I am thinking of purchasing a Helix 7 DI and hoping to get as close to the best of both worlds as possible. I realize the DI feature isn’t usable for ice fishing but for open water. I don’t have a boat yet but am hoping to use this unit on the bow and get another unit for next to the console. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. I am not afraid to pay a little more and get what would be a much better fit. I don’t feel the non DI or SI unit is really worth buying.
Thank you,
Kyler
Kyler – I picked one up for ice fishing last year, primarily to use as a gps.
It works fairly well as a sonar on ice. You will only be able to use the 200khz functionality using the ice ducer with the DI unit. The 2d only and SI units allow dual beam functionality, if that matters.
Fishwater,
Explain dual beam please.
Kyler
The ice ducer is designed to use 200khz and/or 83khz signals. The different signals each produce a sonar cone of different size.
The bird DI units use both 200khz and 455khz signals for 2d sonar, so you are limited to only using the 200khz with the ice ducer attached.
IMO, the wide 83khz cone isn’t very useful for ice fishing, so it wasn’t a factor in my decision when I opted to get the helix7di.
I got my 7 for GPS hardwater fishing only.
LOVE IT!
Got the ice ducer but thats still in its package. I use my LX6 for fishing locating.
Used mine most of the winter. Worked very good once I got it set up. Made up a case from a cat litter pail.
Considering a Helix 7 ICE GPS Sonar package as well. Plan to use it for open water as a bow mount connected to MinnKota built in transducer that only produces 2d anyway. Will just need a power cable, US2 adapter, and mounting bracket.
Take a look at Garmin’s striker 7 also, I picked that over a helix 7 and am very pleased with it so far in open water. Have the ice ducer, portable case, and I feel the sonar is more crisp and has better target separation for the flasher dial.
1025161743a.jpg
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
