Let's talk about Humminbird 360°...

[Further North]

I've had it since it first came out, the transom mounted version that has to be extended below the hull to work, and it's been great a time or two...but I just don't use it as much as I thought I would.

 

The big housing get in the way on the back of the boat for casting...and for things as simple as getting in and out of the boat back there.

 

I've toyed with the idea of getting rid of it completely, and I've also considered replacing it with a bow mount version hung off to the side of my Ulterra (can't mount them on the shaft of electric steer motors and the power stow/deploy and trim would really screw it up.)

 

So last weekend we used it up north...and the image was crystal clear and helped us pick out some fish hanging on an underwater pile of rocks that we'd found with SI...

 

...aaaaaaand I'm back on the bubble again.

 

 

You'se guys who use it, chime in, if you could...and you folks who are thinking about it as well.  I'm curious what people think.

[SloppyJ]

To muddy the waters even more. Check out the Garmin LiveScope:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/591379 

[Further North]

That is pretty slick.

 

...and part of what I'm wondering about is: What's up HB's sleeve that will be similar?

 

I'm not switching to Garmin (just bought two new Helix units last year) and I'm not adding clutter to my deck with another unit up there...

 

But this brings up an interesting thought: I wonder why the companies don't engineer that kind of accessory to work with other maker's units?  Like the US2 transducer on Minn Kota trolling motors?

[Tennessee Boy]

I've had one mounted on my Ultrex for a little over a month.  It does not work as well as the online videos suggest it should.  There have been times when I've found something with the 360 and caught fish because of it.  It clearly helps me catch more fish.  When you get right down to it, how many things in your boat can you truly say that about.

[A-Jay]

I'm working on my second season with the bow / Fortrex mounted 360.

I like it and use it quite a bit. 

The 'image' on my Helix 10 (non-Mega) is decent.

Took a while to 'learn' how to tune & read it.

An upgrade to a HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N would allow me to get the most out of the 360.

Still waiting for those Powerball numbers to come in.

A-Jay

 

[Angry John]

Got to play to win.  Never got a ticket yet.

[Further North]

13 hours ago, A-Jay said:

An upgrade to a HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N would allow me to get the most out of the 360.

You know...I didn't really think about that.

 

I run a Helix 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N at the console...that could account for the improvement in clarity of the image.  I'll have to play with it again next time out.

[Tennessee Boy]

I'm using a Solix 10 with mine.  The knob adjust the range and you have to go to the menus to adjust the sensitivity.  I find myself adjusting the sensitivity more and I wish I could use the knob for that.  From my one month with the 360,  I have found that you miss a lot if the sensitivity is not just right.  I'm sure I'll get better at reading the screen as time goes on. 

[Mjmj]

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

An upgrade to a HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N would allow me to get the most out of the 360.

Got my curiosity A Jay. Could you tell me why the mega would be better. I have a 9 mega and I am purchasing a 360. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Mjmj said:

Got my curiosity A Jay. Could you tell me why the mega would be better. I have a 9 mega and I am purchasing a 360. 

Since my units are non - mega units - I am merely relaying an observation.

Seems the amount of detail one can obtain with a Mega unit as compared to a non - mega unit is fairly substantial.

Even when compared to the same size screen.

A-Jay

[Further North]

OK...so...I failed...

 

I started catching fish right off the boat launch tonight...and completely freakin' forgot to try the 360°.

 

I know I let you all down, and should be forced to fish the next three days as punishment.

 

I am deeply sorry and accept my punishment with humility and shame...

[Mjmj]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

13 hours ago, Mjmj said:

Got my curiosity A Jay. Could you tell me why the mega would be better. I have a 9 mega and I am purchasing a 360. 

Since my units are non - mega units - I am merely relaying an observation.

Seems the amount of detail one can obtain with a Mega unit as compared to a non - mega unit is fairly substantial.

Even when compared to the same size screen.

A-Jay

So you are referring to the quality of the si and di to find the objects, then use the 360?  I am correct in thinking that the gn1 units use the same frequency as the 360?

[12poundbass]

39 minutes ago, Mjmj said:

So you are referring to the quality of the si and di to find the objects, then use the 360?  I am correct in thinking that the gn1 units use the same frequency as the 360?

The MEGA imaging comes from the SI/DI transducer. MEGA refers to the frequency used which is in the megahertz. As of right now there is no MEGA 360 imaging.....yet.

 

I could see where having MEGA SI/DI paired with 360 could be benifical. 

[A-Jay]

21 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

The MEGA imaging comes from the SI/DI transducer. MEGA refers to the frequency used which is in the megahertz. As of right now there is no MEGA 360 imaging.....yet.

 

I could see where having MEGA SI/DI paired with 360 could be benifical. 

