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I can get one of these under $700 and I see i can get a last years Helix 9 si Mega g2 or $999.
I'm upgrading from the 899 si unit and learned my lesson hard on not knowing about transducer upgrades.
So, other than screen size why would I need the 9 ? Is there a transducer difference? Is there an upgrade for the 7 recommended?
Any input welcome.
If you use SI at all the 9 is much better SI on a 7 inch screen in my opinion is almost worthless.
If you plan on using the SI much at all, it’s worth it to spend a little more money. Makes a bunch of difference IMO
Bigger is better,,,get what you can afford.
You're right and thanks for a good reminder.
How about the Helix 8 as a compromise?
I just picked up the Humminbird 410830-1 Helix 8 Chirp Mega SI+ G3N for $1098 with free shipping
I talked to HB Friday morning. There are no needed transducer upgrades allowing for better imaging. My understanding is the gen3 units have more voltage allowing greater side imaging range. The 2D imaging has more resolution. Otherwise the gen 2 and 3 are basically the same unit.
They have discontinued the gen2 and they are $999. The Gen 3'-s are $1500.
I have a new helix9 si gen2 sitting beside me on the couch. Thanks again guys.
On the screen size. If your face is close enough to the 7 it will be big enough to work SI. The bigger screens do come into good play when you are having more than one function going on the same screen however.
I used a Helix 5 side imaging on my pond boat to deadly effectiveness. The 5 actually has higher resolution than the 7 and the 9. Extremely crisp image on the 5 just smaller. I went to the Helix 7 on my pond boat to get the Ethernet feature so I could use my 360 transducer on it. The 5 does not have Ethernet. Otherwise I would still be using the 5. But the 7 is nice. I would not want the 9. It has the poorest resolution of all these units even though it's screen is bigger. I would jump up to the 10 instead. Much better resolution than 9. I used the transducer trade-in service to get the HD transducer for my 7. It helps. It helped on the 5 too.
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This is what I would recommend. The 7 has a lot of deficiencies as compared to a G3 8 or larger.Quote:
Originally Posted by artcarney_agr
The 7 G3 does not have the increased power output. You have to go with the 8 or larger in the G3 to get that.
The 8 and larger have a much improved transducer over the 7..... with the 7 you have a comact transducer without a dedicated DI element in it.
With the 8 and larger you have 2 card slots .... if you want to view mapping and record at the same time that is very important.
The cost difference between the 7 G3 and the 8 isn't that much .... but you get a LOT more unit.
I am not a fan of buying a G2 unit unless you are getting a terrific deal that you can't pass up, but the 9 G2 would be superior to the 7 G3 in my opinion.
Thanks guys for all of the feedback. I now have a helix 9 g2n on the bow and a helix 7 g3n in the dash. Well, I also bought a new boat while at it. Anyhow, the helix 9 g2n is great. I wish I hadn't bought the 7 in hindsight. I should have bought another 9 or 12 and put a 9 in the dash. Oh well.
I'm in the process of trying to link them on to 1 transducer. No luck so far but wish me well.
Install the 9 transducer and network the 7 to the 9. Let us know if you need any help. Be sure and in your 7’s settings, to Turn sonar off in the setttings.
So, this is opposite what Humminbird said. I just tonight got them networked, I needed software upgrades.Quote:
Originally Posted by cevans
But, this is what i thought would make sense. Would I get the most out of using two transducers on the back? And just sharing waypoints?
Try what Humminbird told you. Yes, you can mount 2 transducers and use both at the same time but you have to set each bird to run on different frequencies in their respective settings to not cross talk and show interference. You can network them to show waypoints, but not charts or mapping. If using one transducer, you could mount the 9 transducer and network the 7 to it and the 7 can be set up to read 2d, DI and SI. I don’t think the 9 will read DI off the 7’s transducer but would read 2d off it and it would have no SI as it has to read its own transducer for SI. Lots of ways to choose and play with network settings when both are networked together.
Here is something interesting I copied off a posting in bbc forum.
DISPLAY RESOLUTIONS
700 series 5” display 640 X 640 pixels = 31,170.5 pixels per square inch
800 series 7” display 480 X 800 pixels = 17,533.4 pixels per square inch
900 series 8” display 480 X 800 pixels = 12,755.7 pixels per square inch
1100 series 10.4” display 600 X 800 pixels = 8,858.2 pixels per square inch
ONIX-8 8.4” display 768 X 1024 pixels = 23,301.7 pixels per square inch
ONIX-10 10.4” display 768 X 1024 pixels = 14,513.2 pixels per square inch
Helix-5 5” display 480 X 800 pixels = 33,436.7 pixels per square inch
Helix-7 7” display 480 X 800 pixels = 17,294.9 pixels per square inch
Helix-9 9” display 480 X 800 pixels = 11,393.1 pixels per square inch
Helix-10 10.1” display 600 X 1024 pixels = 14,221.2 pixels per square inch
Helix-12 12.1” display 800 X 1280 pixels = 15,625.2 pixels per square inch
SOLIX-12 12.1” display 800 X 1280 pixels = 15,625.2 pixels per square inch
SOLIX-15 15.4” display 800 X 1280 pixels = 9,846.2 pixels per square inch
... wait till you try to change the color palette on that 7 SI, you cannot on the SI screen... Software glitch, can't even use the features that it is sold with.
Not too impressed with the 7 or the images from its transducer that I see on my 9. I have swapped to the 9s transducer and have an extension cable in route to hook that up. I am going to use the 9 (on bow) as the lead and run the 7 off of it.
After I updated the software, I did have DI, SI and 2D imaging on both units.
I have the helix 7 g3 mega si and I have this problem whats the deal...? not happy but I couldnt afford the 9...Quote:
Originally Posted by ecoast
other than this issue it works pretty good.
BC
their march update removed ability to change palette on SIQuote:
Originally Posted by Big CountryNC
as you scroll thru in quick menu you can see the depth indicator changing, but that's it
I asked when it would be made right (4 mos. so far!) and no answer.
I had just bought, so back it went!
Such bs; brand new, bought expressly for SI, and cannot use basic functionality...smh