Humminbird HELIX 7X DI GPS, HELIX 5 SONAR GPS, HELIX 5X DI GPS Manual

Thank You!

Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, the #1 name in marine electronics. Humminbird has built its reputation by designing and manufacturing top-quality, thoroughly reliable marine equipment. Your Humminbird is designed for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine environment. In the unlikely event that your Humminbird does require repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Policy. For complete details, see the separate warranty card included with your unit. We encourage you to read this manual carefully in order to get the full benefit from all the features and applications of your Humminbird product.

Contact Humminbird Customer Service at humminbird.com or call 1-800-633-1468.

WARNING! This device should not be used as a navigational aid to prevent collision, grounding, boat damage, or personal injury. When the boat is moving, water depth may change too quickly to allow time for you to react. Always operate the boat at very slow speeds if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.

WARNING! The electronic chart in your Humminbird unit is an aid to navigation designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to replace them. Only official government charts and notices to mariners contain all of the current information needed for the safety of navigation, and the captain is responsible for their prudent use.

WARNING! Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by authorized service personnel. Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair the original equipment or accessories by unauthorized individuals will void the warranty.

WARNING! This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

WARNING! Do not travel at high speed with the unit cover installed. Remove the unit cover before traveling at speeds above 20 mph.

WARNING! Humminbird is not responsible for the loss of data files (waypoints, routes, tracks, groups, recordings, etc.) that may occur due to direct or indirect damage to the unit’s hardware or software. It is important to back up your control head’s data files periodically. Data files should also be saved to your PC before restoring the unit’s defaults or updating the software. See the following sections of your Humminbird manual: microSD Card Slot and Snapshot and Recording View. Also, contact Humminbird Customer Service with any questions.

NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some features are only available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly identify those features. Please read the manual carefully in order to understand the full capabilities of your model.

NOTE: The illustrations in this manual may not look the same as your product, but your unit will function in a similar way.

NOTE: To purchase accessories for your control head, visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.

NOTE: The procedures and features described in this manual are subject to change without notice. This manual was written in English and may have been translated to another language. Humminbird is not responsible for incorrect translations or discrepancies between documents.

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: Products sold in the U.S. are not intended for use in the international market. Humminbird international units provide international features and are designed to meet country and regional regulations. Languages, maps, time zones, units of measurement, and warranty are examples of features that are customized for Humminbird international units purchased through our authorized international distributors.

To obtain a list of authorized international distributors, please visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at [phone].

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE STATEMENT: It is the intention of Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. to be a responsible corporate citizen, operating in compliance with known and applicable environmental regulations, and a good neighbor in the communities where we make or sell our products.

WEEE DIRECTIVE: EU Directive 2002/96/EC “Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)” impacts most distributors, sellers, and manufacturers of consumer electronics in the European Union. The WEEE Directive requires the producer of consumer electronics to take responsibility for the management of waste from their products to achieve environmentally responsible disposal during the product life cycle.

WEEE compliance may not be required in your location for electrical & electronic equipment (EEE), nor may it be required for EEE designed and intended as fixed or temporary installation in transportation vehicles such as automobiles, aircraft, and boats. In some European Union member states, these vehicles are considered outside of the scope of the Directive, and EEE for those applications can be considered excluded from the WEEE Directive requirement.

This symbol (WEEE wheelie bin) on product indicates the product must not be disposed of with other household refuse. It must be disposed of and collected for recycling and recovery of waste EEE. Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. will mark all EEE products in accordance with the WEEE Directive. It is our goal to comply in the collection, treatment, recovery, and

environmentally sound disposal of those products; however, these requirements do vary within European Union member states. For more information about where you should dispose of your waste equipment for recycling and recovery and/or your European Union member state requirements, please contact your dealer or distributor from which your product was purchased.

ROHS STATEMENT: Product designed and intended as a fixed installation or part of a system in a vessel may be considered beyond the scope of Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

ChartSelect™, Down Imaging®, DualBeam PLUS™, Fish ID+™, HELIX™, HumminbirdPC™, Humminbird®, LakeMaster®, Real Time Sonar™, RTS™, RTS Window™, Structure ID™, SwitchFire®, Total Screen Update™, UniMap™, WhiteLine™, X-Press™ Menu, and Xtreme Depth Series™ are trademarked by or registered trademarks of Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.

