Bird Ducer Question

I am considering replacing my Helix 9 Gen 1 SI unit with a Helix 10 Gen 2. If I go with a DI unit and I have a glass boat where do they install the transducer? If I go with an SI unit how many ducers are required and where do they go?

I am assuming the transducers from the gen 1 are not suitable for the gen 2 unit….

Not sure about DI but SI will need to be externally mounted. Only way to go for me us using a transducer plate: Mounting Plate Example
How many ducers? Depends on what you want and what you’re willing to spend.

If you go with SI it’s between 1-3
1 works just fine. Due to mounting it higher you probably won’t get high speed readings. Due to mounting it on one side you may have trouble “seeing” through the motor for imaging on the opposite side. This is often easily solved by trimming the motor up when using si

+1 Add a 2d ducer and a y cable so you can get high speed readings

+1 Add a second si ducer on the opposite side. Best imaging and no worries about the lower unit blocking. Worth it???? To some but not most people

If a guy has a Helix 12 non-mega with side imaging and wanted to add a mega si unit is a different ducer needed?

Red Eye wrote:

If a guy has a Helix 12 non-mega with side imaging and wanted to add a mega si unit is a different ducer needed?

I think the answer is yes that a different ducer is needed for the “Mega” frequencies. Bird’s site and compatible ducers under accessories should confirm.

Red Eye wrote:

If a guy has a Helix 12 non-mega with side imaging and wanted to add a mega si unit is a different ducer needed?

Yes, the MEGA is a different transducer than the HDSI. If you add a new MEGA SI unit, it will come with the transducer needed to generate those frequencies.

Thanks for the answers about the mega ducers.