Simrad GO5 XSE

[porthole]

I have a Simrad GO5 XSE to add to my 21 Outrage. I want to give a heads up to anyone else looking at the GO 5 XSE multi-function display regarding the mounting depth.

The Simrad specifications state a 2.28" mounting depth is required for flush mounting (using front access screws). Although it appears the actual depth is slightly under 2", you will need at least 2" additional to accommodate the combination power-network cable harness. This adds a bit more work for my installation as I only have about a 2.5" of depth at the location I chose before ordering the GO5 XSE.

The angle of view in the picture below is deceiving as to the device depth; the actual depth is about 2". The required harness clearance is depicted accurately.



I will post more as I begin my installation.

[jimh]

Thanks for the detail on the electrical cable. If you want to maintain a decent bend radius on that cable, about 3-3/4-inch to 4-inch of clearance may be necessary, as you noted.

[fno]

Not to change the subject,Duane. Why did you move away from Lowrance to Simrad? I know they are cousins within the Navico empire so I'm curious if there were technical reasons.

[porthole]

Not to change the subject,Duane. Why did you move away from Lowrance to Simrad? I know they are cousins within the Navico empire so I'm curious if there were technical reasons.

I haven't moved away, only side stepped. I still have a Lowrance HDS Gen3 7" and 9" device installed. I do not care for the autopilot control of the HDS. When the pilot control is displayed it takes up a significant amount of the display area. The Simrad GO XSE series offers a different auto pilot control screen with a few extra options. The GO5 I got for a pretty good price, $411 delivered, with a 455/800 HZ transducer (that I have other uses for) and it includes a $100 rebate.

Although the Simrad almost mirrors the Lowrance in operations, there are a few differences. The Simrad has an extra feature or two and from the little I have played with it so far, it is faster and brighter then either of the HDS units.

[porthole]

I cut out the dash panel. I didn't bother to measure the depth once the hole was cut, but I knew it was more than the required 2.25-inch depth listed in the specifications. And I knew going into this that the GO5 would not fit with power and networ combo cable connected.

Here is the GO5 with the power cord attached. If nothing else, mounting requirement specifications should be a bit more accurate. The GO5 is set as deep as the power cord allowed in this picture.



And here is the finished installation. The cord wasn't a big deal for me, I just cut a secondary hole in the back side of the console, which directly leads into the console compartment.

[porthole]

And something else to consider with the GO5, the micro SD card slot is on the bottom of the device. For me at least, accessing the card will require removing the GO5 from the dash, and of course I forgot to put a card in before mounting.

[porthole]

The GO series from Simrad looks to be a winner at the features for the price point. The only negative I found so far is the lack of an ethernet port. And if I didn't have a pair of HDS Gen3's I wouldn't miss the ethernet port anyway.

The HDS Gen3's use a direct device-to-device ethernet connection to synchronize the units for waypoints and display brightness. You only have to adjust one display to have two or more devices dim or brighten in unison. Since the GO5 doesn't have any buttons for screen brightness sync would be really nice to have.

Note, the GO5 has a touch-only power button. Screen brightness can be controlled with multiple touches, but in the dark with the screen dimmed you can't see the power button. Every other control is through menus.

[jimh]

Have you had any contact with SIMRAD technical support? I would hope the first-tier telephone support from them might be better than from the Lowrance pool.

[porthole]

Have you had any contact with SIMRAD technical support? I would hope the first-tier telephone support from them might be better than from the Lowrance pool.

Have no reason to yet.

Haven't even opened up the user or installation manuals. I'll check there first to see if there is a sync option for at least the waypoints, as I will be using the GO5 primarily for autopilot control.