Adobe, Acrobat, Adobe PDF, and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Baekmuk Batang, Baekmuk Dotum, Baekmuk Gulim, and Baekmuk Headline are registered trademarks owned by Kim Jeong-Hwan.

microSD is a trademark or registered trademark of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.

Navionics® Gold, HotMaps™, and HotMaps™ Premium, Navionics® Classic Charts, and Platinum™ Cartography are trademarked by or registered trademarks of Navionics S.p.A.

© 2015 Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved.

532306-3EN_B

Table of Contents
HELIX Series Overview	1
How Sonar Works	1
How GPS and Cartography Work	6
Power On	7
What’s on the Control Head	8
Key Functions	9
microSD Card Slot	13
Add Maps to your Control Head ..............................................................................................................	14
Import Navigation Data ............................................................................................................................	15
Export Navigation Data..............................................................................................................................	15
Update Software........................................................................................................................................	17
What’s on the Sonar Display	18
What’s on the Down Imaging Display	24
Views	27
Select a View ............................................................................................................................................	27
Display your Favorite Views ......................................................................................................................	27
Change Digital Readouts ..........................................................................................................................	28
Combo Views ............................................................................................................................................	30
Chart View Orientation	54
Viewing Cartography	55
Introduction to Navigation	57
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks ................................................................................................................	57
Open the Waypoint Management Dialog Box..........................................................................................	59
What’s on the Waypoint Management Dialog Box ................................................................................	60
Save, Edit, or Delete a Waypoint ..............................................................................................................	62
Navigate to a Waypoint or Position ..........................................................................................................	62
Add a Waypoint Target or Trolling Grid ....................................................................................................	63
Routes ........................................................................................................................................................	64
Tracks..........................................................................................................................................................	66
Edit your Waypoints, Routes, Tracks, and Groups....................................................................................	66
Man Overboard (MOB) Navigation ..........................................................................................................	68

i

Table of Contents
The Menu System	70
Start-Up Options Menu	71
X-Press Menu	75
Main Menu	76
Quick Tips for the Main Menu ..................................................................................................................	77
Note for all Menu Settings........................................................................................................................	77
User Mode (Normal or Advanced) ............................................................................................................	78
Sonar X-Press Menu	80
Flasher X-Press Menu	85
Snapshot and Recording X-Press Menu	88
Down Imaging X-Press Menu	92
Navigation X-Press Menu	96
Alarms Menu Tab	103
Sonar Menu Tab	108
Navigation Menu Tab	119
Chart Menu Tab	125
Setup Menu Tab	132
Views Menu Tab	140
Maintenance	141
Troubleshooting	142
HELIX Control Head Measurements	145
Specifications	149
Contact Humminbird	157

ii

HELIX Series Overview

The HELIX Series is available in several different configurations. See the following list of products, all of which are covered by this manual, to find your HELIX Series model:

•HELIX SONAR GPS: Wide screen Fishfinder with DualBeam PLUS (2D) sonar, chartplotting, and an internal GPS receiver.

•HELIX DI GPS: Wide screen Fishfinder with Down Imaging sonar, traditional 2D sonar, chartplotting, and an internal GPS receiver.

•HELIX XD GPS: Wide screen Fishfinder with Xtreme Depth sonar, chartplotting, and an internal GPS receiver.

•HELIX GPS: Wide screen chartplotter with an internal GPS receiver. This model has exclusive views for chartplotting. Please note that the chartplotter does not include the sonar features described in this manual (fishfinder, sonar, recording, depth, transducer, etc.).

NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some features are only available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly identify those features. Please read the manual carefully in order to understand the full capabilities of your model.

How Sonar Works

Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The HELIX Series Fishfinder uses sonar to locate and define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as depth directly below the transducer.

Your HELIX Series Fishfinder sends a sound wave signal and determines distance by measuring the time between the transmission of the sound wave and when the sound wave is reflected off of an object; it then uses the reflected signal to interpret location, size, and composition of an object.

Sonar is very fast. A sound wave can travel from the surface to a depth of 240 ft (70 m) and back again in less than 1/4 of a second. It is unlikely that your boat can "outrun" this sonar signal.

