Ulterra Heading Sensor Location

Wondering if anyone has experimented with the install location of the Heading Sensor for Ulterra/Ultrex?

It would seem to me that the closer to the trolling motor, the better, in order to limit unnecessary or bigger swings back to the desired location. I read the manual and it basically says install anywhere away from magnetic and in clear line to the Ultxxx . I did some searching but haven't really found anything specific to this question. Most are in line with the instructions, put it here or there and works fine.

I want the drift to be minimal and the jog to be optimal, meaning 5 feet as advertised, not 8 foot at the front and 5 foot at the sensor. If the heading sensor is at the console or rear of the boat wouldn't it be more pronounced in left/right movements and not so much in front to back. I hope my question makes sense. I'm often fishing right off the front of the boat with LiveScope for Crappie. The better the spot lock and jogs, the happier I'll be.

Would appreciate any feedback from personal experiences y'all might have had with yours.

I don't think distance really matters when installing it. I recently switched to an Ulterra on my 22' bay boat. I mounted the heading sensor in my console which is about 12' from the TM. I spot lock a lot and the jog feature works just fine. The heading sensor is just a compass to tell the TM which direction its pointed in. The GPS sensor is built into the TM and is what measures distance when using the jog feature. Once installed and calibrated for offset it works great.

Mine is mounted at the console as well on a 20' Champion bass boat and it works great.

The biggest problem with spot lock that I have found is when there is no wind at all and the water is totally flat. TM seems to get confused if there is no wind drift bias and cycles back and forth too much.

Wayne

Thanks TMD. My real estate up front is very limited on TR186, with two fish finders and the TM. I've got a spot just behind the drivers seat that had a point 1 on it. I'm wanting to mount it there because it's out of the way. I've got a Panther mount across my pedal tray up front though, that I could use, but it's close to all the up front wiring like power for the Ulterra.

I hope I'm overthinking and can put it behind the drivers seat. I'll probably start there and if it works great, great. I'll do the calibrations and offset of course and see how it works on the water.

Thanks lurenthewind,

I had similar experience with my Xi5 in very light wind as well. I've started to mount mine behind the seat on a flat spot, but will be doing some research today to see if I can find any reason to move it up front before I make it permanent. Probably going to post a link to this in the Crappie forum to see if I can get more input.

I know the front of the boat is going to move more than the rear when fishing. Either the wind or the TM are going to be the cause. So in my puny brain, mounting where movement is most is going to either be best or drive me nuts That's what started this whole thing for me. I was watching one of Gary Paris email and his TM was not adjusting much and my Xi5, though pretty good in holding, seems to be making a lot more adjustments than his. And it got me thinking...I guess I should ask Gary how he has his set up.

Reread my post above. The heading sensor is just a compass. The only thing it tells the trolling motor is which direction is north to reference when using jog feature. The trolling motor has the GPS built in and it spot locks off the position of it not the heading sensor. No matter if you mount it a few inches or 20 feet away even left or right of center it doesn't change anything. After you install it you have to calibrate it by driving in two circles then you do an offset. This is where you point your TM forward and aligned parallel as close as possible with the keel line of the boat. The Heading sensor uses this measurement against the compass heading and calibrates for it. From there when you set spot lock the direction your TM is facing will be referenced as forward so if you try to jog it knows which way to go.
As for TM's acting funny when there is no wind or current, all TM's with spot lock will do this, my old Xi5 did and my Ulterra does. The motor is constantly on in spot lock so if there is nothing trying to move the boat (wind or current) it can go a little wonky at times. Don't over think it. Just mount it where it is out of the way and follow the setup procedures.