Tjames09 Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 I bought a Helix 7 DI/GPS today to replace the Humminbird 587CI DI unit on my new boat. The power supply cord turned the unit on, but wondering if the power supply and transducer already wired on the boat will work with the new unit. The old unit was down imaging, and the new unit is also down imaging. I compared the transducer side by side and the look near identical. I would rather not re run all the wires if it doesnt need to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Should work ok. I am going to use my old 385 transducer with my helix 5 portable on my sportspal this summer. Might as well save the new one and use the old one till it dies. They look identical and have the same model number. The power cords are the same, I didn't change out the cord in my portable pack and used it all winter. Edited April 27, 2017 by porkpie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishindevil Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 i thought only the helix 9 was compatable for networking not the 7 ???? not sure but I remember hearing something about it...maybe need a firmware update ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjames09 Posted April 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 i thought only the helix 9 was compatable for networking not the 7 ???? not sure but I remember hearing something about it...maybe need a firmware update ??? Sorry, I dont want to network them. I want to use the cables already on the boat rigged up in the console. I dont want to re run all the wires for power and transducer when they are already there. I want to know if the old power and old transducer will work fine with my new unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 If it plugs in. Then it should work however. Do both run the same frequencies, if everything isn't the same you could be losing detail or overworking the unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lape0019 Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 I agree with Terry. The only units that really got different transducers were the Helix 10 and above and that was more to do with SI than DI. As a side note for fishindevil, the new Helix 7 G2N is networkable via Ethernet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garnet Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Transducer get old and weak. If I had nice new transducer running old crap would not be option. Go down to the dollar store get 1/8 poly rope. Use your current transducer cable to fish rope back to old transducer. Now attach new cable and 1 rope with electric tape. Do a good job no sharp corners, a roll of tape is cheap. Pull your fish rope your new cable and the rope you leaving for the next time. Easy beasy. Edited April 27, 2017 by Garnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshS Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Probably works. Why don't you just call Humminbird and ask? However considering you have a new transducer, it's not very difficult to install, I'd just use it. Then the old unit is complete with transducer that you can sell or reuse elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Use the transducer in place if it's exactly the same as the old one. You'll eventually need to replace it as they do seem to wear out over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Transducer get old and weak. If I had nice new transducer running old crap would not be option. Go down to the dollar get 1/8 poly rope. Use your current transducer cable to fish rope back to old transducer. Now attach new cable and 1 rope with electric tape. Do a good job no sharp corners, a roll of tape is cheap. Pull your fish rope your new cable and the rope you leaving for the next time. Easy beasy. /\ and you then have a back up if that new one get's damaged somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roe Bag Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Call Radio World. You'll get a straight answer. Should, could and maybe are not what you want to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjames09 Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 Call Radio World. You'll get a straight answer. Should, could and maybe are not what you want to hear. Probably works. Why don't you just call Humminbird and ask? However considering you have a new transducer, it's not very difficult to install, I'd just use it. Then the old unit is complete with transducer that you can sell or reuse elsewhere. I talked to Humminbird, they said it works no issue. I had it out today, found the DI kind of grainy though, not very crisp. Could be the default settings, not sure yet. It didnt really seem to show a nice "tree" like you get in their promo lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Ironmaker Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 My Humminbird 5somethingCDI works on my buddies boat and his unit is 8 years older. Try it, then you will know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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