I have installed a Hummingbird Helix 8 GPS G4N at the steering station of my Tracker 175.  I have installed two card in the unit, a Lakemaster PLUS Southeast v3 and a Coastmaster Premium Florida v1.  As I understand it, the Helix is supposed to auto-select the best/highest resolution data source from the internal data and the two cards to display.  I have fished the Gulf Coast at Homosassa and Lake George.  None of the displays look as detailed as the samples shown in the instruction manuals  Both cards are supposed to have aerial overlays among other extra features.  What am I not doing correctly?

Second question, because of the stock shortages I could not find a Helix 8 GPS SI+.  Can I simply purchase a side imaging transducer when they become available to update to Mega SI or is the head unit different for the DI/SI units? 

For the first, I would manually select the map card in the settings.  For the second, the head and graph are required for SI.  You won't be able to simply upgrade the transducer and get SI. 

Just as JF said. After you insert your cards press the check key and then pick which map card you want to use. 

Thanks.  Yes manually selecting the card works.  The autoselect function does not if you have two custom cards installed.

 

Part deux:  So my Helix networkable.  I intend to add a second Helix at the front of the boat.  I am OK that the Helix at the control console is mostly for navigation anyway.  If I buy a Helix 8 GPS G4N Mega SI+ for the front of the boat, will it repeat to the non-SI+ head?  Can I run Mega Live and SI+ on the same head?

On 12/27/2021 at 8:21 AM, Kurt Giesselman said:

Can I simply purchase a side imaging transducer when they become available to update to Mega SI

The only way to get Mega SI with a DI unit is to get a Mega 360 since it has both a side scan or 360 setting. For side scan, instead of rotating 360 degrees, it just points the beams side to side and freezes. I don't think this is a good option for your application at the console though

8 hours ago, Kurt Giesselman said:

If I buy a Helix 8 GPS G4N Mega SI+ for the front of the boat, will it repeat to the non-SI+ head?

nope! If you really need SI at the console (which you should), you will need to move the SI+ model to the console and also replace the transducer with the SI+ transducer. And if you are to use the SI at the bow, you will need Mega 360

 

I have two Helix G4s as well, one SI+ and one DI+, and this is what I had to learn the hard way.

I'm a first time graph buyer and I am looking at the Helix 9 with Mega 360  imaging. There are so many videos on this subject and it just seems overwhelming...LOST

On 1/26/2022 at 7:22 PM, Ryanc236 said:

I'm a first time graph buyer and I am looking at the Helix 9 with Mega 360  imaging. There are so many videos on this subject and it just seems overwhelming...LOST

IMO just learn the regular view and DI first and run them side by side on the screen together. When you get comfy with that, add the m360 and look at it in areas you have already looked at on the DI. 

I remember the first time I waded into someones 360 and was like what am I even looking at, where is it, this isnt helping me at all, and turned it off.

19 hours ago, txchaser said:

IMO just learn the regular view and DI first and run them side by side on the screen together. When you get comfy with that, add the m360 and look at it in areas you have already looked at on the DI. 

I remember the first time I waded into someones 360 and was like what am I even looking at, where is it, this isnt helping me at all, and turned it off.

Thanks for the information.

Can the coastal map Premium Florida does it include the southern coast map or only Florida?