HumminBird Help

FishReaper

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I am looking at getting the 899ci HD for my boat this spring. The unit ships with a compact transducer with the following specs 200/83/455 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees However the 899 is capable of using the High Def transducer with these specs 200/83/455/800 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees. My question to the gurus on this site is should i take advantage of humminbirds Transducer swap program and send back the standard ducer and upgrade to the High Deff for an extra 85 bucks? or will i not notice a difference.
 
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89bluefin

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I hate mounting the transducers

- - - Updated - - -

I still have a rooster tail flying but I got to the point where I don't care anymore it keeps contact at high speeds and its only a 3 foot rooster now but it sucks to mount
 

FishReaper

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What difference will I see between 455 and 800 kHz? just sharper images or will it excel more in deeper/shallow water? Im just getting into the side/down imaging game
 

zoops

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I put the 899 on my boat last spring with the non-HD transducer, so I have no comparison for you. It seems to work well, but again I don't have much to compare it against. I used one of those plates you glue on and then drill into and installation was pretty easy I thought (aluminum boat). Here's a pic from the river last spring. S00012.jpg
 


gone_fishing

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I am looking at getting the 899ci HD for my boat this spring. The unit ships with a compact transducer with the following specs 200/83/455 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees However the 899 is capable of using the High Def transducer with these specs 200/83/455/800 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees. My question to the gurus on this site is should i take advantage of humminbirds Transducer swap program and send back the standard ducer and upgrade to the High Deff for an extra 85 bucks? or will i not notice a difference.

Are you getting the side imaging unit (899ci HD SI)? If so from what I have read it's worth upgrading to the HD side imaging transducer.

Another option would be to look at the new Helix series.
 

FishReaper

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yes the SI unit.
do the helix link up and use i pilot link
 

zoops

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yes the SI unit.
do the helix link up and use i pilot link

Yes, the Helix's basically replaced the "core" units (899,999, etc...) is my understanding. Could read for hours on walleyecentral with Helix/Onix threads. 899's can be had for 5-6 hundred now (of course I paid 899 last spring) that they're discontinued. Helix 7's are around 700 and 9's are around a grand. Talking the SI models of course.
 

FishReaper

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Looks like the Helix 7 does not link and is not rated for a 800 kHz transducer. Link is important to me that way i can keep building upon my investment down the road
 
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Petras

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I just bought a helix 9 with Di for $800 last night at scheels.... nice thing about a h9 or higher is they come with autochart which allows you to make your own contour maps right on the unit while Ur in the boat.... but to answer your question about the 899 HD ducer. Get it.
 


gone_fishing

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Looks like the Helix 7 does not link and is not rated for a 800 kHz transducer. Link is important to me that way i can keep building upon my investment down the road

Yes only Helix 9 and higher have ethernet capability (what you need for iPilot Link)
 

YATYAS

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I am looking at getting the 899ci HD for my boat this spring. The unit ships with a compact transducer with the following specs 200/83/455 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees However the 899 is capable of using the High Def transducer with these specs 200/83/455/800 kHz, 20/60/180 degrees. My question to the gurus on this site is should i take advantage of humminbirds Transducer swap program and send back the standard ducer and upgrade to the High Deff for an extra 85 bucks? or will i not notice a difference.
It is a nicer image but you are sacrificing a lot of coverage by using the 800 kHz beam vs. the 455 kHz beam. According to the HB manual, the 800 kHz beam gets you 130 degrees of coverage (the manual says the beam covers 55 degrees in each direction, not sure how they get 130 degrees total). In 20' of water that is about 40' of bottom coverage per side. This also limits the chances of finding suspended fish. Using the 455 kHz beam you have almost 180 degrees of coverage which extends what you see on the floor and suspended out there a ways further. I use 455 kHz almost always. I can easily find structure, weed beds, and bait fish which is what it is most useful for. After some practice and getting use to I can find fish (this is not always easy). Fish on a hard bottom are always harder to see so if I find rocks with what looks like fish mixed in, I will either fish it or investigate further by using the 2D sonar for confirmation. I will never switch to the 800 kHz and do another scan - just a waste of time.

I once read somewhere that the HD on the 899 is not much of an advantage anyway due to the screen size. I would think this is true if you are running a split screen. Can't confirm that, I run the 1199.
 
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shorthairsrus

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I have another question --- what about using the hd si transducer up on the bow - can one mount the transducer to the trolling motor?
 

YATYAS

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I have another question --- what about using the hd si transducer up on the bow - can one mount the transducer to the trolling motor?

Probably not the best place for it. The best images are produced while traveling at least 2 mph in a straight path. Upper range in that is like 6 mph. If you want image production from the bow then HB 360 is probably what you need. The bow mount is only compatable with certain model trolling motors.
 

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