Quote Originally Posted by OrangeAgent View Post
I was careful to temper my response for that exact reason, I still have less than a grand after the HDSI upgrade into a unit that does a lot of awesome things with which I am thrilled. What irks me is that the helix is still their "new" product and if they had come out with an H12 with chirped imaging and let that trickle down into the lower units it wouldn't bother me nearly as much as launching their lowest priced helix with more advanced features than even the current H12. I get the processor is still slower than the higher end units but boy would I be mad if I shelled out 2400 for a H12 to have someone go out this coming spring and spend 600 bucks and get more features than I got on a gen2 H5.
I shelled out about $1599 TYD... You could too.

Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP SI GPS KVD Combo SALE | Universal Mania

I have bought more "EOL" (end of life) HB products than I have new - and don't have an issue with it at all.
Auto Chart Live rocks - but I'm out to fish and many of my playgrounds are already mapped nicely, plus I only really map when I am fishing to reinforce what I already "know" from what I see on 2D, SI , DI and mapping.

Chirp isn't the "end it all" to sonar as some guys would like you to think, heck~ I have a buddy sending me his Zercom flasher to see if I can bring'er back from the dead a 3rd time...
He loves the thing and owns 2 'Birds on his walleye boat.
I do admit seeing the "cheap chirp" as some refer to it, does make it easier to discern a signal easier - but if you've been at it a while you can make some pretty decent "educated guesses" a newb might never notice.
Who wants all the mystique and challenge taken out of it?
If they do - go to the market & buy a box of Mr's Paul's fish StiX....lol


Quote Originally Posted by BobB View Post
My 1197 does OK with a HD Lakemaster chip, but it is noticeably slower than my 1198......I can't outrun the map on the 1197 with my deep V..... but I normally only cruise 32-35.... it's just a little slow zooming in and out. I think the 1198 had a dual processor, but not sure about the 1197.
Yeah.... The new ones are better.....but if I consider what I will gain by upgrading .... so far it isn't worth it to me. My 1197 and 1198 are still working great.
See?
And you're comfy with what they tell you too. RIGHT??

Now if one barfs tomorrow - you'll think long and hard, do I pay the flat rate & hope it runs another 4-8 years or do I get a new one and get my feet wet with teh new bells & whistles?

It's all conjecture at this point, and these guys are in the bidnizz of selling FF's & FF/GPS combos like the otehr guys - they're SUPPOSED to make you want more.
I dunno about you Bob, I'm a bit techy - but I'm still a simpleton at heart...

With "The Walleye Death Star".....



"Agent 1730-Forty-One"