Humminbird 1199ci HD SI Combo

The 1199ci HD SI Combo is one of the discontinued Humminbird units. It’s one of the older fish finder and chartplotter combos without CHIRP sonar technology. It has long been replaced by the HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G3N, and several other newer models.  However, it still offers a fairly decent range of sonar and navigation features. For reference, this is the Humminbird part number 409230-1.

Key Features and Specifications

• Screen: 10.4″ diagonal, 800H x 600V pixel resolution, color TFT, with backlight
• Sonar: HD Side Imaging, HD Down Imaging, DualBeam Plus with SwitchFire
• Depth Capability:
  • 150 feet (45 m) for SI and DI
  • 1500 feet (457 m) on DualBeam Plus
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • DualBeam Plus (2D): 200 kHz / 20° and 83 kHz / 60°
  • Down Imaging: 455 kHz / 75° and 800 kHz / 45°
  • Side Imaging: 455 / 800 kHz, total coverage 180°, 480′ (147 m) side-to-side
• Transducer: Transom XHS 9 HDSI 180 T
• Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• Power Input: 10-20 VDC
• GPS: Internal, Precision
• Maps: ContourXD
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 45; 2,750; 50 (20,000 points each)

Sonar features

To begin with, this unit has built-in Side Imaging and Down Imaging sonar, and of course with the transducer to support both these technologies. The transducer supplied with it is the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T. It covers the 83/200/455/800 kHz frequencies. It has an internal temperature sensor, 20′ (6 m) of cable, and a transom mount.

In Side Imaging, this fish finder covers a distance of 480 ft. (147 m) from side-to-side, or in other words, 240 ft. (73 m) on each side of the boat. The side beams offered by the Side Imaging sonar are 86° at 455 kHz, and a bit narrower if using the 800 kHz frequency. For Down Imaging, the transducer uses a beam of 75° at 455 kHz, and a narrower, more focused one for more detail, of 45° at 800 kHz. Both SI and DI views offer crystal-clear imaging, making it much easier to locate fish and to understand what’s under and on each side of the boat, and to determine the correct depth and relation to the boat of each and every fish.

The transducer also comes with a built-in temperature sensor, enabling the unit to indicate water temperature. On top of that, this unit also provides a Temperature Graph function, which can be overlayed onto the sonar view, in order to observe any potential water temperature variations, detect currents etc.

In 2D, this transducer covers two frequencies as well: 200 kHz, with a narrow, focused beam for more detail, of 20°, and 83 kHz, with a wider beam of 60°. Since it’s a DualBeam Plus unit, you can observe both 2D sonar returns in split screen, or blended together. Also, the split screen function gives you the possibility to view all types of sonar and maps, in a 2-by-2 manner.

There are several other sonar-related functions that this unit can offer. One of them is SwitchFire. This function supplies a quick switch between a view with all the sonar information available, and a clear view, focusing on fish size accuracy. Bottom Lock is a function that keeps the sonar view close to the bottom, regardless the changes of depth, “flattening” the contour and focusing on the fish returns near the bottom. This is actually a great function to look for bottom feeders, along with the Down Imaging.

Selective FishID+ is another nice function to have. This different sonar view gives various fish icons to the sonar returns interpreted as fish. It’s quite useful if you’re not familiar with the 2D sonar view, and don’t know how to distinguish between structure and fish properly.

Last but not least, this Humminbird fish finder has a Sonar Recording function. This feature gives you the possibility to record sonar and review later, along with the waypoints you may have saved. It also supplies a quick scroll back through the recorded sonar feed, in case you have missed a certain spot, or want to make a comparison between several returns. This function requires a blank SD memory card, in order to save the recorded sonar. The recorded sonar feed cannot be saved into the memory of the unit.

Navigation features

The 1199ci HD SI Combo features an accurate and fast-lock, 50-channel internal GPS. The GPS receiver of this unit also uses information from WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS, in order to provide fixes within 2.5 meters. It comes with the ContourXD charts pack built-in, covering over 3,000 lakes, also giving you the possibility to sail directly to key fishing spots, follow channels and contours, and quickly find all the drops that might have a decent amount of fish. The ContourXD charts provide much more information than fishing spots, channels, humps, and drops, though. Major roads, boat access points, navigational aids, and others.

Along with the basic 2D view, this unit also offers a 3D perspective of the track and the chart’s land contour, from s point above and slightly behind your boat. Needless to say, this offers superior navigational awareness, helping with the safest track.

Speaking of tracks, this unit can store up to 50 tracks, 20,000 breadcrumb points each. It can also store up to 2,750 waypoints and 45 routes, data which can also be saved and exported via SD memory card.

Control unit features

The head unit of the 1199ci HD SI Combo offers one of the biggest screens available on a fish finder unit at the moment. At 10.4″ in diagonal, it can accommodate with no problem, plenty of sonar and navigation information at once, in split-screen or full screen. Although the pixel resolution only 800H x 600V, as opposed to 1024H x 798V featured by the ONIX units, the images provided are pretty sharp and clear. The unit is IP67 waterproof, which means its screen is dust-tight and can withstand incidental water exposure or immersion in up to 1 m, for up to 30 min. The screen is also LED-backlit, for maximum readability, when it’s dark or in direct sunlight.

There are two mounting options for this unit, gimbal, and in-dash. The second one is optional, though.

This unit is furnished with a high-speed processor, superior to the previous 1100 series units. It offers Ethernet, NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 connectivity options. Also, it has dual SD card slots a great feature to have in case you are using a charts chip, and one to backup recorded sonar or waypoints, tracks, and routes.

Upgrade Possibilities and Other Options

Along with the included features and technologies, this Humminbird unit also leaves quite an impressive room for upgrades. First of all, the unit’s internal software is upgradable, and all software upgrades are free.

In case the ContourXD mapping doesn’t offer enough detail for you, this unit supports various other charts packs, such as Navionic Platinum+, Navionics Gold/HotMaps, Lakemaster, and Humminbird Mapping. All the mapping packs offer better detail and different additional features.

In terms of sonar upgrade possibilities, this unit is compatible with various other transducers. For example, with an optional 50 kHz deepwater transducer, the unit’s depth capability can reach 3,000 ft. It accepts QuadraBeam Plus sonar, for extra side sonar view in 2D. Also, 360 Imaging is on the list of possible sonar upgrades.

Other options available for this unit are HD Radar, iPilot Link, AIS.

Summary

The Humminbird 1199ci HD SI Combo is one of the discontinued Humminbird fish finders. It’s also a chartplotter, pre-loaded with the ContourXD charts, and has built-in GPS. It offers standard sonar, Down Imaging, and Side Imaging, and comes with the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T transducer. It’s a great unit for a wide array of boats, for both off-shore and in-land fishing.