Chrisb Posted November 20, 2023 Report Share Posted November 20, 2023 Does anyone have a good resource that demystifies all the options. I see all these terms and don't know if some of them are the same or better or what. CHIRP, Panoptics, Livescope, side imaging, down imaging, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler0420 Posted November 21, 2023 Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 I’d check some YouTube vids Do you wanna play a real life video game? Livescope will tell you where the fish is how deep and how far away it is, all you gotta do is cast to it and watch it hit your bait or say eff you and swim away. Bubba14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Fish_Dawg Posted November 21, 2023 Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 In a nutshell Chirp is traditional 2D sonar but sends multiple frequencies instead of just one Down Imaging gives target separation dtraight down to clean things up and differentiate structure Side Imaging does the same but off to the side Mega Live / Active Target/ live scope/ panoptix is live sonar. Allows you to scan in different directions and you can cast/jig and see your bait in real time allow with fish All these features have a time & place Chirp 2d has become standard on nearly all units now. Si / Di pretty common too Live Imaging is pretty cool but pretty pricey honeyv and Tyler0420 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 Thanks all. My current unit (eagle 642c) is probably 20 years old and still working just fine. I have some funds available and thinking I would upgrade but to what is the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genec Posted November 21, 2023 Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 I used to have 2 in my boat till I sold it - one with Chirp set to down imaging, and the other running the GPS mapping screen. If I was buying a new one now I personally would look at a unit that combined both of the above, so you get the good down imaging plus the mapping, preferably that could be set up with split screen display to show both on screen at the same time. Side imaging is an expensive upgrade, but would help spotting schooling fish like pickerel on L Erie…depends on what you can afford. I was always a Lowrance user, right from the old paper graph unit. I still have an old battery powered Eagle Strata 128 that I use for ice fishing, and used to use in my kayak till I upgraded to a Lowrance Hook 7 in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 I have been an eagle/lowrance user. Had a 9500 with LORAN module and currently a 642c/gps. Eagle as a company is no more and my current unit ran into a date issue on the GPS because of Y2K type rollover and no software update because Eagle is no more. It still functions fine except for GPS having the wrong date. I also have a hand held Garmin GPS. I like the live view I see on fishing shows and am thinking I would like to have that. But Garmin? HUmmingbird? Lowrance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deetch Posted November 21, 2023 Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 I have 2 boats, one has a hummingbird the other low range. Both great units for Lake Erie Walleye. My buddy runs the Garmin touch screen unit this is my favorite of all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genec Posted November 21, 2023 Report Share Posted November 21, 2023 TWO boats!!…….oh now I’m jealous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Fish_Dawg Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 What style of fishing and or species do you target most? If you primarily troll then side/down Imaging will not benefit you much. Side imaging is great for scanning areas looking for structure & transition areas. Live sonar is very good and depending on the transducer you buy it can be used for casting/jigging or trolling. It's nearly a $4000+ investment though. Whatever you decide, get at least a 7 inch screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler0420 Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 On 11/20/2023 at 4:47 PM, Chrisb said: Does anyone have a good resource that demystifies all the options. I see all these terms and don't know if some of them are the same or better or what. CHIRP, Panoptics, Livescope, side imaging, down imaging, Buy soon Black Friday is coming quick or wait untill Boxing Day you can get some killer deals on finders these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 47 minutes ago, The_Fish_Dawg said: What style of fishing and or species do you target most? Mostly I perch fish or troll for walleye on Lake Erie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 51 minutes ago, The_Fish_Dawg said: depending on the transducer you buy How many different transducers are there? Can you run more than one? Trying to understand all the options and decide which ones I want/need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersaban Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 lots of good deals right now https://fishingworld.ca/collections/black-friday-electronics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler0420 Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 7 hours ago, Chrisb said: Mostly I perch fish or troll for walleye on Lake Erie. If you have questions I’d go to a small tackle shop like grimsby fishing world bills bait or angling outfitters don’t go to bAss pro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genec Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 4 hours ago, Tyler0420 said: don’t go to bAss pro. So true…the only thing “pro” about them is the name on the outside wall! Tyler0420 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonietoon1 Posted November 22, 2023 Report Share Posted November 22, 2023 7 hours ago, Tyler0420 said: If you have questions I’d go to a small tackle shop like grimsby fishing world bills bait or angling outfitters don’t go to bAss pro. Go to Angling Outfitters and talk to Joslyn he is the man with Electronics and will always help even later with problems Tyler0420 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Fish_Dawg Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Sounds like a regular 2D chirp sonar & GPS will suit your needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 23 minutes ago, The_Fish_Dawg said: Sounds like a regular 2D chirp sonar & GPS will suit your needs Do you have any suggested models? I am not good at making decisions when there are too many choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Fish_Dawg Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 Humminbird Helix 7 Grimsby tackle has good stock & service dave524 and Tyler0420 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 The Helix 7 seems to have more than one version and some of the places selling don't seem to include the transducer or power cables or mount. I have seen prices from $780 to $1400. there's mega di, mega si, g4, g4n This just gets more confusing the more I look. I will have spend some time on the Hummingbird site reviewing all the options. Maybe before next spring I will have an idea of what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Fish_Dawg Posted November 23, 2023 Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 if the model ends with an "N" it means it's network capable The best bang for your buck is the Helix 7 Si/Di/Chirp (not Mega, not network capable) it's about $775 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-turd Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 I bought a used helix 7 chirp/gps/di last spring for $600, was a great purchase for me, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with a helix 7. I really like using the down imaging when ice fishing, but it can drain your battery’s life quickly if you use gps a lot. Make sure you have good battery power is something else to consider that hasn’t really been mentioned. When I go away camping for a few days and going portable I’m often running out of juice, (using a 12v 7a) I’m contemplating getting a Dakota lithium for a power source, but it is expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 This unit will not be used portable. My research tells me that the MEGA is the version with live imaging and if I upgrade I think want that feature. I am trying to compare this unit with the Garmin and Lowrance to see what might be best for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb Posted November 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 I found this review site. https://fishfinderexperts.com/best-fish-finders/ I will spend some tome this weekend looking at their reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Farmer Posted November 27, 2023 Report Share Posted November 27, 2023 Had Helix 7 GPS and DI, tried using the DI display and turned it off, found it was a gimmick.🙈 It still works OK but fishing 10 to 13 Hour days the screen was melting in the sun, they say it's because using lighter Gage wire. Was at a seminar and found out the most important thing is use 8 Gage wire direct from the battery and as short as possible. Now I have a Helix 9 sonar with GPS has 2 Micro card slots for Navionics and LakeMaster cards, that's all you need. Don't get hung up on the Bells and whistles. I found the Humminbirds very user friendly, you can turn off a lot of those display screens. But that's my opinion, got lots of money, buy those bells&whistles.👍😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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