Can not see jig on Helix

Last week I had the same/similar issues you guys all mentioned. (Couldn’t pick up jig in 20ft, even with gain turned all the way up). I changed transducer frequency, reset defaults, made sure correct transducer was selected, switched to ice fishing mode. Nothing worked. So I switched to my backup depthfinder for the night and went home scratching my head. I suspected that maybe my transducer went bad.
Once at home I noticed a firmware update available, so I reset the unit to factory defaults and performed the update. After that I swapped batteries and made sure they were fully charged. Next time out on the ice I had the same issues, UNTIL I changed to ice fishing mode and reset to factory defaults again. That fixed it. Now it works perfectly again.
So my experience pretty much matches everyone else. (something with the four items below fixed my issues)
1. Make sure you have a good battery
2. Make sure you have latest firmware installed
3. Make sure you’re set in ice fishing mode
4. Reset to defaults.

If you’ve completed those items above and the unit still doesn’t act right, I would suspect a bad transducer and would find someone’s to borrow or get a new one, to eliminate that possibility.

All in all, that’s the first issue that I’ve had with my Helix over the two years using it now, and using a 788ci HD for 5 years prior to obtaining the Helix.

eyeguy507 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>reddog wrote:</div>
Ice Helix 7 chirp GPS g3does not have a software 2.180. Same problems listed above. What software is in everyone else’s ice 7 g3 software in our unit is 2.030.

Yes it does. There are SI units, DI units, and others. I have the mega DI and you probably have one of the countless other models listed on the bird site as the version of software probably varies model to model?

there is none listed for a G3 helix ice 7

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Reddog, try the Helix 7 tab and not the “Ice” tab. You will probably find your model there. There is a G3N and G3 model and both show 2.180 as current software. Does yours specifically say “Ice”? If so get a hold of tech support and see if it even matters but I can’t believe it would.

eyeguy507 wrote:

Reddog, try the Helix 7 tab and not the “Ice” tab. You will probably find your model there. There is a G3N and G3 model and both show 2.180 as current software. Does yours specifically say “Ice”? If so get a hold of tech support and see if it even matters but I can’t believe it would.

There is one under the Helix 7 G3 model. We called CS this morning, and confirmed 2.030 is the current software version for a Ice Helix 7 G3.

Software Update – HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G3N v. 2.180 but not the ice version.

Anyone else running a Ice Helix 7 chirp gps G3? If so, what software is in your unit.

Mine is 2.11 and I have not received any notification there is a software update available so must be awful new. I’m hesitant to mess with updates unless I know there is a critical fix. Mine works flawlessly right now.

Ice Cap wrote:

Mine is 2.11 and I have not received any notification there is a software update available so must be awful new. I’m hesitant to mess with updates unless I know there is a critical fix. Mine works flawlessly right now.

I’m with you on this one. If it is working the way you want it to, don’t upgrade unless there is something that adds/fixes something. But if you are having this or other problems UPDATE! So many people (including myself) have had this issue and it almost always has been solved by updating the unit.

I guess I assumed all Helix units were boat models capable of changing to ice. Never even heard of Ice Helix until now. Is yours strictly for ice only?

The Helix Ice G2N and G3N both come with open water transducers as well as ice transducers so those are designed to be used on both ice and open water. The first gen Ice Helix 7 can also be made to work on both but you have to upgrade the firmware and buy a open water transducer as they do not come with one.

It can be confusing following all of the different Humminbird models but they offer probably the widest array of fishing electronics on the market. I’ve called customer service a number of times to clarify questions on capabilities of various models and always got quick answers.

Ice Cap wrote:

The Helix Ice G2N and G3N both come with open water transducers as well as ice transducers so those are designed to be used on both ice and open water. The first gen Ice Helix 7 can also be made to work on both but you have to upgrade the firmware and buy a open water transducer as they do not come with one.

It can be confusing following all of the different Humminbird models but they offer probably the widest array of fishing electronics on the market. I’ve called customer service a number of times to clarify questions on capabilities of various models and always got quick answers.

Ice Helix do not come with open water transducers. Helix All Season models come with both. All seasons are also G3N as they possibly need to network with other units for open water. All Season models do have a software update to 2.180 listed, while the Ice Helix G3 do not have any software update listed.

Super Happy! Version update worked and now it is amazing!

Randerson101011 wrote:

Super Happy! Version update worked and now it is amazing!

Exactly which unit do you have Randerson?

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>brewerybuilder wrote:</div>
From what I am finding out this thing is basically useless for pan fish (small jigs) unless I am in ~10′ of water. Guess I will be sticking with my lx3. Not particularly happy with it on the boat either.

That’s not been my experience at all. I’m able to see a tiny barrel swivel in 30 feet of water at a sensitivity setting of 7 – 9 on the flasher dial when in A-scope mode.

James, What unit do you have, specifically? I know yours is very new, as is my friends. Is yours an All Season, or a ICE Helix?

Randerson101011 wrote:

Super Happy! Version update worked and now it is amazing!

HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N v. 2.180

reddog wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randerson101011 wrote:</div>
Super Happy! Version update worked and now it is amazing!

Exactly which unit do you have Randerson?

HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N v. 2.180

https://www.humminbird.com/support/software-updates/HELIX-7-CHIRP-MEGA-SI-GPS-G3N-v-2-180

Yep, 2.180 is available for that unit. Same as the OP. Glad it worked for you.. I kind of drug this off topic a bit, but not really either. Theres so many different Helix 7s! Each one is slightly different and requires different software updates.

It seems these things have so many issues on the ice. Always wanted to convert one of mine for ice but not sure yet.

targaman wrote:

It seems these things have so many issues on the ice. Always wanted to convert one of mine for ice but not sure yet.

