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So I get the mail in today and got a Cabbalas add. They have hummingbird Helix on sale. I been looking for something to replace my 2007 vintage 997.
Been looking at the 9" but I could get a 10" for an extra $300.
They are advertised at $200 off regular.
Do any of yall have any experience with the Helix family?
I've been pleased with the old unit.
please let me know.
P.M. sent to ya.
All I can say is my brother has the Helix 9. It works like your 997 and my 998c except it is easier and better quality. You will love the picture you'll see if you get one. Check to see if it is Gen 3 before you buy. Yes, 10 inch screen would be better. Bigger the screen is always better to see what's down there. I'm like you and waiting for a deal to come along. Digital Oasis / Hodges might be better than Cabela's :dono I know Dig Oasis had a HDS 12 I would like to have but I didn't have the jack$$ to get it at that time. Also, check with Lake Wylie boats and sales on Hwy 49. Vic may can get you hooked up with a better deal. Good luck choosing.
There is also a new tackle shop opening where that Hunt Fish Paddle store was .Cant remeber the name of it but it looked like a good place. Will find the name and post it .
I just got a helix 10 chirp mega. I’ve used it twice and I love it. Here are some side images. The sonar and down imaging has greatly improved over my Helix 7 gen 1. I don’t have any down imaging or sonar pictures right now. Attachment 328198Attachment 328199Attachment 328200Attachment 328201
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Wow, never had that good a picture on my 998. But I really need to take the time to play with the setting a figure out what each does. Trouble is I'd rather sit and look at the water and shoot the breeze with who ever is with me.
The mega series is awesome!!!
Here at a couple images side and down with my Helix 9. Attachment 328204Attachment 328206
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In the down imaging picture, is that fish stacked on top of that lay down?Quote:
Originally Posted by tackleboat
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I am installing a Helix 7 mega gen3 now. Did the wiring today, ready for the screen in the AM. could not buy bigger because the piggy bank was not big enough. LOL. I hope it will be ok. I have been using a Eagle Fishmark 480 for years and doing ok but just wanted to upgrade.
Yes I think that is fish on top.
With the mega scan I’ve notice that the high frequency is better at showing structure and lower frequency does better at showing fish. That is just my opinion and what I’ve seen when running traditional sonar and mega scan side by side.
LOWRANCE FOR SALE!
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Brett, I got both HB 998c and a HDS 7, I like them both. I'm just going blind and can't see diddly with them. That's my excuse to the wife! So I can get a new DF. I want a Helix 12 c/mega or a HDS 12 just have to wait and see what happens at tax time. :juggle
The add description is HELIX 9 MEGA Di GPS G2N SKU# 2470468.
I will have to assume from the description this is Gen 2.
what does Gen 3 get you?
ill have to look at the hummingbird website.
Thanks so much for all the help, I thought about posting in the electronics section on the big board, but I like all yalls local opinions!!
thanks again.
Gen 3 is the newest and improved model. :dono
I have the Gen 2 with SI. The picture quality and adjustability are great on these units. I ordered mine from Hodges and it came with the Navionics card for US & Canada, which saved me about $125. My dad has the Garmin 74SV which is a good unit too. To me its a little easier to operate from the main screen, but it lacks in the picture resolution in SI and DI. I also liked that the transducer was 1/2 the size of the Garmins.
That's my issue with SI on my Lowrance HDS7. The SI transducer is a separate unit and it is huge. I have it on a portable transom mount because I don't dare use it at Santee. I've knocked regular one of on the stumps and I know this one would be toast.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullthrottle
I really need to take the time to learn to use it.
I just today received a Hook7X that I'm putting on the front running off the Ipilot transducer. Got one from Hodges Marine for $300 total, free shipping. I ordered it Tuesday and it came today(Thursday). It's a plain jane but all I needed up front. It has DI and GPS plus regular sonar which is all I'll get from the US2 transducer.
I have an Helix 7 and looking at getting Helix 10 for better side imaging.
And the most expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDawgg
Raccoon....can I borrow ya data chips for research purposes?
I was getting a helix 10 but I bought the helix 12 floor model for the same cost. I really contribute this unit to greatly learning new lakes with lake mapping and a I pilot trolling motor. It is worth the investment!!!!
