Humminbird Helix 10 Review
Quick Overview
FEATURES
QUALITY
PRICE
Pros
Cons
If you want to spend more time catching fish instead of looking for it, you should get a fish finder.
However, there are many options to choose from, and picking just one out of thousands is a tall task.
All fish finders let you scan the water and map out its key features, allowing you to locate great fishing spots.
By doing the legwork on some of the units, the selection process becomes easier.
The good news is we did that for you to help you save time.
We will help you choose one with this Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 Chirp MEGA SI+ GPS G4N Fish Finder review.
We’ll discuss all its essential features so you can decide better if it is worth your time and money.
Humminbird Helix 10 Chirp MEGA Fish Finder Review
Humminbird started its operations in 1971, modifying Heathkit Kits into depth sounders for bass boats.
One of its unique selling points is that it gets direct customer feedback when coming up with new products.
This strategy worked for the American company as it grew into one of the leading fish finder manufacturers in the country.
The Helix 10 Chirp MEGA SI+ GPS G4N Fish Finder is the latest in the Helix product line, a mid-tier offering from Humminbird.
It hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2020. It is similar in many ways to the Helix 8 G4N except for the larger display.
It also uses SD cards instead of microSD.
As with all G4N models, the Helix 10 has standard features like AutoChart Live, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet capability.
Who Is This Product For?
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 Chirp MEGA SI+ GPS G4N Fish Finder is a great fish finder for anglers of all skill levels.
With all its advanced features, though, using it can be a bit challenging at first for beginners.
The good thing is that Humminbird is a popular brand, so it’s effortless to find video tutorials online.
What is more, the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 Fish Finder's interface is fairly easy to use.
Integrating the device into an existing boat network is pretty straightforward with the Ethernet and NMEA 2000 ports.
In terms of pricing, the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 offers a great balance between cost and value.
While it is not cheap, the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 Fish Finder is more affordable than the top-tier models.
It is great for anglers who are looking to get the most for their money.
What’s Included in the Box?
Each product package of the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 comes with everything you need to set the device up.
It has a control head, a transom mount transducer, a gimbal mounting bracket, and a power cable.
The control head is fairly easy to install, and you have to mount it first before installing the transducer.
Instructions for both are available on the Humminbird product page.
Overview of the Features
This Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 Chirp MEGA SI+ GPS G4N Fish Finder review will now discuss the fish finder’s key features, which include the following:
- Mega Side Imaging+
The Mega SI G4N offers a crystal-clear view as far as 200 feet on either side of the boat.
It has 20% more detail and 60% more range capacity than standard sonars, allowing you to unlock more fish and structure.
The transducer included in the product package can use three frequency ranges for more flexibility.
On top of all these, the keypad buttons on the side of the control head offer smoother scrolling.
You can quickly move the cursor around the screen if you need to mark something.
With side imaging this powerful, you can cover more ground or water rapidly.
It is also very effective if you want to find fish in shallow bays and waters.
- Mega Down Imaging+
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10’s down imaging goes as far as 200 feet below the boat.
Same with the side imaging, it offers 20% more detail and can go 60% deeper than the standard sonar.
Its transducer uses oval beams, and the angle of coverage is either 45° or 75°, depending on what frequency you use.
With this feature, you can get underwater clarity that is hard to match.
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar
The company’s proprietary Low-Q transducer powers Humminbird’s dual spectrum CHIRP sonar.
It allows you to search in two ways: the Wide Mode and the Narrow Mode.
The Wide Mode offers maximum coverage.
It makes watching your lure while vertical jigging or getting a larger view in shallow water easier.
On the other hand, the Narrow Mode focuses on the slightest details.
It will help you decide better if what’s underneath you is worth catching or find fish hidden behind structures.
While other brands also offer the CHIRP technology in their products, these are usually limited to a narrow band of frequencies.
Humminbird’s take on the CHIRP will give you a full-spectrum capability for more accurate and detailed returns of fish and structure.
It even allows you to choose your own start and end frequencies to match your needs.
Not all CHIRPs are created equal, and Humminbird’s is definitely at the top of the heap.
- Navigation
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 has an internal GPS that can provide 10 position updates for every second.
In addition, it supports satellite-based augmentation systems like WAAS, MSAS, and EGNOS.
It is complemented perfectly by the enhanced Humminbird Basemap that offers a detailed view of the terrain below.
It also displays points of interest, allowing you to navigate the continental USA with absolute confidence.
- Control Unit
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 comes with a 10.1-inch screen, which is more than what you would get with other models.
It features a WVGA color display, an LED backlight, and a 1024x600 resolution for clear images.
The menu graphics have been updated from previous versions, but the selections themselves are mostly the same.
The view is also bigger since the data boxes at the bottom have been migrated to the left side, while you'll find the control buttons on the other side.
They are highly intuitive and fairly easy to use, which is ideal for beginners.
- Premium Chart Compatibility
Anglers everywhere will appreciate the premium chart options included in the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10.
It is compatible with LakeMaster and CoastMaster products that offer a complete view of the world below your boat.
If this is not enough for you, you can choose from any of the available Navionics charts.
- AutoChart Live
This feature uses GPS and 2D sonar to create real-time maps of the area you are fishing in.
It provides depth contours, vegetation, and the seabed density of any spot that you scan.
This feature is handy if you are not satisfied with the details of the included maps.
It can save up to eight hours of recordings, more if you swap the memory with a special SD card.
How To Install the Humminbird Helix 10
Before mounting the Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10, you need to find a good spot for it.
It might be better to attach the gimbal mount to the control unit before you test out various locations.
Make sure that the area is stable and there is enough space for the control head to tilt.
Also, check that you can route the cables properly.
Once you have chosen a spot, remove the control head and attach the gimbal mount.
Next, connect the power cable to a 12 VDC supply.
There are two ways to do this: hook it up directly to the battery or tap into the boat’s fuse panel.
This will minimize the interference from other electronic equipment on board.
After this, route this and the other cables to the control head’s location.
If you plan to use a pre-existing conduit, route the cables as far as possible from antenna and tachometer cables.
Once the cables are laid down, assemble the cable tray for added protection.
Then finally, reinstall the control head and connect all the cables to the appropriate ports.
It might be best to test the system installation at the System Status menu.
Alternative
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 is packed full of useful features, but it can be a bit pricey.
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, try the Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv.
It comes with a smaller screen at seven inches, but its color palettes make it easy to distinguish fish and structure.
It also has many features that most anglers look for, like waypoint marking, quickdraw contours, and highly-sensitive GPS.
The Garmin Striker Vivid can get the job done without putting a big dent in your budget.
Another option to consider from the same brand includes the slightly smaller Humminbird Helix 9.
Verdict
The Humminbird 411420-1 Helix 10 is one of the best fish finders in the market today.
It features a best-in-class sonar, amazing imaging, and a long list of other valuable functions.
It is easy to manipulate with the user-friendly keypad on the side.
While it is a bit expensive, you will be getting more than your money’s worth.
It is a great companion for you, whether you are an experienced angler or a beginner.
