Thread: Hummingbird Helix 7 SI Combo or Lowrance Elite 7hdi??

I'm in the market for either the 5" or 7" model of SI/DI combo myself, so I don't have 1st hand usage of either, but I can tell you the Helix SI combo has both side scan and down scan. The Lowrance Elite 7HDI only has downscan. I was looking at the Garmin Striker 7SV as well which from what I can tell is the most inexpensive and user-friendly 7" side and down scan combo, but the 1 big drawback is the inability to load a lake map SD card. Some of the Garmin models come with pre-loaded lake maps, but the description for the Garmin Striker 7SV doesn't indicate it has lake maps (bathymetric). Hope that helps.

Originally Posted by fishin_addict

I'm in the market for either the 5" or 7" model of SI/DI combo myself, so I don't have 1st hand usage of either, but I can tell you the Helix SI combo has both side scan and down scan. The Lowrance Elite 7HDI only has downscan. I was looking at the Garmin Striker 7SV as well which from what I can tell is the most inexpensive and user-friendly 7" side and down scan combo, but the 1 big drawback is the inability to load a lake map SD card. Some of the Garmin models come with pre-loaded lake maps, but the description for the Garmin Striker 7SV doesn't indicate it has lake maps (bathymetric). Hope that helps.

Thanks for reply. I will cross off the Lowrance elite 7hdi then because I want the side scan. I'll look into what Garmin has to offer.

Look at the newly released Lowrance Elite 7 TI, it also has side scan "structurescan".

Elite 7ti is sidescan capable with optional transducer. I am thinking of buying one.

Thanks for the input. Still researching.

I just bought the Helix 7SI. Have not been out with it myself. My brother in law has my boat this weekend and will try it out. He and my baby sister just bought a house on Table Rock with a apt. over the garage. I have my eye on the apt.

Lawrence service after the sale is poor at best. I changed over to humming bird last year. Their units are much easier to use

Originally Posted by fishin_addict

I'm in the market for either the 5" or 7" model of SI/DI combo myself, so I don't have 1st hand usage of either, but I can tell you the Helix SI combo has both side scan and down scan. The Lowrance Elite 7HDI only has downscan. I was looking at the Garmin Striker 7SV as well which from what I can tell is the most inexpensive and user-friendly 7" side and down scan combo, but the 1 big drawback is the inability to load a lake map SD card. Some of the Garmin models come with pre-loaded lake maps, but the description for the Garmin Striker 7SV doesn't indicate it has lake maps (bathymetric). Hope that helps.

From what I've read the Lowrance Elite HDI has optional transducer for sidescan. Not sure how well it works. Leaning toward Humminbird Helix that is sidescan out of the box.