Having a hard time choosing between a Helix 9 Si or Garmin Echomap 73Sv.
I just sold my Lowrance HDI units.
Need some insight please
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Having a hard time choosing between a Helix 9 Si or Garmin Echomap 73Sv.
I just sold my Lowrance HDI units.
Need some insight please
I am biased, I can tell you HB has great customer service!! I am contemplating a Helix 12. Just a titewad or I would have already bought it.
I got the 73sv and really like it. Simple to operate and great images.
I own both. At first I was a VERY loyal Bird customer. Greatly due to the fact of their great CS. Picked up a Garmin 2 yrs ago Installed as a back up unit. It was an Echomap 70 S. I was never altogether satisfied with the 2D performance on the Birds. That first year when I started playing with the 70S. It was showing me fish that
my 1198C was not in 2D.
DI and SI I would rate the performance as about equal. Ease of use and ease of updating the edge goes to Garmin. Get tired of getting the Bird set up just how I like and everytime an update is needed . Have to reset to factory settings at least twice . Prior and after update according to Humminbird. The Garmin doesn't require to reset anything download to SD card stick in unit and boom its done.
Either route you go I think you will be satisfied. Just have to figure out what you want the unit to do for you. All things being equal always opt for the larger screen size. Nuff said.
Helix will be the choice. Now to find best price
BBG Marine
Was gonna try and jump in on the Basspro deal for the Garmins until I read they were fading out the non-chirp versions. I don't wanna make a big purchase on a older model. Plus with the birds I like the live autochart and there is a lot of forum support if I ever run into troubles. The Garmins use such a LONG transducer and I'm not sure I could mount it on the trolling motor as I have a power drive 12v v1 where the skeg is kinda in the middle.
I use both, hard to say on which one is better. They both have good points but they are different from each other. The HB is a lot easier to read in sun.
From what I have seen on the forums, the Garmins have very good imaging.
Their achilles heel is that you use their mapping only. For some lakes it is great and others kinda sucks.......Do your homework on the mapping.
I have the garmin and it's the bomb ! Like it so well I got two. Easy to use . And if it shows fish they are there. Plus no cables to hook up every time . Just snap it in.
I HAVE 3 HUMMINBIRDS,1199, 998,859,AND I LIKE ALL,HOWEVER FOR DI ,LOWRANCE IS AS GOOD AS ITS GET,BUT U SOLD IT,YOUR HUMMINBIRD WITH SI IS NOT GOING TO COMPETE WITH LOWRANCE WHILE IN DI,SOMETHING TO CHEW ON
Just food for thought. SI on a trolling motor is iffy. Whenever you turn the motor, it washes out the image. Okay going straight ahead though. Also Garmin is introducing a program to do your own mapping similar to H/B. It will come standard on the new units, but will be a free software update to many older models including the Echomaps you see on sale now.
I like the humminbird 360. I would recommend a humminbird unit with a 360.i had a humminbird 998, that I used with the 360Quote:
Originally Posted by gixxer420
an now an onix10. The bigger screen on the ONIX helps but the 998 worked very well also.
(if your wanting good di. Get a unit that has a dedicated di crystal)
I wouldn't do si on trolling motor just di. Basically I'm going for best bang for the $$ with the sale on Gamin is why I was looking at them. However I don't want to buy something I will regret and wished I had bought something else. I'm not looking at lowrance at all. I'm not very experienced with depth finders and felt it was a pain every trip out. I have been researching and researching. I really like all of the humminbird support you see on the forums and tons of YouTube videos. If only humminbird would run a sale or rebate. Again don't want any wasted money as I plan to buy a 24v trolling motor this season too. Then again the 12v power drive does fine. Choices choices
Garmin is supposed to be coming out with a custom mapping program. That works like like Humminbird's auto chart. The BIG difference the Garmin program will be FREE. I have seen the beta version and all I can say is its awesome. So do not rule out Garmin solely on mapping.
I have Humminbird and they offer repairs at set price . I have a buddy who has Lowrance and having trouble . All they offered him was a discount on a upgrade .:crazy:
The basspro price on the garmins,it would be hard to beat that deal.Humminbird flat rate repair on a 997 is $510,theres no way i would want to spend that fixing a used humminbird unit.Me myself i would rather pay to upgrade to a new up to date unit like lowrance does it,different strokes for different folks i guess:bash
I like the all.
I'm leaning with my 1st choice.. HELIX
Its new, autochart live, can do 800 on si an di. Plus I can get the 360 transducer in few months.
Just gotta figure out what setup I want. More than likely go with 9si and 9di
I have a Helix 9 and Helix 10 and LOVE THEM!!! Very bright, easy to see, DI is just ok, 2D is AWESOME in Switchfire mode. SI is very good as well.Auto Chart is unbelievable! I have found stuff that I have never known to exist in lakes I have fished for 25 years.. LOVE THE HELIX'S!