Should have bought new units, but, I slept on it...ugh

[Dando]

After a few months of procrastination, and forgetfulness. I woke up last Friday thinking "OH CRAP, I better get those Helix's on the way!"
Only to find out later that morning that New models were out and I'd need to make yet another decision.

Settled on 1st gen Helix 10's Friday evening. Too late to order.
Got extremely agitated at my current HB's not working on Saturday.
Saw a Garmin add on tv Sunday and thought I'd check them out. I'm not sure if I'm impressed or not? I AM definitely very interested though.
So, hopefully today is the day. Help me make one more decision.

HB Helix 10 SI at the helm. HB Helix 10 DI at the bow. (1st gen units).
OR...two comparable Garmins with 9" screens.

Mostly concerned about the lake mapping? What's available or what comes with?
Anything else somebody can tell me? Why I'd like Garmins over HB Helix's?

[Larry3215]

You can see what lakes come free with the built-in Garmin Lakevu charts by looking here.

http://lakes.garmin.com/

Look up the lakes you fish to see how detailed the charting is. It could be anything from shoreline only, to > 1ft contours (means not very detailed) up to 1ft contours (the max number of contours) to HD or Max Def. Some lakes also have other optional things available like depth shadings, underwater 3D views, Google earth etc depending on if you use the standard chart or buy a premium chart.

If you go Garmin, get CHIRP. It is well worth the extra $. In my opinion, Garmin has the best CHIRP 2D on the market. You wont like Garmins DI or SI performance though. Humminbirds detail level on DI and SI is better than Garmins. Garmin will have more usable range to the sides and deep than Humminbird will. The Garmin is still very usable, its just that the pretty pictures are not as pretty or sharp. Yoi will still see fish and structure but they wont have the cool factor of a good Humminbird DI or SI image. For me that is not a deal breaker, Garmins 2D beats Humminbird hands down all day long.

The final - and to me most important - reason to go with a Garmin CHIRP model is you can add Panoptix down the road at some point.

There is NOTHING on the market by anyone that even comes close.

You want Panoptix even if you have no idea what it is.

Trust me.

You really really do want it :)

[Dando]

Yeah, I think I do want Panoptix. But, that's not a deal maker, or breaker.

Mapping means A LOT to me. Following contours while fishing.
Creating my own maps SEEMS even more interesting, but, I think HB will do that as well.

Is the Garmin 93sv bracket plastic or metal? (it looks like plastic)

[rocket man]

Plastic.

[Dando]

I don't like that "plastic mount".
BUT, if I'm reading this right. It'll cost me $30ish to link to 93sv's together (I'd need a cable).
OR $250 to link to Helix together. (5 port Ethernet switch, and cables also).

Does that sound correct?

[Larry3215]

Depends how you want to link them together - what are you trying to do? The 93 series do not have ethernet networking The ethernet port is Panoptix only) and cant share maps or sonar. You can connect them via NMEA to share engine data or a common heading sensor and that sort of thing. You can also use the Garmin hi speed network (similar to NMEA 0183) to share waypoints.

[Dando]

Just want to share waypoints. (mark at helm and it show up on the bow unit)

[Larry3215]

Then all you need is a 2 conductor cable to connect the appropriate two wires in each power cord. IIRC, its the blue and brown wires. You connect brown to blue and vice versa. Just like a NMEA 0183 connection.

You can buy a cable from Garmin - you still have to solder your own connections on each end - or just make your own out of any marine grade 2 conductor wire. Might cost $15 for quality wire.

[Wayne P.]

I don't like that "plastic mount".
BUT, if I'm reading this right. It'll cost me $30ish to link to 93sv's together (I'd need a cable).
OR $250 to link to Helix together. (5 port Ethernet switch, and cables also).

Does that sound correct?

To link two Humminbird Helix units takes two Ethernet adapters and an Ethernet cable.

You only need the Ethernet switch for more than two devices up to 16 display/s and/or Ethernet accessories. You daisy chain the switches to get more connections.

[shooter64]

Danny, Garmin has mapped Dardanelle and it will be on the new chip coming out first of Feb, I really like my Garmins. Come by and look at mine if you want. Boat is at the store, just holler

[LWINCHESTER2]

There are just too many choice for all of them to be in the mix. Making some decisions will cut the field of choices down considerably.

1. Panoptix or not.
2. Networking sonar or not
3. Real chirp, cheap chirp or no chirp

[louievito]

Do i have real chirp or cheap chirp with my 7cv and 7sv

[LWINCHESTER2]

Striker and echoMAP CHIRP are real chirp. Unit and transducer engineered for chirp

[xranger77]

The cost of a 10" Garmin and Panoptix is more than two Helix 10s. Mapping from Lakemaster is currently better than anything out there IMO...and extremely accurate on the bigger lakes I have been on. I used AutoChart on Gville and it was so close to the mapping, I didnt even both with using the AC in the certain areas I was in.

Panoptix is legit for sure, but the 360 is pretty good as well. Hooking two Helixs 10s together to share waypoints is a single cable that is about 30$. Very easy to hook up and use. The new MEGA offers some additional benefits the Gen1 Helix did not.

[Legend LE-195]

Is the Garmin 93sv bracket plastic or metal? (it looks like plastic)

For what its work the garmin bracket is much more robust, and the fit and finish is nicer that the helix, there are guys comparing them on youtube.

[KSPropbender]

The cost of a 10" Garmin and Panoptix is more than two Helix 10s. Mapping from Lakemaster is currently better than anything out there IMO...and extremely accurate on the bigger lakes I have been on. I used AutoChart on Gville and it was so close to the mapping, I didnt even both with using the AC in the certain areas I was in.

Panoptix is legit for sure, but the 360 is pretty good as well. Hooking two Helixs 10s together to share waypoints is a single cable that is about 30$. Very easy to hook up and use. The new MEGA offers some additional benefits the Gen1 Helix did not.

You can link the garmins with lamp cord or speaker wire if that is really the make or break point for you. It's something like .30/ft.

[xranger77]

You can link the garmins with lamp cord or speaker wire if that is really the make or break point for you. It's something like .30/ft.

You might have quoted the wrong person.

I made the point about cost of the units and Panoptix...