Humminbird HELIX 5 SONAR User manual

Thank You!
Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, the #1 name in marine electronics. Humminbird has built
its reputation by designing and manufacturing top-quality, thoroughly reliable marine equipment.
Your Humminbird is designed for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine environment. In the
unlikely event that your Humminbird does require repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Policy. For
complete details, see the separate warranty card included with your unit. We encourage you to
read this manual carefully in order to get full benefit from all the features and applications of
your Humminbird product.
Contact Humminbird Customer Service at humminbird.com or call 1-800-633-1468.
WARNING! This device should not be used as a navigational aid to prevent collision, grounding, boat
damage, or personal injury. When the boat is moving, water depth may change too quickly to allow time
for you to react. Always operate the boat at very slow speeds if you suspect shallow water or submerged
objects.
WARNING! Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by authorized service
personnel. Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair the original equipment or
accessories by unauthorized individuals will void the warranty.
WARNING! This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
WARNING! Do not travel at high speed with the unit cover installed. Remove the unit cover before
traveling at speeds above 20 mph.
NOTE: The illustrations in this manual may not look the same as your product, but your unit will function
in the same way.
NOTE: To purchase accessories for your control head, visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact
Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.
NOTE: The procedures and features described in this manual are subject to change without notice. This
manual was written in English and may have been translated to another language. Humminbird is not
responsible for incorrect translations or discrepancies between documents.
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the international market. Humminbird international units provide international features and are
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international units purchased through our authorized international distributors.
To obtain a list of authorized international distributors, please visit our Web site at humminbird.com
or contact Humminbird Customer Service at [phone].
NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some features are
only available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly identify those features.
Please read the manual carefully in order to understand the full capabilities of your model.

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Table of Contents
HELIX Series Introduction 1
How Sonar Works 1
Power On 5
What’s on the Control Head 6
Key Functions 7
What’s on the Sonar Display 10
What’s on the Down Imaging Display 16
Views 20
Select a View.............................................................................................................................................. 20
Display your Favorite Views ...................................................................................................................... 20
Change Digital Readouts .......................................................................................................................... 21
Combo Views.............................................................................................................................................. 33
The Menu System 35
Start-Up Options Menu 36
X-Press Menu 39
Main Menu 40
Quick Tips for the Main Menu .................................................................................................................. 41
Note for all Menu Settings ........................................................................................................................ 41
User Mode (Normal or Advanced) ............................................................................................................ 42
Sonar X-Press Menu 44
Down Imaging X-Press Menu 49
Flasher X-Press Menu 53
Alarms Menu Tab 57
Sonar Menu Tab 60
Setup Menu Tab 70
Maintenance 77
Troubleshooting 78
HELIX Control Head Measurements 81
Specifications 85
Contact Humminbird 88
i

ii
Table of Contents
NOTE: Entries in this Table of Contents which list (International models only) are only available on
products sold outside of the U.S. by our authorized international distributors. To obtain a list of authorized
international distributors, please visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer
Service at [phone].
NOTE: Entries in this Table of Contents which list (with Speed Input) or (with Temperature Input) may
require the purchase of separate accessories. You can visit our Web site at humminbird.com to order
these accessories online or contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.

HELIX Series Introduction
The HELIX Series Fishfinder is available in several different configurations. See the following list
of products, all of which are covered by this manual, to find your HELIX Series model:
• HELIX SONAR: Wide screen Fishfinder with DualBeam PLUS sonar.
• HELIX DI: Wide screen Fishfinder with Down Imaging sonar and traditional 2D sonar.
NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some features are only
available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly identify those features. Please read
the manual carefully in order to understand the full capabilities of your model.
How Sonar Works
Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The HELIX Series Fishfinder uses sonar to locate and
define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as depth directly below the transducer.
Your HELIX Series Fishfinder sends a sound wave signal and determines distance by measuring
the time between the transmission of the sound wave and when the sound wave is reflected off
of an object; it then uses the reflected signal to interpret location, size, and composition of an
object.
Sonar is very fast. A sound wave can travel from the surface to a
depth of 240 ft (70 m) and back again in less than 1/4 of a second.
It is unlikely that your boat can "outrun" this sonar signal.
SONAR is an acronym for SOund and NAvigation Ranging. Sonar
utilizes precision sound pulses or "pings" which are emitted into
the water in a teardrop-shaped beam.
The sound pulses “echo” back from objects in the water such as
the bottom, fish, and other submerged objects. The returned
echoes are displayed on the LCD screen. Each time a new echo is
received, the old echoes are moved across the LCD, creating a
scrolling effect.
1Introduction

