Bout to get the new helix 12 on bow with ipilot link and lakemaster card.i will have helix 12 at console 360 imaging on bow...I want to know if its worth having si and di or one or the other on bow cause i will have at console...i could save alot cash by getting sonar and gps only especially cause im running 360 on bow...any recommendations?????

You don't need a Side Imaging unit to view 360 or have Side Imaging.

The SI, DI or 2D models will support the 360 and all three can use the 360 for Side Imaging and Down Imaging. The 360 is an Ethernet accessory and can be shared.

I prefer to have a Side Imaging unit at the bow and console since the Side Imaging transducer will produce sharper Images due to the longer imaging crystals in a HDSI transducer.

Some just get a 2D bow model and use the US2 transducer in the trolling motor and get 360, SI, and DI from the 360.

360 on a Helix 12 is NICE. This is comparing forward 360 on an ONIX 10 and Helix 12:

So thats what im doing us2 in trolling motor...should i put the 360 transducer on bow or transom???so what your saying wayne is i can get si and di from 360 accessorie??

You cannot attach the bow 360 to a hand steer or electric steer trolling motor. The mount clamp is designed to attach to the upper non-rotating shaft of a foot control cable steer trolling motor.

If you want the bow 360 you will have to invent some contraption for that attachment to the hull or purchase a third party invention to do it. Guys on crappie and walleye sites have done that application.

The easiest is the transom mount 360.

The 360 IS a Side Imaging transducer. It just rotates or not depending on the unit settings.

Gotcha so i guess i will be getting sonar and gps unit on the front and connect to console so they can share thanks for the info...only thing i dont like bout hummingbird compared to lowrance cant share map cards not sure why they cant figure that out but lowrance can oh well have to get two map cards i really wanted to use hummingbird cause i wanted ipilot link 

If you had two ONIX units, you could share mapping.

Yea i know too much cake lol hey ine more question is that smartstrike a big advantage in your opininon i think thats cool deal if it really works

I would not buy the Smartstrike software. I know to read a map and establish a pattern.

It does not work with a Helix unit, only ONIX and ION models.