Humminbird® Helix™ 9 CHIRP MEGA SI Sonar/GPS G2N Combo

[Rodney Smith]

Does anyone have experience with this unit?

[Further North]

Lots of folks do - is there something specific you're looking for?

[Rodney Smith]

Yes, I just pulled a Helix 7 SI G2 off my boat because I didn't find the side scan to be very good. I wasn't all that impressed with the sonar or downscan quality either. The Raymarine I had before had much clearer and crisper sonar and downscan, in my opionion. I was sharing that with my guy at the local tackle shop (who is sponsored by Humminbird) and he was raving about the Helix Mega Imaging. Spec wise, it does look impressive. I just don't want to be diasappointed again.

[Wayne P.]

The Side Imaging and Down Imaging are the same with the Helix 7 CHIRP SI GPS G2.

The Down Imaging view is a composite of the two SI pulses. I have that model.

Raymarine does not blend the SideVision to create the DownVision.

 

The MEGA SI units have a dedicated Down Imaging crystal and the MEGA frequency (1.2 MKz or 1200 kHz) is very sharp. The MEGA transducer is three inches longer than the standard transducer for the Helix 7's and one inch longer than the HDSI transducer. Don't have a Helix MEGA but I do have the SOLIX MEGA, same transducer, same sonar crystals, with more electrical connections.

 

Lots of Helix MEGA images on Humminbird facebook.

Some of my screen shots.

 

It will find a fish or three like this school of crappie:

 

 

And those predators and prey:

 

 

 

 

Does quite well with the 462 kHz Chirped also:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scotty918]

I have a Mega 10.  I can vouch for the quality of the side scan and down scan.  I've posted screenshots in the top thread (p.12), see for yourself. 

[Rodney Smith]

Would the sonar and downvision be better on the Helix 9 SI MEGA than the Helix 7 SI GN2 I had and didn't like? I thought you were saying they would not be any better on the Helix 9 MEGA. I just had the compact side imaging transducer. I on on the fence about side imaging. My choice is to get a Raymarine Dragonfly 7 for $400.00 or spend $1,350 on a Helix 9. The sonar and downvision on the Raymarine I had prior was superior to the Humminbird 7 SI and it was easier to use. I have a 200 lb, 15 ft Riverhawk boat that is used to fish reservoirs and Lake Lanier. $1,350 is a lot of investment for this size boat. If it is worth it, I will consider it, but I spent a lot of time fooling with the side vision for no real impact on my fishing. I was wondering if stepping up to the plate a bit would change that. 

[Wayne P.]

The MEGA Helix 9 is way better than the Helix 7 SI.

There are two Helix 9 SI versions.

Helix 9 SI GPS

Helix 9 MEGA SI GPS G2N

 

The Helix 9 SI GPS comes with the Compact SI transducer. All MEGA units come with the same larger transducer.

 

Just look at the posted images and decide if they are good enough for you.

I don't use the MEGA imaging for fishing, I prefer the coverage of 462 kHz.

1200 kHz and 800 kHz has less coverage and less range. That is a result of the higher frequencies.

 

[Further North]

I have a Helix MEGA SI GPS 12"...the SI detail is very, very good.

 

I would expect the 9" to be the same...but with a smaller screen. 

 

I don't have any images saved yet but the on-screen imaging is far superior to the 798 and 1198 units I replaced.

I have heard that Lowrance and Garmin license SI from Humminbird, I wonder Raymarine licenses SI from Humminbird...

 

On 5/21/2017 at 9:17 AM, scotty918 said:

I have a Mega 10.  I can vouch for the quality of the side scan and down scan.  I've posted screenshots in the top thread (p.12), see for yourself. 

Yup:

...and:

Exactly what I am seeing

...I thnk one of the things that gets missed is this: Captured SI images from older core units (x97, x98, x99, etc.) were often better than what we were seeing on screen.

 

What I'm seeing this time around is that when people take photos (usually with their phones, not exactly high res image sources) of the screens on the new G2N MEGA units, the detail is much better than even the old captured images were.

 

Here's an example of a screen capture from one of my old units:

 

I think that was from a 997...the image on screen wasn't that clear...what I saw when I ran over that spot with the new equipment was much clearer than that.

 

I know Jason Halfen has some images on his site of the same area, captured from a Solix unit recently:

...note the frequency on that image.

