What would you do?

What would you do?

Here is what I am running and the options I am considering.
618T Ranger with a Terrova (gen 1) on the front, Vantage on the back. Primarily a walleye fisherman.

Option 1
HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G2N….1699.00
And
Add a unit next year(budget reasons)

Option 2
HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G2N…799.00
And
HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G2N…549.00

Option 3
HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G2N…799.00
And
HELIX 10 CHIRP GPS G2N….$1099.00

Option 4
your advise

Option1 is the only way I can get Mega(out of the options I listed)

How important is the “Mega” to you for SI? Second, how much time are you on the bow tm vs vantage/big motor?

Regarding option 3, Why SI on the smaller screen? Money? Seems backwards to me and like this option the least.

I’ve got a couple ideas but curious to know a little more about how you fish.

Yeah, I’d run the SI on the bigger screen. I have a 999 SI, and a 788 CIHD. I put the GPS on that 5″ screen, and the side imaging on the 9. When I’m driving, the 5″ screen is right there and I have zero issues seeing it. The 9″ SI and DI screen provides me more value as I fish than the GPS does.

As long as we’re spending YOUR money……Option 1. And move whatever you have now to the bow. And upgrade that Terrova Gen 1.

Get the newest technology you can when you buy new electronics. It changes too fast to be buying last year’s technology.

Finally, never take advice from strangers on the internet.

Same dilemma and my choice is going to be updating the Terrova to a gen.2. My electronic package is good enough for now.

Option 3….I thought I could view the DI and SI on the larger screen if I networked them….is that not correct?

Not sold on the Mega, but I think I am?

I fish anyway I need to. spend time on bow and at the stern equally

If they are networked, yes you should be able to share transducers.

I’m in a relatively similar situation from the sounds of it, just not a tiller in my case.

Creative thinking on networking but some things to consider. Cost, the hub and cables will be a few hundred. SI transducer – will it be the same quality on the 7 as the 10? Probably not equal.

Option 1 is closes to what I did
Larger unit on my console with SI ducer on the transom. To network with iPilot Link on my bow mount it’s only a direct cable, no hub required.

If choosing #1, here’s some thoughts:
Shorter term future: Add my old 5″ unit. Just need 2d and gps for maps.
Longer term future: 2nd smaller unit to use the US2 ducer on the bow mount and fully networked into my larger unit. Buy hub and fully network the system.

Ron wrote:

As long as we’re spending YOUR money……Option 1. And move whatever you have now to the bow. And upgrade that Terrova Gen 1.

+1 for this option. I would take your 999 up front add a new helix 10SI to the console and then try to upgrade the terrova when you can. Also if you do that you could sell the 788 and probably get enough out of it for the hub and cables to start your network if you don’t already have them.

I personally would find 2 of the Gen 1’s in a Helix 9 or 10. You can get the SI/DI Helix 9 for around $900 on closeout and a Helix 9 GPS/Soar for $650 close out. Still under your $1600 budget and best of both worlds!

First off, very, very little has changed between the models as far as finding fish goes. I.e. side imaging is no different than it was on the 97’s.

Chirp is new, but not a drastic improvement.

I’d buy last year’s helix 12. Or even 1199, or a 98…. If budgets are a concern.

The g2n will be ‘old’ within 12 months anyway.

walinutz wrote:

Option 3….I thought I could view the DI and SI on the larger screen if I networked them….is that not correct?

They can only be shared if each unit is capable already.

That includes chirp.

My 1st generation terrova was much better than both of the 2nd’s I had. Glitchy remote, spot lock wasn’t very good either. It was bad enough that I sold it and switched brands. Save your money and keep the trolling motor if it still performs as it should.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

First off, very, very little has changed between the models as far as finding fish goes. I.e. side imaging is no different than it was on the 97’s.

Chirp is new, but not a drastic improvement.

I’d buy last year’s helix 12. Or even 1199, or a 98…. If budgets are a concern.

The g2n will be ‘old’ within 12 months anyway.

I respectfully disagree. The new transducer on the G2Ns alone make it worth the upgrade. I cannot comment on the clarity of MEGA as I have not seen it in real life conditions, however the dedicated DI element of G2Ns seal the deal for me.

If Mega G2Ns hadn’t come out, personally, I’d look at The HDS gen2 or 3 for image quality.

So, clarity, but no actual change in fish finding technologies… I’ll hold my breath, barely a leaf goes unnoticed on my side imaging units.