New fish finder

I have been looking for a while and it is so confusing. I have a 20’ pontoon and my home lake is shallow 6’ - 18’ average with very little structure. I just got a terrova with Bluetooth I-pilot and US-2 And we usually side drift with the wind or troll with crank baits now.

I am looking at hummingbird helix 7 gen 3 or 4. I don’t know if I want down image or side image? And do I need networking? We just like to fish for crappie and saugeye.
My current fish finder is an old Lowrance with a 5” screen and it finally died. So everything new is kinda Greek to me. Any help would be appreciated [emoji106]


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Maybe this will help with imaging

Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging on Fish Finder (Plus Tips and Tricks)

I would get a MEGA DI unit which will also have SI. A SI unit will not have DI. You can alway call Brian at BBG Marine (Member Sponsor)l he is very knowledgeable and will answer your questions and concerns.

Might want to think bout the largest screen you can afford. My ole eyes needed a 10 inch screen.


Rickie aka rnvinc may chime in one here as we..

I know it is the wrong time of year but I would love to ride along and see how you use your electronics.



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Great time of year for fishing or scouting if you can stand the cold

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Maybe this will help with imaging

Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging on Fish Finder (Plus Tips and Tricks)

I would get a MEGA DI unit which will also have SI. A SI unit will not have DI. You can alway call Brian at BBG Marine (Member Sponsor)l he is very knowledgeable and will answer your questions and concerns.

Might want to think bout the largest screen you can afford. My ole eyes needed a 10 inch screen.


Rickie aka rnvinc may chime in one here as we..

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Think you have it backwards. Si has di. Do doesn't have so.

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While it’s true that HELIX 7 SI does have DI - it’s not dedicated DI with a true “downward pointing” piezo ... all HELIX 7 SI units have a computer generated DI image generated from the data received from the “side pointing” SI piezoes ... (I can explain this further in a separate post or PM if anyone needs more clarification) ...

One would need to step up to the 8” units (or larger) to get true dedicated DI in the HB SI line ...
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Also ... any HELIX unit must have “N” in the model name to network (G3N or G4N) ... (HELIX 7 is also offered in G3 and G4 that does not Network - cost saving HB offer for those that don’t need networking ) ...

“Networking” (in the Humminbird speak) is generally focused toward “which Sonar technologies” can be shared thru Ethernet or “can waypoints be shared” thru Ethernet ...
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Minn Kota US2 built in xducer is not compatible with HELIX G3N or G4N because US2 is 83kHz/200kHz 2d Sonar and HELIX G3N and G4N utilize CHIRP HW Low Q 2d Sonar ...

Note: US2 only pertains to the built-in 2d xducer in the Minn Kota TM ... iLink is a completely separate feature offered that allows some TM control functions from the HB head unit thru Ethernet ...

Secret: This is possible because Johnson Outdoors owns both Humminbird and Minn Kota (and other brands) ...

Rickie

Thanks for the replies!! Can I run two different head units off of one transducer with a splitter? Like a helix 5 and a helix 7 and if so do they have to be the same generation?

I want it for when we are side drifting my wife can watch the big one at the helm from the back of the boat and I can watch a smaller one in the front so I can keep an eye on the depth and fish.

Or can I run 2 different transducers at the same time? The trolling motor and the main one at the stern of the boat.

Sorry if I am confusing everyone because I am confusing myself. Lol


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I’d go for 2 transducers if it were me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chippewa

Thanks for the replies!! Can I run two different head units off of one transducer with a splitter? Like a helix 5 and a helix 7 and if so do they have to be the same generation?

I want it for when we are side drifting my wife can watch the big one at the helm from the back of the boat and I can watch a smaller one in the front so I can keep an eye on the depth and fish.

Or can I run 2 different transducers at the same time? The trolling motor and the main one at the stern of the boat.

Sorry if I am confusing everyone because I am confusing myself. Lol


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Setting 2 head units to view data from one xducer is called “Networking” and is achieved with Ethernet capable units and Ethernet parts/cables ...

Unfortunately no HELIX 5 units are network-able for Ethernet ...

And only HELIX 7 units with “N” in the model name are Network-able for Ethernet ... (i.e. HELIX 7 G3N or HELIX G4N) ...
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NOTE: All HELIX 8” and larger are Network-able with Ethernet ...

There is no current configuration in HB that allows one head unit to view 2 separate xducers ... (except in the rare scenario that a user needs to separate a 2d signal from a SI xducer for high speed depth readings - or the rare scenario that a user needs to have a left SI on the port side of the transom and right SI on the starboard side of the transom) ...
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Now ... running 2 separate xducers on 2 separate head units is possible - with the caveat that “crosstalk” interference (between 2 separate xducers pinging the same frequency(s) at the same time) is possible...

“Crosstalk interference shows up as unusual dots/lines/bars/fuzziness —->> and can be verified as “crosstalk” interference by shutting off one head unit - if the interference goes away = its “crosstalk” and just an inherent artifact of pinging 2 “like” Sonar frequencies into the water at the same time ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

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Minn Kota US2 built in xducer is not compatible with HELIX G3N or G4N because US2 is 83kHz/200kHz 2d Sonar and HELIX G3N and G4N utilize CHIRP HW Low Q 2d Sonar ...

Note: US2 only pertains to the built-in 2d xducer in the Minn Kota TM
Rickie

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I should clarify my statement above a little more in depth because Minn Kota US2 can be used with newer Humminbird units - but with certain limitations ...

*Minn Kota US2 uses fixed frequency 83kHz/200kHz 2d Sonar
*Minn Kota MDI uses CHIRP HW Low Q 2d
*Minn Kota MSI uses CHIRP HW Low Q 2d

*HELIX G3N and G4N transmits CHIRP HW Dual Spectrum 2d Sonar which is designed to work with the Minn Kota MDI or MSI built in transducers ...

*HELIX G3N and G4N can be configured to transmit fixed frequency 83kHz/200kHz (for the US2) but that configuration also turns off the capability of the HELIX G3N or G4N to transmit the MEGA (1200kHz) imaging frequency allowing only 455kHz/800kHz imaging.

In effect the HELIX G3N or G4N has to be “dumbed down” to utilize the Minn Kota US2 ... losing other desirable features of the newer HELIX ...

All this techno speak is basically saying that 83kHz/200kHz (US2) is older 2d technology and CHIRP Low Q HW is newer 2d technology ... and there are limitations in connecting a newer technology HELIX (G3N or G4N) to an older technology 2d transducer (US2) ...

Rickie[/QUOTE]