Hummingbird Mega 360

[Bill Babler]

From what I'm hearing this is going to be a great imaging unit.  BUT If you have an older Solix/Helix unit even a few months please purchase the 360 from a retailer that can install it and put all the updates and diagnostics into your machine to make it work guys are getting default and diagnostic messages and can't get past it..

2 different friends have purchased this unit online and tried to hook it up themselves and at this point they have not been successful, even with the online tutorial and phone help.  If your buying this unit with a new Solix/Helix I don't think you will have a problem and from what I am hearing will love it if it is professional installed and has the total set up procedure.  Also it is very sensitive in its power requirement needs.

Thought I was going to be able to see one tomorrow, but we're taking my boat due to the issues.

Guys trying to run a Garmin sv12, Panoptix a Solix 12 and a mega 360 on the bow, better have that boat wired with dedicated lines and enough battery to host it.  Whew this stuff is quickly getting out of hand.

Once its set I think it is a go.  I have heard a few problems with 2D sonar  from your Ultrex transducer to the graph,after installing the 360 but the 360 imaging is from what I'm hearing fantastic.   Getting the communication between the unit and the graph is probably more than most of us go fishing guys can handle. if your over 30 years old. have a professional set this up.

Good Luck

[dtrs5kprs]

Yikes. Glad I stay under $600 with my graphs.

[Targa98]

2 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Yikes. Glad I stay under $600 with my graphs.

X2!!!! I "upgraded" this year to a lowrance triple shot. Lol I absolutely love it. However I have a deep v targa I target eyes and crappie in. I bass fish with a buddy in his boat in which he is all set up with. Dual birds and a  garmin's panoptics to boot. All with the ultrex. Best of both worlds for me.

[fozzype]

just an FYI from experience and Marine Repair..the MEGA 360 will only run on Gen3 units with MEGA down imaging in 10 inch and larger helix or solid units.  It is freaking a deal for seeing what you are throwing at.  It is like side imaging on the front with more detail.

[m&m]

who remembers the days when we said “this looks like a good spot, let’s fish here.”

Mike

[Jerry Rapp]

11 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

From what I'm hearing this is going to be a great imaging unit.  BUT If you have an older Solix/Helix unit even a few months please purchase the 360 from a retailer that can install it and put all the updates and diagnostics into your machine to make it work guys are getting default and diagnostic messages and can't get past it..

2 different friends have purchased this unit online and tried to hook it up themselves and at this point they have not been successful, even with the online tutorial and phone help.  If your buying this unit with a new Solix/Helix I don't think you will have a problem and from what I am hearing will love it if it is professional installed and has the total set up procedure.  Also it is very sensitive in its power requirement needs.

Thought I was going to be able to see one tomorrow, but we're taking my boat due to the issues.

Guys trying to run a Garmin sv12, Panoptix a Solix 12 and a mega 360 on the bow, better have that boat wired with dedicated lines and enough battery to host it.  Whew this stuff is quickly getting out of hand.

Once its set I think it is a go.  I have heard a few problems with 2D sonar  from your Ultrex transducer to the graph,after installing the 360 but the 360 imaging is from what I'm hearing fantastic.   Getting the communication between the unit and the graph is probably more than most of us go fishing guys can handle. if your over 30 years old. have a professional set this up.

Good Luck

and just think, in 6 months to a year new technology will be available so more upgrades will be necessary to stay up to date.  And someone once said, golf is more expensive than fishing!

[Quillback]

8 minutes ago, Jerry Rapp said:

and just think, in 6 months to a year new technology will be available so more upgrades will be necessary to stay up to date.  And someone once said, golf is more expensive than fishing!

That's why I still have my 8 year old Humminbirds.  I keep waiting for them to finish with rolling out the new technology because I'm afraid if I buy something now, it will be obsolete in 6 months.  😃

[liphunter]

20 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I keep waiting for them to finish with rolling out the new technology because I'm afraid if I buy something now, it will be obsolete in 6 months.  😃

I suffer from the same affliction. But I did go ahead and pull the trigger on Panoptix.  I know everyone has an opinion on that. But my ability to find fish has not kept up with learning  the technics and gear I have learned the past few years. You  can learn all about the other stuff. But if you don't know how to really find fish, it doesn't matter. After a full 3 decades of being out of fishing. I just don't have the years left to learn how to do it the way I would prefer. 

[abkeenan]

8 hours ago, Jerry Rapp said:

and just think, in 6 months to a year new technology will be available so more upgrades will be necessary to stay up to date.  And someone once said, golf is more expensive than fishing!

I believe that's the "iPhone Effect".  

[Bill Babler]

Update,   the guy I took today Don,  canned a 2 year Solix and bought a new one to go with the new Mega.  The new Solix has to have 2 updates for it to work with the Mega and there is somewhere another problem so he is taking it back to KC.  I listened today as he spoke with the Bird tech.  That person was sharp as a tack, she told him that the NEW UNIT he bought could have been sitting on the shelf at BP for over a year.  She said the other day she had a new in the box one that was sold from BP that needed 4 updates. She said if possible and I think this was confidential info, don't buy them from the Big Box Stores as they buy high volume to get backend discounts and they are not fresh.  They should be the same price or just a bit more from your boat dealer and he of course orders them and they will be fresh.

These units are still great and will work find, they just need to be programmed in the correct manner and that is not as easy as plugging in a lamp.

Problem is if you want your "Mapo"  right now.  And anyone that knows what that saying "I want my Mapo.' is over 40.

IF you buy a fresh unit and I mean the last 90 days she told him it would still need 1 update most probably, but if you buy it from a Marine Repair center or a dealer it is painless.

On a brighter note we had over 20 keeps today with some toad K's that looked like they were ready to bust and they were back in pockets getting ready to do the deed.

Good Luck