When all the echoes are viewed side by side, an easy to interpret
“graph” of the bottom, fish, and structure appears.
The sound pulses are transmitted at various frequencies depending
on the application. Very high frequencies (455 kHz) are used for
greatest definition but the operating depth is limited. High
frequencies (200 kHz) are commonly used on consumer sonar and
provide a good balance between depth performance and
resolution. Low frequencies (83 kHz) are typically used to achieve
greater depth capability.
The power output is the amount of energy generated by the sonar
transmitter. It is commonly measured using two methods:
•Root Mean Square (RMS) measures power output over the
entire transmit cycle.
•Peak to Peak measures power output at the highest points.
The benefits of increased power output are the ability to detect
smaller targets at greater distances, ability to overcome noise,
better high speed performance, and enhanced depth capability.
Introduction 2

DualBeam PLUS Sonar
(HELIX SONAR)
The HELIX SONAR Fishfinder uses a 200/83 kHz
DualBeam PLUS sonar system with a wide (60°) area
of coverage. DualBeam PLUS sonar has a narrowly
focused 20° center beam, surrounded by a second
beam of 60°, expanding your coverage to an area
equal to your depth. In 20 feet of water, the wider
beam covers an area 20 feet wide.
DualBeam PLUS sonar returns can be blended
together, viewed separately, or compared side-by-
side. DualBeam PLUS is ideal for a wide range of
conditions - from shallow to very deep water in both
fresh and salt water. Depth capability is affected by
such factors as boat speed, wave action, bottom
hardness, water conditions, and transducer
installation.
Down Imaging Sonar
(HELIX DI)
The HELIX DI Fishfinder uses Down Imaging
technology. The Down Imaging transducer scans the
water with razor-thin, high-definition beams. The
beams are wide (side to side) but very thin front to
back.
The Down Imaging beams can be operated at two
frequencies: 455 kHz (75°) or 800 kHz (45°). Select
455 kHz for the best overall image quality and depth.
Select 800 kHz for the sharpest image. See Sonar
Menu Tab: Imaging Frequency for more information.
The transducer also uses conical beams to provide data
in traditional 2D format (see What’s on the Sonar
Display). Select 455 kHz for a narrowly focused 16°
center beam, or select 200 kHz for a wider 28° beam
(see Sonar Menu Tab: Beam Select).
Depth capability is affected by such factors as boat
speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water
conditions, and transducer installation.
16°
75°
28°
455kHz
200kHz
455kHz
45° 800kHz
75 Degree Total Coverage
60 Degree Total Coverage
Bottom Coverage = 1 x Depth
60˚ 20˚
200kHz
83kHz
3Introduction

Dual Beam Ice Transducer
(with optional-purchase XI 9 20 Ice Transducer)
The XI 9 20 Ice Transducer provides selectable dual-
frequency sonar with a wide area of coverage.
Selectable dual-frequency gives you the option of
two beams, and both beams will cover the bottom
and provide high definition. The 20° center beam
provides the highest definition, while the 60° beam
provides wider coverage.
Depth capability is affected by such factors as
bottom hardness and water conditions. Whether
fishing in shallow or very deep water, selectable
dual-frequency is ideal for a variety of conditions.
NOTE: Visit our Web site at humminbird.com to
determine which accessory transducers are compatible
with your Humminbird Fishfinder, or contact Customer
Service at 1-800-633-1468.
Introduction 4

Power On
Follow the instructions below to power on your Humminbird control head.
1. Press the POWER/LIGHT key.
2. When the Title screen is displayed, press the MENU key to access the Start-Up Options
Menu.
3. Select Normal, and press the RIGHT Cursor key.
• If you wait too long to select a Start-Up Option, the system will default to whichever
menu is already highlighted.
• If a functioning transducer is connected, Normal operation will be selected
automatically, and your control head can be used on the water.
• You can also select Simulator to learn how to use your control head and save settings
in advance for later use. See Start-Up Options Menu for more information.
4. Quick Setup: If this is the first time the unit has been powered on (after installation or
after restoring defaults), the Quick Setup dialog box will display on the screen. Use the
4-WAY Cursor Control key to change the settings. Press the EXIT key to close the dialog
box.
NOTE: The Quick Setup settings can be changed at any time. See each menu option in The Menu System
for details.
HELIX Series Title Screen
5Power On

