Helix 5 Transducer issue

[volume4130]

I upgraded to a Helix 5 Chirp Di GPS G2, from a 385 Ice unit.  I have the same ice ducer from the original unit and it seemed to work last ice season fine.  This year, when I drop the ducer in, it works, but when I bring it to another hole, it reads .7 ft and the round depth indicator seems to be frozen at that depth, thinking it's .7' when its no where near that.  When I pull it out, and let it sit, sometimes it works when I put it back in, and sometimes it still stays at that shallow depth.  If I take the setup out and turn the unit off, then put it into another hole and then turn it on, it seems to work, but that's a pain if I'm hopping around from hole to hole, and I also use it to check depth for tip ups.

Anyone have this issue, or any idea what's going on?  The transducer is several years old, but I wouldn't say it gets hard use, is it just worn out?  Is there some kind of reset on the ducer?  Don't want to buy a new one if I don't have to.

[rundrave]

how deep of water are you fishing?

I have run into the same issue where in advanced mode I have max depth set to say 25ft. And then I go fish a lake that is 30ft deep and it gets messed up just as you described. I then set max depth to say 33 feet and the issue goes away.

I haven't had good luck with the auto depth so I usually just turn that off and manually set it.

[hardwater diehard]

Suggest latest update version..and set manual depth mode ..if you get in real trouble a factory/reset default and begin anew

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=323231.msg3403808#msg3403808

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=326559.msg3450502#msg3450502

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=324580.msg3440086#msg3440086

[volume4130]

Thanks for the good links and info!  I'll try it out this weekend.

[jethro]

I have a gen1 Helix 5 and it often needs a factory reset to get it working again.

[sparksNfishing]

I have a gen1 Helix 5 and it often needs a factory reset to get it working again.

I'm going to try this tonight. Mine is the G2 gps w/ chirp and seems to lag and glitch out on the screen. I bought it last year and sure hope theres no major issues. Thanks for the idea. Its been frustrating to say the least. Any idea what happens if im using the zero lines SD? I'll remove it when resetting but do you think it will need the new software and firmware upgrades each time it's reset?

[MT204]

Have a Helix 8 and if bottom lock is on it does that.

[hardwater diehard]

I'm going to try this tonight. Mine is the G2 gps w/ chirp and seems to lag and glitch out on the screen. I bought it last year and sure hope theres no major issues. Thanks for the idea. Its been frustrating to say the least. Any idea what happens if im using the zero lines SD? I'll remove it when resetting but do you think it will need the new software and firmware upgrades each time it's reset?

You should upgrade the software first ..may fix a lot of your issues ..as these units hit the ice more and more nuances can be detected and fixed with updates and patches via customer/user feedback ...doing a factory reset ..should just restore the factory settings ..if you played with your unit it could have gotten into the weeds of settings ..not contusive to ice fishing ..if you bought it last year I bet there is an update .

[MT204]

You should upgrade the software first ..may fix a lot of your issues ..as these units hit the ice more and more nuances can be detected and fixed with updates and patches via customer/user feedback ...doing a factory reset ..should just restore the factory settings ..if you played with your unit it could have gotten into the weeds of settings ..not contusive to ice fishing ..if you bought it last year I bet there is an update .

Just a reminder that the bottom lock feature after a reset by default is "on".
Ask me how I know.

[hardwater diehard]

Just a reminder that the bottom lock feature after a reset by default is "on".
Ask me how I know.

I would think maybe an update "should" fix that ..when switching to ice mode ..just a thought

[MT204]

I would think maybe an update "should" fix that ..when switching to ice mode ..just a thought

Maybe different on a 5 but just went threw this with a 6 month old Helix 8 gen3 I set up for ice with all the current updates. After 3 e-mails Humminbird is aware of it and says it is not a bug.
Also on mine when I switch from Boat mode to ice mode all the custom setting in boat mode go away.

[sparksNfishing]

It is definitely possible that the settings are a bit wonky. I use it in the kayak all summer as well but it also seems to have a connection issue with the XI9 1521 transducer. It quite often boots in simulation and doesn't seem to recognize there is a transducer on it, telling me none are connected. I haven't seen this in summer yet. Would anyone with some electronics back ground and has been into the internals of the helix models know if the PCB is entirely conformal coated or is it possible that when I take it out of a warm truck and into the cold there's condensation building internally and causing issues that way? How about running a lithium battery too, do they always show 100%?

Does anyone else's connections "click" into place or do they all just push in without any effort and retention?

[hardwater diehard]

Lithium run a long time at 100% ...then drop to 80% run some more ..then nothing no warning ..this is on my Vexilar FL18 .. Once again ..update ..factory default ..and while at home turn off bottom lock ..then head to the lake ..and mess with the settings ..that video and links should get you going.Maybe make some notes and/or screen shots of the recommended settings ..then play with them on ice ..most of the setting can be set up at home ..as long as the unit dosent lose power should stay .

[volume4130]

My issue was when I switched holes with the unit.  I did an online chat with Humminbird and they told me to push the power button once, and that will turn the sonar off, then pull it from the hole and once its in the next hole to push the power button again.  She said when the transducer comes out of the water, it keeps pinging for anything in range, which could be the ice close by, or something much further, then the unit freezes up.  Not sure if that will work, but I'll try it next time I'm out for sure.

