Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2

Although the HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 is one of the older Humminbird units, is hasn’t been discontinued yet. It’s one of the 5-inch GPS and sonar combos, preloaded with the Humminbird Basemap charts. For reference, this is the Humminbird part number 410210-1.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 5″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel resolution, 16-bit color TFT, with LED backlight
• Sonar: CHIRP DualBeam Plus with SwitchFire
• Depth Capability: 1500 feet (457 m)
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • 200 kHz (175-225 kHz) / 20°
  • 83 kHz (75-95 kHz) / 60°
• Transducer: Transom XNT 9 20 T
• Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• Power Input: 10-20 VDC
• GPS: Internal
• Maps: Humminbird Basemap
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 45; 2,500; 50 (20,000 points each)

Sonar and transducer

The HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 is capable of 50/83/200 kHz, but the transducer that comes with it is the XNT 9 20 T, and supports only the 83/200 kHz frequencies. Thus, in order to use the 50 kHz mode, you will need a 50/200 kHz transducer.

The unit is equipped with CHIRP sonar technology. Therefore, it can modulate the pulse generated by the transducer over a range of frequencies, in order to provide superior target separation, better imaging with less clutter, a better bottom lock, and superior depth capabilities. In CHIRP mode, the pulse will actually be modulated between 175-225 kHz instead of 200 kHz, or between 75-95 kHz instead of 83 kHz. The transducer uses conical beams with angles of 60° and respectively 20° for these frequencies. These two frequency intervals are actually close to Med CHIRP and High CHIRP. But if you opt for a 50/200 kHz transducer, the unit will be able to modulate pulse between 28-75 kHz and 130-250 kHz.

This unit does not have Side Imaging, nor Down Imaging, only traditional 2D sonar. However, its sonar is DualBeam Plus, which means you can scan the water under the boat with both sonar beams at the same time. The fish arches, structure, and other objects caught by the sonar beams will differ in color depending on which beam hit them.

The supplied transducer integrates a water temperature sensor, therefore the unit can track the temperature of the topwater. With the supplied transducer, the system’s depth capability can reach 1,500 ft. (457 m), while if you opt for the deepwater transducer, its depth capability will increase to 2,500 ft. (762 m).

There are several other functions available with this unit. To begin with, the Selective Fish ID+ is a sonar view that replaces the fish arches (or at least the sonar returns that are considered fish) with fish symbols. The depth of each fish symbol is displayed above it. The color of the fish symbols indicates the sonar beam that has caught them. For example, the fish detected by the 200 kHz beam will appear orange, while the ones in the 83 kHz beam will appear green. A Fish Alarm is also available with the Fish ID+ mode. This fish alarm has 3 settings. You can enable it to sound for Large, Large/Medium and All fish targets detected.

Sonar Recording is another useful function offered by the HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2. This allows the rewind of the sonar feed, giving you the possibility to have a second look at a specific spot if you want a second look, without returning to re-scan that place. This function requires a blank microSD card as support for the recording.

SwitchFire and Circular Flasher are two other important sonar features.

SwitchFire is actually a quick filter, which gives you the possibility to quickly swap between Clear Mode and Max Mode. The Clear Mode view removes most of the clutter, leaving only the strongest targets and the bottom on the screen. This way, you can focus on the bigger fish targets only. Max Mode offers a view with all the sonar information that the system was able to detect, thus you will be able to see more fish arches and other targets.

The Circular Flasher puts the sonar information in a ring-based diagram. The intensity of each sonar return is displayed in various colors on the outer circle. It’s a great function to use when ice fishing or for stationary fishing.

Last but not least, Bottom Lock and Real-Time Sonar (RTS) are two functions also available with this unit. The Bottom Lock gives you the possibility to focus the bottom and a certain portion of the water column near it. This function places the view at a constant point in relation to the bottom, regardless of depth changes, which sort of “flattens” the contour, but on the other hand is more effective at showing fish targets that are close to the bottom. Real-Time Sonar (or A-Scope) is a vertical flasher view, which appears in the right side of the 2D sonar view, and indicates the strength of the most recent sonar return. So, basically this function lets you know when a fish return is directly under the boat.

