My friend recently bought the ice helix 5 and I started thinking. It can do way more than my vexilar flx28 and is quite a bit lower in price. Even the Helix 7 is about the same as the vexilar price. My choice of sonar unit my be different next year. Thoughts?
No brainer
Do you know what the battery life is on the helix 5?
I do not know the battery life, thought they came with a 7ah and I would just put a 9ah on it instead. Hoping some people who have them post on here.
A friend of mine that is not on IDO has the HELIX 5 and has a 7 on order, here is what he said about his 5.
Depending on settings, you can get 1-3 days on the factory battery. If you run the backlight on full and split screen, you can get a days worth. If you only run graph or flasher with backlight on medium to low, you will get a much longer run time. These units are a no brainer and going to change the industry I believe!!
How bright is the screen? I am almost always outside and in bright sun. Is the readout in real time or is their a lag?
Bright, no problems in the summer, no problems in the winter.
I have fished for up to 5 hours and have only seen a max battery reduction of 20% over that time, on max settings and brightness.
I have about 10 hours on my helix 5. I think its fantastic. Maybe used 35% battery in 10 hours but i ran it on 50% brightness the whole time. The readout is fantastic and is def real time, exactly like fishing a mechanical flasher. The zoom is beautiful, the IR works well, gps is very very VERY useful. I pulled my unit off my boat so i have all my waypoints which is nice. My fl12 will now be a backup, although i think i might sell it and upgrade my helix 7 gen 1 to a gen 2 and make another ice unit
How bad is the interference with vexilars and marcums?
Sat in a 949i with an Ice 55 and Helix 5 in 11′ of water and had no interference whatsoever. Crystal clear, not even a blip on either.
They have 6 different interference settings, should have zero issue fishing next to other units
I think I’m going to pull the trigger on one even though its mid ice season. Will use it in the summer as well.
I’m thinking on getting the Helix 7 for ice fishing and open water. Does anybody have any advice on which way to go? Buy the ice unit and then mount on the boat or buy the open water unit and change transducers for ice? I would like to have the new chirp and DI and SI.
I’m thinking on getting the Helix 7 for ice fishing and open water. Does anybody have any advice on which way to go? Buy the ice unit and then mount on the boat or buy the open water unit and change transducers for ice? I would like to have the new chirp and DI and SI.
buy the ice kit and all you will need for summer is the ducer and power cord.
I have the helix 7 and used it this wknd for the first time. I got a full 12 hours on it running it all day on 50% power.
I fished next to an flx28 and had some interference but once I used the IR settings it was perfect.
it seems like they have fixed all the kinks from the first gen helix 5 I had the first year they came out.
This unit is the bees knees compared to my buddies flx28 watching him stare at his phone for the navionics and me being able to use my lakemaster chip on a 7″ screen. he tried my split screen graph and flasher mode so he could see how much better the sonar works than staring at a dial and think he’ll be getting one next year.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>turningleavesandice wrote:</div>
I’m thinking on getting the Helix 7 for ice fishing and open water. Does anybody have any advice on which way to go? Buy the ice unit and then mount on the boat or buy the open water unit and change transducers for ice? I would like to have the new chirp and DI and SI.buy the ice kit and all you will need for summer is the ducer and power cord.
I have the helix 7 and used it this wknd for the first time. I got a full 12 hours on it running it all day on 50% power.
I fished next to an flx28 and had some interference but once I used the IR settings it was perfect.
it seems like they have fixed all the kinks from the first gen helix 5 I had the first year they came out.
This unit is the bees knees compared to my buddies flx28 watching him stare at his phone for the navionics and me being able to use my lakemaster chip on a 7″ screen. he tried my split screen graph and flasher mode so he could see how much better the sonar works than staring at a dial and think he’ll be getting one next year.
Thanks. That’s the way I was looking at going but was getting confused on what all I needed and which was easier and most cost effective. I think you’re right about having everything you need in one unit, seems like a no brainer.
Make sure the ice unit has side imaging, or you might need to purchase it the other way around.
Ice Units are 2d only, no di or si
I’ve had a Helix 5 DI/GPS on the ice for 3 years now…great on battery life, works excellent and I’ve never had interference I couldn’t fish through. I’ll likely get a 7 chirp ice next year
Mat-are you using the xl 9 20 transducer? I am purchasing a helix this week, wondering if i should get the CHIRP. I already own the xl 9 20
Mat-are you using the xl 9 20 transducer? I am purchasing a helix this week, wondering if i should get the CHIRP. I already own the xl 9 20
Yes you should get chirp. Not even a contest. I settings, better target separation.
Please explain how you eliminate interference and your settings. My buddy has a helix 5. It seems his screen is full of clutter whether by a my marcums or vexilars the whole time and pretty sure he can’t see the bottom six inches. I’ve noticed this on two hum ice graphs. Yes way better lakemaster contours than navionics by phone. But I am not impressed by the helix ice units. I don’t have one so I’ve put zero effort in trying to figure out there settings for them.
