Looking for Helix 7, 9 shopping info

So Im interested in finding a good gps unit to replace our simple sonar. We've looked at the Helix series in stores, and feel the 7's are plenty big. Its to be mounted by the console, and we fish 95% of the time from the back of the boat right next to it.

I mainly want the maps and gps, but am interested in trying SI out as well.

I thought I saw the 7's could not use a lot of features the 9's could, such as I-pilot link. Besides screen size and cost, are there other big reasons to get the 9 over the 7?

HELIX 7 CHIRP G2N models are network-able with ipilot link and other HB units ...
HELIX 7 CHIRP G2 models are not network-able ...
HELIX 7 models only have 1 SD card slot, no preset buttons, no MEGA ...

HELIX 9 CHIRP SI GPS G2N has MEGA imaging, dedicated DI, 3 preset buttons, 2 SD card slots ...

Rickie

I'm Seeing Helix 9 CHIRP SI GPS G2N MEGA, and Helix 9 CHIRP SI GPS G2N, listed as diff models.

I'm assuming you mean MEGA is available on that model, but at a higher cost?

Model numbers advertised by anyone other than HB must be critiqued carefully - it is common for retailers to misprint or list mis-information in advertising model names and features

There are 3 HELIX MEGA models ...:

*HELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N
*HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N
*HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N

There is no HELIX 9 CHIRP SI GPS G2N that is not MEGA ... that advertisement either failed to list MEGA in the model name ... or incorrectly labeled it as CHIRP and G2N ...(There's is a previous generation 1 model HELIX 9 SI GPS) ...

And there are current (and previous) production HELIX models that are DI or Sonar models without SI ...

Refer to the HB website for correct model names ...

https://www.humminbird.com/Freshwate.../HELIX-Series/

Contact the retailer directly if their advertised model name seems contradictive to HB assigned model name ...

Rickie