SONAR is an acronym for SOund and NAvigation Ranging. Sonar utilizes precision sound pulses or "pings" which are emitted into the water in a teardrop-shaped beam.

The sound pulses “echo” back from objects in the water such as the bottom, fish, and other submerged objects. The returned echoes are displayed on the LCD screen. Each time a new echo is received, the old echoes are moved across the LCD, creating a scrolling effect.

1Overview and How Sonar Works

When all the echoes are viewed side by side, an easy to interpret “graph” of the bottom, fish, and structure appears.

The sound pulses are transmitted at various frequencies depending on the application. Very high frequencies (455 kHz) are used for greatest definition but the operating depth is limited. High frequencies (200 kHz) are commonly used on consumer sonar and provide a good balance between depth performance and resolution. Low frequencies (83 kHz) are typically used to achieve greater depth capability.

The power output is the amount of energy generated by the sonar transmitter. It is commonly measured using two methods:

•Root Mean Square (RMS) measures power output over the entire transmit cycle.

•Peak to Peak measures power output at the highest points.

The benefits of increased power output are the ability to detect smaller targets at greater distances, ability to overcome noise, better high speed performance, and enhanced depth capability.

How Sonar Works

2

60˚ 20˚

200kHz

83kHz

60 Degree Total Coverage

Bottom Coverage = 1 x Depth

45°800kHz

455kHz

75°

16°

455kHz

28°

200kHz

75 Degree Total Coverage

DualBeam PLUS Sonar

(HELIX SONAR GPS)

The HELIX SONAR GPS Fishfinder uses a 200/83 kHz DualBeam PLUS sonar system with a wide (60°) area of coverage. DualBeam PLUS sonar has a narrowly focused 20° center beam, surrounded by a second beam of 60°, expanding your coverage to an area equal to your depth. In 20 feet of water, the wider beam covers an area 20 feet wide. DualBeam PLUS sonar returns can be blended together, viewed separately, or compared side-by-side.

DualBeam PLUS is ideal for a wide range of conditions - from shallow to very deep water in both fresh and salt water.

Depth capability is affected by such factors as boat speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water conditions, and transducer installation.

Down Imaging Sonar

(HELIX DI GPS)

The HELIX DI GPS Fishfinder uses Down Imaging technology. The Down Imaging transducer scans the water with razor-thin, high-definition beams. The beams are wide (side to side) but very thin front to back.

The Down Imaging beams can be operated at two frequencies: 455 kHz (75°) or 800 kHz (45°). Select 455 kHz for the best overall image quality and depth. Select 800 kHz for the sharpest image. See Sonar Menu Tab: Imaging Frequency for more information.

Thetransduceralsousesconicalbeamstoprovidedata in traditional 2D format (see What’s on the Sonar Display). Select 455 kHz for a narrowly focused 16° center beam, or select 200 kHz for a wider 28° beam (see Sonar Menu Tab: Beam Select).

Depth capability is affected by such factors as boat speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water conditions, and transducer installation.

3	How Sonar Works

Xtreme Depth Sonar

(HELIX XD GPS)

The HELIX XD GPS Fishfinder uses the XD transducer to provide extreme depth coverage with DualBeam PLUS technology.

The Xtreme Depth sonar beams can be operated at two frequencies: 50 kHz (74°) and 200 kHz (20°). The wide, 50 kHz beam transmits at a low frequency to provide greater depth coverage, up to 2500 ft (762 m). The narrow, 200 kHz center beam transmits at a high frequency to provide maximum detail at shallower depths.

The DualBeam PLUS technology allows you to view the sonar returns blended together, separately, or side-by-side (see Sonar Menu Tab: Beam Select and

Views for more information).

Depth capability is affected by such factors as boat speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water conditions, and transducer installation.

How Sonar Works

4

Dual Beam Ice Transducer

(with optional-purchase XI 9 20 Ice Transducer)

The XI 9 20 Ice Transducer provides selectable dual-frequency sonar with a wide area of coverage. Selectable dual-frequency gives you the option of two beams, and both beams will cover the bottom and provide high definition. The 20° center beam provides the highest definition, while the 60° beam provides wider coverage. Depth capability is affected by such factors as bottom hardness and water conditions. Whether fishing in shallow or very deep water, selectable dual-frequency is ideal for a variety of conditions.

