Anyone with a Garmin ?
 

I have the oportunity to pick up a minty 546s for very cheap. Reason it is cheap is because it is only the head unit, no transducer or power cables included. Hooked it to a power source and it powers up perfectly fine. My question is does this unit need an external antenna or do I only need a powercable and transducer ?

i have the same unit on my work boat and the antenna is internal all you need is a power cable and the transducer if you want to use both functions.

Ive had the 545? And now a 445 on my 20 smaller. Onsole
I loce the internal antenna less hassle but
You relly need the g2 card to get the full
Potentional.

Thanks fellas, on my way now to pick it up

Ok so I picked the 546 last night and it looks great, best 200 bucks i have spent so far. I will be ordering the transducer today in hopes of getting it in before next weekend. Question, can anyone reccomend to me the best spot for the transducer on my transom ?

I would mount it according to the directions or suggestions probably found on the Garmin website. Look under product/technical support. Probably on the middle panel up from the keel and out of range of the drive unit.

Hope this helps. Good luck and congrats.

Mine had a mount here die a garmin somi used the sane mounted hardware
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y.../photo3-45.jpg

My boat already has a transom mounted transducer but to unit that dosent exist i guess lol. But in all diagrams and pictures I see the transducers are on the starboard side of the boat. Mine are are the portside does that matter ???

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...7/3e62f390.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...7/7dfd161c.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...7/e2d02d21.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...7/4c9ad940.jpg

There are a few general rules about location for transom mounted transducers:
1) make sure it's not mounted behind a clamshell through-hull. The turbulence from the clamshell will keep the transducer from performing when on plane.
2) Keep it as far away from your engine's lower unit as practical so shock waves from prop blade rotation won't cause interference.
3) Mount it deep enough so it runs in clean water when on plane or it will only work at displacement speeds.
4) Avoid mounting it just outboard of a step or strake in the hull, or it won't run in clean water on plane.

Left side vs right side shouldn't matter.
Dave

Thanks Blue, so basically the location of the one in the first pic would be the best spot for the new one. When I remove the old ones do I just fill the old holes in with 5200 or should I do something else ?