What’s on the Control Head
Your HELIX Series user interface is easy to use. A combination of keys, different views, and
situation-specific, customizable menus allows you to control what you see on the color display.
Refer to the following illustration and see Key Functions,Views,andThe Menu System for more
information.
VIEW
MENU
EXIT
screen
VIEW key
1
2
3
4
EXIT key
5
POWER/LIGHT key
6
1
2
4
5
3
6
MENU key
4-WAY Cursor Control key (LEFT, RIGHT, UP, or DOWN)
What’s on the Control Head 6

Key Functions
Your control head consists of a set of easy-to-use keys that work with various on-screen views and
menus.
POWER/LIGHT Key
The POWER/LIGHT key is used to power the Fishfinder on and off. You can also use
the POWER/LIGHT key to adjust the backlight and contrast of the display.
Power On: Press the POWER/LIGHT key to power on the unit. When the Title screen is displayed,
press the MENU key to access the Start-Up Options Menu.
Power Off: Press and hold the POWER/LIGHT key for 3 seconds. A message will appear to indicate
how many seconds there are until shutdown occurs. To ensure that shutdown occurs properly and
any menu settings will be saved, your Fishfinder should always be turned off using the
POWER/LIGHT key.
Adjust the Backlight or the Display Background Color: Press the
POWER/LIGHT key to access the Light and Background submenu.
Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to select Light or Background,
and then use the LEFT or RIGHT Cursor key to change the settings.
Press EXIT to exit the Light and Background submenu.
Turn Sonar On or Off: From the Light and Background submenu, use the 4-WAY Cursor Control
key to select Sonar. Use the LEFT or RIGHT Cursor key to change the setting. See Setup Menu Tab:
Sonar for more information.
VIEW Key
The VIEW key is used to cycle through all available views. Press the VIEW key to
advance to the next view. Press the VIEW key repeatedly to cycle through all
available views. Views can be hidden to optimize the system to your fishing
requirements (see Views or Setup Menu Tab: Select Views).
NOTE: Press the EXIT key to cycle through the views in reverse order.
7Key Functions

MENU Key
The MENU key is used to access the menu system. See The Menu System for more
information.
Start-Up Options Menu: Press the MENU key during the power up sequence to view the Start-Up
Options menu.
X-Press Menu: Press the MENU key once in any view to access the X-Press Menu, which provides
frequently-used menu settings that correspond with the current view.
Main Menu: Press the MENU key twice in any view to access the Main Menu, which is organized
under tabbed headings to help you find a specific menu item quickly.
4-WAY Cursor Control Key
(RIGHT, LEFT, UP, or DOWN Cursor Keys)
The 4-WAY Cursor Control key has multiple functions, which depend on the
view, menu, or situation.
•Menu Selection: Press the DOWN or UP Cursor keys to highlight a menu option, then
press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to change a menu setting. The changes will be
activated and saved immediately.
•Freeze Frame: In Sonar Views and Down Imaging Views, press any arrow on the 4-WAY
Cursor Control key to freeze the display and move the active cursor to a location on the
screen. A cursor dialog box will display to show the depth of the location you choose.
•Active Cursor: Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key, and the active cursor
will appear on the screen.
•Circular Flasher View (Ice Fishing Mode: On): Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to
move the Depth Cursor. Press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to adjust the Zoom Range
(see Views: Circular Flasher View).
NOTE: In Freeze Frame or Active Cursor mode, you can also make the cursor move diagonally
by pressing in between two of the arrows on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key.
Key Functions 8

EXIT Key
The EXIT key has multiple functions, which depend on the situation.
•If an alarm is sounding, press the EXIT key to cancel the alarm.
•If a menu tab is selected, press the EXIT key to exit the menu mode and return to the view.
•Ifamenuisactive,press the EXIT key to return to the previous level in the menu system.
•From any view, press the EXIT key to cycle through the available views in reverse order.
•If Freeze Frame is active, press the EXIT key to return to a scrolling display.
•If the Cursor is active, press the EXIT key to remove the cursor from the display.
•If Down Imaging Zoom is active, press the EXIT key to remove the magnification box
from the display and remove the cursor.
9Key Functions