NOTE: Contact Humminbird Customer Service to determine which accessory transducers are compatible with your control head, or visit our Web site at humminbird.com.

5	How Sonar Works

How GPS and Cartography Work

Your control head also supports GPS (Global Positioning System) and chartplotting. It uses GPS and sonar to determine your position, display it on a grid, and provide detailed underwater information.

GPS uses a constellation of satellites that continually send radio signals to the earth. The GPS receiver receives signals from satellites that are visible to it. Based on time differences between each received signal, the GPS receiver determines its distance to seach satellite. With distances known, the GPS receiver mathematically triangulates its own position. With 5 updates per second, the GPS receiver then calculates its velocity and bearing.

GPS was originally intended for military use; however, civilians may also take advantage of its highly accurate position capabilities, typically within +/- 4.5 meters, depending on conditions. This means that 95% of the time, the GPS receiver will read a location within 4.5 meters of your actual position. Your GPS Receiver also uses information from WAAS (the Wide Area Augmentation System), EGNOS (thes European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), and MSAS (the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System) satellites if they are available in your area.

The following GPS functionality is currently supported by the control head:

•View current position

•View current track (breadcrumb trail)

•View precision speed and heading from your GPS receiver

•Save tracks, waypoints, and routes

•Travel a route and navigate from one waypoint to the next

See Views: Chart View and microSD Card Slot: Add Maps to your Control Head for more information.

How GPS and Cartography Work

6

Power On

Follow the instructions below to power on your Humminbird control head.

HELIX Series Title Screen

1.Press the POWER/LIGHT key.

2.When the Title screen is displayed, press the MENU key to access the Start-Up Options Menu.

3.Select Normal, and press the RIGHT Cursor key.

•If you wait too long to select a Start-Up Option, the system will default to whichever menu is already highlighted.

•HELIX SONAR GPS, HELIX DI GPS, HELIX XD GPS: If a functioning transducer is connected, Normal operation will be selected automatically, and your control head can be used on the water.

•You can also select Simulator to learn how to use your control head and save settings in advance for later use. See Start-Up Options Menu for more information.

4.Quick Setup: If this is the first time the unit has been powered on (after installation or after restoring defaults), the Quick Setup dialog box will display on the screen. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to change the settings. Press the EXIT key to close the dialog box.

NOTE: The Quick Setup settings can be changed at any time. See each menu option in The Menu System for details.

7

Power On

What’s on the Control Head

Your HELIX Series user interface is easy to use. A combination of keys, different views, and situation-specific, customizable menus allows you to control what you see on the color display. Refer to the following illustration and see Key Functions, Views, and The Menu System for more information.

	2	VIEW	3
			4
	5
	7	MENU	6
1		MARK
			8
		EXIT
	9	GOTO
		MOB
			10
1	microSD Card Slot	MENU Key		6
2	ZOOM (+/-) Keys	MARK Key		7
3	VIEW Key	EXIT Key		8
4	4-WAY Cursor Control Key (LEFT, RIGHT, UP, or DOWN)	GOTO/MOB Key		9
5	CHECK/INFO Key	POWER/LIGHT Key		10

What’s on the Control Head

8

Key Functions

Your control head consists of a set of easy-to-use keys that work with various on-screen views and menus.

POWER/LIGHT Key

The POWER/LIGHT key is used to power the control head on and off. You can also use the POWER/LIGHT key to adjust the backlight and contrast of the display.

Power On: Press the POWER/LIGHT key to power on the unit. When the Title screen is displayed, press the MENU key to access the Start-Up Options Menu.

Power Off: Press and hold the POWER/LIGHT key for 3 seconds. A message will appear to indicate how many seconds there are until shutdown occurs. To ensure that shutdown occurs properly and any menu settings will be saved, your control head should always be turned off using the POWER/LIGHT key.

Adjust the Backlight or the Display Background Color: Press the POWER/LIGHT key to access the Light and Background submenu. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to select Light or Background, and then use the LEFT or RIGHT Cursor key to change the settings. Press EXIT to exit the Light and Background submenu.

Turn Sonar On or Off: From the Light and Background submenu, use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to select Sonar. Use the LEFT or RIGHT Cursor key to change the setting. See Setup Menu Tab: Sonar for more information.

