Topic: Helix 7 G3N to Helix 9 G4N - Is it worth $1000

[Still Afloat]

So the million dollar question, actually $1000 question; Is it worth it to upgrade from the Helix 7 to a Helix 9?
It looks like the difference in the Helix 9 just a larger screen, WiFi and two cards slots.  MegaLive is lagging the competition and I’m not counting on any significant developments during the Gen 4 life cycle. So MegaLive is not a motivator.

Even with the Helix 9 currently marked down $600 off I’m not yet motivated enough to pull the trigger. Am I missing something?

[oschi]

Much better SI. Real DI, the 7's DI is just left and right SI overlayed. Higher ping speed. 9" pings 25x per sec at 25m SI, results in better resolution.
If you want the best SI and real DI go for it.

[Still Afloat]

Thanks for the reply.

I currently have a Helix 7 DI and two Helix 7 SI.  The SI units are networked, the DI is not. Can’t say that I have noticed any difference in the DI between the two.  More important, I rarely spot any fish in SI or DI modes so I just use these modes to learn structure in new waters.

So you are saying I can see a 9” rock at 25m or a 9” fish at 25m?  If the later, I’d really have to see it to believe it.

[oschi]

It depends on your boat speed and of course ping speed what you can see. The lower your speed/ higher the ping speed the more details you get.
These are herrings about 9-10" size from my G4N 9".

[Kenai]

Much better SI. Real DI, the 7's DI is just left and right SI overlayed. Higher ping speed. 9" pings 25x per sec at 25m SI, results in better resolution.
If you want the best SI and real DI go for it.

Hi, great info. Is that true also for Helix 8" MSI+ ? It has the same transducer, but I'm not sure about ping speed. Is that ping speed transducer related ?
Thanks.

[oschi]

Ping speed is device related. 8" should be the same as 9" and above as they are same hw. Only the 7" and 5" are different from that.