Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4

The HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G4 is one of the Humminbird fish finder and chartplotter units released in 2021. In terms of features, it is pretty similar to the older HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G3. However, the unit’s display has a richer pixel resolution and also supports CoastMaster charts. For reference, this is the Humminbird part number 411620-1.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 7-inch diagonal, 1024H x 600V pixel resolution, WVGA 16-bit color TFT, with LED backlight
• Sonar: Dual Spectrum CHIRP, CHIRP Mega Side Imaging, CHIRP Mega Down Imaging
• Transducer: Transom XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T
• Frequency and Coverage:
  2D Narrow Mode: 180-240 kHz / 25°
  2D Wide mode: 140-200 kHz / 42°
  2D Full mode: 150-220 kHz (adjustable) / 42°
  Down Imaging: 440-500 kHz / 75°
  Mega Down Imaging: 1075-1150 kHz / 75°
  Side Imaging: 440-500 kHz / 86°
  Mega Side Imaging: 1075-1150 kHz / 86°
• Beam range (with the included transducer):
  Dual Spectrum CHIRP: 1,200 ft. (365 m)
  Down Imaging: 400 ft. (122 m)
  Mega Down Imaging: 75 ft. (23 m)
  Side Imaging: 800 ft. (244 m)
  Mega Side Imaging: 250 ft. (76 m)
• Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• Power Input: 10.8-20V DC
• Power Draw: 800 mA
• GPS: 10 Hz, internal
• Cartography: Humminbird Basemap
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 45; 2,750; 50 (20,000 points each)

Sonar and transducer

Since it’s a Mega SI unit, the Humminbird HELIX 411620-1 offers three sonar technologies. These are Dual Spectrum CHIRP, Down Imaging, and Side Imaging. Of course, for both DI and SI, it has the Mega mode.

The unit supports multiple base frequencies, including 50/83/200 kHz for the standard sonar, and 455/800/1200 kHz for the structure scanning sonar. However, it does not support MEGA Live Imaging, or 360 MEGA Imaging, as it does not have Ethernet.

The unit comes with the XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T transducer. This is a plastic transducer featuring 20 ft. (6 m) of cable, a transom mount, and an internal temperature sensor. This transducer supports the 455 kHz and 1.2 MHz for structure scanning, but only the High CHIRP frequency range (200 kHz) for the standard sonar.

For standard CHIRP, the transducer uses conical beams. Their beam angles are 25° for the Narrow mode, and 42° for the Wide and Full modes. The maximum depth range for the CHIRP sonar (with the included transducer) is 1,200 ft. (365 m).

For SI and DI, the transducer uses oval beams. The Down Imaging beam (440-500 kHz) has a beam angle of 75°, and a depth range of 400 ft. (122 m). The MEGA DI beam offers a similar coverage but a depth range of only 75 ft. (23 m). The Side Imaging beams (440-500 kHz) have 86° angles and a side-to-side range of 800 ft. (244 m) (400 ft. on each side). The MEGA SI beams (1075-1150 kHz) have similar beam angles, but only offer a side-to-side range of 250 ft. (76 m) (125 ft. on each side of the boat).

This Humminbird fish finder also offers a fairly decent range of standard sonar features. The list includes Selective Fish ID, A-Scope, SwitchFire, Bottom Lock, WhiteLine, Split Zoom, various alarms, and more. Sonar Recording and Sonar Snapshot are also available, as well as a Circular Flasher mode for ice fishing, and a Temperature Graph.

Navigation features

The Humminbird HELIX 411620-1 is also a chartplotter. It is equipped with a 10 Hz internal GPS receiver. It offers position updates 10 times per second, has a GPS speed function, and supports WAAS, MSAS, and EGNOS for position augmentation.

The unit does not have Ethernet but does have a communications port. Therefore, it does not support radar or i-Pilot Link, but does support AIS units, GPS heading sensors, and autopilots.

Route creation, waypoint saving, and trackplotting functions are available as well. The unit can hold up to 2,750 waypoints in its memory, 47 routes, and 50 tracks. Each route can have 50 waypoints in it, and each track can have a length of 20,000 points.

Like most other units in this series, the Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4 comes pre-loaded with the Humminbird Basemap. This chart platform covers more than 10,000 U.S lakes with 1 ft. depth contours, and also provides coverage for coastal waters, showing depth markers, buoys, hazards, marinas, nav-aids, and various other points of interest. However, the unit also supports Navionics charts, as well as LakeMaster, CoastMaster, and SmartStrike fishing charts.

Last but not least, the unit has the AutoChart Live feature. This particular application gives you the possibility to detect and record the depth contours of a body of water. Thus, if the Humminbird Basemap charts don’t offer satisfying coverage for your favorite lake, you can always map it yourself with the AC Live feature. The unit can hold up to 8 hours of recording.

Control unit features

As we’ve mentioned above, the HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G4 has a richer pixel resolution than the older model. The pixel matrix is 1024H x 600V (up from 800 x 480). Evidently, this richer resolution offers clearer imaging for both sonar and maps. The unit also has LED backlight and it’s IPX7 waterproof.

The control unit does not have touchscreen technology. It only has the side keypad. It has the same buttons as the HELIX 7 CHIRP SI GPS G4. These are MENU, GO TO, Mark (waypoint), +/- for zoom control, View (shortcut), Exit, Power, and the cursor control key.

Since it’s a G4 (not a G4N) unit, it does not have Ethernet, NMEA 2000, HDMI, or wireless connectivity. However, it does have a communications port through which you can link an AIS or heading sensor unit. Apart from the com. port, it only has the power cable connector and the transducer connector. It also has a microSD card slot that you can use for chart updates, data backup, sonar recording, or software updates.

The mount included with the unit is the standard gimbal model. The in-dash mount is not included. Also, the box does not include a unit cover.

The Pros

• Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar;
• CHIRP Side Imaging sonar;
• CHIRP Down Imaging sonar;
• MEGA SI and MEGA DI modes;
• XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T transducer included;
• Depth capability up to 1,200 ft. with the included transducer;
• Multiple sonar functions are available, such as A-Scope, Bottom Lock, Fish ID+, Circular Flasher, Alarms, etc;
• Sonar Recording and Screen Snapshot functions;
• 10 Hz internal GPS;
• Humminbird Basemap charts included;
• Supports LakeMaster, CoastMaster, Navionics, and SmartStrike charts;
• AutoChart Live ready, function that gives you the possibility to map or re-map any body of water;
• Trackplotting, routes, and waypoints functions;
• 1024 x 600 resolution;
• IPX7 waterproof;
• NMEA 0183 support;
• MicroSD card slot;
• Upgradable internal software;
• Gimbal mount included;
• Fairly easy to install.

The Cons

• In-dash mounting kit is not included;
• A unit cover is not included.

Summary

The Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4 is a fish finder and chartplotter. It offers Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar, MEGA Down Imaging sonar, and MEGA Side Imaging sonar. It comes with the XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T transducer. It has internal GPS and is pre-loaded with the Humminbird Basemap. It also has AutoChart Live. It’s a mid-range fish finder, great for a wide variety of boats, for both inland and off-shore fishing and navigation.