VIEW Key

The VIEW key is used to cycle through all available views. Press the VIEW key to advance to the next view. Repeatedly pressing VIEW cycles through all views available (see Views or Views Menu Tab).

NOTE: Press the EXIT key to cycle through the views in reverse order.

CHECK/INFO Key

Press the CHECK/INFO key while in Bird's Eye, Chart, or Combo View to display information about objects that are near an active cursor. If the cursor is not active, the Chart Info submenu will be displayed. See Views: Viewing Cartography for more information.

9	Key Functions

MENU Key

The MENU key is used to access the menu system. See The Menu System for more information.

•Start-Up Options Menu: Press the MENU key during the power up sequence to view the Start-Up Options menu.

•X-Press Menu: Press the MENU key once in any view to access the X-Press Menu, which provides frequently-used menu settings that correspond with the current view or navigation mode.

•Main Menu: Press the MENU key twice in any view to access the Main Menu, which is organized under tabbed headings to help you find a specific menu item quickly.

4-WAY Cursor Control Key

(LEFT, RIGHT, UP, or DOWN Cursor keys)

The 4-WAY Cursor Control key has multiple functions, depending on the view, menu, or situation.

•Menu Selection: Press the DOWN or UP Cursor keys to highlight a menu option, then press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to change a menu setting.

NOTE: Menu settings are implemented and saved immediately - no further action is required.

•Freeze Frame: In Sonar View and Down Imaging View, press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to freeze the display and move the active cursor to a location on the screen. A cursor dialog box will display to show the depth of the location you choose.

•Active Cursor: Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key, and the active cursor will appear on the screen.

•Chart View: Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to pan the chart and highlight decluttered waypoint icons.

NOTE: In Freeze Frame or Active Cursor mode, you can also make the cursor move diagonally by pressing in between two of the arrows on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key.

•Bird’s Eye View: The 4-WAY Cursor Control key controls the motion of the eye point.

•Snapshot and Recording View: Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to highlight a recording icon, and then press the RIGHT Cursor key to start recording playback. Press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to control the speed of playback.

•Circular Flasher View (Ice Fishing Mode: On): Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to move the Depth Cursor. Press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to adjust the Zoom Range (see Views: Circular Flasher View).

Key Functions

10

MARK Key

Press the MARK key while in any view to mark the position of a waypoint.

•Active Cursor: The waypoint will be marked at the cursor location.

•Without Active Cursor: The waypoint will be marked at the boat location.

•If Screen Snapshot is active, a waypoint will be created, and a screen snapshot will also be saved to the optional-purchase microSD Card (see Views: Snapshot and Recording View). Navigation is not affected by the Screen Snapshot feature.

NOTE: If Screen Snapshot is enabled but there is not a GPS receiver connected, pressing the MARK key will capture the screen image and display an error saying that a GPS position fix is required to create a waypoint.

NOTE: You must have an optional-purchase microSD Card installed for the screen snapshot feature to work.

GOTO/Man Overboard Key

The GOTO/MOB key has multiple functions, depending on the situation:

•Active Cursor: Press the GOTO key while in any view to create a waypoint and start navigation towards that waypoint.

•Without Active Cursor: Press the GOTO key to display the saved waypoints list, and then highlight a waypoint. Press the RIGHT Cursor key to begin navigation.

•Man Overboard: Press and hold the GOTO key for more than 1.5 seconds to activate the Man Overboard (MOB) function. Once MOB is activated, any current navigation will be cancelled and the current route will be discarded without notification (see Introduction to Navigation: Man Overboard (MOB) Navigation).

11	Key Functions

ZOOM (+/–) Key

The Zoom (+/–) key has multiple functions, depending on the situation:

•In any of the Navigation Views or the Sonar Zoom View, press the +/– Zoom key to change the scale of the view to appear closer or farther away. See Views and Introduction to Navigation for more information.

•In the Circular Flasher View (Ice Fishing Mode: On), press the +Zoom key to display a 2x magnified view of the selected area on the Flasher dial. See Views: Circular Flasher View for more information.

•Down Imaging View: Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to move the active cursor to a position on the screen. Press the + ZOOM key to magnify your selection. Press the – Zoom key to decrease the scale.