I just bought me the Helix 12 Mega and a Minn Kota Ulterra 24volt 80 lb thrust..LOve em both so far..I upgraded from the 1199 and a Co Pilot
You look fine from the sideAttachment 328393Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappieKidd
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Well here's a heads up .Turns out the X model has GPS tracking ability only. You can save trails and waypoints but there is no built in map at all. I understood you could not use a mapping chip but I thought it had a basic navigation map installed. All you get is a blank screen with active curser. I've had numerous units over the years including an HDS7 currently on my console. Never before have I seen a unit that had GPS with no map. Now got to decide what to do!!Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
Don't forget E Bay, doesn't hurt to look.
The Helix 10 and 12 are the cats meow. The do anything you ask and still show you more. I truly love my unit and would without restraint say it was one of my best purchases ever.
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Id look for a touch screen unit. Much easier and faster . Very reliable too
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I guess someone has to be the stick in the mud. I bought a Helix 7 several years ago (gen 1, I assume) and have been completely disappointed in the image quality. The down imaging is faint and grainy compared to even cheap Lowrance units like the Elite 5. I can barely see DI fish and bait on the unit with any color palette selection over than the obnoxious red/green, and even then, the sensitivity has to be cranked all the way to 20. My side imaging is even worse. I can't get it to show brushpiles even a few feet away. I've played constantly with the contrast/sensitivity/etc. I even replaced the standard transducer with the better one that comes with the 9 and 10. Maybe it's just my unit. Even the conventional sonar shows bait schools and spotted bass/striper schools as jagged images like it has way too few pixels. Could I be overlooking something obvious or doing something wrong? I've never seen the images of the trees with branches like is displayed on the box. Maybe it's a lemon or maybe it's good old fashioned operator error!
Here are some images of my Helix 7 gen 1. I also got the better transducer. All of these were taken at about 1 mph with the screen speed at 3. Attachment 328878Attachment 328879 Attachment 328876Attachment 328877Quote:
Originally Posted by Fisher-o-Men
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William, here are some sonar images from my Helix 7 as well.
I’m still learning my new Helix 10, but I’m liking it a lot more.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.comAttachment 328881Attachment 328882
Nice pic.
I think the DI was weak on the Birds years ago. I tried a 998 and didn't like the DI. Side image was excellent
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Humming bird gen 1 down imaging was not true downimaging. It used software to interpet signals. Gen 2 and gen 3 are actual downimaging. That is why I want to upgrade my Helix 7 gen 1 to a gen3 helix 10.Quote:
Originally Posted by brettw
Same here. I updated to the gen2 and the down imaging is much better.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappieKidd
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Those look like bream beds in the first screen shot. I've always heard the larger ones bed in deeper water.Quote:
Originally Posted by FishnLine
They were and they showed up good. I knew you could find beds with side imaging, but I’ve never concentrated on it so much. I hope to do a little more of it this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
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One more question please . On that same screen the depth in the bar at the top shows 11.4 ft, but the depth at the bottom left shows 20.2 ft. I
I would assume the depth under the boat to be 20.2 so what does the other depth represent?
I had to think about that a minute. Where the bed was, it was around 11 ft. I moved the curser just enough to pause the screen. When getting my phone out to take a picture, the boat drifted out into deeper water.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
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Ashley, does that graph help you to catch any more fish?
The past few years, I haven’t fished like I used to. I hope to change that this year. As far as catching more, maybe. Like you, I used to fish more at night. Didn’t really need side scan for that. I’ve never done a lot of vertical jigging, but thought about giving it a try some this year. It definitely helps finding underwater structure and can help eliminate water. This picture is from a few years ago. I could quickly see fish were on the bridge pilings and could even narrow it down to exactly what part to fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabowman
Attachment 329227
I just bought a 10” Humminbird and have had it out a few times just trying to learn it and it’s setting. It’s night and day different that my older Helix 7. I have marked a lot of brush. While marking it, it was pretty obvious that fish were not on it. Some brush I marked did have fish on it. My last trip was planned to actually fish some of these areas. It was a little windy and I arrived at a spot I wanted to fish, only to find out my trolling motor didn’t work anymore. Now I’m upgrading trolling the motor.
So depending on your style of fishing, yes I believe it can help you find more fish, but it won’t make them bite. Lol. I have been trolling and knew the majority of the fish were on a particular side of the boat.
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