Hummingbird helix 5 Ice sonar gps

[matt320]

Was @ fleet farm today lookingfor a new flasher and came across the Hummingbird helix 5 really good price and has some nice features in it just wondering if anyone has this unit and the pros and cons of it. I've had Marcums and vexilar before nothing wrong with them units just maybe looking to trying something new. Thanks

[Barefoot]

Looking at the same unit with SI to upgrade my boat unit.  Also need a new flasher.  Was thinking of using this unit for both as it has a flasher view.  I know the Helix has good imaging and for the money I think it the best unit in its price range.  The 7" is probably well worth the extra dough if you use imaging on open water.  Split screen in 5" is small.

[StripEsox]

I have the 5" Helix - bought it for the front of my boat but then decided to buy the soft case and ice ducer off Amazon.  Total was around $115, if i recall correctly.  I think I paid $279 for the Helix.

Overall, I LOVE it.  Both in the summer and winter.  There have been a few instances in the summer where it will randomly decide to stop drawing the map, and I have to switch between views to get it to reset. Then in the winter, it picks up interference from my Marcum LX-3 (the humminbird ice units do not have that issue).  I found pushing my Interference button on the Marcum exactly 7 times puts it on a channel that does not interfere with the Helix.  

 

As a flasher, the helix works pretty well.  Not a lot of customization from what i could see, but it functions as a basic flasher.  Maybe similar to an LX-1 or FL-8?  The flasher screen is slightly smaller than my LX-3, so i could see how having a 7 would be nice, though be warned that i do not think a 7" screen would fit in the Humminbird soft case.  In fact, the soft case itself was somewhat of a disappointment.  I had a heck of a time getting the case on around the plastic base.  Accessing the battery is a real pain.  There is no good place to store the transducer and float (I have my ducer in one of the side pouches with the float laying across the top handle).  The mounts that come with the soft case will not hold a helix, you have to take the gimble bracket from the helix (off your boat) and drill new holes in the plastic base to mount it.

 

Hopefully, Humminbird will come out with a new line of soft cases specifically designed for the Helix, since this appears to be the way they are going for 2016 with all the units.

 

Some positives include - no moving parts, so no rattle or hum like a flasher.  Great battery life.  Having a GPS with maps on a large screen instead of a handheld GPS built in to the flasher.  No problems picking up small panfish jigs.  No problems with lag.  Price.  For $400 you have a unit you can take anywhere, in any boat or ice fishing, easily swap transducers, or mount in the boat for the summer.   Awesome.

[Mike Dumas]

I just did the same thing to my helix.  Question us how did you get both the ducer and case for 100$!! Great deal. The case itself costed 100,and ducer I believe 75$.  It was more expensive yet directly from hummingbird. I was a little upset they classify that case to fit the helix, but then give no instructions on how to drill the holes for it. 

[matt320]

Thanks for the feed back guys it was either the helix 5 or the 597Ci Hd by hummingbird and after feed back and online reviews I will be picking up a helix 5 some time after work this week.