What’s on the Sonar Display 10
What’s on the Sonar Display
The Fishfinder can display a variety of useful information about the area under and adjacent to
7
34
5
6
1
2
12
13
Triplog
Depth - Water depth can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow.
1
Timer - Elapsed time with Speed accessory or GPS receiver .
Triplog
Average Speed - Average speed reading with Speed accessory or GPS receiver .
Distance - Distance traveled with Speed accessory or GPS receiver .
4
3
2

11 What’s on the Sonar Display
Thermoclines - Layers of water with different
temperatures that appear at different depths and
different times of the year. A thermocline typically
appears as a continuous band of many colors moving
across the display at the same depth.
Sonar Color Bar - Color spectrum indicating low
to high sonar intensity returns, where red indicates
high intensity and white indicates low intensity.
Bait Ball
RTS (Real Time Sonar) Window
Second Sonar Return - When the sonar signal
bounces between the bottom and the surface of the
water and back again. Use the appearance of the
second return to determine bottom hardness. Hard
bottoms will show a strong second return, while soft
bottoms will show a very weak one or none at all.
Cursor - Available in Freeze Frame and can be
positioned in the Sonar View to provide depth of a
sonar return and bottom depth below the cursor. The
Latitude and Longitude of the cursor position, the
distance to travel to the cursor position, and the
bearing to the cursor position are shown with a
connected GPS receiver. Cursor information is
displayed at the top of the screen.
10
9
8
13
12
11
Voltage - Power supplied to the control head.
Temperature - Water surface temperature.
Speed - If a Speed accessory or GPS receiver is connected,
the Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat, and can keep
a triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.
6
5
7
your boat, including the following items:
8
10
9
11

What’s on the Sonar Display 12
Understanding the Sonar Display
It is important to understand the significance of the display. The
display does NOT show a literal 3-dimensional representation of
what is under the water. Each vertical band of data received by the
control head and plotted on the display represents something that
was detected by a sonar return at a particular time. As both the
boat and the targets (fish) may be moving, the returns are only
showing a particular segment of time when objects were detected,
not exactly where those objects are in relation to other objects
shown on the display.
The returned sonar echoes are displayed on the screen. As a new
echo is received, the historical data scrolls left across the display.
Real Time Sonar (RTS) Window
AReal Time Sonar (RTS) Window appears on the right side of the display in the Sonar Views only.
The RTS Window always updates at the fastest rate possible for depth conditions and shows only the
returns from the bottom, structure and fish that are within the transducer beam. The RTS Window
plots the depth and intensity of a sonar return. (See Sonar Menu Tab: Real Time Sonar (RTS)
Window).
The Narrow RTS Window
indicates the sonar intensity
through the use of colors. Red
indicates a strong return and
blue indicates a weak return.
The depth of the sonar return
is indicated by the vertical
placement of the return on
the display depth scale.
The Wide RTS Window
indicates the sonar intensity
throughtheuseofabar
graph. The length of the
plotted return provides an
indication of whether the
return is weak or strong. The
depth of the sonar return is
indicated by the vertical
placement of the return on
the display depth scale. The
Wide RTS Window does not
use grayscale.

Sonar Colors and Bottom View
As the boat moves, the unit charts the changes in depth on
the display to create a profile of the Bottom Contour.The
Sonar View displays the sonar return intensity with different
colors.
Strong returns often result from rocky or hard bottoms
(compacted sediment, rocks, fallen trees), while weaker
returns often result from soft bottoms (sand, mud), vegetation,
and small fish.
The colors used to represent high, medium, to low intensity
returns are determined by the palette you choose in the Sonar
Colors menu option. See Sonar Menu Tab to set the Sonar
Colors.
Use Bottom View to select the method used to represent bottom and structure on the display.
See Sonar Menu to set the Bottom View.
sonar history: historical returns scroll left across the view strong return (possibly compacted sediment or rocks)
1
strong returns (possibly rocks, tree limbs, or other structure)
2
weak returns (possibly vegetation or small fish)
3
4
RTS window
5
Sonar View: Original Palette
1
4
5
2
3
HIGH
Intensity Return
MEDIUM
Intensity Return
LOW
Intensity Return
Sonar Colors: Original Palette
13 What’s on the Sonar Display

Structure ID represents weak returns in blue and strong returns in red when Sonar Colors is set
to Original. If the Sonar Colors palette is changed, the Structure ID will display the strongest
return as specified by the palette. See Sonar Menu Tab: Sonar Colors for more information.
WhiteLine highlights the strongest sonar returns in white, resulting in a distinctive outline. This
has the benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display.
What’s on the Sonar Display 14