I purchased a new to me 2011 Ranger Z518. The previous owner kept the graphs but There are HDMI cables and a AS ETH 5PXG Ethernet Switch, I have a Ultrex 112 with a few mounting plates. To stay with Hummingbird what graphs would I need to get a live forward imaging and a graph for the console and front to have a good setup? Thinking 10" for the console and maybe smaller for the front but what suggestions do you have and what transducer do I need? Bass fishing lakes in NC. Thanks for the help in advance. 

 

First, you'll need ones with an 'N' in the model name to network them together.

 

Second, what imaging do you want for the rear unit?  I assume side imaging (which will mean you get all of the other imaging also).

 

Last, you'll want to pick a budget. You could go all in for apex or solix units or go to Helix units and get more screen real estate for the price.  Touch screen is the first big difference, though the solix and apex units have more features and processing power on top.

 

 

Based on your answers to the above, we can make some suggestions.  If you want to stick with Helix units (that's probably where I'd go) then I'd probably go a 10" on the console and as big as you can afford up front.  A 10" Mega SI G4N is probably right if you're only going to have one unit and you're using mostly for SI.  You can still split SI/mapping or SI/DI on 10" and have enough picture.  A helix of that size should have 3 preset view buttons that you can set to the most used.  I have a 9" of the same but I use it for everything on my kayak so one of the presets is live.  For a console unit, I'd have SI, SI/DI/2D, and mapping as my three presets.

 

For live imaging, the bigger the unit the better.  The pros are going up to 24" but that's a lot.  I can say that using a 9" screen that is at thigh height when I'm standing I can watch my baits and watch fish.  If I am moving around and searching for fish/bait then I keep the range at 75'.  Then when I am casting to fish I scale it to 50' for better screen real estate and more discrimination of the picture.  With a 12" unit I wouldn't need to do that and it would be at 75'.  With a 16" unit I'd leave it at 100' permanently.  If you're just using the bow unit for live imaging, then you only need to buy a head unit only (CHO) model and it can be a DI or SI unit.  That will save a couple hundred bucks vs buying one with a transducer. 

 

thanks

rick

Thank you Rick for the info. I researched and found that HB had rebaits on their Electronics and it ends the end of April. So yeah pull the trigger I guess so I drove my butt to Bass pro and with the 10% off being Monday -$600 and The Rebates -$1500 I got out for just over 4K. 10" at the console and 12" at the bow. Now to get it all connected. Think I may need some adapters. Fortunately looks like I followed your advice pretty well.  

Also. The Ultrex has a transducer in it I see. Do I need to connect that also or ignore it due to the FFS I now have on the trolling motor? Assume hooking the FFS, DI and SI to the HDMI box along with the HDMI to the graphs. Hope I got the acronyms correct. This is all new to me. He left some HDMI cables and a adapter or two. Trying to get it all worked out.  

I am fairly electronically inclined for an old guy but this sort of has me a little confused. Is this saying I need to connect both SI and DI transducers to the graph at the console with a splitter? https://johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/3ivnpwvecs/pdf/

 

 

For the helix head units you need the helix cable adapter to get the hexagonal Ethernet cables to work. He might have left those.  You’ll know when you compare the plugs to the head unit plugs. 
 

if the ultrex has a sonar you might as well connect it. No harm in hooking it up.  You might not use it but then you might. The helix up front will have the preset buttons. I’d have one for live, one for live plus mapping (explained below), and then set the third for di/2d split.  Since you’re networking you could even put the trolling motor transducer on the console screen for your passenger while you have live showing up front. 
 

networking will be nice. You can cruise with side imaging and mark rock piles, brush piles, etc. Then with live plus mapping up front you can see your marks on the map.  Put on casting rings at 50’ or so and set your live imaging at 75’. Then you can approach your marks, stop when you hit a casting ring, and pick apart the pile with live imaging. 
 

 

10 minutes ago, tango2026 said:

I am fairly electronically inclined for an old guy but this sort of has me a little confused. Is this saying I need to connect both SI and DI transducers to the graph at the console with a splitter? https://johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/3ivnpwvecs/pdf/

 

 

assuming the helix 10 is a msi there is only one transducer. It’s one big long one that does both. The splitter is only if you want to add a high speed transducer for depth readings at full speed. 
 

 

Thank you Casts_by_fly . That is great information. I'm off work tomorrow so I plan on finishing all the connections. I Had a 1977 Hurst Bass boat back in the late 90s but a Ranger has always been my Dream. I figure you can't take it with you so what the heck. And maybe catch a few Bass along the way. Again, Thanks. 

