Com port

[Tin Man]

Can anyone tell me what the COM port on the Hummingbird Helix 7 Chirp DI GPS is used for ? The manual does not cover this port. It is not a Ethernet port though which would be marked.

[Wayne P.]

It is to connect a cable to a computer to do software updates rather than use a memory card.

It is used to connect a GPS antenna directly to most units, but the Helix 5 and Helix 7 do not have power for the antenna, so a hardwire installation using a AS YC cable for the antenna and power is used with that port.

 

An Ethernet port is hour-glass shaped with 5 pin holes.

[Tin Man]

Thanks. Manual had a absolutely nothing to say about that port. I am not going to put a lot of money into this unit. Just for the bow. May upgrade the 9 SI GPS though. Thanks. As is it should pretty much do what I want it to do.

[Tin Man]

Reading the box on the new Helix 7 Chirp DI GPS and it indicates a Smart Strike capability. Need to confirm this as only the larger more expensive Chirp models could use this tech last year. If this is true it makes the purchase well worth it.

[Wayne P.]

The G2 models have a lot more processing power and can handle more "stuff".

[Tin Man]

Yep. It is a G2. Wish I had known about the G2N though, I would have been able to network with My 9. That would have been perfect. Like the idea of using Smart Strike for pre-fishing a new lake. Just dial in the criteria you are looking for and coordinates come back for the spots on the lake that match up. Quite an edge when used with detailed lake Master or Navionics software. Problem is that the Smart Chip only works with Chirp models and my Helix 7 has just one port which means I would have to use it in conjuction with the much less detailed uni map system.

[Craddman]

Question pertaining to the COM port. Considering this is basically used for updates which can be accomplished via the Micro SD, if I do not use it, is there any type of "plug" available for this port to prevent water and or oxidation from ruining the port so if I decide to use it at a later time it isn't corroded?

 

Also - the unit I received had a male cigarette lighter USB adapter and a cable with a USB on one end and a male 2 prong plug on the other (I can only assume a power adapter) but the 2 prong plug doesn't fit the power port on the back (or any of the ports on the back). Any idea what this is?      

[AngryPossum]

Does The Helix 5 Chirp GPS3 come with a communications cable/wire for the input on the head. Mine didn't.