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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Ice Fishing With Electronics => Topic started by: laer0302 on Dec 26, 2018, 08:06 PM

Title: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: laer0302 on Dec 26, 2018, 08:06 PM
I bought a Helix 5 last year, and I love it for the most part. I have one issue that I can't seem to figure out how to fix. The issue is when using the flasher display, the bottom keeps jumping around the display. Like, on the round dial, it will show the bottom 3/4's of the way around the dial for a few seconds, then the bottom "mark" moves on the dial like an inch forward, then it will go back, it's almost constantly moving around, and it drives me nuts! It's even worse when using zoom. I looked through the settings while out on the ice, and couldn't find one that would seem to correct it, but it's hard to monkey with those settings on the ice when you don't know exactly what they do, and I don't want to make it worse.

Everything else seems to work fine, I can pick up my jig, it marks fish just fine, and gives accurate depth readings, I just can't get that bottom mark/indicator to stop jumping around.

If anyone has any idea how to fix that, I would greatly appreciate some assistance. In the mean time, I'm going to look through the manual and see if that has any answers.

Thanks for the help!!!
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: vanhln on Dec 26, 2018, 09:32 PM
Last year I used a Gen1 Helix 5 and liked it.  This year bumping up to Helix 7.  Under one of the menus, there are max and min depth settings.  I find that you should manually set those at each hole.  Attached are some of the settings I've seen on this site and compiled, but I've never seen the bottom jumping on my Helix 5.  I also used the freshwater transducer all winter.  I also know that different guys believe in different settings, so start with the attached settings and work from there....
(https://i.postimg.cc/k22tdvM0/Helix-5-Settings.png) (https://postimg.cc/k22tdvM0)
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: Yankee Troller on Dec 27, 2018, 03:00 PM
That's a weird one. I've had the HELIX 7 Gen1 and the HELIX 5 G2 and haven't had that issue. I typically take it off "auto" depth and go 2-3' deeper than what I'm in. Maybe it's picking up your jig? Or maybe the weeds below are causing it to change bottom depending on density at times?

Make sure you're up to date on the software. If it keeps happening see if you can find someone with the same unit and swap out ducers. That would let you know if your ducer is faulty.
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: 3300 on Dec 27, 2018, 05:22 PM
auto depth is a problem for other brands as well.
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: laer0302 on Dec 28, 2018, 09:19 AM
Thanks guys, I think this is definitely an issue with the auto range. Next time out, I'll setting the range manually, and see if that helps.
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: efka on Dec 28, 2018, 01:16 PM
Is your bottom lock off?
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: laer0302 on Dec 30, 2018, 09:01 PM
Hmm, not sure. Where do I find that setting?
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: Yankee Troller on Dec 31, 2018, 06:22 AM
Hmm, not sure. Where do I find that setting?

There is no "bottom lock" setting on HB. Keeping your lower depth readout in "Auto" is basically a bottom lock function.
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: ice dawg on Dec 31, 2018, 11:17 AM
(Sonar zoom view only) settings are on, off, default= off.
I googled helix 5 bottom lock to get this info. I believe that lets you use bottom view which is explained there also.
Title: Re: Question for fellow Helix 5 (or 7) users
Post by: laer0302 on Dec 31, 2018, 06:47 PM
Ahh, I'll checks that out as well. Was able to test out manually setting my lower range today, and that completely fixed the issue. So, thanks for all the help and suggestions everyone!