usually on manual mode while looking at my front graph to position over a brush pile. When I see it on the graph, I hit the anchor button. After I let it settle down for about thirty seconds, I usually need to hit the button to jog forward five feet. (For some reason, mine usually locks about five feet behind where I lock it in.).

Hope this helps. If not, enjoy that Minn Kota you will get. Here is picture of the remote so that you can see the buttons.


Posted By: 44 Diesel

Re: Motorguide Xi5 Remote! What a piece of [censored]! - 09/13/17 08:35 PM

Originally Posted By: 44 Diesel
I think minn kota somehow found a way to get a paten on the remote with a digital readout





The ones without the digital readouts are the micro remotes. They do all the main functions of the I pilot remote that comes with the trolling motor, they are just smaller and easier to hang around your neck or put in your pocket when its cold outside. I actually use the micro remote more. I put my I pilot link remote on a ram mount so I can see the digital screen and I will do most of the trollingotor control with the micro remote
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