Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

Side Imaging Forums => Helix Series Units => Topic started by: October1 on July 12, 2022, 11:17:16 PM

Title: Been out of fishing a while - Is it worth getting MEGA on a 7" unit?
Post by: October1 on July 12, 2022, 11:17:16 PM

Hi everyone, I have been out of the loop for a while & could use your help. I'm getting my boat cleaned up, got my outboard fixed, replaced trailer bearings and getting ready to put on new tires and a few more things. I hope to be on the water again sometime next month.

I see that the Helix 7 now has MEGA side & down imaging. My question is can you really see a significant difference using MEGA on such a small screen? Or is it just marketing and are you just as well off using the cheaper non MEGA unit since it has 800khz CHIRP imaging? I seen a video where a guy said that even with his 10" screen MEGA was only good out to about 25' to maybe 30' tops when he was talking about side imaging. After that he claims going to a lower frequency gives a better picture. So this makes me wonder if it's even worth having with only a 7" screen? I could put the money saved toward an i-pilot trolling motor but I'm not willing to short change myself to do that.

So what are your opinions? Is MEGA definitely worth having with such a small screen?

Title: Re: Been out of fishing a while - Is it worth getting MEGA on a 7" unit?
Post by: oschi on July 13, 2022, 07:14:00 AM

455kHz
(https://up.picr.de/43989991wq.jpg)

MEGA
(https://up.picr.de/43989992ee.jpg)

Same range 30m / ~90ft. Reduced to 1024px. Same run.
MEGA has slightly better resolution but less visible range.
So if you don't want to join the 'I have the best screenshot' competition, save your money.
But you should know that the 5"/7" come with a different transducer that gives bad DI because it doesn't have extra DI crystals. DI is calculated from SI. A lot complain about that.

Title: Re: Been out of fishing a while - Is it worth getting MEGA on a 7" unit?
Post by: October1 on July 13, 2022, 11:09:14 PM

Do you know what those fish are on each pic? They look like they are good size fish and not baitfish. I'm surprised there are no shadows on the 455khz. That's a bummer about the bad DI on the 7. Especially since I want to find perch which tend to be on bottom or close to it.

Title: Re: Been out of fishing a while - Is it worth getting MEGA on a 7" unit?
Post by: oschi on July 14, 2022, 06:25:29 AM

These are herrings.

Perch looks like this with MEGA. Don't have low frequency image.
(https://up.picr.de/43996294un.jpg)