Author Topic: Helix 5 si gps (Read 35915 times)

Map112377 · « **on:** February 18, 2015, 10:10:33 AM »

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and have some questions I need you guys to help me figure out. I just bought my first side imaging unit, Humminbird helix 5 si gps. I'm needing some tips and advice to were I should mount the transducer. at first I had the transducer mounted right above the step there and if I got 3-4 mph I would loose all readings depth,water temp,speed,down image,side image, and switchfire. I understand that I'm not going to get optimal side image readings while on plane but would like to at least have some down imaging or sonar while on plane or at least going a little faster than 4 mph. I don't have a fast boat I only have a 90hp on it so 40mph is my top speed. I was told to mount it were I used to have my lowrance down imaging transducer down by my drains on the bottom. Here are a few pics to help visualize what I'm talking about.

this pic is were I had it mounted. The red box is were I was told to mount it but the problem I see is that if I do mount it in that location my transducer sticks down about 1/2 inch from the bottom. Is this ok?

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:18:55 AM »

If you are getting good side image where it is I would leave it and add a shoot through hull transducer and a (AS SIDB Y) cable. I believe the transducer is XP 9 20. This will keep your SI transducer out of harms way an give you sonar while running higher speeds. Maybe Greg will chime in.

Map112377 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:28:04 AM »

Im not getting good reading at all there.or at least half the time in not,seams i get interferance from that location. And if i go over 4mph i loose everything

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:37:01 AM »

Might have to move it. I have mine mounted about the same location only under the step. I wanted it protected. You can get some 2 sided tape and move it around until you get a good location. Be careful not to go too fast. There are lots of pictures in the gallery to look at. I run around 2-4 mph for best results. Chart speed is also very important. I will get a pic of my location and post it.

Map112377 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:43:39 AM »

Ok here is anouther pic of anouther location I was also considering do you think this would be a good location as well?

also yes I am aware of the y cable aswell I just don't have the extra money to dish out for it right now. As far as protecting it some of the lakes I fish don't have a lot of timber in them or anything that might strike it so that shouldn't be a big problem for me

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:44:04 AM »

Transducer location. Ranger 175vs

Map112377 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:51:03 AM »

Now that's a thought...do you get speed and depth readings while on plane? That's one of my biggest things I like to see while I'm on plane

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:51:58 AM »

I here you on the extra cash. Your 2nd location looks good. Try it there and see. Just find a way to attach it with out holes until happy.

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:54:23 AM »

No readings at all after about 10mph. I will also be adding a second transducer.

Map112377 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2015, 12:01:10 PM »

thanks papa bear I will try your method with the double sided tape and and see what I can come up with. I just wish these things would be easy lol

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2015, 12:06:08 PM »

Not a set it and forget it unit. I watched videos on side image settings and it helped. Let us know how it turns out.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2015, 02:57:55 PM »

Map,
I would guess that the only location you will find on your boat to get high-speed depth readings is in the location shown in your first picture (or on the opposite side in the same location). That will expose the transducer to being damaged not only from floating debris, logs, trees and rocks but possibly from loading the boat as well. Not sure how far your boat can physically get on your trailer and how far ahead the runner on your trailer is but I’ve done some bad things while trying to load a boat in high wind and waves. Something else to consider is that if mounted there, will it cause an air pocket to form and cause your propeller to slip or interfere with the cooling water to the lower unit? No way to know for sure without mounting it and testing at high boat speeds.

Map112377 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2015, 07:25:18 PM »

Yeah see that was my worry about mounting it there by the drains. I had a smaller transducer there before but not as big as this side scan transducer is. I was actually considering mounting it to the right just below my sponsons here in this picture

In stead of down by my drains which I'm really not a big fan of doing sense there so expensive. What do you think about the location under the sponsons?

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2015, 09:09:18 AM »

I think that you may not get high-speed water depth readings there, but there is no way to be sure until you try it.

Map112377 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2015, 10:29:42 PM »

Thank you all for the replys I thought I'd give you guys an update. I relocated the transducer to the new location

and I think it may work for me here. I don't get high speed readings but I really don't need it anyway I actually hooked up my puck transducer that I have in the hull from a previous depth finder that works for me so I use that while on plane and my helix when I'm scanning the bottom.

Map112377 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2015, 10:34:18 PM »

I didn't have a micro sd card to take any screen shots but here are a few pics that i took with my phone that I had some question about as to what this could be. Keep in mind this was before I went back and tuned all the settings in properly to where I have a smoother more detailed picture. What could this possibly be on the right side?

PAPA BEAR · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2015, 10:53:55 PM »

Glade you got it installed. Pic looks good. Might be a bait ball on the right side.

Map112377 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2015, 11:59:17 PM »

From the pic Its hard to make out but I was referring to the verry far right side of the screen looks like a few big blobs of something I'm thinking it probably could have been from interference with something it's wierd.

