Humminbird is a name that every fisher, beginner and professional, pines for – openly or secretly – because the brand is “The King” at manufacturing high-end fish finders.
Some of you might have been familiar with its famous Helix series.
Our topic of interest right now is Humminbird Helix 12, one of the best gifts of Humminbird to all those expert fishermen who can afford a top-quality, feature-loaded fish finder.
Humminbird has packed it with high-tech sonar features and navigational functions to ensure the productivity of all your future offshore fishing ventures.
I would recommend you to buy it without further delay if you’re itching to spend money on a top-of-the-line Humminbird fish finder.
Keep reading this review to get a clear picture of what the unit entails.
What Makes Humminbird Helix 12 Standout?
Humminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI works at bullet-train-like speed to get activated and deliver anything and everything at the screen that the sonar captures. This lightning-fast processor along with high-precision navigational and sonar functions allow it to outshine the rest.
Our Humminbird Helix 12 Review
Humminbird Helix 12 is one of the most sophisticated and deluxe fish finders amongst Humminbird’s entire collection.
It entails an exorbitant price and a plethora of fancy features that is not the cup of tea of an ordinary angler.
A little balm for your dented pocket, though: it comes with a powerful transducer XHS 9 HDSI 180 T with a transom mount and internal temperature sensor.
“The devil is in the detail.” Isn’t that what they say? Well, Humminbird doesn’t want you to miss anything lurking underneath the water surface, especially not something vital that could allow your target to escape.
That is why it has crammed this unit with multiple sonar functions; from Chirp 2D sonar to Dual-Beam Plus to Side Scan and Down Scan, you name it, and it’s right there on the menu.
You can plunge to a 1500ft depth using medium to high sonar frequencies in Chirp 2D mode to get a look at the underwater realm or claim a 150ft area directly below the vessel and on both its sides using Down and Side Imaging.
You get to see scintillating views of the on-goings of the underwater environment on a 12.1” TFT coloured screen.
The presence of LED backlighting complemented with the waterproof nature of the display enables you to continue with your chase without worrying about sunlight, nighttime or rain.
Besides, like other Helix 12 units, this one also has additional sonar functions such as Fish ID+, SwitchFire, RealTime Sonar, Bottom Lock and Sonar Recording/Rewinding.
I personally love the last one more as it makes a lethal combination with AutoChart Live. Meaning, you can keep an account of sonar recordings and go back to a sonar scan of a specific spot for a second look or highlighting vital waypoints.
Aside from AutoChart mapping, the unit also has pre-installed Contour XD charts and GPS to give you maximum navigational support to make sure you know your way to lucrative spots and back to the shore.
All in all, if you are a hardcore, seasoned fisherman looking for a top-quality fish finder, cost be damned, then buy Humminbird 410030-1 Chirp SI.
Display
Much to your dismay, it doesn’t have a touchscreen. Instead, the screen is controlled through a keypad present on the side.
But, the 12.1” of a sleek and shiny surface is a sight to behold, especially when it is showing enticing images of the underwater territory in coloured graphics – thanks to the 1280×800 pixel matrix.
More impressively, the display possesses LED backlighting to prevent direct sunlight or a lack thereof from impairing your ability to read the information accurately.
Plus, IP-X7 waterproof rating ensures the screen remains undeterred by unexpected rain or water splashes.
Sonar Functions & Transducer
Helix 12 Chirp SI is an upscale model designed to meet the demands of pro fishermen, which is why it is loaded with multiple sonar features such as Chirp technology, Dual-Beam Plus and HD Scan (SI/DI imaging).
The unit comes with a transducer (XHS 9 HDSI 180 T) that supplies clearer images of side and down sonars. The transducer also has an innate ability to sense water temperature.
Moving back towards sonar magic, the unit can work with 50/83/200 kHz frequencies, but the given transducer only supports Medium and High Chirp, i.e. 75-95kHz and 175-225kHZ respectively.
This means you can survey up to 1500ft depth with Chirp 2D sonar or 150ft area with Down Imaging and Side Imaging.
Although, the DI isn’t as spectacular as offered by its twin Helix 12 Chirp DI GPS, but the 180-degree scrutiny of the territory results in a clutterless view of bottom contours and fish. So, all is well.
Besides, there are some other sonar features on the menu too, such as SwitchFire, Bottom Lock, Fish ID+, RealTime Sonar and Sonar Rewinding/Recording.
The recording function allows you to save desired sonar scans and also jump back to sonar readings of a particular location for a double-check or to highlight important waypoints to make sure you don’t miss any target or other vital details.
Navigational Support
Even the most seasoned angler could get lost, especially if he’s exploring a territory for the first time.
To make sure this misfortune doesn’t continue to be a part of your expeditions, this one comes with a high-accuracy GPS and other navigational support which includes AutoChart Live and built-in ContourXD charts.
This implies that you can take assistance from already available charts of 3000+ US lakes or sketch your own to make sure you never forget the way to lucrative locations as well as back to shore.
Pros
- Premium quality.
- Crammed with sonar functions including Chirp, Dual-Beam Plus and HD SI/DI Scan.
- 12.1” diagonal display with backlighting and split-window reveals sharp and coloured views of sonar scans.
- Transom-mount transducer (XHS 9 HDSI 180 T) included with inherent temperature sensor.
- Waterproof.
- GPS and mapping features provide accurate navigational aid.
- Capable of networking.
Cons
- Steeple price.
- Not a beginner’s cup of tea.
- Display isn’t a touchscreen.
Why Should You Buy Humminbird Helix 12?
The unit has a big coloured display with a higher pixel matrix and backlighting format to exhibit HD quality images of the underwater terrain regardless of the prevailing weather and lighting circumstances.
Furthermore, it contains several high-tech sonar features that promise superior quality scans of the area surrounding your vessel to give you a detailed and accurate picture of underwater activity.
Final Thought
Humminbird Helix 12 (410030-1) is the best illustration of Humminbird’s ability to craft upscale, technology-loaded fish finders for pro users. The unit carries performance grade sonar features and navigational functions such as Chirp technology, SI/DI Imaging and GPS, which makes it an ideal weapon for offshore ventures. It is expensive, but when you consider its impressive performance and numerous controlling options, we would say it makes it worth every dime.
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