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Ok, I have purchased a Helix 5 DI a few years ago and haven't found the DI to be super beneficial as I mostly fish shallow oxbows. I know the DI transducer has a narrower cone for standard sonar than a non-DI transducer. So my question is, is my DI unit compatible with a non-DI transducer? I think I could take advantage of the wider cone it would offer if so. Forgive my ignorance if this is common knowledge.
Thanks!
*Press Menu twice to get into the Main Menu System ...
*Cursor over to the Setup tab ...
*Cursor down to User Mode ...
*Set User Mode to Advanced ...
Then go under the Sonar tab to look for a Menu item called "Connected Transducer" ...
If there is no "Connected Transducer" Menu = there are no other xducer options for that model ...
I offer the above info vaguely because I've never actually had the HELIX 5 DI in my hands to check for myself ...
Rickie
Are you sure about that?Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
The Helix 5 DI can be used as regular cone shaped or fan type sonar beam or both at same time.
With the DI transducer? According to the manual, the DI transducer offers a much narrower sonar fan than a standard sonar transducer. With the DI transducer, I've tried both sonar settings and I don't always mark fish I know are there. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or what. It marks structure just fine, but fish are a different story, even with Fish ID turned on.Quote:
Originally Posted by minnowtime
I have had a Helix 5 with di and si for about a year. I do not think it has a "connected transducer" but it may be that I have not found it. :dono I switch to regular sonar in shallower water. I'm still learning all of the ins and outs of the unit. I just need more time on the water to play with it. :biggrin
I agree with Retired2Fish on 2D sonar. I only go to DI when I want to inspect the structure.
I do that as well armyman but it's my understanding that the sonar fan distance in the XNT 9 DI T transducer is much narrower than the sonar fan distance in the XNT 9 20 T transducer. Being that I fish in mostly 8' of water or less, I'd think the XNT 9 20 T would be better suited for me, right?
Oh yeah forgot that one ... But still know 100% if there's a "Connected Transducer" Menu ...Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdux
Rickie
The 2d Sonar cones in the XNT 9 DI T are 200kHz 28°/455kHz 16° ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Jbird22
None of the 83kHz/200kHz (60°/20°) 2d xducers will work correctly on your unit if there's no selection for Dual Beam or 83/200kHz in the "Connected Transducer" Menu ...
Simply changing xducers does not give the desired cone angle ...
The unit has to be told to transmit the frequency(s) capability of the attached xducer with the "Connected Transducer" selection ...
Rickie
Thanks rnvinc!
I'll check that when I get home. I messaged Brian@BBG earlier and he said the XNT 9 20 T would work with my unit. I will double check your recommendation though just to be sure.
Ok, so I went through your suggested steps and it appears there's not a "Connected Transducer" option.Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
What this means is that your HELIX 5 DI cannot be set to transmit the frequencies required by any of the HB 83/200kHz 2d xducers ....Quote:
Originally Posted by Jbird22
It is definitely possible to connect a HB 83/200kHz xducer to your HELIX 5 DI (the connections are the same) - but the head unit is still going to transmit 200/455kHz 2d from the head unit transmitter ...
And transmitting 200/455kHz thru an xducer tuned for 83/200kHz will not give satisfactory results ...(Kinda like playing a banjo that's out of tune = it plays - but performs like yukky) ...
It will give results - there will be some returns shown on the 2d display - it just won't be satisfactory ...
Rickie
Rickie,
Doesnt the DI transducer use 2 separate crystals? one for 2d sonar and one for DI? Xnt 9 DI T has 4 pins in connector and a XNT 9 20 T has 3 pins.
Steve
You are correct ... I should have said the "connector" is the same (instead of the "connections" are the same) ...Quote:
Originally Posted by acwd1950
Attachment 285748
Attachment 285749
Rickie
So the xnt 9 di t dont do 83khz? just 200/455/800khz? I have ran a xnt 9 20 t on my helix 5 but its a SI version.
Steve
XNT 9 DI T is capable of 200/455kHz 2d and 455/800kHz DIQuote:
Originally Posted by acwd1950
XNT 9 20 T is capable of 83/200kHz 2d
HELIX 5 SI transmits 83/200kHz 2d and 455kHz blended DI/SI
HELIX 5 DI transmits 200/455kHz 2d and 455/800kHz DI
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The XNT 9 DI T has been standard on all core series DI units (non-MEGA) since the beginning of the HB DI unit release in late 2011 ...
It is rumored that the tighter 2d cones (200kHz 16°/455kHz 28°) of the XNT 9 DI T was intended as a market towards bottom fishermen (walleye) that needed better separation of targets (fish) close to the bottom from the bottom itself ... (Tighter 2d cones provide better target separation) ...
I've often wondered if Jason Halfen had some input in the design of the XNT 9 DI T because of walleye being one of his main target species ...
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing on Lake Wissota with Jason Halfen Outdoors
Rickie
So does it run 2d sonar at 455khz on DI models?? Is that just on the helix 5s or is it on the 7s on up? same setup on the gen2?
Steve
All core series HB DI units (NON-MEGA) from the old numbered series up to the Helix 12 CHIRP DI G2N transmit 200/455kHz 2d ...Quote:
Originally Posted by acwd1950
Larger HB DI units (that have more processing power) have a "Connected Transducer" Menu that allows the unit to be told to transmit the 83/200kHz 2d for connecting the other HB Dual Beam xducers that are tuned for 83/200kHz ...
Rickie
Which size of the humminbird helix series is the transition to add the connected transducer menu as an option?Quote:
Originally Posted by rnvinc
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think some of the HELIX 7 DI models have the "Connected Transducer" Menu ...and it may be newer software dependent ... I know the HELIX DI 9, 10, and 12 do ...Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty_allen
I don't have access to a HELIX 7 DI to check ...
Maybe someone with a HELIX 7 DI can check under the Sonar tab for us ...
Rickie