999 setup & pics

[rcbutler909]

evening everyone. I had to replace some units due to theft and was able to come across a set of 999's. at the console I was able to
install and try out the SI. Here are a few pics. I think i got it setup good but need some other opinions on these pics to know if I need to
make any adjustments. thanks for reading and any feedback.

[SLYDoggie]

Looks pretty dang good to me. I especially like #6 with the bait ball & fish above and below.

[Bjxds]

They look like textbook pics to me.
Did you catch anything???

[rcbutler909]

Didn’t bring any rods. Forced myself to learn how to use and read
this darn thing.

[ezfishn]

Nothing wrong with that setup and good clear images. Spending time to learn the units is a big step in their affective use in finding the fish. Good luck

[rcbutler909]

Ok thank you. I know these are older units. Will it be a great difference on the mega units.
I might get one if they run deals for Black Friday.

[Wayne P.]

Ok thank you. I know these are older units. Will it be a great difference on the mega units.
I might get one if they run deals for Black Friday.

The Helix 10 replaced the 900 series units and the Helix 9 replaced the 800 series. You gain screen size no matter which you choose. The Helix displays are brighter.
The units with MEGA Imaging have the extra frequency spectrum of 1000 kHz+ in addition to the two Imaging frequencies you have with the 900 series. The higher frequency produces a thinner Imaging pulse AND the MEGA SI+ transducers are a couple of inches longer than the HDSI so those longer Imaging piezos also thin the pulses with produce sharper images. You do lose depth and range with the higher frequency and gain sensitivity to particles in the water (algae/pollen/silt).
Also your 999 does not have Down Imaging from a Down Imaging piezo, it has simulated DI views created by blending the two SI pulses. The Helix 8-15 MEGA SI units have true Down Imaging from a Down Imaging piezo in the transducer.

[rcbutler909]

Thanks for the insight.

[SLYDoggie]

Ok thank you. I know these are older units. Will it be a great difference on the mega units.
I might get one if they run deals for Black Friday.

I'm always amazed by how good the numbered units were. They were ahead of their time! As long as yours is still working and you don't want to add a device that isn't supported by it (Mega 360 or Mega live for example), there is nothing wrong with them.

Wayne is right on with his comments, as usual, but I would like to add that you will probably see the biggest difference in the DI capability of the Helix compared to the numbered units. That's because of the dedicated DI piezo which Wayne mentioned.

On SI, you will get some improvement but it isn't really a "night and day" type difference.

[rcbutler909]

thanks for the feed back SLYDoggie and Wayne ! I went out for a couple hours today to get some more seat time. Heres what I got. Let me know what you guys think. I was playing with settings,
sharpness and contrast.


S00022.PNGS00023.PNGS00024.PNGS00026.PNGS00027.PNGS00028.PNGS00029.PNGS00030.PNG

[SLYDoggie]

thanks for the feed back SLYDoggie and Wayne ! I went out for a couple hours today to get some more seat time. Heres what I got. Let me know what you guys think. I was playing with settings,
sharpness and contrast.


S00022.PNGS00023.PNGS00024.PNGS00026.PNGS00027.PNGS00028.PNGS00029.PNGS00030.PNG

1 through 3 were a little hot for my liking but the rest look good. I don't really use the sharpness settings. I find that it just makes things too grainy for my liking.

[Wayne P.]

The Sharpness setting is to add backlighting to the images so fish are highlighted. It does make the overall image grainy, but Imaging quality is not its function.

[rcbutler909]

So the sharpness is designed to make the fish “pop” ?
not necessarily used to get a better picture on the screen.
great info. Thanks

[rcbutler909]

So the sharpness is designed to make the fish “pop” ?
not necessarily used to get a better picture on the screen.
great info. Thanks

[djreese]

Who needs mega imaging? Those pics look great!!

[geodebasser]

We all want the latest and the best but some of the older stuff works great if you know how to use it.

[Les Young]

We all want the latest and the best but some of the older stuff works great if you know how to use it.

Without a doubt. I'm still running a first generation helix 9 to side scan with & have never had a problem with it. Sometimes the pollen is suspended from the surface down to 15 feet or so & I may have to turn the sensitivity down some buy still get good images. I like mine.

[2stroked out]

A lot of guys have new units,not set up as well as yours. That will never get that dialed in.

[Bryanmc57]

thanks for the feed back SLYDoggie and Wayne ! I went out for a couple hours today to get some more seat time. Heres what I got. Let me know what you guys think. I was playing with settings,
sharpness and contrast.


S00022.PNGS00023.PNGS00024.PNGS00026.PNGS00027.PNGS00028.PNGS00029.PNGS00030.PNG

What's the settings difference between 1,2,3 and 4.5? My unit has the 2 hard lines in the middle like 1,2,3 and I've been going nuts trying to get it to look like 4,5. Thanks

[SLYDoggie]

What's the settings difference between 1,2,3 and 4.5? My unit has the 2 hard lines in the middle like 1,2,3 and I've been going nuts trying to get it to look like 4,5. Thanks

It depends on what is making the line on the right & left of the centerlineon SI returns. If it is turbulence lines, then raising the Contrast might reduce them.