NOTE: The cursor must be active for the zoom feature to work in the Down Imaging View.

EXIT Key

The EXIT key has multiple functions, depending on the situation:

•If an alarm is sounding, press the EXIT key to cancel the alarm.

•If a menu tab is selected, press the EXIT key to exit the menu mode and return to the view.

•If a menu is active, press the EXIT key to return to the previous level in the menu system.

•From any view, press the EXIT key to cycle through the available views in reverse order.

•If Freeze Frame is active, press the EXIT key to return to a scrolling display.

•If the Cursor is active, press the EXIT key to remove the cursor from the display.

•If Down Imaging Zoom is active, press the EXIT key to remove the magnification box from the display and remove the cursor.

Key Functions

12

microSD Card Slot

The microSD card slot on your control head can be used with a microSD card (separate purchase required) to add detailed charts to your control head, import/export navigation data, and save sonar recordings (see Snapshot and Recording View for details).

NOTE: The microSD Card requires a separate purchase. For more information, visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.

To insert a microSD Card:

1. Remove the microSD card slot cover.

2. Position the microSD card so that the label faces the front of the control head and the card notches face down.

3. Insert the card into the slot until it clicks into place.

4. Replace the slot cover so it is secure.

5. To Remove: Press the card into the slot and then release it. The card will eject. Pull the card carefully from the slot.

NOTE: Do not leave the microSD card slot cover open. The slot cover should always be closed to prevent water damage to the unit.

Inserting a microSD Card into the Card Slot

13	microSD Card Slot

Add Maps to your Control Head

Your control head includes a built-in UniMap with a more detailed map of North America (Domestic models) or a detailed map of Europe and Southeast Asia, including Australia and New Zealand (International models).

You can also purchase microSD cards with additional chart information for a particular location.

NOTE: The microSD card requires a separate purchase. Your control head supports Humminbird LakeMaster, Navionics Gold, HotMaps, and HotMaps Premium on microSD card media. Your control head does NOT support Navionics Classic Charts or Platinum Cartography.

•Auto Select: When you install the microSD card in your control head, it will retrieve the chart and display it automatically.

•Chart Select: You can also choose which chart to display with the Chart Select menu option in the Chart Menu Tab (see Chart Menu Tab: Chart Select).

•Chart Layers: You can customize your Navigation Views by selecting which chart layers to display or hide (see Chart Menu Tab: Chart Detail Level).

•Map Borders: Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to move the active cursor within a map border, and press the +ZOOM key to view the different map (see Chart Menu Tab: Map Borders).

•Menu Options: The Chart Menu Tab will change to display menu options that correspond with the active chart (see Chart Menu Tab).

microSD Card Slot

14

Import Navigation Data

Review the following information before importing navigation data (waypoints, routes, tracks, or groups) into your Humminbird unit.

WARNING! DO NOT import navigation data from unknown sources into your Humminbird unit without first converting the data to the correct format using HumminbirdPC. Importing corrupted data can cause the unit to malfunction, which can result in lost navigation data.

•Import Humminbird Navigation Data: Insert a loaded microSD card into the control head card slot, and follow the on-screen prompts to import the waypoints, routes, tracks, and groups.

NOTE: For more information and instructions, see the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section of our Web site at humminbird.com or call Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.

Export Navigation Data

The Humminbird Waypoint Management dialog box allows you to export all of your navigation items to an installed, unlocked microSD card. You can also export selected items.

For more information, see Introduction to Navigation: What’s on the Waypoint Management Dialog Box. Also, see your Humminbird Waypoint Management Guide for complete details.

It is important to back up your control head’s data files (waypoints, routes, tracks, groups, recordings, etc.) periodically. You can also save, view, and organize your navigation data on your PC using HumminbirdPC. See your Humminbird online account for details at humminbird.com.

15	microSD Card Slot

To export all navigation data:

Use the following instructions to export all of the control head’s waypoints, routes, tracks, and groups to an installed, unlocked microSD card.

1.Insert an unlocked microSD card into the card slot.

2.Open the Waypoint Management Dialog Box: Press the MENU key twice. Press the RIGHT Cursor key until the Navigation tab is selected. Select Waypoints, Routes, Tracks. Press the RIGHT Cursor key.

