I want to update my Hummingbirds. Have never done it. Reading the instructions. They mention formats may change. They can’t be returned to original. In general, everyone happy with updated versions? Also any suggestions. My earlier unit seemed to not be up with my brothers new unit. How often should this be done. Thanks
It’s a rabbit hole, every update to fix an issue comes with a new issue that will be fixed in the next update. If your units work and do what they are supposed to do I would be very hesitant. IMO
You can update whenever a newer update is available.
You do need to follow the instructions to a T or you run the risk of major problems that only Humminbird can repair. Instruction are easy to follow.
I haven’t updated mine in years, but nothing is wrong with them that requires an update.
You’ll get mixed reviews with software upgrades as there have been many and for many different reasons.
It would be best to wait a while after the upgrade is released to let others be the Guinee pigs if you in concern of problems.
You can go backward if you choose. Just have to have the older version downloaded to an SD card….
I always retain the previous version(s) on the sd card.
When the system loads it will then ask you if you want to install
the version that is not currently installed.
The wording of the request may be awkwardly stated,
read and answer appropriately.
If you have multiple versions of the install on the card
it will do this every time you boot it.
If the version you want is already loaded, don’t load the undesired version again.
Given the information. I may see what I’m missing. Compared to my brothers Helix. Before I decide. Thanks for the replies.
Have an original helix 5 that I use for ice fishing. Mostly my backup or unit my 5 year old uses now. Never have done an update. Still works the same as it did when I bought it. Might it work better with updates. Dunno. If it ain’t broke I don’t fix it. I have done upgrades on Lowrance and my Garmin stuff haven’t had any hiccups but haven’t noticed much improvement either except on my Lowrance carbon and that was more a user interface improvement tha made it look like a Lowrance live when selecting screens.
The depth highlights are messed up on the new update.
It will highlight the deepest parts of the lake and the shallowest parts like the top of humps.
The depth highlights are messed up on the new update.
It will highlight the deepest parts of the lake and the shallowest parts like the top of humps.
Yeah, got a laugh over that on Cass last weekend when it’s giving me a shallow water highlight in the middle of a 100′ basin…it appears to be reading all “closed” contour lines as the top of a shallow bar rather than as the bottom of a deep hole. Next update will undoubtedly be coming soon to correct it.
I’ve always kept my units fully updated with good results.
Updated mine last night…. I turned off shallow water highlights
The shallow/deep glitch is a bummer and the smartstike quit working with the update. I will be turning the shallow highlight off too but using depth highlight until there’s a fix and no more updates after that…
I got burned once with an update that locked my Helix up and was without it until it got fixed. Now, if I decide to do an update, I wait until I’m ready to put the boat in storage for the winter. If the update bombs I can send it in, get it back in a couple of weeks, check it out to make sure it’s working, and put the boat away for the winter.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