So there ya go ~ 

Guess I have considerably more work to do when it comes to 'tuning' my units.

As there are many times when I'm not getting the type of view I've seen else where.

I attributed it to the new technology where in reality it may be me & not the unit.

With the summer set in and most all of my fish 'deep', I've got the opportunity to address it.

Let's see if the old guy can figure this %^&* out.

A-Jay

 

[12poundbass]

15 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

So there ya go ~ 

Guess I have considerably more work to do when it comes to 'tuning' my units.

As there are many times when I'm not getting the type of view I've seen else where.

I attributed it to the new technology where in reality it may be me & not the unit.

With the summer set in and most all of my fish 'deep', I've got the opportunity to address it.

Let's see if the old guy can figure this %^&* out.

A-Jay

 

PM inbound 

[Tennessee Boy]

I'm going to do some speculation here so take it for what it's worth.   I would not expect that you would see any difference between a Helix 10 MEGA and a non-mega when using 360 imaging.  They both have the same screen size and resolution and most of the other specs are the same.  It is possible that the MEGA could have more processing power that could be used to better refine the image but I don't see any indication of that in the specs on the Humminbird web site.  My 360 is connected to my network switch and I can use it equally from both of my Solix units.  The 360 imaging unit has to be generating it's own sonar signal so the sonar capabilities of Fish Finder you are using should not matter.

[Mjmj]

Thank you everyone. I was a little confused. 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, Mjmj said:

Thank you everyone. I was a little confused. 

Me too apparently.

A-Jay

[Further North]

On 6/22/2018 at 9:11 AM, A-Jay said:

Me too apparently.

A-Jay

You're not the only one...

 

So anyway...back on topic...

 

On 6/20/2018 at 11:53 AM, Tennessee Boy said:

There have been times when I've found something with the 360 and caught fish because of it.  It clearly helps me catch more fish.  When you get right down to it, how many things in your boat can you truly say that about. 

Me too...which may be what it boils down to.

 

But SI has done that too, without a darn pole sticking up on my transom that I have to make sure I don't smack on a back-cast, or wrap a fly line around...

 

 

Yeah, those fish are big enough to eat bass...

[GreenPig]

On 6/20/2018 at 12:09 PM, Further North said:

I've had it since it first came out, the transom mounted version that has to be extended below the hull to work, and it's been great a time or two...but I just don't use it as much as I thought I would.

 

The big housing get in the way on the back of the boat for casting...and for things as simple as getting in and out of the boat back there.

 

I've toyed with the idea of getting rid of it completely, and I've also considered replacing it with a bow mount version hung off to the side of my Ulterra (can't mount them on the shaft of electric steer motors and the power stow/deploy and trim would really screw it up.)

 

So last weekend we used it up north...and the image was crystal clear and helped us pick out some fish hanging on an underwater pile of rocks that we'd found with SI...

 

...aaaaaaand I'm back on the bubble again.

 

 

You'se guys who use it, chime in, if you could...and you folks who are thinking about it as well.  I'm curious what people think.

I mounted my 360 on my Terrova 80 with the Cornfield Crappie mount. It's nice on my Solix 15.

[Further North]

14 hours ago, GreenPig said:

I mounted my 360 on my Terrova 80 with the Cornfield Crappie mount. It's nice on my Solix 15.

 

Thanks - I'll check it out.

[Arcs&sparks]

@Further North I take it you kept the 360?

 

@GreenPig  have you weighed the benefits/drawbacks between the Cornfield mount and the Cumberland mount to justify the extra cost?  This is my first glimpse at the Cornfield unit and I must say it’s much more attractive.  Curious before I pull the trigger on one or the other.  

[Further North]

25 minutes ago, Arcs&sparks said:

@Further North I take it you kept the 360?

 

@GreenPig  have you weighed the benefits/drawbacks between the Cornfield mount and the Cumberland mount to justify the extra cost?  This is my first glimpse at the Cornfield unit and I must say it’s much more attractive.  Curious before I pull the trigger on one or the other.  

I haven't so much kept it as not gotten rid of it...if that makes sense?

 

It comes in handy about twice a year...the rest of time it gets in my way...

[GreenPig]

1 hour ago, Arcs&sparks said:

@Further North I take it you kept the 360?

 

@GreenPig  have you weighed the benefits/drawbacks between the Cornfield mount and the Cumberland mount to justify the extra cost?  This is my first glimpse at the Cornfield unit and I must say it’s much more attractive.  Curious before I pull the trigger on one or the other.  

The Cornfield appears to be a little better made just looking at it. The Cumberland may be great I've never seen one in person. But 60 to $70 difference for a 360 mount when buying a Solix 15, Terrova, and 360 wasn't a big deal.