Topic: Is It Worth It

[Bayou Basser]

I have an old 899 SI unit that is still working just fine.  It has, of course, 800KHz capability.  I'm considering purchasing a Helix 8 MEGA SI+ G4N.  Is upgrading to mega imaging really worth the money?  Are the sonar returns really that much better than 800KHz?

Quentin.

[rnvinc]

The difference in 800kHz to MEGA (1200kHz) is about the same difference you see in 455kHz to 800kHz  ...

Noticeable - yes  ... earth shattering - meh

Rickie

[Bayou Basser]

Thanks Rickie.  I'll probably upgrade anyway.  Put the Helix 8 on the console and move the 899 to the bow.  I did notice that the Helix SI has 86 degree coverage in mega which the 899 800Khz is 55 degree AND I believe DI has it's own piezo. Correct?

Bayou Basser

[rnvinc]

HELIX 8 SI does have a dedicated DI piezo  ...

899 SI does not have a dedicated DI piezo  ... the DI image is computed generated from the data received by the SI piezoes  ...

Rickie

[Bayou Basser]

Thanks Rickie.

[fishreed]

I have an old 899 SI unit that is still working just fine.  It has, of course, 800KHz capability.  I'm considering purchasing a Helix 8 MEGA SI+ G4N.  Is upgrading to mega imaging really worth the money?  Are the sonar returns really that much better than 800KHz?

Quentin.

You only live once Quentin. Before I bought my new Helix 12SI Gen3 3 weeks agao,  I was more than happy with my 1199SI and my 899SI as a plotter.  For the money I am one of the guys who are always last to upgrade and will only upgrade with DEEEEP discount. $500 bucks  off of $2499 is a Super deeeep discount to me. I will bet Cabelas sold me my Helix 12SI Gen3 for less than cost! A  20% mark-up at $2499 and a close out @ $1999 is close if not below cost. But then again Humminbird probably gave Cabelas a Helluva discount to get a 2021 PO for the new Gen 4 units.  It is all a money game and I used to play in the electronic wholesale  business with the best of them. I was looking at my purchase records for my 1199SI for 2016 as it was regular priced @ $1999. Cabelas once again blew them out at $1199 and included a free remote.
 

J Reed

[fishreed]

HELIX 8 SI does have a dedicated DI piezo  ...

899 SI does not have a dedicated DI piezo  ... the DI image is computed generated from the data received by the SI piezoes  ...

Rickie

I had a separate 2D transducer and that gave me true 83mhz and I think DI data. Correct me if I'm wrong? I then had separate 800mhz SI dual transducers and a separate 2D transducer for my 1199SI. I will have a separate HW 2D transducer for my new  Helix 12SI Gen 3 too but no separate SI Mega transducers. I will Etherne the Helix 12 to my 1199SI and run separate Navionics map cards and the Lake master card , but will use the 1199SI for just a plotter screen with the sonar turned off most of the time.

J Reed

[rnvinc]

I had a separate 2D transducer and that gave me true 83mhz and I think DI data. Correct me if I'm wrong? I then had separate 800mhz SI dual transducers and a separate 2D transducer for my 1199SI. I will have a separate HW 2D transducer for my new  Helix 12SI Gen 3 too but no separate SI Mega transducers. I will Etherne the Helix 12 to my 1199SI and run separate Navionics map cards and the Lake master card , but will use the 1199SI for just a plotter screen with the sonar turned off most of the time.

J Reed

ONIX and then HELIX were the first HB SI units to offer true dedicated DI (in the SI unit models)  ...

None of the older numbered core HB SI units had dedicated DI  ...no DI transmitter in the SI unit  ... 

There were HB DI units that had dedicated DI along with 2d starting around 2011  ...

Lowrance came out with dedicated DI (Lowrance’s patent) in their SI units about 2010  ... Humminbird’s answer was to offer a software upgrade to HB SI units in 2011 that added this blended DI view from the SI data  ... and additionally also came out with the HB DI units with dedicated DI and 2d  ...

I feel there may have been some patent stuff going on in those brand’s decisions  ...

Rickie

[fishreed]

ONIX and then HELIX were the first HB SI units to offer true dedicated DI (in the SI unit models)  ...

None of the older numbered core HB SI units had dedicated DI  ...no DI transmitter in the SI unit  ... 

There were HB DI units that had dedicated DI along with 2d starting around 2011  ...

Lowrance came out with dedicated DI (Lowrance’s patent) in their SI units about 2010  ... Humminbird’s answer was to offer a software upgrade to HB SI units in 2011 that added this blended DI view from the SI data  ... and additionally also came out with the HB DI units with dedicated DI and 2d  ...

Ricki,

Lest we all forget the fact that Lowrance stole the SI software technology from Humminbird which landed Lowrance in Federal Court for patent infringement as Lowrance  settled what is rumored to be 50 million, but both parties signed a NON discloser AGREEMENT sealing the settlement.  Lowrance and their parent company are Thieves and I would never buy their crap.

[rnvinc]

I would guess these brands pay more for patent lawyers than we could ever imagine...

Rickie

[fishreed]

I would guess these brands pay more for patent lawyers than we could ever imagine...

Rickie

You betcha Ricki, patent theft and infringement cases like this always result in heavy fines to the guilty,  but NEVER a product manufacturing ban on  the guilty party. You can bet Lowrance made enough money off the software theft than the fine which was imposed by the Federal Courts. That is the game tactics they play when they steal something....steal it and make more $$$ than the fines they know the courts will impose.