Thread: Second Helix setup?

The 7 will not communicate but the 9 will. Unless they have changed something with the 7's very recently. As far as the difference in the Helix 9 and 10, pretty much the only difference in those is screen size as neiter of them have chirp where the Helix 12 does. The 1159 would do everything the helix 9 would most likely do for you on the front of the boat. Of coarse the Helix 9 will be clearer and brighter. But.....cant go wrong really with the Helix 9 or the 1159 in my opinion. Others may disagree. Hopefully more will chime in so we can get a more rounded diverse information so the best choice can be made for you.

I am going through this same thing right now helping my father-in-law add a second unit to his boat. just like you, he has a Helix 10 SI at his console. I believe he is going to go with another Helix 10 on the bow but with the DI model this time. He is already used to the screen size/resolution and likes it. You said "detail counts for sure".... detail will be better with the Helix 10 over the 9.

Do you currently have the AS GPS HS antenna on your boat? If so, you will either want to get another one for the bow, move an existing one to the bow and maybe add the AS GPS to the transom, just use the internal antenna of each unit, or share the HS antenna with the bow, and accept the extra inaccuracy (which i wouldnt recommend). However, I highly recommend the antenna with heading sensor for fishing off shore structure/cover.

To network the units, you will need 2 of the AS EC QDE ethernet adapter cables. You will also need the ethernet cable, such as the AS EC 20E ethernet cable. You will be able to share waypoints between units. You will NOT be able to share a single map card between both units. You will need a map card for each unit if you use map cards. If you have a AS GPS HS antenna, you CAN share it with both units, BUT.... you will have to share heading AND gps information. You can not share just the heading sensor info with a bow unit on the Helix units.

Joe

If I were going to buy one right now, I would probably take advantage of the Helix 12 sales. Not sure if the DI unit sales are as good as the SI units have been......or you could wait a few weeks and see if there is more info about what new units might be coming.

A unit front that has a dedicated DI transducer would be a great option ..... as far a sharing, you can pretty much share everything both ways.....although you probably wouldn't want to share the GPS from the back to the front unless you were also sharing the transducer at the back.

Thanks guys, like the ideal of the Helix 12. But not the price of it, even thought its at a great price right now. Only need the DI, as I have no use for SI on the trolling motor. Will be adding the 360 up front within the next year. Like the price of the 1159 DI units. But wonder how long it would be, before Humminbird stops putting out updates for them? I have been througth that on the last 2 units. My 987C SI first Gen unit, they stopped any updates on it before it was over 2 years old. The Matrix 9 up front. Bought it and a few weeks later they dropped it from the sales. No more updates on it, and was half price in less then a month from buying it.
If I thought I would get 5 years or so out of the 1159DI unit. Before they stopped putting out any updates for it. I would like to go with one of those. But with my luck the Helix 10 SI will be dropped within 3 years. Then no more updates for it also.. But with the speed of these, they should keep updates coming for the Helix units for a long time.
I keep looking at the Helix 10 DI units, cost more then I can get he 1159DI for. And does not matter what unit I go with. I then have to buy a heading sensor for it to be any good for brush pile fishing. You would think Humminbird would add the heading sensor to the units from the factory. But still the same old deal, we have no ideal where were going unless were moving at a good speed.
Pete

The 360 comes with a heading sensor GPS ..... maybe you could live without it til you get the 360.

Why do you need updates? If the units work, why update them?
I am going to add a 360 to the transom. I can link it to council and bow unit. The problem with the 360 on the trolling motor is the motor must be down to use the 360. I usually don't drop the trolling motor until I see if there are fish. With the 360 on the transom I can check the area without spending time dropping the trolling motor and waiting for the unit to fire up, load, and scan. Being on the transom I can deploy while drifting into the area. IF I don't see anything, fire up the main motor and move to the next spot.

As for your question, I would buy the Helix unit.

Originally Posted by Hanr3

Why do you need updates? If the units work, why update them?
I am going to add a 360 to the transom. I can link it to council and bow unit. The problem with the 360 on the trolling motor is the motor must be down to use the 360. I usually don't drop the trolling motor until I see if there are fish. With the 360 on the transom I can check the area without spending time dropping the trolling motor and waiting for the unit to fire up, load, and scan. Being on the transom I can deploy while drifting into the area. IF I don't see anything, fire up the main motor and move to the next spot.

As for your question, I would buy the Helix unit.

Simple
updates add the newer items. And without updates your stuck with the old stuff. Same as with my 987C Si, when DI came out. Update and I had it, without updates your left out on the new fun stuff. Same as the new updates that will be coming out of the Helix units. And I can tell you most will be mad if they were not able to get these updates. Should see the info on the new updates by the end of the year. Or early 2017 and its going to be nice.
Pete

Yep ..... software updates have added a LOT of the features we currently have....Casting rings, HS GPS to fix the donut, updates to add jigging mode and help fix 2D problems, support of 360 .. and on and on.
Gotta assume there are going to be more of these things in the future.

I bought a 1197 on sale when the 1198 was being introduced .... and while it is still a great unit, it stopped getting updates and won't support some of new accessories. The most current update for it also has problems that really hurt the imaging quality.....Those things will never be resolved. I also have an 1198 ... It will probably stop getting updates soon, but continued to get fixes and updates after they stopped for the 1197.