If you stay with lowrance, I would use the hdi transducer on the ultrex with either the lowrance plastic shield or the metal transducer shield and saver version. You CAN run the cable up the shaft of the ultrex. They ultrex will only turn as far as the pedal will let it, just like any cable steer. It will not spin completely around like some have had happen with electric steer. My father in law and I both just helped each other install new ultrex's on our boats. His is a War Eagle Predator and and he uses Humminbird electronics. Last year he bought the gen1 Helix 10 SI combo for the console and loves it. He added a gen1 Helix 10 DI combo to the bow at the same time he added the trolling motor. He would never use all the features that come with the I-Pilot LINK version of the ultrex so he ordered the non-link I-pilot version.
I have Lowrance HDS units on my boat. I also ordered the non-link version, because I can not use the features of the Link version with my Lowrance equipment. IF I had Humminbird stuff already, I'm still not sure if I would have spent the extra for the link version, on top of the extra for an ethernet hub to connect everything up. The non-link I-piolit version has a lot of great features without the need for certain brand graphs.
The Helix units are hard to beat. I really like the images I have seen on my father in laws. His is not the new "mega" version, but its still a great unit. If you were looking towards the Lowrance brand, you can get some good deals on the gen3 HDS units right now because the new "carbon series" is coming out. What ever you get, get 2 units that can connect together and share waypoints and such. It's easier with the Lowrance HDS units, all you need is one ethernet cable, and then you can share waypoints between units, share a single map card between units, and even share the Point-1 antenna between units. If you go the Helix route, you will need an ethernet cable and 2 adapters to connect two units. Those units will share waypoints, but not a single map card... would have to buy 2 map cards. Humminbird Helix units will not share the gps/heading sensor antenna either. You would have to buy 2 antennas if you wanted the heading sensor at both graphs. However, if you had Humminbird and bought the I-Pilot LINK version you could tell it to stay at a certain depth and it would keep you on it.... if you use the lake master cards.... and if your lakes are mapped out with them. Now honestly, this is not really comparing apples to apples. The HDS units are a big step above the Helix, but with the prices of the gen3 HDS units right now, price is not far off. The Humminbird units that would better compare to the Lowrance HDS units are the Onix or new Solex. I'm pretty sure the Hook series units can NOT connect to each other and share info. They are stand alone units. You would have to save your waypoints on a card, then load them on the second unit if you wanted to be up to date with waypoints in each unit..... until you mark a new one, then you would have to do it again to see the same thing on both units.
If you haven't considered a external heading sensor antenna also, you should. Many advantages in having one... or 2 with the Helix units. Enjoy the Ultrex and what ever units you choose.
Joe
