I am thinking of upgrading my electronics on my boat and have to do it on a budget, has anyone bought either
of these, ad if so what are your pluses and minuses on it, thanks
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I am thinking of upgrading my electronics on my boat and have to do it on a budget, has anyone bought either
of these, ad if so what are your pluses and minuses on it, thanks
I have a 5 with DI and gps on the trolling motor. I have a 898 si combo on the console. I like it. It works alot like my 898. Not exactly but its a usable depth finder. The gps works fine for marking waypoints and you get alot for the money. I would have to say its only draw back is the size of the screen. But the screen is easy to use , its just not as big as the more expensive models. I would buy one again. I guess thats the test. Good luck
I have had a helix 5 with SI since March. I have been very disappointed in the side imaging. Perhaps I'm not smart enough to get it set up right, but I get nothing close to the quality images I have seen online. The screen is small, but that was expected. What wasn't expected was that no matter what the settings (and I have spent many hours fooling with it), I likely won't be able to see a brushpile 20' away. The down imaging and other tools work ok, but most of the lakes I fish only average 6' deep, maybe less, so that isn't a real big benefit. Kind of wish I'd saved my money.
the 7's aren't out yet, 9/1 shipping date
A lot of times I find brush by seeing the shadow it gives off more than the pile itself. They can also look like "cotton balls" on the bottom of the lake. If you haven't tried this already pull the range into 50 feet and look for shadows. Once you figure out what you are looking at it will get easier to see them.Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishjohn
As fishfood mentions ...sometimes the shadow will be the only indication of structure ...Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishjohn
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...pspgrvd7fs.png
More discussion the above shot in Sonar Quiz #29
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/side-...nar-quiz-29-a/
Rickie
I have a 5di/gps and love it. Its a great bang for the buck and is extremely easy to use - the DI is clear and reliable. 2d sonar is excellent if you do a lot of jigging. The screen is viewable 99% of the time (absolute direct sunlight causes the LCD to reflect terribly).
Here is a snapshot from 'gill fishing last week - weed edge breaking to a cedar tree
Thanks for the replies guys, I have di now just getting into si. The pics help lots, I was thinking the si would help me to find more productive water sooner and make my time on the water better. I appreciate all help.
Just got a HB 5 SI mounted, but haven't been to the lake yet. My only disappointment so far is with the CD instruction manual. I'd pay for a printed version. At this rate I won't ever get profficient with it.
Bill47, Go to Humminbird, under customer support and print a manual. This is what I did with my Lowrance. You can make it bigger and place it in a folder and take it with you on the water. Comes in handy for "just looking and trying to learn". Can even get it in color......... Hope this helps. Hope your new unit works well and good luck.....crappie1133Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill47
Thanks, that's good to know. Only thing is, the manual is over 200 pages. I was on the river yesterday, but did t get to play much. Wife had to bream fish. Attachment 212982
Bill47, The manual is 126 pages. It will be worth it's weight in gold on the water.It will be in color and can be placed in a folder from Walmart for about a buck. Will answer a lot of questions that may come up. You can pull it up on the Humminbird site to see if it is worth your time.......crappie1133Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill47
If you have a smart phone ...there are applications that can download the pdf manuals from the HB website right onto your phone ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill47
I use Documents Pro for IOS ...
Documents Pro 7: FREE Office File Manager for Dropbox, Box, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Docs Drive by Savy Soda
https://appsto.re/us/zCoXs.i
Rickie
I have a typed sheet of important stuff (like resets, calibrates, etc. that I keep inside my screen cover. comes in handy.
some great ideas! thanks to all!!
I just helped my buddy install his new HB Helix 7 yesterday. I went through most of the screens. Works just like my 899. Minus the double card slot & memory buttons. If they would have been out when I bought my 899, I would've saved $300.
I have used a Helix 5 with SI/DI since the Spring. The benefits are that for the screen size, the resolution is very good. I have it mounted on the dash so you can get close to see things with the SI. My advice would still be if you plan to use SI, get a larger screen. The SI works well and I can locate brush, channels, bottom hardness changes, etc. but need to keep the range down to about 60 feet to be able to see much. The larger Helix was not out yet when I bought mine, but I would suggest getting the biggest screen your wallet can stand for SI.
I rarely have my SI range more than 65ft on my 10.4" screen 1197 ...Quote:
Originally Posted by MidHillbilly
Rickie
Would that be 60' total or per side? I'll try that later this week. I think I have too much turbulence at faster speed, due to hull design on my modV Lowe. transducer is flush with bottom of hull or slightly above it. I've also ordered a Lowrance X4 pro for the front of boat. strictly to monitor depth if I'm trying to hold on a point or drop off.
range is per side I keep my 998 on 75 ft
65-80 feet for depending on depth but this is where I get my best images as well with my 899.
Amen to that brother!Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
I usually keep it right around there unless I am just plain showing off the structure reading ability you can use them for.
I need to image a sunken boat near the house - I have 2 screen shots of it in 455 KHz but would like to get the keel details a bit better with 800 KHz.
I think it's about 19'-21' and sunny side down in the mud. I got a closer shot last time and have not uploaded that anywhere yet.
This next round of units from JOI should be indeed interesting as they undercut each other to try to offer more to the less fortunate fishing folks that don't have Pro Staff budgets.
:biggrin
60' / side isn't too bad, but once you get deeper you'll need to go wider too; folks that know me - know I am not afraid to turn my back to the shore and not look at it until it's time to load up.
Is it wrong to pull "Brim" outta 38 fow?? lol
Sure feels right to me!
RICKIE,I HAVE A SMART PHONE BUT IT MUST HAVE A SMART PERSON FOR IT TO WORK AND THAT LEAVES ME OUT,LOL
I should have added that at 60 ft each side, it depends on what you are looking for as to if you will be able to see it with the 5 inch screen. At that width, depending on the overall depth, light conditions, etc., I can see bottom contour changes such as seeing a creek channel or ditch, see bottom hardness changes, and maybe be able to see brush/structure if it is big enough. If I think I see something, I can mark it and come back with less range to get a better idea of what it looks like. With a screen as large as 10 inches, you can probably sit back a few feet from it and see most of what you want to see. With a 5 inch screen, you need to put your reading glasses on and get close similar to a smart phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
One other piece of advice for someone trying to figure out side imaging. If you have brush or an object you know, go by it at different distances, different ranges, different colors, different speeds, etc. to get an idea what it will look like on SI. This really helped me out a lot in knowing what size an object would be on the screen and what it might look like. I probably looked stupid going back and forth and was lucky I did not have to pass a sobriety test, but it was worth it.
Those are some good tips, thanks
I agree ... Try different color palettes of the same structure ...Quote:
Originally Posted by MidHillbilly
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps92ba975b.png
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9ff0735d.png
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...pse9bdda2b.png
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps4fc3af37.png
Even try one side only ... :
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf57d5664.png
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9637f99e.png
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf56ab0af.png
Rickie
Holy mackerel Robin, it's the Bat Signal! :Rofl