3.Select Options > Select All and... > Export.

4.Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm or cancel the export.

To export selected navigation items:

Use the following instructions to select and export specific waypoints, routes, tracks, and groups to an installed, unlocked microSD card.

1.Insert an unlocked microSD card into the card slot.

2.Open the Waypoint Management Dialog Box: Press the MENU key twice. Press the RIGHT Cursor key until the Navigation tab is selected. Select Waypoints, Routes, Tracks. Press the RIGHT Cursor key.

3.From a selected group directory in the Waypoint Management dialog box, select Options > Select Multiple and... > Export.

4.Select Items: Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to scroll through the waypoints, routes, tracks, and groups. Press the RIGHT Cursor key to select an item. Repeat as needed.

5.Confirm Export: When you are finished selecting items, press the EXIT key to select Export Selected. Press the RIGHT Cursor key and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm or cancel the export.

NOTE: If a microSD card is not installed, an error message will be displayed. Insert the card and try again.

NOTE: The microSD card and adapter require separate purchases. Visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.

microSD Card Slot

16

Update Software

Set up an online account at humminbird.com so that you will receive the latest Humminbird news and software updates for your Humminbird model. You can also download HumminbirdPC from your account, which allows you to manage your waypoints, routes, and tracks on your personal computer.

NOTE: It is important to back up your control head’s data files (waypoints, routes, tracks, groups, recordings, etc.) periodically. Data files should also be saved to your PC before restoring the unit’s defaults or updating the software. See Export Navigation Data and Snapshot and Recording View for more information. Also, contact Humminbird Customer Service with any questions.

Required Equipment: Personal computer with Internet access, a formatted microSD card, and a microSD card adapter.

To update the control head software:

Inserting a microSD Card into the Adapter

1. Install a formatted microSD card into the adapter, and insert it into the slot on your PC.

2.Register your Control Head: Log on to humminbird.com. Click My Humminbird. Set up a new account.

3. Download: Select the My Equipment page. The available software updates are listed as

Downloads under each registered product.

Inserting a microSD Card into the Card Slot

• Under Downloads, click the file name.

• Read the instructions in the dialog box and select Download.

• Follow the on-screen prompts to save the software file to the microSD card.

4. Install the microSD card with the updated software file into the control head card slot.

5. Power on: The control head will recognize the new software and run through a series of prompts to confirm software installation.

17	microSD Card Slot

What’s on the Sonar Display

The Fishfinder can display a variety of useful information about the area under and adjacent to

Triplog

1

2

34

13

5

6

7

12

	1		Depth - Water depth can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow.
		2	Timer - Elapsed time with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.
Triplog	3		Distance - Distance traveled with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.

4 Average Speed - Average speed reading with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.

What’s on the Sonar Display

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(HELIX SONAR GPS, HELIX DI GPS, HELIX XD GPS only)

your boat, including the following items:

10

9

8

11

5 Voltage - Power supplied to the control head.

6 Temperature - Water surface temperature.

7Speed - If a Speed accessory or GPS receiver is connected, the Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat, and can keep a triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.

8Thermoclines - Layers of water with different temperatures that appear at different depths and different times of the year. A thermocline typically appears as a continuous band of many colors moving across the display at the same depth.

9Sonar Color Bar - Color spectrum indicating low to high sonar intensity returns, where red indicates high intensity and white indicates low intensity.

10Bait Ball

11RTS (Real Time Sonar) Window

12Second Sonar Return - When the sonar signal bounces between the bottom and the surface of the water and back again. Use the appearance of the second return to determine bottom hardness. Hard bottoms will show a strong second return, while soft bottoms will show a very weak one or none at all.

13Cursor - Available in Freeze Frame and can be positioned in the Sonar View to provide depth of a sonar return and bottom depth below the cursor. The Latitude and Longitude of the cursor position, the distance to travel to the cursor position, and the bearing to the cursor position are shown with a connected GPS receiver. Cursor information is displayed at the top of the screen.

19	What’s on the Sonar Display

Understanding the Sonar Display

It is important to understand the significance of the display. The display does NOT show a literal 3-dimensional representation of what is under the water. Each vertical band of data received by the control head and plotted on the display represents something that was detected by a sonar return at a particular time. As both the boat and the targets (fish) may be moving, the returns are only showing a particular segment of time when objects were detected, not exactly where those objects are in relation to other objects shown on the display.

