Thread: Helix 7 hdsi vs 899 hdsi

Have the helix 10, owned the 899. The Helix 10 is larger, brighter and is a little smoother/ faster between screens. The zoom function on charts and the curser on paused screens is much faster and less laggy. The hdsi transducer included with the 10 is much sharper than the standard transducer included with the 899, helix7 and helix 9. I think the 899 screen is closer to the helix 9. That said I did love the 899.

zippy - can you comment on the quality of the DI on your 899? was it an 899 HD DI or 899 HD SI? as i understand it the down imaging on the SI unit is not "true" DI, it is synthsized by the unit using the SI images and that the quality is inferior to say an 859 HD DI that has a true DI transducer.

Mine was the SI. Ive heard the same thing but the di was fine for me. Found myself using SI and 2d 90% of the time. I do have a split screan of 2d and di that is used to compare returns to tell the difference between fish and cover. I fish mostly shallow water less than 20 feet deep so SI is more important to me.

Here's an example of the DI on the SI unit. Keep in mind that I never really played with settings on DI so the image could probably be made better with some tweaking. Pretty sure my chart speed was too fast here or i was moving too slow to gwt a sharp image.

Originally Posted by Zippy

Mine was the SI. Ive heard the same thing but the di was fine for me. Found myself using SI and 2d 90% of the time. I do have a split screan of 2d and di that is used to compare returns to tell the difference between fish and cover. I fish mostly shallow water less than 20 feet deep so SI is more important to me.

did you have the 899 SI on the deck with a TM TD? if so did you find the refresh after the head moved annoying? if on the console what did you have on the deck? did you upgrade to the HD transducer?

I dont have anything upfront. The unit was mounted on my center console. I usually just motor along until I see something and when just past it drop a bouy. Then just motor around and set up with the ipilot a rods length off when 10 feet or more deep or 20 feet or so when casting. I never did the upgrade. I called Humminbird and sent it in but after 2 weeks I called back and they said that I should have been told that it could take over a month to get it. I then demanded they send the original back to me asap. Thought that was a bit much to be without a transducer for over a month on a $900 fishfinder that I stretched the budget to buy.