Humminbird HELIX 9, 10, 12, & 15 Information Reource

[Wayne P.]

New to Hummingbird Im sure this has been asked before.but here goes. UPgrading to Hummingbird from GEN3 HDS. My loving wife has greenlighted me on a Helix 9 or 10 unit. If i get a Helix 9 or 10 DI can I buy a SI transducer later to get SI on this unit? The birds will be G2N or G3N Thanks in advance!

No, not with the unit itself. I will display SI from a SI unit via Ethernet.

If you get a SI model, you can downgrade its capabilities by attaching a DI or 2D transducer.

[Vabasser3]

No, not with the unit itself. I will display SI from a SI unit via Ethernet.

If you get a SI model, you can downgrade its capabilities by attaching a DI or 2D transducer.

Ok Thanks! SI it is!

[sfw1960]

If you could nobody would buy a SI model...

Get yourself the 10", lots of pixels for a great image and more square inches of display in case your eyesight is like mine.

[twohands25]

I want to get a Helix Mega SI and mount it on the bow as I do a lot of panfishing. If unopened , will HB swap transducers so I can get a trolling motor transducer? Thanks, Scott

[sfw1960]

Nope you have to buy the plastic XDCR mount which is $39.99.

https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/accessories/mounts-hardware/ad-mtm-mega-trolling-motor-transducer-hardware-kit

https://www.humminbird.com/support/f...sducerExchange
Read more here: ^^^^

[twohands25]

Thanks

[sfw1960]

NP!

[Bobsterz3!]

I have a Minn Kota Terrova 80 with ipilot link and a Helix 9 Mega Chirp SI Gen 2 and am looking for the best navagation chart that will work with their awesome features. Humminbird has no current plans to map my lake so I am on my own to determine the best choice for mapping. I have read about Autochart and have considered Navionics since I have the software on my iPhone. Any opinions on what would be the best mapping/chart?

[Wayne P.]

I have a Minn Kota Terrova 80 with ipilot link and a Helix 9 Mega Chirp SI Gen 2 and am looking for the best navagation chart that will work with their awesome features. Humminbird has no current plans to map my lake so I am on my own to determine the best choice for mapping. I have read about Autochart and have considered Navionics since I have the software on my iPhone. Any opinions on what would be the best mapping/chart?

To take full advantage of iPilot LINK, you need a Lakemaster map card or make your own maps with the unit built-in Auto Chart Live, or sonar logs converted to Auto Chart with the computer software Auto Chart or Auto Chart Pro.
Using those maps gives you the Follow-the-Contour feature. It does not work with Navionics.

[Bobsterz3!]

Thanks for the information, would the best choice be Auto Chart Pro? From what I have read it has all available features.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks for the information, would the best choice be Auto Chart Pro? From what I have read it has all available features.

Yes, that does the most stuff. Both of the computer software versions come with a Zero Line Card.

[AKRISONER]

Would a helix 9 di gen 1 have autochart live if updated to the most recent software? Also does this unit have two card slots?

[Wayne P.]

Would a helix 9 di gen 1 have autochart live if updated to the most recent software? Also does this unit have two card slots?

Yes it has Auto Chart Live, it is not added via software update. Yes two SD card slots.

[AKRISONER]

Yes it has Auto Chart Live, it is not added via software update. Yes two SD card slots.

Thanks Wayne!

[T-Wick]

Tried to snoop around a bit to find this answer but havent been able to find it..
Long story short, had a bunch of issues with my gen1 helix 12SI and humminbird just replaced the inner computer with a gen2 computer. When I got the unit back it included the gen2 MEGA SI ducer! My question is will my Gen1 SI ducer work with the Gen2 unit I have now? I'm obviously going to replace the old SI ducer with the MEGA ducer as soon as i can, but its 30 degrees and snowing outside, its not going to get much warmer for the forseeable future either :( I'm digging my boat out of the garage in a few weeks to go down south to table rock and I dont know if I'm gonna be able to switch the ducer in time. If I can get away with using my old ducer for that trip I'm gonna swap ducers as soon as I can when I get back, if not then I gotta suck it up and freeze I guess.
Thanks in advance whoever answers!

[Wayne P.]

Tried to snoop around a bit to find this answer but havent been able to find it..
Long story short, had a bunch of issues with my gen1 helix 12SI and humminbird just replaced the inner computer with a gen2 computer. When I got the unit back it included the gen2 MEGA SI ducer! My question is will my Gen1 SI ducer work with the Gen2 unit I have now? I'm obviously going to replace the old SI ducer with the MEGA ducer as soon as i can, but its 30 degrees and snowing outside, its not going to get much warmer for the forseeable future either :( I'm digging my boat out of the garage in a few weeks to go down south to table rock and I dont know if I'm gonna be able to switch the ducer in time. If I can get away with using my old ducer for that trip I'm gonna swap ducers as soon as I can when I get back, if not then I gotta suck it up and freeze I guess.
Thanks in advance whoever answers!

The MEGA SI transducer has a Down Imaging piezo in the transducer. The HDSI does not.

You can change the Connected Transducer setting to High Definition Side Imaging to match the HDSI.

[T-Wick]

Thanks!! Do I need to switch out the y cable to the new mega y cable for it to work or will it work with the old y cable since I’m not running mega yet?

[Wayne P.]

Thanks!! Do I need to switch out the y cable to the new mega y cable for it to work or will it work with the old y cable since I’m not running mega yet?

Yes you have to change the Y cable to the 9 M SIDB Y when you use the MEGA SI transducer. The AS SIDB Y cable does not have a circuit for the Down Imaging piezo.
You can use the 9 M SIDB Y with both transducers.

[T-Wick]

I understand that, but if I have to run my gen 1 SI ducer for this trip will the old y cable work with the gen2 head unit?

[Wayne P.]

I understand that, but if I have to run my gen 1 SI ducer for this trip will the old y cable work with the gen2 head unit?

Yes, since you won't have a Down Imaging piezo to connect using the HDSI transducer.