Wayne P.

The specs make no sense with the GT-40 having more depth range--1900 vs 1500

Which one of the six versions of Helix 7 did you get????

That is a perfect installation. Your trailer doesn't have side guides? You can move the winch stand rearward a couple of inches and take the bunks out of the picture for transducer damage.

The 698ci HD SI Combo should be on close-out sale. The Helix models have replaced all the number series units. Between the 698 and Helix 5 SI, I would choose the Helix since it has wide screen and the 698 has a narrow screen. WIDE is better for the side looking imaging technology.

Get a heavier duty mount than the one that is typical for the unit size. If you are concerned with the rubber ball type mount, get one that doesn't use the rubber balls and is adjustable but solid. Balzout, Cisco, or Anglers Pal.

A service place that has been in business a long time is the best source: Sportsman Marine Service Location 2629 Hanco Center Dr Woodbridge, VA 22191 p: (703) 583-0300 Propeller Dynamics Sales and Service Location 13131 Parkers Battery Rd Chester, VA 23836 p: (804) 706-1847

No

Forget to add that the transom mount has been the same for a long time too. Transducers with XNT in the model name use the same mount.

Humminbird's power cord has been about the same one for many model generations in two versions. PC-10 is just the power cord PC-11 has a built-in choke to help with possible RFI. It also has slightly larger conductors. The plug is the same. I have several of both types.

I scan to find fish and then try to catch them. I only use the 2D sonar for the FishID so I can tell if I want to try to catch the fish I find. Refer to the posted screen shots. That way I am not trying to fish where there are no fish. I rarely use the DI view for fishing, just demo teaching screen shots.

Navionics Mobile App for smartphones and tablets.

No the Side and Down Imaging will be fine. Just like with the LSS, the outboard will block the image on that side if put in the same place as the LSS. If you put it "down there" it will see past the motor lower unit with no issues since most of the transducer will be recessed forward of the outboard. You would get SI, DI, and 2D up to about 7-8 mph with it just above the bottom. I was using a HDSI transducer with a Transducer Shield and Saver TM-HDsi attached to the under side of the transducer step up until last weekend when I changed stuff around to put a Helix 12 CHIRP SI GPS at the bow where I had an ONIX 10 SI NT. I needed the TM-HDsi for the trolling motor mounted SI transducer since the ONIX SI transducer mount by Transducer Shield and Saver is different. If you want to try it slightly above the hull bottom, attach it with the mount screws at the bottom of the slots at the height you want so you have the adjustability to lower it the length of the slots without drilling more holes. I test a lot of stuff so I change things around occasionally.

Ignore what you see from/about Tracker. Pay attention to the sonar installation instructions. Tracker did not until the 2012 model year. Bottom line, the bottom of the transducer has to be wet to give you depth and 2D sonar. When your hull is on the surface of the water (on plane) the bottom of the transducer has to be just below the bottom of the hull just like in the installation pictures. Sonar won't work through air and not very well through aerated water like what you have now with the transducer aft of the transom step. If you are concerned with possible impact damage of that expensive SI transducer like you are with the Lowrance LSS transducer, put it there. Add a XNT 9 20 transducer at the indicated location then connect the two transducers to the display with the AS SIDB Y cable. A broken cheaper dual beam transducer is a lot better than a broken Side Imaging transducer. Another choice is to use a shoot-thru 2D sonar transducer (Alumaducer) inside the hull like fiberglass high performance bass boats do. There would be no exposure to a high speed impact. Use the Y cable with that setup too. I'll send you a PM with more details.

They are basically the same unit: http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Compare/?products=000-12647-001,000-11808-001

Either side is fine. The transducer face has to have water contact when on plane if you want Depth/2D sonar. Read the installation instructions. Evidently Tracker didn't.

Yes the two green marked areas are the best places IF you want depth reading on plane. The location for the Lowrance factory location has been wrong from the time the hull was changed to a stepped transom until the 2012 models. Starting with the 2012 models, the transducers were put here where they should have been:

Both need the AS EC QDE Ethernet adapter--two total. Then an Ethernet cable long enough to connect them. The 20' cable is the AS EC 20E. There are several lengths, just change the number to match the length available.

AH is Amp Hours It is how long it will provide adequate power at the amp load.

Lakemaster locations that are HD have a lot of adjustments with a Humminbird unit that Navionics does not have with a Humminbird unit. Plus quality details with the locations that are Lakemaster High Definition Survey. The other map types included are not so good in some cases. Lake level offset Shallow water highlighting Depth range highlighting Map list on the unit Follow the contour with a Minnkota electric steer motor with iPilot Link. You can download the lake lists from the Humminbird Lakemaster website to check what coverage is available for your area and which locations are designated Lakemaster High Definition Survey.

It is really simple to make that decision about Navionics mapping. Go to their website and click on Web App. That has the current maps as of yesterday. It has both map layers--Nautical Charts ( Navionics data) and Sonar Charts ( user generated data). The circle at the lower left of the panel changes the map layers--click on it with about a 500' zoom range. Grey is Nautical Charts and Blue is Sonar Charts. A new purchase of Navionics includes a year of Freshest Data updates. What you see on the Web App today can be loaded on a new card today. You won't know how long a card has been in stock at a dealer, but it makes no difference since they are updateable.

You talked to an uninformed person. The HDSI transducer is 2" longer, has longer SI crystals which produce a thinner SI pulse. That results in sharper images= physical fact.

Any units broadcasting on the same frequency will cross-talk when their sonar pulses overlap. 200 kHz 2D sonar has the smallest coverage for a typical unit. Same boat or different boats. SI will cross talk hundreds of feet apart since those sonar pulses go to the sides. I can tell if a boat in the area has the side looking sonar technology by the way it affects my units. It makes more sense to have the bow unit's transducer at the bow so the sonar data is where the display is, not a boat length away. Have you exchanged the SI transducer that comes with the Helix 7 SI GPS for the same one that comes with the Helix 10 SI GPS????

Add Anglers Pal Electronics Mount to the list.