[H and E]

Lowrance Elite-4M and Simrad TP-22

West Marine Has the Lowrance Elite-4M HD chart plotter for $199.99

I have a Simrad TP-22 Tiller pilot that I want to interface it with.

Both have NMEA 0183. (I believe)

I have read the information for both and I guess my brain is not fully meshed. I cannot tell if the plug on the TP will fit into the CP. Also, Do I need to purchase extra data chips to get the US Lakes and coast area.

Unfortunately there are none in stock in my area for me to go see. I am reluctant to order one. And, I have no use for one with a fish finder that other inexpensive models seem to have.

Any help/information/suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[ReefMagnet]

I've got an elite 5m and I very much (100%) doubt that the tp22 will plug straight into the unit. The Elite 4-m does have nmea 0183 output (I just checked the manual) so it should be a relatively simple matter to wire the two units together. You may need to check if you need to buy another lead however as I think the standard lead just has the power wiring.

On the maps front,you will need to buy the proprietary maps for your cruising area as the unit doesn't come with detailed maps as standard and afaik you can't use any old maps with the device.

One more thing. Check the 4" screen to see how you like it before planting down the cash. This size screen is not a very good size for a chartplotter imo. The 5" is a lot better if you can afford the difference. Personally in that small a size I'd prefer something like a Garmin 152H. You don't have maps but it is visually a better navigation device in that small size, uses a lot less power, is better in sunlight and is very easy to configure to accept waypoints and routes from OpenCPN which makes it much easier to program than the Elite series

 

[H and E]

Thanks for the info

I will keep looking. May make a trip to WM today.
I think I will want all the lakes and coast charts in the plotter.

 

[H and E]

Went to West Marine yesterday and ended up with a Elite-5 HDI. Thought by the way the talked that the transducer was part of the purchase. Got home and learned otherwise. They ordered a cable for it that I believe I will not need. Need to order a transducer.

 

[ReefMagnet]

Re: Lowrance Elite-4M and Simrad TP-22

Isn't the transducer for speed or depth and optional? The gps is built in.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[PaulinVictoria]

WM were doing an Elite 5 HDI package with transducer and chip, or at least up here. Be aware that the HDI transducer will almost certainly not work shooting through the hull, it is designed to hang off the transom of a fishing boat. I ended up returning the unit.

 

[Rhys05]

The HDI transducer works just fine for me shooting through the hull. I've got it attached to the bilge using toilet bowl wax actually. It won't shoot through a cored hull, but solid fiberglass seems to be just fine. I've got the Elite 5 myself, been a pretty decent unit for my purposes so far! I do wish that there were a better/less expensive way to get charts for it though.

 

[PaulinVictoria]

You got lucky then, I tried several locations and couldn't get a good signal from any of them, oh well. I ended up getting my 8.4" plotter working properly again instead.