MEGA imaging and CHIRP

Upgraded my HELIX to the MEGA unit with CHIRP a few weeks ago. Had some time to get it on the water recently…. WOW.. there is a big difference in the clarity of MEGA. The MEGA imaging IS way more clear and crisp than the older models. And the CHIRP sonar was awesome as well, even with the same transducer, it cleaned alot of things up. Fish were marking in better “arches”, and better separation from the bottom than the usual blobs of the older units.

Screen is better viewing with polarized glasses as well IMO. I was nervous if I would be buying just a shiny new cardboard box and not get the promised features.. It is what they say it is… and that is pretty sweet.

Was this the gen 1 helix that you upgraded ?
Do you have link of what to buy ?

Going down to SBC tomorrow morning. I’m scared to go anywhere near the electronics display.

sktrwx2200 wrote:

Upgraded my HELIX to the MEGA unit with CHIRP

Can you actually “upgrade” or did you go buy a g2n? And what did you have before?

Damnit!!!!!!!

Upgrading electronics and Lowrance Gen3’s are a REALLY good price.

Working on getting Garmins but at the Muskie show, I was talked into looking at the Megas. Not a humming bird fan myself even though I have the core 11xx on the boat. From what I was hearing I am going to take a look.

There is no upgrading. You have to get a GN2 unit. There is a firmware update for the Gen 1 so they can be networked but you still will not be able to view the Mega on the Gen 1 unit.

I switched to Garmin from Humminbird 1159 and 1199 and all I can say is wow. IMO the garmin is really impressive. The SI is much clearer and the panoptix is amazing but spendy. I like the Lakemaster chips better with the custom depth shading, but the Garmin built in maps are fine, just not quite as nice as the Lakemaster maps. Traditional sonar is the same as bird.

carver wrote:

Damnit!!!!!!!

Upgrading electronics and Lowrance Gen3’s are a REALLY good price.

Working on getting Garmins but at the Muskie show, I was talked into looking at the Megas. Not a humming bird fan myself even though I have the core 11xx on the boat. From what I was hearing I am going to take a look.

Sorry to confuse anyone.. I had a Gen 1 Helix and I “upgraded” by purchasing a g2n mega unit. Poorly worded statement.

mojogunter wrote:

I switched to Garmin from Humminbird 1159 and 1199 and all I can say is wow. IMO the garmin is really impressive. The SI is much clearer and the panoptix is amazing but spendy. I like the Lakemaster chips better with the custom depth shading, but the Garmin built in maps are fine, just not quite as nice as the Lakemaster maps. Traditional sonar is the same as bird.

The base map is a concern for me. But was sold me on it was the ability to put any SD card I want and use quickdraw. No $100 yearly fee for a chip and no $120 software to convert and save, or a web site to upload them too.

Garmin has some great ideas, and not nickel and diming a guy for things that should be included is one of them. I also like how they offer so many choices for transducers that you can buy what features you want to use and not paying for something you don’t want. It is good with more competition it keeps technology moving faster and it should improve customer service. That is one thing about humminbird I was really was impressed with was their customer service was always great with the few issues I did have that they helped me with.

carver wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mojogunter wrote:</div>
I switched to Garmin from Humminbird 1159 and 1199 and all I can say is wow. IMO the garmin is really impressive. The SI is much clearer and the panoptix is amazing but spendy. I like the Lakemaster chips better with the custom depth shading, but the Garmin built in maps are fine, just not quite as nice as the Lakemaster maps. Traditional sonar is the same as bird.

The base map is a concern for me. But was sold me on it was the ability to put any SD card I want and use quickdraw. No $100 yearly fee for a chip and no $120 software to convert and save, or a web site to upload them too.

mojogunter wrote:

IMO the garmin is really impressive. The SI is much clearer and the panoptix is amazing but spendy.

I’ve been wanting to swap to Garmin since introduction of panoptix… Just haven’t made it a priority to rally the cash to make the switch.

When you do make the switch just know that many of the lower level units say they are panoptix compatable, but they need a sonar hub to work with it. I think they are $500-$600 for the hub. You are better off getting a panoptix ready unit if you haven’t already bought one. Just a FYI

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mojogunter wrote:</div>
IMO the garmin is really impressive. The SI is much clearer and the panoptix is amazing but spendy.

I’ve been wanting to swap to Garmin since introduction of panoptix… Just haven’t made it a priority to rally the cash to make the switch.

mojogunter wrote:

hen you do make the switch just know that many of the lower level units say they are panoptix compatable, but they need a sonar hub to work with it. I think they are $500-$600 for the hub. You are better off getting a panoptix ready unit if you haven’t already bought one. Just a FYI

Yeah agreed. Thanks for the advice. I run a 12″ & 10″ screen and do not intend to get smaller going to Garmin, so it’ll be crazy expensive to make the change, but I know it’ll be worth it when I do.