Upgrading from helix to Solix Questions

[Shanks08]

I am kicking around the idea of upgrading my two 12” Gen3 Helix units to a 12” Solix Gen3 and a 15” Solix Gen 3. Both of the units I currently have are MEGA SI+ units. One is on the bow connected to my Ultrex and the other at my console. I have a few questions since these electronics came with the boat and I’ve never owned Humminbird until now.
1. Can I just purchased Solix MSI CHO units only? Will my current transducers work with the Solix units?
2. Is it work the extra money to upgrade to Solix or would I be better off with Helix Gen 4 units?
3. The Helix cables have one connection in the back where it appears the Solix cables attach independently. Do I purchase adapters for NEMA 2000 connection, transducer?

I like the idea of being able to share mapping cards with the Solix units and the ability to have touch screen. I just purchased a MEGA 360 that I will be adding and I will pair this new head unit with my Garmin 1222 and livescope.

Thanks for any advice given.

[Wayne P.]

1. You cannot connect a Helix transducer to a SOLIX.

2. upgrading from Helix to SOLIX is a value you have to determine

3. NMEA2000 connects directly to a SOLIX==no adapter. SOLIX transducers connect directly to SOLIX units. The MEGA 360 has a 14-pin transducer plug that connects to a SOLIX/APEX==no adapter, just the included 14-pin extension cable.
If you want Temp, 2D/DI with the MEGA 360 you have to connect a SOLIX transducer and the MEGA 360 to the SOLIX's transducer port via the 14 M360 2DDI Y cable. MEGA 360 does 360 or Side Imaging-nothing else. SOLIX units don't need an Ethernet cable adapter like the Helix units do.

[SLYDoggie]

May be more information than you want, but here is my list of Helix vs Solix advantages. Which is better for you depends on the relative value of the various advantages to you.

So many people ask this question that I put together a detailed list of Solix/Apex and Helix advantages. I then received input from several Helix and Solix/Apex users on the BassBoatCentral Humminbird Sonar/GPS forum to help refine it.