Here's the same spot with MEGA:

...on screen image quality differences will be similar...

 

...Did you notice the loss of detail in the boat?  That's because it's 7 year later and it's full of lake bottom...

[MickD]

I'm not clear on the frequencies.  I have Mega SI 9 and I think I have it set to the Mega transducer, ( I think it's the only one I can connect) but the label on my SI says something like 455 Hz, not 1.2 MHz.  And the image is not a good as shown above.  What am I missing?  I expect it's in the settings, but I haven't figured it out yet.  Back to the book.  Any tips?

[Wayne P.]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

I'm not clear on the frequencies.  I have Mega SI 9 and I think I have it set to the Mega transducer, ( I think it's the only one I can connect) but the label on my SI says something like 455 Hz, not 1.2 MHz.  And the image is not a good as shown above.  What am I missing?  I expect it's in the settings, but I haven't figured it out yet.  Back to the book.  Any tips?

 

 

You have the choice for Imaging of 455 kHz, 800 kHz, or MEGA which is 1.2 MKz or 1200 kHz.

 

Not only that, you can CHIRP or not CHIRP each of those frequencies and the two 2D frequencies.

 

The bottom two blue pallet screen shots have the CHIRP range for 455 kHz and the CHIRP range for 1200 kHz.

 

Tip, read the manual.

 

[MickD]

1 hour ago, Wayne P. said:

 

 

You have the choice for Imaging of 455 kHz, 800 kHz, or MEGA which is 1.2 MKz or 1200 kHz.

 

Not only that, you can CHIRP or not CHIRP each of those frequencies and the two 2D frequencies.

 

The bottom two blue pallet screen shots have the CHIRP range for 455 kHz and the CHIRP range for 1200 kHz.

 

Tip, read the manual.

 

Thanks, that's the plan.  Again.

[Further North]

Mick, do read the manual, then practice doing what it tells you to do...but here's a short-cut: While on the SI screen, press the "check" button, it will cycle you through the frequencies.

 

...now go read the manual, so you know how to set them via the menus.

[MickD]

6 hours ago, Further North said:

Mick, do read the manual, then practice doing what it tells you to do...but here's a short-cut: While on the SI screen, press the "check" button, it will cycle you through the frequencies.

 

...now go read the manual, so you know how to set them via the menus.

I read it again this AM, about the third time. And I have gone through the Humminbird site numerous times.  I think I'll get it figured out before long.  The one thing I have not seen or heard of from anyone else is the asymmetrical SI display on certain views but not others.  I also have not found the answer to this question, although I think it is assumed:  When I have the SI full screen image up and make my SI settings, then those settings should apply to all views that include the SI image, right?

 

Thanks for your help.  

 

I think I had seen your tip, but had forgotten.  thanks.  I think a four credit-hour college course would be about right for understanding these units.

[Wayne P.]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

I read it again this AM, about the third time. And I have gone through the Humminbird site numerous times.  I think I'll get it figured out before long.  The one thing I have not seen or heard of from anyone else is the asymmetrical SI display on certain views but not others.  I also have not found the answer to this question, although I think it is assumed:  When I have the SI full screen image up and make my SI settings, then those settings should apply to all views that include the SI image, right?

 

Thanks for your help.  

 

I think I had seen your tip, but had forgotten.  thanks.  I think a four credit-hour college course would be about right for understanding these units.

 

 

Whatever settings you use for each single panel view apply to all the same views.

SI is all views with SI displayed

DI is all views with DI displayed

2D is all views with 2D displayed.

Chart is all views with Chart displayed.

 

If you had a SOLIX or ONIX, you can customize each for each view combination.  That is the way I do it with my SOLIX and ONIX by turning off Global settings.

[MickD]

Thanks, Wayne.  As I suspected.  Which means more of a mystery as to why a SI image is  different in a combo view from what  it is in the single pane view.

[Wayne P.]

10 hours ago, MickD said:

Thanks, Wayne.  As I suspected.  Which means more of a mystery as to why a SI image is  different in a combo view from what  it is in the single pane view.

 

Post screen shots of single pane and multi-pane with SI that show a difference.

[MickD]

37 minutes ago, Wayne P. said:

 

Post screen shots of single pane and multi-pane with SI that show a difference.

Will do.  Probably won't be on the water until at least Wed, but will try to get and post them.