If you were to buy new units, Would you buy Helix or a Solix??

[opaleski]

And why??

[Bob B]

Right now I would wait and see what is coming this fall .... Could change much of the decision making.

[Tone357]

I currently run both side by side. If I had to buy another, it would depend on its intended use. If one were to be strictly paired with a Mega 360, it would be the Helix. It seems they were made for each other. If the other were for general sonar-mapping use.The Solix wins hands down. Navigating around the unit is very intuitive and customizable.

[ChampionDon]

A list that I put together why I prefer Solix over Helix

1. Solix benefits over a Helix
   
   1. Customize your Views vs none
   2. 10 Hot key quick views vs 3 for Helix
   3. Export Menu Settings for backup
   4. Sharing of Maps, only have to buy one map card for Solix
   5. Touchscreen of course, that’s the obvious one.
   6. Easier to rename waypoints
   7. Quick keys to select waypoint icon and color
   8. Ability to change settings quickly with just a touch
   9. Can Scroll back in History and Mark waypoints after scanning, like a long point, as you know once you stop the screen, boat is still moving forward, and you can miss something. Helix cannot scroll back in history
   10. Solix max 10,000 wpts vs Helix 2,500 wpts
   11. I prefer the connectors that screw to the back of the unit as opposed to the cluster setup as over time connections in the cluster become loose.

[jasonG]

Right now it seems from rumors the solix may go away so I’d wait.

[electritek]

Have had both. Had Solix units on my 2018 521L, Have Helix units on my 2020 521L. Prior to 2018 I was a Lowrance guy, have been around the block. I prefer the Helix, it's a time proven work horse.
1. Solix are more time consuming to remove if not flush mounted. If you are on the road and want to take them off for security, takes a bit longer.
2. Solix consumes much more power than Helix. Dead cranking battery frequently!
3. Solix does have many more menu options but it's easy to become overwhelmed and restore defaults to recover from a fat finger.
4. Got tired of finger smudges on my screen with Solix.
5. As previously mentioned, Solix is a battery muncher. Yes they share a map card. But if you have map card in console unit and put console unit in standby to save battery, no map sharing in standby.

[Tone357]

The statement that the Solix units cannot share the mapping if one unit its in standby is not my experience. I share the maps in standby every single trip!

[electritek]

The statement that the Solix units cannot share the mapping if one unit its in standby is not my experience. I share the maps in standby every single trip!

Mine would not. When in standby I could not even source a transducer that was direct connected to standby unit.

[Capw]

The statement that the Solix units cannot share the mapping if one unit its in standby is not my experience. I share the maps in standby every single trip!

Same here

[stevebrownfnr]

Helix far more reliable

[sfw1960]

Helix far more reliable

OUCH.

[raack-a-holic]

question to a HB guru. When trying to set a new waypoint i have to go into the menu to set the wp. If i just push the mark button my screen tells me a new wp has been set but the on the screen the wp starts with the letter "S" and the wp does not show up on my wp list. what am i doing wrong. Thanks in advance for any info.

[Wayne P.]

question to a HB guru. When trying to set a new waypoint i have to go into the menu to set the wp. If i just push the mark button my screen tells me a new wp has been set but the on the screen the wp starts with the letter "S" and the wp does not show up on my wp list. what am i doing wrong. Thanks in advance for any info.

S is a screen snapshot. If you have Snapshot Waypoint turned on AND a memory card in the unit, you get both a snapshot written to a memory card and a waypoint in the unit's memory with a S prefix.

Without Snapshot Waypoint turned on, you get a WP waypoint with a quick MARK button push or a Snapshot if the MARK button is held for about 2 seconds.

[Wayne P.]

question to a HB guru. When trying to set a new waypoint i have to go into the menu to set the wp. If i just push the mark button my screen tells me a new wp has been set but the on the screen the wp starts with the letter "S" and the wp does not show up on my wp list. what am i doing wrong. Thanks in advance for any info.

A Snapshot Waypoint will display a thumbnail image of the waypoint subject when you are at that waypoint. This is from a old unit as an example:

[sfw1960]

A VERY GOOD old unit at that!

[Rumour2u]

Solix. It’s just a more capable unit with high end features.

[Royt]

Helix! Simple and easy to operate. Great images, lower cost.

[kcinnick]

Helix! Simple and easy to operate. Great images, lower cost.

Look at a Helix 10 vs Solix 10, by time you add NMEA 2000 to the equation the price difference is negligible. If there isn't some grand announcement in the next few weeks I will pick up a Solix 10.

[fishon396]

Hold out maybe three more weeks and you might have some new information to help with your decision

[Mcqtr]

I have Solix 12s and find them very easy to navigate using a combination of touch and buttons/knob. I used my buddy’s Helix 12 the other day and the only good thing I can say about it is that it boots up 10 times faster than the Solix. I use touch devices all day and when I pick up a non-touch device it feels primitive.