HB Helix 7 Problems and Option

HB has kind of put me in a pickle. Back on October of 2019, I purchased a NEW Helix 7 GPS SI KVD off EBay. Granted it was a 2018 model, it was new in the box. Recently my SI, DI and 2D just decided to quit working and went blackscreen on me. The GPS and charts worked but none of the others worked. SO to troubleshoot I plugged the unit into another transducer of the same model number to make sure it wasn't the Xducer was bad. I got the same results. I called HB and talked to Tech Support and after explaining my dilemma, they said the Unit will have to be sent in. HOWEVER, there would be a $217.00 charge JUST TO CREATE a Service Ticket. They also informed me that eventhough the Unit is brand new and registered in my name and being bought from Ebay, that I was not entitled to the Warranty. Up until now it has worked great and I have absolutely loved the unit. The unit absolutely fulfilled my needs without dropping big money for the latest and greatest. I am not only out the money for the Unit but I will also be out of $217 plus shipping to get it back to working. All this for a Unit that is less than a year old.

Soooo do I just trash the unit and buy a newer model unit, along with new Xducers to go with the newer technology? If so, I am a little hesitant to buy another HB unit, if this is what I can expect from them. Should I try to sell the Unit along with the 2 Xducers(1 Transom/1 TM Mount)? Can I work on exchange and Upgrade? What are some recommendations?

Thanks,
Beau

I would try and try to get another person on the line, usually Hbird will use the date of your receipt for warranty work if not registered right away..

I’m like Bricks, try again by sending email. I have heard this story before and then I have seen guys say they bought off eBay and they still covered unit under warranty as long as you had a receipt.

It happened to me and it cost me $257. all they did was reload the soft ware. If nothing else you can buy another unit and use that one just for the map and way points.

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Originally Posted by skeeter96

It happened to me and it cost me $257. all they did was reload the soft ware. If nothing else you can buy another unit and use that one just for the map and way points.

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I’m kind of thinking it’s a software issue also. Was it something you could’ve done if you knew it was the software?


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Do you have any NAV data stored on the unit? If so, can try reformatting NAV directory. Sometimes corrupt NAV data causes strange problems. Be sure and export any existing NAV data to SD card before reformatting. If that worked, check NAV data for bad or corrupt waypoints in HBPC. Assuming you had SONAR turned on.

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Originally Posted by ezfishn

Do you have any NAV data stored on the unit? If so, can try reformatting NAV directory. Sometimes corrupt NAV data causes strange problems. Be sure and export any existing NAV data to SD card before reformatting. If that worked, check NAV data for bad or corrupt waypoints in HBPC. Assuming you had SONAR turned on.

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I just assume all my waypoint information would be saved on the card and not the unit itself.
Are you saying that after I export the info off the SD card, to reformat the Card?


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Nav data is stored in the unit's memory. It can only get on the SD card if you export it from the NAV menu. But corrupt data on SD cards and in unit's memory can cause problems. So, would suggest;
1) Export Nav Data, 2) remove SD card, 3) Reformat NAV Directory, 4) Reboot (without any cards). If that works, then should verify NAV data in HB PC. Just trying to offer some more suggestions before paying for a repair...LOL

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Originally Posted by ezfishn

Nav data is stored in the unit's memory. It can only get on the SD card if you export it from the NAV menu. But corrupt data on SD cards and in unit's memory can cause problems. So, would suggest;
1) Export Nav Data, 2) remove SD card, 3) Reformat NAV Directory, 4) Reboot (without any cards). If that works, then should verify NAV data in HB PC. Just trying to offer some more suggestions before paying for a repair...LOL

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Man I just appreciate the suggestion. Heck I’m willing to try anything if the warranty is not going to be covered.


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I hate to hear that. I left Lowrance because of a very similar situation. HB has always treated me very well. I guess the consumer is just on his own.

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Originally Posted by Cray

I’m like Bricks, try again by sending email. I have heard this story before and then I have seen guys say they bought off eBay and they still covered unit under warranty as long as you had a receipt.

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^^^^^ If you don't get it working I'd call and talk to some else or email, if you bought it off eBay you'll have a paypal statement with the purchase or it would be on your credit card statement. Doesn't bird have a two year warranty? I just sent a Lowrance in today for warranty, bought in Nov 18 all they asked for was the serial number.

I had a similar problem with a Lowrance unit, they didn't want to honor the 1 year warranty. It was posted on the Lowrance website that the unit had a 1 year warranty, when presented them with the facts they repaired my unit free of charge. It looks to me that Humminbird Carrie's the same warranty, does not say cannot buy from Ebay.
https://www.humminbird.com/support/warranty

As they say Never give up! Hold your ground, they have no out in this

Yea I read the same thing as it pertains to HB warranty requirements and nowhere mentioned does it say Ebay.

If you have a Lakemaster map card, don't use that to export the data to. Use a separate card that doesn't have valuable data on it. The card will be formatted by the unit when you do the export.

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Originally Posted by DOFC

If you have a Lakemaster map card, don't use that to export the data to. Use a separate card that doesn't have valuable data on it. The card will be formatted by the unit when you do the export.

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I downloaded the chart onto the sd card and uploaded to the unit. So technically don't have a 'lakemaster card'.

I by mistake when putting one my units away, I pressed the off button and shut down sonar only. This was on a new Helix 12. After several resets, power down did I notice the option to shut down just the sonar. Yes mapping worked. Just a thought for ya.

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Was it an individual or a store on eBay? There's a lot of stores that sell on eBay.

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Originally Posted by tahoe 50

I by mistake when putting one my units away, I pressed the off button and shut down sonar only. This was on a new Helix 12. After several resets, power down did I notice the option to shut down just the sonar. Yes mapping worked. Just a thought for ya.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

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I did the same thing last week somehow. Finally got it back to default.

217 sounds like a cheap option relative to buying another.

Ebay is irrelevant. You either bought from an authorized dealer or you didn't. Some dealers operate on eBay and this should be well understood for anyone else hoping to save a few bucks (not a lecture just fair warning to others).

Hopefully resetting everything works. I assume you have checked connections for any broken or corroded pins.

I would
Fire unit up, make sure sonar is turned on.
Export waypoint to an SD card.
Is unit working? If not
Restore defaults.
Power down and restart.
Is it back to working?
If not format nav directory’s, restart unit.
Back to working?
If not call HB and ask for someone higher up.
HB has great customer service, you just need to get to the right person.


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Originally Posted by Redge

I would
Fire unit up, make sure sonar is turned on.
Export waypoint to an SD card.
Is unit working? If not
Restore defaults.
Power down and restart.
Is it back to working?
If not format nav directory’s, restart unit.
Back to working?
If not call HB and ask for someone higher up.
HB has great customer service, you just need to get to the right person.


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X2

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I had a serious problem a few months ago with helix 7 . I spoke to Dawn the supervisor. I ask to speak to a supervisor. She got the problem fixed . Don’t give up . It don’t cost to ask , I’ve been told . If I didn’t, I’d been out 700.00 .
hope this helps.

I may try that then and appreciate the advice. Worst case I could use the unit for Chart Only and waypoints. Do you recall what the problem was and how they fixed it?

I have owned HB and Lowrance units, including the Helix 7 HB. I have never had a HB unit that I was ever completely satisfied with and never owned a Lowrance unit that I didn’t love. No more birds for me.