I have a big credit at Walmart, and I'm going to buy a Humminbird Helix 7 fish finder. Walmart does not carry the top of the line series 7 unit that has side image, down image, and network capability. They have either side image with no networking, or down image with networking. The networking is great and I anticipate that networking will become a bigger aspect of these in the future, but a corresponding trolling motor would be the initial primary use, and it is not in the immediate cards.

So...has anyone seen the down image and the side image, and do you have any thought as to the relative value of each of them? Side image seem like a search function, whereas down image is an enhanced view of what you can kind of already see. Is side imaging worth sacrificing the networking for? What would you do?

Thanks!

-Nick

Is side imaging worth sacrificing the networking for?

IMO-- yes.

I run a Helix 10 mega SI g2n and I like all (SI/DI) the settings. The settings excel in different areas. Networking will only get bigger and I believe down the road you will want it. SI is great for getting a birds eye view of the bottom. Di is great for detail that traditional sonar misses. If you live in the north, I would wait on buying anything. Lakes will be frozen soon and current sonar products will be on sale/drop in price around March when the 2018 products are released. That being said, my favorite screen to view when I'm running the graph is a 3 way split between traditional sonar, DI, and autochart live. I would not buy a graph if it didn't have autochart live.

I only have down screen imaging, so I can’t comment on side screen. It is a Hummingbird Hook 4 unit. I really like the down screen imaging. I also belong to a Facebook page called Dr Sonar. They show and talk about both side and down.

Thanks!

In the end, it wound up being a moot point, because the model I wanted that had both features as well as networking showed up on the Walmart website.

I really do appreciate the feedback, though! I'm going to look at the facebook group right now. I'm anxious to see this thing in action.

That Helix is written up very well..........My only question is if this is for a canoe trip one would have to wonder about power consumption. It would likely be rather substantial. You might end up in the same boat as me deciding you like the upgrade so much that you have to bring in a substantial power plant to power it.

They are both worth it if you need to see out to the sides or more detail under your boat. They both only work properly when you are moving forward at a fairly slow speed. The reason for this is instead of a traditional round cone shaped beam they have a flat beam. In other words if the cone angle is 50 deg than the beam is 50 deg. side to side but front to back it is a very thin flat slice( something like 1 deg). This is why you get such detailed images much like a CAT scan or MRI.The thing you need to know is that they will not work drifting sideways or standing still like a regular sonar, you must move over the objects you are "scanning" in a forward direction at a speed slow enough to create detailed images. Side scan is a fantastic way to search for fish and structure but takes awhile to understand what you are seeing and down imaging can paint a very detailed picture of what is under the boat. There is a lot of information out there that can educate a person about both technologies. MANY people misunderstand how they work.

I don't plan on taking it on any overnight canoe trips, but I certainly won't rule it out! I definitely thought about powering it and the thread from a few weeks back when I was looking at these. It would be a lot to lug around, but I think we're all willing to lug around quite a bit in the name of catching more fish.

I know there will be quite a learning curve with this thing. The motion requirement makes a lot of sense.

Thanks again, everyone.

Side image is a must in my book, really nice to see a large rock/rockpile 50 ft to the side, scroll over and mark the point than go right to it and fish it using the down imaging. I really like the Helix units. I have the baby 5 SI/GPS and it has been great, way too small if you were going to try and view charts and sonar at the same time but I run an ipad with my charts and just the sonar on the Helix. I feel like the Helix models have allot of value, not cheap but nowhere near as expensive as some of the higher end touch screen units. My buddies boat has two Helix 10's and I was loving them on a recent trip.

The more I learn about Side Imaging and how to use it, the cooler it looks. Sort of a search tool. It arrived late last week, and I'm hoping to get it on the boat this weekend. We'll see if I can get it out this year yet or not. Either way, I'm excited to start messing around with this thing.

Thanks!

Bumping this thread as I'm currently in the market for a new depth finder and struggling to figure out what is worth it. Side imaging seems kind of unnecessary to me, but it's not a big added expense on the units that have the other things I want like live mapping and GPS.

My main concern is mounting the transducers that are capable of side imaging as I've always used the shoot through the hull method, and I don't think that will work with these types of transducers.

Does anyone here use side imaging in a canoe regularly? Do you think it's a valuable thing to have? And how are you mounting your transducers?

SoMpls: "Bumping this thread as I'm currently in the market for a new depth finder and struggling to figure out what is worth it. Side imaging seems kind of unnecessary to me, but it's not a big added expense on the units that have the other things I want like live mapping and GPS.


My main concern is mounting the transducers that are capable of side imaging as I've always used the shoot through the hull method, and I don't think that will work with these types of transducers.


Does anyone here use side imaging in a canoe regularly? Do you think it's a valuable thing to have? And how are you mounting your transducers?"

SI is the most useful tool in the box if you can get it dialed in just perfect. It definitely takes time. Big learning curve.

One note on SI is screen size. I think you really want a 7-inch screen at minimum to be able to see the kind of detail that makes SI really valuable. I have a 5 inch screen and I have it set up to only show me the image from one side of my boat, which gives that side the full screen real estate. I mostly use it to scan shoreline areas, so that works well for me.

All that said -- never used it in a canoe. And my 3-in-one transducer is MASSIVE. I can't imagine the SI beam would work shooting through the hull. The beam shoots out the sides, not downward. Google "canoe side imaging" and you get nothing but a bunch of kayak results.

Side imaging is a game changer. I have an entire fleet with full sonar capabilities and I wouldn't buy a finder without it. And once you see mega (high frequency) side imaging you will never look back.

-FT

I have a Helix 7 DI/GPS and it's great. However, our next unit will be at least a 9" and have MEGA DI/SI/GPS. I want the auto-chart function to make my own maps and MEGA side and down imaging.

I bought a helix 5 di chirp GPS unit. I like it but I think missed out on not getting the side imaging.
I wonder if i shot my transducer thru the hull would i get as much detail onmy down imaging. Also would I get depth at 25 mph while running.