hi all,

  Well the bait monkey bit real hard and I got the hummingbird helix 5 si unit to replace my old Lowrance  x125. We went fishing twice in the last few days and I got a chance to try it out. Here's a few thoughts.

 

 The screen is small, but that's no surprise. You just have to understand the side images you will see will be a lot smaller and more compact than the screen shots in the ad's. That being said the si does what it's supposed to do. I have seen logs, rock piles etc clear enough to know what they were out 100 ft on either side of the boat. I have also seen what I think are fish ( small white streaks).

 It's easy to mark these spots but (at least for me) so far it's more complicated to call them back up and get to them.

 

 The regular sonar is crisp and very clear. I have seen what I am pretty sure are fish but so far I am getting more short lines than arches. I spent some time adjusting the angle on the transducer but I still don't think I've found the sweet spot yet. I'm also playing around with the chart speed. The bottom detail is great.

 

I do have some criticisms.

 

The screen has more glare on a sunny day than my old unit. I'm thinking of making a shade for it.

 

It does not come with a cover. When not in use I wrap a towel around it to protect the screen.

 

The manual is on cd. Call me old-fashioned but after spending 5 bills I don't think I should have to spend more to print out the instructions ( it's 160+ pages).

 

 All in all I'm glad I got it, and as I get more used to everything it will do, I'm sure it will help our fishing.

 

 On a side note- I've spent as much time putting around looking at the bottom as I have fishing. It can be addictive.

                                                                                      

                                                                                Jim

With the small screens, or larger ones too, use a shorter SI range to show small stuff like fish, brush, rocks, etc. Use the 100'+ to see the general bottom layout. Then rescan using the shorter ranges.

 

To get the best detail use a SI range that is three times the depth in more than 10' depths. That will give you 1/3 on each side for the water column and 2/3 of each side for the bottom. In shallower water use a SI range of a long cast.

 

Turn off the left side readouts in the full screen SI view so the whole width will be used to display SI.

 

You can double the size of displayed subjects by choosing to view just one side of the SI view.

With the small screens, or larger ones too, use a shorter SI range to show small stuff like fish, brush, rocks, etc. Use the 100'+ to see the general bottom layout. Then rescan using the shorter ranges.

 

To get the best detail use a SI range that is three times the depth in more than 10' depths. That will give you 1/3 on each side for the water column and 2/3 of each side for the bottom. In shallower water use a SI range of a long cast.

 

Turn off the left side readouts in the full screen SI view so the whole width will be used to display SI.

 

You can double the size of displayed subjects by choosing to view just one side of the SI view.

 

                           

 

 

  Thanks, that's good advice

                                Jim

I looked at one of these at a local store; the design of the SD card cover scares me.  It would be terrible to have a $500 unit ruined because water got inside the card cover.  How has that cover worked for you / anyone else on the forum?

    Like most of you ,I'm just getting use to it too, I'll say I think the Helix is one of the best bang for the buck in compact electronics , As with all of them ,it's a learning curve .. We're lucky to have Wayne P he's a wealth of knowledge on these ... 

I picked one up for my kayak not too long ago and have had it out a few times and i am amazed at what i can "see"  I am still messing with the settings but it is really cool to see everything i have paddled over for the past few years and had no idea existed.

If you like the Helix 5 series, there will be a Helix 7 series on the market soon.

If you like the Helix 5 series, there will be a Helix 7 series on the market soon.

Any idea what price point this will be at? I'm holding off with upgrades until this winter, since I only have 2 tourneys left.

Any idea what price point this will be at? I'm holding off with upgrades until this winter, since I only have 2 tourneys left.

 

 

Look at the Bass Pro Shops on-line catalog.

Look at the Bass Pro Shops on-line catalog.

Thanks! Defiantly worth the look, might do a 5 for the console and 7 for the deck.

Just got the Ad for the Helix 7 in my inbox  looks nice but no price yet ...at least not with the ad ,,,,

Just got the Ad for the Helix 7 in my inbox  looks nice but no price yet ...at least not with the ad ,,,,

$699 on BPS site.

I'll have to look there .... I just got the ad from Hummingbird

Wish I would have waited on the helix 7. I like the 5, but would have preferred the larger screen of the 7

Curtis9 I guess that could be said of most fishing gear LOL,  and remember it's only 2'  lol.... 

Wayne ,Do you think it will use the same power/transducer  ?  

Yes, the same for all versions of all models.

 

This was posted by a retailer on another site:

 

Humminbird HELIX 7 Sonar.....$349.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-20-T)

Humminbird HELIX 7 DI.....$399.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-DI-T)

Humminbird HELIX 7 Sonar/GPS.....$449.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-20-T)

Humminbird HELIX 7 DI/GPS Combo.....$499.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-DI-T)

Humminbird HELIX 7 SI/GPS Combo.....$699.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-SI-180-T)

Humminbird HELIX 7 SI/GPS KVD Combo.....$699.99 (Included Transducer XNT-9-SI-180-T)

Helix 7 cable connections:

 

Wayne my helix 5 has the same connections I'm hoping I'll be able to just swap out the mount and unit on my boat ??  

Wayne my helix 5 has the same connections I'm hoping I'll be able to just swap out the mount and unit on my boat ??  

 I doubt the gimbal mount will interchange.

I know, I was hoping to just swap out the mount and unit and not have to touch the power or transducer ....