You can use your phone if it's Bluetooth capable. I have an iPhone and it works with that. The remote I have is the one in the bottom picture - I-Pilot Remote-Bluetooth.

From Minn Kota's site:
Compatible with most Android devices running operating system 4.4.2 and up.
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone® and iPad.

Here's a link to Minn Kota's explanation of the difference between the two remotes you have pictured above:

What is the difference between i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link?

i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link are both GPS trolling motor systems available on Minn Kota motors. To learn about their different features, view the chart below...

www.minnkotamotors.com

Hope that helps and good luck, CopperMan.

 

I have both for my ulterra. The color ipilot is superior. Only drawback is battery life

 

Ditto on the phone app. Works great. I use the phone to spot lock. Get my gear deployed. Then go to minn kota remote.

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I started out using iPilot and used it for a few years. then converted to iPilot link to take advantage of the screen and a Humminbird Helix. I used it for almost 3 years and switched back to iPilot. Reasons: 1. battery life of the rechargeable iPilot link remote is not enough to fish beyond about 5 hours, maybe less. 2. The charging cord/remote plug became looser and looser over time, to the point that I had to prop it just so to make sure it was charging. 3. Inadvertently touching touch screen buttons caused occasional problems, like taking me out of autopilot, putting me into cruise control, etc. Buttons are often "touched with the remote hanging around my neck on a lanyard. 4. Because of the way I fish for salmon, the interface with the Helix didn't really help. Yes, you can follow contours on the chart, but that's only as good as the chart and the charts are often quite different from reality. Overall, though, the main reason was the battery life difference and charging issues. With iPilot, one set of AAs will last me months. I just carry a spare set in the boat with me in case they die. I also have the Minn Kota app as a backup for iPilot.

 

Battery life tip for Ipilot. Run rechargeable batteries and turn the contrast down all the way. I get probably 20-30 hours fishing time before I need fresh batteries.

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I run a Motorguide, but may be the same problem with any remote. The Motorguide remote has small Phillips screws to remove to change batteries. Make sure you have one that fits in the boat. First time batteries went dead, had batteries, but could not change.

 

I have a Ipilot link and agree with previous replies on battery life of the Ipilot link remote and charging cord getting loose. Now Learning about Lowering the contrast will help now, thanks!! Oh and don’t lose the cord or it will cost $25. I lost mine for a while and luckily my wife came across it, I was about to order a new one. I wasn’t planning on using it or I would have two.
I have had many times wondered what the heck is my trolling motor doing? Why is it going in that direction? Well I have the same problem with bumping the buttons on the remote when it’s hanging from my neck, it can get irritating when you’re trying to do something else, so the controls from the fish finder could be good tool as well.

 

I’ve had the same problem with accidentally bumping the controls on my i-Pilot remote, plus I’m always paranoid about the lanyard breaking and sending the unit into the water. I wasn’t able to find any commercial made mount’s for it so I made my own. I attached it in an easily reached location on my helm with a Ram mount.

I never thought about using my phone. I may try that, too.


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I added a key float too as I was worried about it going overboard as well. Float was a gift from my very cool wife. [emoji41][emoji41]

The contrast trick worked on my graphing calculator (TI-85) in college so thought it would work on these LCD remotes.

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My remote is always around my neck - haven’t thought about dropping it in the drink, but the float has me thinking. My backup plan has been my iPhone app. Not great because I live in cruise control and don’t see that option (both speed and heading). Appreciate the idea to adjust the backlight/contrast. I get a lot of battery life, okay with sacrificing some for a brighter screen. Had to go out and toggle through the options on the remote.

Regular occurrence for me to inadvertently hit a button. Suddenly the trolling lines go slack or heading changes.

I put the color remote on my Christmas list. Thanks all for your thoughts/wisdom/experience. I think there are potentially three benefits the way I use my Terrova:

1) better visibility

2) tracks - can use it easier and stores more. I can see recording and saving basic tracks in certain parts of the water I fish.

3) looks like you can hit a cycle to turn a radius. Nice to make the corner at the end of a trolling run.

I’ll keep my basic remote for backup when my color screen runs out of battery.

 

I really hated the cheap lanyard that came with the controllers and pretty quickly replaced it with a piece of P Cord. I wear it on my hip rather than around my neck as that's where my hands hang at rest.
I rarely look at the controllers except when setting the speed or navigating back to a waypoint (looking at the bearing on the controller vs the fish finder).
Both of my controllers are scratched, but, I just don't look at them very much and I've memorized the keys by touch.

 

Regarding the battery life on i pilot link remote, I just keep my plugged into a USP that I have wired in my boat and it is always at 100%. I installed USB outlets in the bow and at the dashboard. It's nice to charge the remote or your phone or anything else.