The returned sonar echoes are displayed on the screen. As a new echo is received, the historical data scrolls left across the display.

Real Time Sonar (RTS) Window

A Real Time Sonar (RTS) Window appears on the right side of the display in the Sonar Views only. The RTS Window always updates at the fastest rate possible for depth conditions and shows only the returns from the bottom, structure and fish that are within the transducer beam. The RTS Window plots the depth and intensity of a sonar return. (See Sonar Menu Tab: Real Time Sonar (RTS) Window).

The Narrow RTS Window indicates the sonar intensity through the use of colors. Red indicates a strong return and blue indicates a weak return. The depth of the sonar return is indicated by the vertical placement of the return on the display depth scale.

The Wide RTS Window indicates the sonar intensity through the use of a bar graph. The length of the plotted return provides an indication of whether the return is weak or strong. The depth of the sonar return is indicated by the vertical placement of the return on the display depth scale. The Wide RTS Window does not use grayscale.

What’s on the Sonar Display

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	Sonar Colors: Original Palette		Sonar Colors and Bottom View
			As the boat moves, the unit charts the changes in depth on
	HIGH
			the display to create a profile of the Bottom Contour. The
	Intensity Return		Sonar View displays the sonar return intensity with different
			colors.
			Strong returns often result from rocky or hard bottoms
			(compacted sediment, rocks, fallen trees), while weaker
	MEDIUM		returns often result from soft bottoms (sand, mud), vegetation,
	Intensity Return		and small fish.
			The colors used to represent high, medium, to low intensity
			returns are determined by the palette you choose in the Sonar
			Colors menu option. See Sonar Menu Tab to set the Sonar
	LOW		Colors.
	Intensity Return

Sonar View: Original Palette

1

3

5

2

4

1	Sonar History: Historical returns scroll left across the view	Strong Return (possibly compacted sediment or rocks)	4
2	Strong Returns (possibly rocks, tree limbs, or other structure)	RTS Window	5
3	Weak Returns (possibly vegetation or small fish)

21	What’s on the Sonar Display

Use Bottom View to select the method used to represent bottom and structure on the display. See Sonar Menu to set the Bottom View.

Structure ID represents weak returns in blue and strong returns in red when Sonar Colors is set to Original. If the Sonar Colors palette is changed, the Structure ID will display the strongest return as specified by the palette. See Sonar Menu Tab: Sonar Colors for more information.

WhiteLine highlights the strongest sonar returns in white, resulting in a distinctive outline. This has the benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display.

What’s on the Sonar Display

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SwitchFire

SwitchFire controls how the sonar returns are displayed in the Sonar Views. SwitchFire settings are available in the Sonar Menu Tab.

To see the maximum sonar information available within the transducer beam so more fish arches and better jig tracking are shown, choose Max Mode.

To see less clutter and more fish size accuracy interpreted from the transducer beam, choose Clear Mode. See Sonar Menu Tab: SwitchFire for more information.

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor

Freeze Frame & Active Cursor - Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key, and the screen will freeze and a cursor will be displayed. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to move the cursor over a sonar return, and the depth of the sonar return will be displayed in the cursor dialog box.

The RTS Window continues to update in Freeze Frame. To return to a scrolling display and exit Freeze Frame, press the EXIT key. Freeze Frame is available in the Sonar, Split Sonar, and Sonar Zoom Views.

Instant Image Update

Instant Image Update - You can change a variety of sonar menu settings (such as Sensitivity or Upper Range), and the adjustments will be shown instantly on the screen.

23	What’s on the Sonar Display

What’s on the Down Imaging Display

Down Imaging uses unique sonar technology to provide information about the area directly that you see on the display. Down Imaging reveals a variety of recognizable features so that you

Triplog

1

2

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13

12

10

8

9

5

1 Depth - Water depth can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow.

2 Timer - Elapsed time with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.

Triplog	3	Distance - Distance traveled with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.

4 Average Speed - Average speed reading with Speed accessory or GPS receiver.

5Speed - If a GPS Receiver or Temp/Speed accessory is connected, the Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat and can keep a Triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.

What’s on the Down Imaging Display

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