advice for finder on the bow

Guys, getting back into fishing after many years out. I have a Helix 9 SI mega at the console and LOVE it. However I have an old 598 DI at the front and am considering a replacement. Question 1) Considering side imaging unit for the trolling motor at bow so how mwny use SI up front? 2) I think CHIRP is adequate up front , your thoughts? 3) Leaning toward the Helix 7 SI Chirp G2. Was looking at the Garmin Striker plus 7sv but saw a video comparing Garmin to Lowrance and there was some difference in fish showing and some detail in structure on the Garmin. Any suggestions? Don't want to break the bank either :biggrin
Thanks for your support!

I would go for the biggest screen you can afford. I don't know if I would want side imaging on the bow on anything less than a 9 inch screen. Your standing farther away from it and details will be tuff to pick out on side imaging. I think I would look more into the biggest screen/chirp/di unit I could get. Di will show you good details on about any size screen, but still.... bigger is always better. Chirp is not a have to have feature... but it's nice. It provides real nice target separation on the screen. A gen2n unit would be a have to for me so that i could share waypoints between units.

First, I'm not so sure the video in reference shouldn't be taken with a grain of salt. As for the cv ducer on the Garmin, most folks that have posted here and other sites seem to think they are up to the task if you are less than a certain depth. Say 30 feet or so. Particularly those that have and use both. HB's core units have used blended for a good while. Rickie just posted a few days back about which ones still do. I can't remember tho. I do agree to get as large a screen as is possible/affordable regardless of brand. Probably gonna be some pretty slick stuff showing up soon with the releases. Prices will probably come down on some things out now that you are looking at.

I have both sv and chirp on TM. I'm happy. HB has some neat stuff. Good luck in your quest

I use side image upfront, you are happy with your Helix 9 at the console, so i would buy one for the front also. As you you develop more confidence using your helix at the console you will transition to the front with the same controls and functions. No brainer for me. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

One point to note ...

HELIX SI units in Gen 1 do not have a dedicated DI piezo ... The DI image is a computer blend of the left and right SI data and rendered in a DI "looking" format ...

HELIX MEGA SI units have a dedicated DI piezo for true down imaging in a SI unit ...

Rickie

GET A HELIX SI THAT HAVE TRUE DI AND THAT WAY YOU WILL HAVE BOTH AT FRONT,AS YOU USE IT JUST CHANGE IT TO THE WAY YOU WANT IT THAT DAY,AND IF YOU HAVE TO GET A SMALLER UNIT THAN YOU WOULD LIKE ,JUST SET SI UP WITH RIGHT SIDE AT TOP AND LEFT SIDE AT BOTTOM ,THAT WAY A 9 INCH SCREEN WILL BE LIKE A 18 INCH SCREEN ,SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE OBJECTS FAIRLY EASY THEN

Rickie, that is good info. I did not know that DI transducer issue. Mega is looking better all the time even though it is more $. Think there may be a price drop soon on some of those units?

I'm running Garmin, love them. I was apprehensive about getting them, with I'd read also. I have no regrets. And mine have the CV transducer.
With that said, and someone already mentioned, if you are happy/content with what what you have, stick with it.
You can always elevate the bow unit, to compensate for a smaller screen.


Sent from my XT1254 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

DI Unit and a 360!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

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Originally Posted by db50ky

Rickie, that is good info. I did not know that DI transducer issue. Mega is looking better all the time even though it is more $. Think there may be a price drop soon on some of those units?

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MEGA has been out about a year ...

Product release cycle for HB is generally 2 years ...which means we don't expect any new products this year ...

Prices don't come down on current products until new products have been released (usually) ...

Rickie

Attachment 290082Attachment 290083

If your apprehensive about Garmin, here's a SI and DI screenshot. CV 52 transducer. Keep in mind, these units are new to me, I haven't made many changes yet. And those are screenshots of screenshots.

Lookin' good Sir...:highfive

I should send you a pic of the envelope you sent me the other day!

So it came in a plastic bag that said "we're real sorry we tried our best to destroy your item, but we failed - so here's the leftovers... your USPS") - WOW

:yikes:Doh:

nice shots. especially good to see the clearvu/dv returns on the cv at 40+ fow

Sfw1960 - Now I know why you said , "...if you have a padded envelope, if not not don't worry about it.". Sounds like even that may not have helped?
Teedee - thanks, next time I'm out, if I remember, I'll try to get some screenshots of the same thing in both 455 and 800.

Humminbird states that if you network both units do not have to be mega to view mega on both? i.e. Helix Mega SI G2 paired with Helix G2N(of course I do not see an SI G2N without mega).

sorry s/b Helix SI G2N to Helix G2N any

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skunked again

Sfw1960 - Now I know why you said , "...if you have a padded envelope, if not not don't worry about it.". Sounds like even that may not have helped?
Teedee - thanks, next time I'm out, if I remember, I'll try to get some screenshots of the same thing in both 455 and 800.

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O my goodness Gary - they THRASHED it!!

I think it will still work just fine , but they surely put more into materials and apologizing how badly they handle your mail than it would have cost just to be respectful of one's mail....

:yikes

https://s26.postimg.org/4e4sbx461/USPS_0063.jpg


https://s26.postimg.org/yit8xa1jd/USPS_0064.jpg

Again, I thank you Sir - and anyone that needs a PC10 LMK & I'll get you one...

RAS

Quote:

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Originally Posted by db50ky

sorry s/b Helix SI G2N to Helix G2N any

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MEGA can be shared G2N to G2N ... regardless if the 2nd unit is a SI G2N / DI G2N or a Sonar G2N ...

https://www.humminbird.com/WorkArea/....aspx?id=10463

Fixed frequency 455kHz/800kHz imaging and fixed frequency 2d can be shared to earlier networkable units (excluding ONIX SOLIX) ... CHIRP must be shut off ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

MEGA can be shared G2N to G2N ... regardless if the 2nd unit is a SI G2N / DI G2N or a Sonar G2N ...

https://www.humminbird.com/WorkArea/....aspx?id=10463

Fixed frequency 455kHz/800kHz imaging and fixed frequency 2d can be shared to earlier networkable units (excluding ONIX SOLIX) ... CHIRP must be shut off ...

Rickie

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OK, at the risk of sounding completely ignorant Rickie, If you have individual transducers for each unit it seems that the only real benefit for networking would be the waypoints sharing. But those can be copied onto an SD card from say the console unit and uploaded to the bow unit correct? Realizing this may be necessary on a regular basis. I'm just not convinced that the networking in order to view the transom mount transducer on the bow unit is beneficial enough for the added expense of the network box( I have Ipilot linked into console unit). What say ye ?

Networking is beneficial for allowing both units to use the same transmitting xducer to eliminate the possibility of Crosstalk interference - (caused by 2 xducers running at the same frequency at the same time) ...

And waypoint sharing of course ...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by db50ky

OK, at the risk of sounding completely ignorant Rickie, If you have individual transducers for each unit it seems that the only real benefit for networking would be the waypoints sharing. But those can be copied onto an SD card from say the console unit and uploaded to the bow unit correct? Realizing this may be necessary on a regular basis. I'm just not convinced that the networking in order to view the transom mount transducer on the bow unit is beneficial enough for the added expense of the network box( I have Ipilot linked into console unit). What say ye ?

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I have copied and shared waypoints from front to back and visa versa but I don't any more; to much variance. I recommend keeping them separate. If both units are on you can still see them all when networked...