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Daddy by day, fisherman at night.
In my experience, Humminbird delivers exceptional marine electronics. Take the Helix 7, for instance. This fish finder excels at finding fish at different depths, mapping underwater contours, and showing an angler’s precise location and boat speed.
And, that’s not all. This Humminbird Helix 7 review covers everything you need to know about this fish finder.
Table of Contents
A Quick Look at Humminbird Helix 7
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.7 ★★★★★ |
| 💵 Pricing: | Medium |
| 🖥️ Screen size: | 7 inches |
The Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS G4, in short Helix 7, features built-in precision GPS, CHIRP Side Imaging and Down Imaging, Dual Spectrum sonar, premium charts, and AutoChart Live. From my experience, this fish finder is perfect for navigation and finding fish in large and deep water bodies as it has a wide imaging range.
From my experience, this sonar is the best Humminbird fish finder if you are on a tight budget.
Technical Specifications
- Max Depth: 3,500 ft (optional 50 kHz), 1,200 ft (standard transducer)
- Sonar Type: Dual Spectrum CHIRP
- Screen Size: 7 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 10.54 x 5.8 x 3.68 inches
- Display resolution: 800x480 pixels
- Weight: 4.65 pounds
- Mounting Options: Gimbal / In-Dash Mounting Kit
- Touchscreen: No
- Display Type: Color TFT
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Waterproof: No (Fish finder are designed to be used in wet conditions, but not designed to be submerged under water)
The Good
- Down and side imaging offers unmatched image quality
- Built-in Basemap promotes accurate positioning
- The 7-inch wide display allows split screen
- Features NMEA ports, Bluetooth, and ethernet networking capabilities to link multiple fish finders to become one boat network
- User-friendly keypad control
The Bad
- Mounting hardware is not compatible with trolling motor mount
- The interface is not beginner-friendly
Humminbird Helix 7 Features That Are Worth Mentioning
CHIRP Side Imaging
Knowing what’s beneath the water’s surface can improve your fishing success, a reason why most fish finders have Down Imaging. The Helix 7, however, features advanced technology by integrating CHIRP Side Imaging that offers a clear picture of what lies on each side of the boat.
It uses multiple frequencies to filter out noise for greater clarity and better target separation. Side imaging is beneficial in spotting schools of fish swimming below the surface, especially in shallow water. We also consider it as the best side imaging fish finder.
CHIRP Down Imaging
This fish finder also has CHIRP Down Imaging, which provides all the details on the world beneath your boat. It reduces noise and clutter with its high-frequency sonar waves to create well-detailed images of the underwater environment. Whether the lake bottom or ocean has rocks, brush, timber, sunken ships, or any other structure, this fish finder will capture it in detail.
In our eyes, this product is also the best down imaging fish finder to try on a tight budget. Its cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance make it a top choice for anglers seeking a clear advantage beneath the water’s surface. Say hello to a whole new level of underwater discovery with the Helix 7.
Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar
The Humminbird CHIRP sonar technology lets you rapidly switch between its two modes; the Wide and Narrow. The Wide Mode offers maximum coverage when searching for fish, while the Narrow Mode offers clarity on the slightest details.
The CHIRP technology uses a low-Q transducer to deliver detailed fish arches, vegetation, and underwater structures. It also filters noise and clutter, so you are certain that the targets on the screen are legit.
AutoChart Live
This feature lets you create custom maps in real time. AutoChart Live captures live details of depth contours, bottom hardness, and aquatic vegetation, then stores them in an SD card. You can then move this data to your computer or share it with your fellow anglers.
HD Display
The Helix 7 fish finder has a 7-inch ultra-wide HD display for excellent resolution and contrast. With a color TFT display, this model is readable from any angle and in all light conditions, including direct sunlight.
Moreover, the ultra-wide display has sufficient room for viewing and supports a split screen. Therefore, you can simultaneously view the GPS and sonar imaging, Side and Down Imaging sonar, or two other display options.
When using sonar, you can choose SwitchFire sonar mode to add or remove details on the display to maximize your fishing success.
Keypad Control
The fish finder uses a keypad for user-friendly controls. The main keys are View, Zoom in, Zoom out, Enter, Mark, Menu, Go to, and Exit.
Premium Charts
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler, this fish finder provides premium charts for rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and the coastal line across Canada and the US. You can choose to view detailed charts from LakeMaster, CoastMaster, or Navionics charts.
LakeMaster maps use VX technology to map terrain on the lake bottom. On the other hand, CoastMaster offers information for nearshore and offshore anglers.
Navionics charts cover North America’s coastal line, Canadian lakes, and over 20,000 US lakes, making it perfect for freshwater and saltwater anglers.
Internal GPS
The Helix 7 SI GPS is equipped with GPS technology for navigation. It provides more accurate locations and waypoints for better fishing, unlike industry standard GPS fish finders. And you can mark waypoints and then save them in the professional-grade fishing system.
Humminbird’s GPS also shows your exact location, boat speed, and estimated arrival time. By showing your boat speed, you can tell whether you are driving at the ideal lure speed of your target species.
In addition to a built-in GPS system, the Helix 7 is integrated with a Humminbird Basemap. The Basemap provides precise charting data for the 10,000+ US inland lakes and coastal coverage so you can establish better fish-holding spots.
The Basemap also outlines shallow water, day markers, buoys, marinas, contours, hazards, depth markings, spot soundings, obstructions, and more. This not only boosts your productivity but confidence whenever you hit the water.
What Could Be Better on Humminbird Helix 7
The user interface on the Helix 7 could be beginner-friendly, as many beginners find it complicated. Many anglers point out that it took time to understand the interface’s advanced technology. Nevertheless, they highly recommended the fish finder once the technological aspects were figured out.
If you are not decided with fish finder to buy yet, you can check our guide on how to choose the best fish finder for the money.
Who Is the Humminbird Helix 7 For?
The Humminbird Helix 7 is perfect for budget-conscious anglers looking for an economical yet functional fish finder. It is also perfect for anglers seeking adventure in unfamiliar water.
Finding your way home and knowing what lies around and beneath the boat is relatively easier with the Helix 7 GPS capabilities, Mega Side Imaging, Mega Down Imaging, CHIRP transducer, and networking capabilities.
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