Nevermind....im an idiot..the micro sd card is inside the SD card!  ...glad i didn't drive back up to bass pro and complain to the guy at the counter! ha

Last year I purchased the 688CI HD DI, which I now see costs more than the Helix SI with GPS. 

 

Is my 688 superior to the Helix in any way (i.e.: processor speed, other features, etc.)?
Is the Helix simply a screen orientation preference compared to the 688? 

 

I realize I would be adding SI, however are there any other benefits to going with the Helix over my 688? 

The 600 has the three favorite view buttons and is OK in the 2D and DI versions, but not OK in the SI version 698ci SI Combo due to the narrow display. Screen width is the most important factor with a Side Imaging unit.

They have a SD card reader

 

Just the opposite with the Helix models. The Helix 5 SI GPS is the best choice due to the wide screen, not so much with just the 2D or DI models. They have a microSD card reader.

 

Operation wise, they are the same with the same basic background map, do not know about the processor speed.

I can find out if that is a deal breaker.

I just noticed that the Helix takes a microSD, therefore my Navionics+ on a SD card is not compatible. All being considered I will stick with the 688 which I have barely used and am hoping to experiment with more this summer. 

 

Thanks Wayne P for the info. I may tap into your expertise when my boat hits the water!

I just noticed that the Helix takes a microSD, therefore my Navionics+ on a SD card is not compatible. All being considered I will stick with the 688 which I have barely used and am hoping to experiment with more this summer. 

 

Thanks Wayne P for the info. I may tap into your expertise when my boat hits the water!

If you have a Navionics+ card, that is a microSD inside a SD adaptor.

 

Navionics cards have been microSD since 2010.

 

Even this year's Lakemaster cards are microSD because of the Helix models.

yep...you're right!  I have a microSD!!!

 

I'll take a look and compare these 2 units. However, can I use the Navionics+ card that was already used on a different Humminbird sonar/GPS unit? 

Wayne  or anyone which card is better Avionics or Hummingbirds for our local lakes in NE ?

Wayne  or anyone which card is better Avionics or Hummingbirds for our local lakes in NE ?

 

"better" is subjective. First of all Lakemaster has very little coverage for that area since this year is the first year with any coverage at all. Check the lake list for your waters. If any are HD, then Lakemaster would be a good choice.

There is a new feature with Lakemaster called Chart Select. With that you can download a single body of water and have all the Lakemaster features for that location. Refer to the Lakemaster web site for available locations.

To do that you have to encrypt at least a 2GB card to download the map to. Only one location per card.

Encryption was added via software update for several unit models recently.

 

For Navionics, you can view the current maps on the Navionics website's Web App and know what the coverage is.

Thanks Wayne ,  

I bought one a little while ago. Good unit full of features. WAY TOO SMALL of a screen. It's a toy not a real tool. Trees look like toothpicks on the tiny screen. I will put this in the cockpit and get a 7 or 9 inch for the deck.

I bought one a little while ago. Good unit full of features. WAY TOO SMALL of a screen. It's a toy not a real tool. Trees look like toothpicks on the tiny screen. I will put this in the cockpit and get a 7 or 9 inch for the deck.

Trees will look like toothpicks on the larger screens too. It's all about the unit settings and boat speed.

I guess I thought that it was like a tv screen, bigger screen, bigger people

I guess I thought that it was like a tv screen, bigger screen, bigger people

Standing timber. dock posts, etc are scanned by the diameter. A 12" tree/post will be the same size as a 12" bass that is parallel with the transducer.  

 

There are some standing trees in this image that was done with a 5" display, but it is not as wide as the Helix.

Note the shadows are the most distinguishable:

 

 

If there are whole trees with limbs under water, then they will be displayed well enough to see, but still are relative to the depth and SI range.