After learning from the posts on this forum, I am seriously looking into purchasing the Helix 5 SI GPS due to the side imaging capability and the price.

 

I plan to use the side imaging to look for depth breaks in water from 30 to 90 feet deep and under deep docks that line the lake.  I fish a large, clear reservoir that has very little natural structure like brush, standing timber, weedbeds , etc.  The winter pattern here seems to be finding bait holding near drops in the deeper water and the Spotted Bass schools that follow them.  Docks also provide structure that's missing naturally and that attract all kinds of bait and fish.  

 

I understand that the SD card can only be used for one function - either saving waypoints, tracks, etc. or map upgrade cards.  

 

My question is: will the Unimap provide enough performance to allow me to mark promising spots and return to them successfully?

 

Mike

First thing to know is mapping is not GPS and GPS is not mapping.

 

The unit will do all GPS functions (waypoints, routes, tracks) with no maps.

Those function are saved directly to the unit's memory (waypoint library), not on any memory card.

 

The built-in Uni-map has no locations with contours, it is basically a color background with some outlines of waters.

 

The unit has one card slot. You can use either mapping software--(Lakemaster or Navionics) or you can put a blank card in to save screen shots and do recordings.

A memory card is also used to copy the waypoint library to use in other units or in HumminbirdPC.

 

This is a lake that had no mapping, not even an outline, before the Sonar Charts program which created the lake and contours using my recordings. I had over 75 waypoints without a map.

 

 

Sonar will show stuff you want to save a waypoint for.

Thanks, Wayne P. That clears up the memory slot use!

In the map you show with all the waypoints, what are the other icons indicating?

Also, can you place a cursor on any of these and return to that spot?

Mike

Every dot and symbol is a waypoint. Most of them are blue dots since I have Waypoint Decluttering turned on.

 

Every waypoint can be returned directly to. You don't do that with the position curser, you use the GoTo function to lead to a waypoint.

 

When the postion curser is displayed the unit functions are paused like in the example.

The line that leads to that curser starts on Lake Sidney Lanier in Georgia. That is the Default Simulator location.

The location of the waypoints is in Virginia.

Note the distance displayed at the top.

Thanks again, Wayne P.

I'm feeling more confident that the Helix unit will meet my needs and I appreciate your contribution to helping this "old dog" learn a new trick or two!

Mike