[gregk9]

Any preference here? I'm assuming the external would get better reception, no?

[Cory]

What brand?
I can tell you that the humminbird external antennas are a 50channel antenna which will give you better accuracy and quicker response time than a 16channel internal antenna. Also depending on where you are mounting it you may have an obstruction and with an internal you can't relocate the antenna like the external.

[gregk9]

Humminbird. I'm looking at the 788c vs the 788ci.

[Gary Grunauer]

greg

I have the 797c2i - side image with the internal antena, made for much easier installation. it is installed on my unobstructed dashboard and makes for great navigation or when scouting with the SI feature. the only fault with the interal antena is when I am at the front of the boat structure fishing....jigging etc. As you can imagine your saved way points are back at the dashboard and not up front near the trolling motor. I am now considering a second larger unit at the front of the boat and networked with the counsel unit. Had I used the external antena and mounted the antena at the front of the boat I may have been better off, but I seem to manage and very much like the unit.
The other feature that the Bass pro guys did not mention was that I could have payed a little extra for a unit with pre-loaded maps instead of buying all those North, South, east and West chips....
Best of luck

[toothy pez]

xternal better positioning and if u mount it near ur transducer when u lay down a marker u know when u go back ur in the same spot as the transducer.

[Storm Warning]

It depends on where you are mounting it. a unit mounted in a dash will require a external antenna. A surface mounted unit does not need a external antenna. The only time a surface mounted unit needs a antenna is when you have something over it like a hardtop but even in those cases a internal still may work fine. Some antennas can be more accurate than others but you will never notice the difference because they all work great.

HTR

[Cory]

If you do go with an Interlink system you are better off with two seperate antennas one for each unit. If you utilize one antenna between the two you will slow down the "refresh" rate from 4X per sec to 1X and this will change your accuracy of your positioning of waypoints as well as your locals.
Oh and the "NVB" bundle that you could have had for the extra $200 are 2006 maps and will not offer you the detail you can get with the 2010 platnium or the lakemaster maps.

[MikeF]

Quote:

Humminbird. I'm looking at the 788c vs the 788ci.

Not sure, but I think an external GPS ant. can be added to the units with an internal ant.
So if the internal ant. craps out you could add the external if needed.

A call to HB would provide the answer.

[Popeye]

While mine is a Lowrance, I opted for an internal antenna because I also use it for ice fishing with the optional Ice Machine setup. Not sure if Humminbird offers anything like that or not.