Targaman, it’s the same issue over and over and over, and once people realize all they need to do is have the unit updated it works great. I’ve been answering/watching these questions for over a year since I fixed mine with an update.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>targaman wrote:</div>
It seems these things have so many issues on the ice. Always wanted to convert one of mine for ice but not sure yet.

Targaman, it’s the same issue over and over and over, and once people realize all they need to do is have the unit updated it works great. I’ve been answering/watching these questions for over a year since I fixed mine with an update.

There is no software update for the ice helix 7 G3.

reddog wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>targaman wrote:</div>
It seems these things have so many issues on the ice. Always wanted to convert one of mine for ice but not sure yet.

Targaman, it’s the same issue over and over and over, and once people realize all they need to do is have the unit updated it works great. I’ve been answering/watching these questions for over a year since I fixed mine with an update.

There is no software update for the ice helix 7 G3.

Have you called HB customer service? They probably don’t have any updates because it is running the newer software already. You could at least talk to them about the issue you are having. They are very helpful on the phone.

It is not my unit, but yes, he has called CS, and his software is current and there is no newer version since its introductions. The thing eats battery. Were on night mode(black background) . brightness turned down to 50%. running it on a 15 ah lithium. day before yesterday, it took the battery down from 100% to 23% in 3.5 hours. The unit only had 8 hours on it before that. He had been running the scroll speed on ultra, but I had him turn that down to 7 last night to see if the refresh rate was killing the battery. I havent heard how last night went. He started out with a Lead acid battery, and it drained fast, then bought a Dakota 7 ah lithium, and it drained quickly. Moved to the 15 ah battery and while its better, it will never last on a trip to Devils Lake or Lake Winnepeg, which are both planned. Now, its possible that the battery meter is not reading correctly, and we will charge, run and the do a battery test to make sure the display is reading correctly. Id like to just let it run on the bench and time it till it died, but I dont want to run it out of the water, and am concerned if I shut the sonar off, it may not have the same draw.. Il probably put it on the cleaning table and put the transducer in the sink and let it run and time it out. Other than putting some hours on, that shouldnt hurt anything.

I guess I was under the impression that all lithium batteries will register 100% or 0. My 12ah lithium reads 100% for hours and I assume that it will until it is dead and just shut off. Going to run it all day saturday and see how long I can go.

With lithium batteries you need to monitor voltage vs %. Battery % is not going to provide you with the info you need. To see voltage you need to make the digits view visible, turn OFF overlay, turn on boxes. Next select voltage in readouts.

You will now have the ability to view voltage in 2d and navigation views. You will NOT see voltage ever in flasher view, it is not possible.

Voltage range is usually 13.5-14 volts for full charge and about 10 volts dead. No battery expert but that is what I find on my 12amp amped outdoor battery.

good info there worm….thanks!

wormdunker wrote:

With lithium batteries you need to monitor voltage vs %. Battery % is not going to provide you with the info you need. To see voltage you need to make the digits view visible, turn OFF overlay, turn on boxes. Next select voltage in readouts.

You will now have the ability to view voltage in 2d and navigation views. You will NOT see voltage ever in flasher view, it is not possible.

Voltage range is usually 13.5-14 volts for full charge and about 10 volts dead. No battery expert but that is what I find on my 12amp amped outdoor battery.

Will try that. Thanks

reddog wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>wormdunker wrote:</div>
With lithium batteries you need to monitor voltage vs %. Battery % is not going to provide you with the info you need. To see voltage you need to make the digits view visible, turn OFF overlay, turn on boxes. Next select voltage in readouts.

You will now have the ability to view voltage in 2d and navigation views. You will NOT see voltage ever in flasher view, it is not possible.

Voltage range is usually 13.5-14 volts for full charge and about 10 volts dead. No battery expert but that is what I find on my 12amp amped outdoor battery.

Will try that. Thanks

Wormdunker is dead on. The battery meter on the Helix are not designed for lithium batteries. My Helix 7 on full brightness gets 16 hrs on my Amped Outdoors 12 ah lithium and I’ve heard Dakota Lithiums run pretty much the same. I’m guessing once you watch the voltage it won’t be a problem.

Sorry to hear that the unit isn’t working well. This is one of the first times I’ve heard of someone having issues with a G3. Usually its the G2’s with this problem and the update fixes them.

90% of G2 issues are user based. I now have 5 of them and have 0 issues.

Anyone help me with how to update the software? Humminbird’s video says when you put the card in the unit it will automatically start updating. All you have to do is follow the prompts. Mine is just sitting there doing nothing.

brewerybuilder wrote:

Anyone help me with how to update the software? Humminbird’s video says when you put the card in the unit it will automatically start updating. All you have to do is follow the prompts. Mine is just sitting there doing nothing.

Make sure you are using the correct type of sd card. I’ve found that if it isn’t a 32g class 10 my unit doesn’t recognize it. Once I used the correct sd card it recognized it every time since. This is also what HB recommends on their update page.

That could be my issue. I just don’t know how to tell if it is a class 10. It is a 128gb but don’t see anywhere where it says what class.

brewerybuilder wrote:

That could be my issue. I just don’t know how to tell if it is a class 10. It is a 128gb but don’t see anywhere where it says what class.

That would be your issue. Needs to be a 32g class ten. Just search it on amazon and get the cheapest one. It needs to be both 32g and a class ten though. I don’t know why it does, but it does.

Another tip, make sure you remember where you put that little bugger. I had to buy a new one the last time I updated because I couldn’t remember where I put it from the last one.