Helix 5 Gen2

I know this topic has been beat to death, and I have done a little research on here the site but i’m going to post this anyway and hopefully not get too much grief.

So i have a helix 7 g1 and a helix 5 G2 on my boat, never used any for ice fishing. I see guys are now using them for ice fishing and i understand the G2 is much improved. Couple questions:
1) I believe i can convert my Helix 5 G2 to an ice unit by getting a new ducer, adding a battery, and making a shuttle correct?
2) Is the helix 5 G2 just a smaller version of the helix 7 g2 or are there more features on the G2 7 for ice fishing?
3) How does the helix 5 fish once you get it setup? I have always been a mechanical flasher guy, will it fish similar and or better? GPS will be nice but want to make sure the most important part (fishing) is going to be good.
4) how is the IR on the new helix 5 G2? How do you control it? I would think the chirp would be much better at preventing interference. I had a gen 1 helix 5 and it hated my trolling motor, tried everything couldn’t get rid of the noise, the gen 2 is not bothered at all plus the chirp is 10x better sonar.

Thanks in advance…

just buy the separate Humminbird icepack, I believe you can get it as a full kit minus the head unit? Then update your Helix5G2 software to get the new icefishing settings and views…

What model trolling motor did you use your gen 1 Helix 5 with to get the interference? Hopefully not MinnKota as they are a part of Humminbird and you would think would play well with each other…

Minn Kota maxxum. It didn’t help that i ran both my helix units on my trolling motor batteries.

yep, that’s yer problem…

That new Helix software update is a game changer for turning it into an ice unit, so much better than the older software…

i have a fl12, is it going to be better, clearer, more separation than that?

i want to say I heard the new Helix ice separate was 1.5″, not sure what the FL12 is, my Marcum is .50″

looks like vex states 1″ “target ID”, not sure what that means. But the ICE 45 is stated at 2.5″ separation and i know my fl12 isn’t noticeably better than my buddies ice 45

Ah, never mind, i see fl12 has separation of 2.6″

Personally…if your going to buy the helix G2 ice…your better off going withe the 7…much easier to read the flasher/gps with a bigger screen!

in the OP I stated i already have a helix 5, but i agree

ah yes you did sorry… the flasher is gonna work out great if you use it…I just sold my gen1 helix 5 and getting the whole bag with the new transducer tomorrow!

Nice, it sounds like for the small investment of adding a transducer and making a shuttle it would be well worth it.

Yes
Yes, no add features, unless 7r g2 is not a chirp unit. Not sure if they sold chirp and non chirp.
This is the first year for the big helix ice chirp update so most guys are learning it now. The chirp it should give much improved performance and target separation over the g1 models.
I say go for it. I can’t wait to try my chirp 7 helix this weekend

I set up a helix 7 chirp from my boat to ice a month ago. I’ve fished it next to my vexilar FLX-28 with no interference issues at all. In the flasher mode it is very clear and separation is excellent. In split screen you can both screens at once to see which view you like best. Before you ask, the user name is because I like to drink Don Julio. Here a picture so you can check out the clarity and separation.

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Looks awesome!