The cables you are referring to are Ethernet cables.  You will connect the Ultrex, MEGA Live,  and the two Helix to the Ethernet switch.  I would connect the transducer in the Ultrex to the bow Helix.
 

You will probably also want to add a LakeMaster map chip.  

I see a Lake Master chip on Amazon for the south East. I'm mostly NC and some SC. $161 sound about right?

North and South Carolina are on the Mid Atlantic card.

11 hours ago, tango2026 said:

Thank you Casts_by_fly . That is great information. I'm off work tomorrow so I plan on finishing all the connections. I Had a 1977 Hurst Bass boat back in the late 90s but a Ranger has always been my Dream. I figure you can't take it with you so what the heck. And maybe catch a few Bass along the way. Again, Thanks. 

 

Thinking about this a little more this morning, the pdf you put up has 360 shown, but not Live.  Its mostly not an issue except that live imaging use an ethernet connection while 360 uses a transducer connection.  I can't tell what cables he left up front, but if there is an ethernet cable going from the hub to the front, then that's what you'll want to route your live transducer through.  Then the Ultrex will go to the back of the 12" Helix.  That would actually make for a pretty clean setup overall and eliminate one of the Helix ethernet cable adapters.

Well I have been working on this all day and pulling the cables are a pain in the you know what. I pulled the Live ethernet cable to the hub. I still haven't gotten the transducer cable past the electrical compartment but it is mounted and appears to work but there is a smaller round ethernet cable from the Helix that I'm not sure what to do with. (Maybe an adapter to the front unit.)  There were 2 ethernet cables under the console I assume for two graphs so I used one and left the other tied up. It seems to be good with the back transducer and the Live says out of water so I assume it is communicating too. I have it all powered up but need to figure out the Helix cable and also going to watch some videos on you tube to see what I supposed to be seeing. It was a lot of work but now to get it in the water and see how it works. (And route that darn transducer cable).  

Some pictures for reference. I do appreciate you guys taking the time to help. It is great there are still guys out there that will help a fella out when he is learning. Means a lot. 

Diagram 2: https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/support/networking-diagrams

 

1 hour ago, tango2026 said:

I still haven't gotten the transducer cable past the electrical compartment but it is mounted and appears to work but there is a smaller round ethernet cable from the Helix that I'm not sure what to do with. (Maybe an adapter to the front unit.) 

 

That round ethernet cable from the Helix goes to the ethernet box. For your Ultrex, to use the built-in sonar, you'll need an adapter cable (MKR-MI-1) that has a round end (which connects to your Ultrex), and a square end (which connects to your Helix). Then you'll need to select the correct transducer in your Helix bow unit (HW Built-In: MSI+) or something like that.

 

This is the one I bought before I saw your reply. The connection from the Ultrex is a small 4 pin male round connection. I'm assuming the 3 pins on the Helix side will match up but only 3 pins used I guess. I'll find out in a few days. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGZT911J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

 

What model Ultrex do you have, MSI, MDI, or US2? Or just take a picture of the Ultrex transducer and post it here.

You also need the helix to Ethernet adapter to connect the head unit to the mega live transducer. I don’t have the part number handy but they are about $25-35

17 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

You also need the helix to Ethernet adapter to connect the head unit to the mega live transducer.

The MEGA Live transducer should be connected to the Ethernet switch and does not need an adapter.

11 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

The MEGA Live transducer should be connected to the Ethernet switch and does not need an adapter.

 

If going directly to the switch that is correct.  I thought his plan was to connect it to the Helix up front first.  Either way though, whichever ethernet cable is connected to the Helix (either Mega live transducer or ethernet from the ethernet switch) it will need the same adapter.  The Helix units use rectangular plugs as shown above.  Solix and Apex units use the round ones directly.

24 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 I thought his plan was to connect it to the Helix up front first.  

If he connected Live directly to the Helix then they would be on their own separate network.  The Helix would not be able to communicate with the other Helix or the trolling motor.  Live would only be visible from the Helix it is connected to.

2 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

If he connected Live directly to the Helix then they would be on their own separate network.  The Helix would not be able to communicate with the other Helix or the trolling motor.  Live would only be visible from the Helix it is connected to.

Hmm. I thought that there were two ports on a helix to use as Ethernet. I guess I’m wrong on that.