Solix & Apex Advantages:
1) Touch Screen as well as button/dial/joystick operation. You can access virtually anything either way... Your choice.
2) Ability to share map cards among networked Solix and Apex units. No need to buy a Lakemaster or Navionics card for each unit.
3) Ability to separately define GPS and Heading if you have a Heading Puck or Link Heading Sensor. On Helix, these are defined together so you couldn't get GPS from one device (including the internal GPS of any unit) and Heading from the Puck or Link Heading Sensor.
4) Better Nav Data structure with the ability to import/export Waypoints and Tracks via GPX files which is better than the Helix Matrix folder structure.
5) Nav Data is totally shared and saved locally on each networked unit rather than just "seeing" the data on each of the Helix networked units. Helix users have lost Waypoints due to not understanding this nuance.
6) Ability to scroll backwards through 2D, SI, and DI history and even mark waypoints on areas that had already disappeared from the screen.
7) No dongle required for Ethernet cables.
8 ) Ability to define custom views with 1, 2, 3, or 4 sections... put things where you want them rather than having to live with the few combo views Humminbird provides on the Helix. For example, on the Solix you can set up a side by side custom view with Mega Live and Mega 360 where the Helix does not support this view.
9) Ability to individually turn on/off 2D, DI, SI, Mega Live, and Mega 360 sonar pinging rather than all or nothing on Helix. This can be helpful when trying to resolve sonar crosstalk issues with Mega Live or Mega 360.
10) Can easily make a partial screen view go to full screen with a simple touch of that section with 2 fingers then easily return to the previous multi image screen with another 2 finger touch on the full screen view. You will have a yellow outline around the full screen view so you know you can return to the combo view.
11) Quick access to up to 10 favorite Standard and/or Custom views (12 on the Apex) using the Sidebar... Two sidebar tabs with 5 each (6 each for the Apex).
12) Smoother and more seamless integration with Minn Kota iPilot Link, and the Minn Kota Motors access for the new Quest motors, to access Trolling Motor remote operations via the control head.
13) Easier/Quicker to put Solix in Standby Mode.
14) Quicker access to Bluetooth paired accessories like Talon, Minn Kota iPilot Link & Quest motors, Cannon Downriggers, and etc. via the Sidebar.
15) There are extra ground wires in the Solix Transducer cable which are used to ground each of the sonar signal piezos. This can reduce Interference and provide a cleaner signal.
16) Although the resolution of the 12 & 15 inch Solix models is the same as the 12 &15 inch Helix Models , the 10" Solix has a higher resolution than the 10" and smaller Helix models. All models of the Apex have the highest resolution of any Humminbird control heads... full HD 1920 x 1080.
17) Many settings and preferences can be shared among units on the network... no need to make the same settings changes individually on multiple units. Changes on any one unit on the network will be propagated to the others. You also have the option to turn off the "Global" settings on individual items on individual units if you don't want specific items automatically propagated to or from a unit. Mix Solix and Apex with full network interoperability.
18) Solix & Apex support the "Community Edits" capability in the Navionics Fishing Charts where the Helix doesn't. You can choose to have them displayed or not displayed.
19) If you have radar, Solix & Apex allow for a GPS overlay of the radar image while Helix does not.
20) The Mega Live TargetLock accessory is much easier to control with the touch button screen overlay on the Solix/Apex than the menu interface on the Helix. In addition, the Helix TargetLock Menu takes up 20% of the screen real estate on the right side of the screen vs. the Solix/Apex button overlay across the bottom of the screen where it doesn't interfere with the Mega Live imaging or reduce the size of the image.
21) The Apex has all the capabilities of the Solix but has full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), adds a second Ethernet Port, has HDMI In and Out capability, and adds a second transducer port dedicated to deep water transducers like the Airmar.
22) You can export and import settings.
23) If you are a person who likes to customize things, like waypoint names, you use a popup touchscreen keyboard (like your phone) on the Solix/Apex to type the information. On the Helix, you have to scroll through the alphabet on each letter to "type".




Helix Advantages:
1) Easier transition from Humminbird legacy units since Helix has the same menu button structure.
2) Simpler to operate which could translate to a more reliable system.
3) Ability to define a custom screen split percentage to the Humminbird provided combo views.
4) No Dongle required for the AS GRP or AS GPS HS external "pucks".
5) Faster boot times.
6) Compatible with the Humminbird PC Windows application for Waypoint Management.
7) Uses less power than the same size Solix or Apex systems.
8 ) On some Helix models, you can assign your most used views to the Favorite Buttons but this is limited to 3 or 6 buttons depending on the model. The smaller Helix models don't have these buttons.
9) Helix has waypoint proximity flags which can be turned on to show you the distance from your location to the waypoint.


Bottom line... It comes down to much more than touch screen vs non touch screen. It comes down to what advantages are more important to you as well as the cost difference of the 2 lines. The Apex is the most expensive followed by the Solix and then the Helix. The Apex and Solix units are definitely more capable but also more complex in their operations. If you aren't willing to invest time in reading the manual (maybe even twice) and truly learning the touch interface and menus, then the simpler Helix may be the better choice for you.


Also, I wouldn't recommend mixing Solix and Helix as you loose networking functions. Also, having two very different menu systems can be frustrating to some people. You are better off with all Solix, all Apex, a mix of Solix/Apex, or all Helix on your network.


NOTE: The recent Solix & Apex software updates have provided the ability to do a 30/70 or 70/30 screen split as well as the standard 50/50 screen split on side by side views. This works great for Mega 360 and Mega Live. You can also quickly change back and forth between 50/50, 30/70, and 70/30 while on a view... A definite improvement for Solix & Apex but still not quite as flexible as Helix, which allows you to change the actual screen split percentage itself.