Map112377 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2015, 12:01:54 AM »

Here is anouther

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #19 on:** March 13, 2015, 10:01:10 AM »

Hmmm, that’s going to be a hard call. A screen snapshot would have clearer but I think I will go with my original thought: it’s “The Blob” from the movie The Blob!
It could be some sort of rock formation but more likely just a huge baitball.

rnvinc · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2015, 07:25:46 PM »

Structure that large in an SI image (bolders/rocks/grass/the blob -

)...will generally have some random shadows mottled across the structure ...

I'm guessing baitball also ...

Rickie

sfw1960 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 13, 2015, 07:51:56 PM »

Me three......

Map112377 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 13, 2015, 11:53:48 PM »

Thanks guys just thought I'd ask. I did however manage to find my micro sd card which I will use from now on lol

Map112377 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2015, 10:39:34 PM »

Ok so I managed to get a few pics off the micro sd card any idea what I'm looking at? Some strange reason when I went over this part of the lake I got this return but everyware else was fine

Bob B · « **Reply #24 on:** March 19, 2015, 11:22:00 PM »

Looks like it could be some emerging weeds .... There are definitely some fish mixed in there.... Mostly small ones, but a couple larger ones.

Ac mohawk · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:04:37 PM »

New to forum was just womdering if you can link 2 helix 5 together?from trolling motor to dash

Bob B · « **Reply #26 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:14:23 PM »

The Helix models are stand alone .... No linking ... The lowest priced model with that functionality would be the 899.

sfw1960 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:43:15 PM »

Quote from: Bob B on March 25, 2015, 07:14:23 PM

The Helix models are stand alone .... No linking ... The lowest priced model with that functionality would be the 899.

And well worth it, if I may add!

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #28 on:** March 26, 2015, 08:20:25 AM »

Welcome to the Humminbird Side imaging Forums Ac mohawk.

Ac mohawk · « **Reply #29 on:** March 30, 2015, 07:54:13 PM »

Thx the forum looks very handy

jacksod3 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 10, 2015, 10:19:55 AM »

I called Humminbird and found out a few things. The Helix 5 SI does not allow for depth or temp while on plane. Only GPS (was really disappointed with this). To that end, however, mine shuts down completely (turns off) when I plane out. Anyone else have that problem and/or a fix for this?

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #31 on:** April 10, 2015, 11:02:26 AM »

Welcome to the Humminbird Side imaging Forums jacksod3.

Who did you talk to at Humminbird said that the HELIX 5 SI-GPS does not allow for depth or temperature while on plane?
If the transducer is mounted in a location that will allow for this it will read depth and water temperature while on plane. Now if you did not or could not mount it in such a location that is not a fault of the HELIX 5 SI-GPS unit.

If you unit is turning off while on plane it is due to a few different reasons: low/high voltage, loose electrical connection, problem with the HELIX 5 SI-GPS unit. To start with, make sure that you are fully inserting the power cable.
Now the best way to find out what is causing this problem would be to cross-test your unit with someone else’s. Swap units and see if the same thing happens with the other guy’s unit and/or with your unit on the other guy’s boat. This does not have to be another HELIX 5 SI-GPS unit as most of the units we make (except for the DI model units) use the same power cable and will have a transducer that will plug up and work for the 2D sonar.
If you cannot do this, start checking all electrical connections for any that are loose and/or corroded. Be sure to check the fuse, fuse holder and battery connections as these are sometimes overlooked. Preferably the HELIX 5 SI-GPS is connected to a separate set of wires that runs straight from the battery and not to existing boat wiring.
If all that checks out, try taking your motor out of gear and revving it to the same RPM that you would be running when on-plane and see if that causes the unit to shut off. If it does, something is wrong with the battery charging from your motor.
If none of these steps points to a different problem, than probably the control head is the problem. Call the Humminbird Customer Service folks to set up getting it in and looked at.

jacksod3 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:46:38 AM »

Greg, I called the Customer Service number on the Humminbird website and talked to someone in the 500 series support. She indicated that the unit, by design, will not show speed, depth or water temp when on plane (wasnt sure how it knew to shut off). I still havent been able to test this or not.

I did notice last time out, on smooth water, my unit stayed on while on plane until I got into choppy water. Unfortunately, that didnt take long as I am in Missouri, and Lake of the Ozarks looks much like the Pacific ocean. During that time, I noticed the GPS speed did calculate but as soon as I looked at it (surprised it was still on) it shut down, so I cant say if the temp and depth were reading. I did connect power to the panel and not directly to the battery, so I will make that change once spring fishing dies down. Additionally, I made sure the power chord was fully plugged into the unit. But I am now more concerned that it shut down only after hitting rough water, which makes me think something within the unit is loose.

More to come as I will be fishing smoother waters over the next few months and will be making the change to direct wire to the battery.

Thanks so much for your assistance!

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Author Topic: Helix 5 si gps (Read 35915 times)

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