Please explain how you eliminate interference and your settings. My buddy has a helix 5. It seems his screen is full of clutter whether by a my marcums or vexilars the whole time and pretty sure he can’t see the bottom six inches. I’ve noticed this on two hum ice graphs. Yes way better lakemaster contours than navionics by phone. But I am not impressed by the helix ice units. I don’t have one so I’ve put zero effort in trying to figure out there settings for them.
Does your buddy have this years Model Helix 5 G2 ? or does he have the first generation Helix 5? Have you seen a New Helix G2 in action on the ice?? They are a big difference from the first generation Helix’s and I’m pretty sure you would be impressed. On the Helix 5 G2 version you can easily get rid of interference by going thru the Six chirp interference rejection settings.
Ice Units are 2d only, no di or si
I’ve had a Helix 5 DI/GPS on the ice for 3 years now…great on battery life, works excellent and I’ve never had interference I couldn’t fish through. I’ll likely get a 7 chirp ice next year
[/quot
That was one of the things I was looking at. I’m not sure I want to switch things back and forth so I might just have to buy both units and forget it. 
I use this transducer and loop the cord https://www.humminbird.com/Products/XNT-9-28-T/
That way I can use 200/455khz instead of being locked into only 200khz with the 9-20 t. 99% of the time I use the 200/455khz split screen view. This way you can tell how far away fish returns are from your hole – if you pick up a return on the 200khz but not the 455khz then the fish are further away. It also helps tremendously when fishing weeds and/or brush. IDK how folks can buy a nice graph and limit themselves to only using the circular flasher view – you greatly miss out on a ton of detail in terms of what is actually going on below the ice.
To beat interference on my Di Helix 5 (non chirp, g1) I simply use the 455khz narrow beam. Most interference is on the 200khz wider beam. You can also manually set your max depth, manually set the surface clutter, set switch fire to clear mode, raise the transducer in the hole, etc. With a non-DI, non chirp model, use the 83khz beam.
You still read depth using the 200khz, but it only pings something like once per every 5 pings of the other beam – your depth reading might jump around but your returns will be fine. I’ve never had interference stop me from fishing with my Helix.
With a g2 chirp Helix none of this is an issue
I think the G2 could be better than a Marcum LX 6,7, and 9 if the interference can be controlled. It sounds like G2 has accomplished this. In addition I have Hummin bird graphs on my boat 788ci and 898 ci. Humminbird does a great job providing firm ware updates. Better than Marcum has in the past with the LX7. I really wanted to like the lX7 but no updates for 2 years I decided to sell it. Wait till they get it figured out. But now the G2 Helix has me thinking
Bob
I think the G2 could be better than a Marcum LX 6,7, and 9 if the interference can be controlled. It sounds like G2 has accomplished this. In addition I have Hummin bird graphs on my boat 788ci and 898 ci. Humminbird does a great job providing firm ware updates. Better than Marcum has in the past with the LX7. I really wanted to like the lX7 but no updates for 2 years I decided to sell it. Wait till they get it figured out. But now the G2 Helix has me thinking
Bob
With all the complaints about marcum I sure am glad I never jumped on the bandwagon. I understand all units have issues but dam marcum has to top the list with complaints. I have owned a lowrance elite 5 and loved it so much the last 5 years but seeing the chirp in action on the hbirds I had to go out and get one I am patiently waiting for mine to come in the mail.
My buddies is the G1. I will relay the info Mat. I wouldn’t be able to handle watching that screen all day. Wasn’t knockin the helix just not my thing I’m sure the G2 is everything the G1 wasn’t. It’s ok I have the LX9 “G1” as well.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>benelli-bob wrote:</div>
I think the G2 could be better than a Marcum LX 6,7, and 9 if the interference can be controlled. It sounds like G2 has accomplished this. In addition I have Hummin bird graphs on my boat 788ci and 898 ci. Humminbird does a great job providing firm ware updates. Better than Marcum has in the past with the LX7. I really wanted to like the lX7 but no updates for 2 years I decided to sell it. Wait till they get it figured out. But now the G2 Helix has me thinking
BobWith all the complaints about marcum I sure am glad I never jumped on the bandwagon. I understand all units have issues but dam marcum has to top the list with complaints. I have owned a lowrance elite 5 and loved it so much the last 5 years but seeing the chirp in action on the hbirds I had to go out and get one I am patiently waiting for mine to come in the mail.
Easy to say about the # of complaints….Marcum has 100’s of times more units on the ice than Helix has if not more so we’ll see how the complaint #’s roll in as the number of Helix Ice users gets up there…just sayin. LX 6, 7, 9 are all solid units and I’ve been happy with the LX 7 updates they’ve had…all improved an already great product. I fish with quite a few diff people and 90% use Marcum without any complaints. I also put my LX 7 on the front of my boat for guests to use…works fantastic…run a Lowrance in back.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
