Ultrex w/built in DI- Humminbird selection

[NashLouie]

So... Is it necessary to purchase a Side Imaging Humminbird unit to combine with an Ultrex with built in down imaging transducer built in? Am I still able to use the Side Image with Mega DI built in.  

 

All vids/info I have seen is how much it improves DI and Chirp Sonar. 

 

Purchased the Ultrerx on Black Friday. Now looking for what electronics to pair with it. 

 

Thanks for any info you may provide. 

[Tennessee Boy]

The Ultrex built in transducer will not do side imaging.  Side imaging with a trolling motor mounted transducer would be problematic due to the constant rotation of the trolling motor.

[Janderson45]

The new Ultrex has an integrated MEGA DI transducer for compatible Humminbird MEGA DI fish finders - that would be any Solix MEGA DI fishfinders or the new Helix  CHIRP MEGA DI G3N models.  Not sure if the previous generation of Helix G2N fishfinders are compatible or not, they use an older transducer than the one built into the Ultrex.

 

The MEGA DI transducer that is built into the Ultrex will give you two different types of sonar imaging at various frequencies, traditional 2D sonar and Down Imaging.  

 

It will not give you side imaging you would need a different head unit and transducer to get side imaging.  A lot of guys (myself included) will run a side imaging unit at the console with a transom mounted transducer, and then a DI unit at the bow with a transducer mounted on the trolling motor.  You can then connect the two units through an Ethernet network and share imaging/sonar data, GPS, waypoints and temperature between the two units.  So then you would be able to have side imaging on your Humminbird MEGA DI unit mounted at the bow.  Another popular option is the 360 imaging, which is connected via Ethernet network to the bow unit and essentially shows a 360 degree side imaging view.

13 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

The Ultrex built in transducer will not do side imaging.  Side imaging with a trolling motor mounted transducer would be problematic due to the constant rotation of the trolling motor.

 

This is true to some extent, but varies widely based on the operators knowledge and experience using and interpreting side imaging sonar.  I don’t use side imagaing like this personally, but I do know others that do.  If you’re good and accustomed to interpreting SI images you can certainly still use it effectively at the bow mounted on a trolling motor, Ive even heard of guys turning their trolling motor on purpose to point the side imaging beam in front of them and using it as forward facing sonar. 

 

Certainly not ideal in all situations though, and not at all appropriate for a beginner to learn on. 

[Tennessee Boy]

22 minutes ago, Janderson45 said:

This is true to some extent, but varies widely based on the operators knowledge and experience using and interpreting side imaging sonar.  

 I understand what you are saying but it should be clarified that no amount of experience will make side imaging work with the built in Ultrex transducer.  One would need to mount a side imaging transducer to the trolling motor.

[Janderson45]

5 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

 I understand what you are saying but it should be clarified that no amount of experience will make side imaging work with the built in Ultrex transducer.  One would need to mount a side imaging transducer to the trolling motor.

 

Yes I should have made it more clear as to what part of the quote I was addressing, the first part of your post is fact not opinion. 

[zeth]

On 12/14/2018 at 2:37 PM, NashLouie said:

So... Is it necessary to purchase a Side Imaging Humminbird unit to combine with an Ultrex with built in down imaging transducer built in? Am I still able to use the Side Image with Mega DI built in.  

 

All vids/info I have seen is how much it improves DI and Chirp Sonar. 

 

Purchased the Ultrerx on Black Friday. Now looking for what electronics to pair with it. 

 

Thanks for any info you may provide. 

will not do side. i just bought the regular ultrex because i already have the transducer with side imaging strapped to my fortrex. i like side imaging at the bow. it is more useful than most think. actually i use it every time i go out.

[slonezp]

If you want SI, you would need to buy a SI unit and attach the SI transducer to the Ultrex