I've been reading a lot on here about setting these units up (thanks to all who posted links!) and it could be something in the settings too.  We'll find out this weekend hopefully.

[hardwater diehard]

My money is if the bottom lock is on ..that can/will cause some problems...once again factory reset/default ..making sure the bottom lock is off .

https://www.humminbird.com/support/faqs/DepthReadings

https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/search?_ga=2.236781894.69852006.1612451510-23520426.1612451510#?cludoquery=ice%20transducer&cludoCategory=FAQs&cludopage=4&cludorefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.humminbird.com%2Fsupport%2Ffaqs&cludorefpt=FAQs%20%7C%20Page%204%20%7C%20Humminbird&cludoengine=10001337

https://www.humminbird.com/support/faqs/DepthReadings?_gl=1*d3mf0z*_ga*MjM1MjA0MjYuMTYxMjQ1MTUxMA..*_ga_JE4T2LF5XP*MTYxMjQ1MTYxNy4yLjEuMTYxMjQ1MTc4Mi41MQ..&_ga=2.4310900.69852006.1612451510-23520426.1612451510

https://www.humminbird.com/support/faqs/TransducerNotConnected?_gl=1*1ixbb04*_ga*MjM1MjA0MjYuMTYxMjQ1MTUxMA..*_ga_JE4T2LF5XP*MTYxMjQ1MTYxNy4yLjEuMTYxMjQ1MTg0NC42MA..&_ga=2.4310900.69852006.1612451510-23520426.1612451510

[MT204]

My issue was when I switched holes with the unit.  I did an online chat with Humminbird and they told me to push the power button once, and that will turn the sonar off, then pull it from the hole and once its in the next hole to push the power button again.  She said when the transducer comes out of the water, it keeps pinging for anything in range, which could be the ice close by, or something much further, then the unit freezes up.  Not sure if that will work, but I'll try it next time I'm out for sure.

I've been reading a lot on here about setting these units up (thanks to all who posted links!) and it could be something in the settings too.  We'll find out this weekend hopefully.

I have a Helix 8 and 9 g3 so yours maybe different.
The first time out I thought I had a bad unit so the next time out I brought the 9 instead.
Was using the 8 because of smaller screen and thought the battery may last longer, they both have the same features.
Turning the sonar on/off to move from hole to hole did not make any difference on either 8 or 9, tried it.
Turning bottom lock "off" solves the problem of moving from hole to hole, on both 8/9 on mine!
The zoom function will not work in the flasher mode with bottom lock on either unit!
E-mailed Humminbird 3 times before I figured this out on my own, then Humminbird said "oh ya that's the problem"!
No where in the instructions does it mention this!
If I reset the unit's (which I did numerous times on the ice) the default setting is bottom lock on(now I know).
There again as I said I have an Helix 8 and 9 g3 with most current software.
Yours may be different.
What someone needs to do is make up a flow chart check list with what features to have on or off.

[hardwater diehard]

may want to Email them to see if the problem is covered

https://www.technologicalangler.com/humminbird-helix-g3n-reference-guide

[volume4130]

Made it out this weekend and tried a few things that people posted.  I could not find the Bottom Lock on the Helix 5, and a few of the other things recommended, so maybe I need to update software, or they're not available on my unit.  I was able to change the bottom depth to a max of 25 FOW, and was fishing up to 16', but that turned the zoom feature off, and made the details small.  It did however, help with the unit getting frozen on .7 feet for depth. 

Turning the sonar off did help as well, although this would get old if I was hopping holes all day.  I was fishing mostly tip ups, so this was the route I ended up going with.

I'll have to look into the software update next.  I found this video pretty informative for general set up and getting going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PJM4-cwXoU

[MT204]

Made it out this weekend and tried a few things that people posted.  I could not find the Bottom Lock on the Helix 5, and a few of the other things recommended, so maybe I need to update software, or they're not available on my unit.  I was able to change the bottom depth to a max of 25 FOW, and was fishing up to 16', but that turned the zoom feature off, and made the details small.  It did however, help with the unit getting frozen on .7 feet for depth. 

Turning the sonar off did help as well, although this would get old if I was hopping holes all day.  I was fishing mostly tip ups, so this was the route I ended up going with.

I'll have to look into the software update next.  I found this video pretty informative for general set up and getting going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PJM4-cwXoU

The online instruction manual is the same for I believe all Helix series.
https://879dd651a809fc1b59de-035169dcc8fb0db4e46082ec8002cac8.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/HumminbirdManuals/532509-5EN_A%20-%20HELIX%20G2-G3-G4%20Manual.pdf

Page 72.
The secret is the active window has to be the "sonar zoom view" to get the right menu.

1. Sonar X-Press Menu: With a Sonar Zoom View displayed on-screen, press the MENU key once.
2. Select Bottom Lock. Press the RIGHT Cursor key to select On.
3. Press the UP Cursor key. Select Bottom Range.
4. Press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to adjust the range. The range is measured up from the bottom.