Navigation functions

Although the first versions of the HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 came preloaded with a set of very basic charts (UniMap), the latest versions have the Humminbird Basemap charts. These charts cover more than 10,000 U.S lakes with 1-foot depth contours, and also provide coverage for coastal waters, showing depth markers, buoys, hazards, marinas, nav-aids, and various other points of interest. Plus, the unit is compatible with the Navionics+, Navionics Gold, Navionics Platinum+, LakeMaster, LakeMaster Plus, and SmartStrike fishing charts.

The AutoChart Live application is also available with this Humminbird unit. This particular application uses the unit’s GPS and 2D sonar data in order to allow you to map basically any body of water, revealing its most up to date depth contours. The unit can record up to 8 hours of mapping data. So, if the unit’s maps don’t offer sufficient detail for your lake, you can create your own custom fishing map with the most up to date contours.

Needless to say, the unit has an internal GPS module, offering quick fixes, and with an accuracy of 2.5 m. Fixes can be enhanced by WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS. The vessel’s speed is also covered by the GPS system.

Last but not least, the unit can save up to 2,500 waypoints, 45 routes, and 50 tracks, each track with up to 50,000 track points.

Control unit features

First of all, this unit has a classic, button navigation and operation. It does not have touchscreen technology like the ONIX8ci SI Combo for example. It has a small, 5-inch display, with an 800 x 480 pixel layout which provides quite some surface to work with, especially in single view. It also features a 16-bit color range, also incorporating LED backlight.

The waterproof rating of this unit is IPX7, which basically means that it can resist incidental water exposure such as rain, snow or splashes. It can even resist full immersions in freshwater, up to 1 meter and 30 min. However, saltwater is best to be kept away from its connectors.

The unit comes with a gimbal-type mount, but there’s also the option of an in-dash mounting kit. Also, in terms of connectivity, this Humminbird fishfinder and chartplotter has an NMEA 0183 output and a microSD card reader with one slot, for charts upgrades, sonar recordings, snapshots, or software updates.

The Pros

• DualBeam Plus sonar with SwitchFire;
• CHIRP sonar technology;
• Powerful transducer (XNT 9 20 T), CHIRP capable and temperature capable, with transom mount;
• Depth capability up to 1,500 ft with the included transducer;
• Multiple sonar functions available, such as RTS, Bottom Lock, Selective Fish ID+, Alarms etc;
• Sonar Recording and Screen Snapshot functions;
• Precision GPS with MSAS, ENGONS and WAAS enhancing;
• Humminbird Basemaps included;
• AutoChart Live;
• Trackplotting, routes and waypoints functions;
• 800 x 480 resolution, 16-bit color display, with LED backlight, providing clear images, easy to read even in direct sunlight;
• IPX7 waterproof;
• NMEA 0183 port;
• MicroSD card reader (1 slot);
• Upgradable internal software;
• Gimbal mount included;
• Fairly easy to install.

The Cons

• No unit cover.

Summary

The HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G2 is a fish finder and chartplotter from Humminbird, featuring DualBeam Plus sonar with CHIRP, GPS, Humminbird Basemap charts and the XNT 9 20 T transducer. It’s one of the most affordable chartplotters from Humminbird at the moment. Along with the CHIRP sonar improvement, it also has AutoChart Live, giving you the possibility to map any body of water revealing the newest depth contours. Its internal charts may not be the best, but the good news is they’re upgradable. It’s a system great for boats of all sizes, for both saltwater and freshwater. Therefore, considering that it’s a CHIRP capable unit, comes with a transducer that covers all its sonar functions, has GPS and excellent charting capabilities, we can safely say it offers a decent price/value ratio.