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Humminbird Helix 9 Depth Reading 1.9’ Almost Contantly
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:24 pm
Bought boat brand new in 24 and a helix 9 in dash came with it. It seemed to be working fine then I started to notice my depth reading was always 1.9’. I shrugged it off due to always being in shallow water then when in deeper water still that reading. It will occasionally jump to correct depth but almost immediately jumps back to 1.9’.
Anyone familiar with this issue? Could I have a bad transducer? Will updating the unit possibly fix this?
I’m new to electronics in boats and really don’t care about depths locally but fishing deeper lakes with the boys is getting me to look into this issue. Thanks
Anyone familiar with this issue? Could I have a bad transducer? Will updating the unit possibly fix this?
I’m new to electronics in boats and really don’t care about depths locally but fishing deeper lakes with the boys is getting me to look into this issue. Thanks
3
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:31 pm to WillFerrellisking
Make sure it’s not in store/demo mode….if it’s still reading 1.9’ then it sounds like bad transducer ans/or bad connection.
Do a quick Google search on this and there are others with same issue.
Do a quick Google search on this and there are others with same issue.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 5:31 pm to WillFerrellisking
I have a Helix 9 on my bow and had the same issue when I first installed it. It’s more than likely in demo mode to get it out do the following:
1. Power the unit ON
2. Press the MENU button twice
3. Use the RIGHT cursor to scroll to the Setup tab
4. Scroll down to Demo Mode (or Simulator depending on software version).
5. Change it to OFF.
6. Exit the menu.
If that doesn’t work double check your transducer connection and battery connections and make sure it’s stable. They will default to demo mode if the transducer isn’t hooked up, have an inconsistent power source, or cannot detect a sonar signal. Hope this helps.
1. Power the unit ON
2. Press the MENU button twice
3. Use the RIGHT cursor to scroll to the Setup tab
4. Scroll down to Demo Mode (or Simulator depending on software version).
5. Change it to OFF.
6. Exit the menu.
If that doesn’t work double check your transducer connection and battery connections and make sure it’s stable. They will default to demo mode if the transducer isn’t hooked up, have an inconsistent power source, or cannot detect a sonar signal. Hope this helps.
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 5:39 pm
Posted on 2/24/26 at 4:42 pm to Doc Shakalu
I just checked and demo mode was off. If I hit the right cursor to “visible” meaning I want to put in demo mode my side imaging screen is blank, shows nothing but black.
Posted on 2/24/26 at 6:05 pm to WillFerrellisking
So I’d check 2 other things and then check the transducer. Make sure depth offset is set to 0.0’. Should be Menu > Sonar > Depth Offset. Then make sure the bottom isn’t locked in. Should be Menu > Sonar > Depth Range and make sure it is set to auto. If that doesn’t fix it I’d test the transducer. You can fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water and put the transducer in it and see what it reads. If you all your connections and settings are good and it still reads 1.9’ I’d say you have a bad transducer.
Posted on 2/24/26 at 6:21 pm to Doc Shakalu
Will check those settings in morning
Thanks bud!!
You must really use your helix, I’ve had mine for 2 years an can barely turn it on! haha
Thanks bud!!
You must really use your helix, I’ve had mine for 2 years an can barely turn it on! haha
Posted on 2/24/26 at 7:34 pm to WillFerrellisking
LMAO!! Yes sir my dad always told me if you’re going to do a thing you make sure you do it right. When I get into something I tend to go all the way in and completely nerd out on it. Probably the reason all my hobbies revolve around fins, feathers, and fur…I don’t have time for anything else. My little brother was also way early on the FFS game and I never got in to it and the first time he out fished me I took it very personally and devoted myself to learn my electronics and have them completely dialed in as that was the only way I was going to beat him after he got that “underwater camera” he had installed on his bow.
Posted on 2/24/26 at 8:00 pm to Doc Shakalu
I’ve messed up my unit settings numerous times where I’ve had to go and hit “default settings” just to get my screens back up.
Posted on 2/24/26 at 9:04 pm to WillFerrellisking
That’s a normal thing…I’ve done it numerous times while trying to figure them out. Sometimes you get stuff so out of whack it is easier to just start back from factory. I will say make you sure take notes going through process and write the results of any changes you have made. It makes the time aspect of getting it all dialed in reduce vastly.
Posted on 2/24/26 at 9:35 pm to Doc Shakalu
Yes, I started jotting down in my phone last night different settings while watching YouTube vids.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 6:23 pm to Doc Shakalu
Looks like it’s set at 0.0. I’ll be fishing Saturday and Sunday with it so I’ll see what depths it reads.
Also gonna call Humminbird tomorrow to see what else I can do to trouble shoot it. Thanks for your help!
Also gonna call Humminbird tomorrow to see what else I can do to trouble shoot it. Thanks for your help!
Posted on 2/25/26 at 6:33 pm to WillFerrellisking
Yes sir anytime…let me know what Hummingbird says I am genuinely curious now that none of that worked. Good luck on the water this weekend…I hope you rip some lips and cross their eyeballs!!
Posted on 3/2/26 at 6:06 pm to WillFerrellisking
Any luck on getting that Helix 9” dialed in and reading the bottom correctly?
Posted on 3/2/26 at 7:15 pm to WillFerrellisking
aluminum boat or glass? Thru hull or external ducer?? Does it read 1.9 running, sitting still or all the time?? you can set the transducer to 200 mhz only and 83 only to see if it does better on one. Its probably set for both to read. Was the transducer a factory install if thru hull. If not, might just have to find a better spot for the transducer. If its external mount on the transom and it does this when sitting still I might have a ducer you can try to see if it works, let me know. I would think its either the transducer installation issue or a bad transducer if it does it all the time sitting still. A good transducer will do this if it looses contact with the water. On my boat I loose contact around 45 mph or so.
This post was edited on 3/2/26 at 7:19 pm
Posted on 3/2/26 at 7:19 pm to Doc Shakalu
Could very well be user error but no, it’s still reading crazy water depths (mostly 1.9). I never did get around to calling Humminbird yet.
I also noticed when my son is on the troll motor fishing the side image isn’t picking up as I think it should. When I’m idling around with big motor side imaging works great minus the depth.
I also noticed when my son is on the troll motor fishing the side image isn’t picking up as I think it should. When I’m idling around with big motor side imaging works great minus the depth.
Posted on 3/2/26 at 7:24 pm to WillFerrellisking
Do you have 2 transducers?? What kind of boat?
Posted on 3/2/26 at 7:28 pm to WillFerrellisking
Side imaging won't work well not moving. Set the side imaging speed to your idle speed for best pictures. Do you have 2 transducers?? also check the transducer setting on the unit matches the transducer you have installed.
Posted on 3/2/26 at 7:39 pm to jcdogfish
It’s on a basscat Pantera classic
Again I know nothing about electronics but I have a transducer on the jackplate and a small circle “plate” that says chirp on the troll motor which I assume is for down imaging.
Helix 9 on dash and helix 7 on bow that is usually not in the boat except on Toledo or Caney due to where I fish at home where 5’ is considered deep.
Again I know nothing about electronics but I have a transducer on the jackplate and a small circle “plate” that says chirp on the troll motor which I assume is for down imaging.
Helix 9 on dash and helix 7 on bow that is usually not in the boat except on Toledo or Caney due to where I fish at home where 5’ is considered deep.
Posted on 3/2/26 at 8:13 pm to WillFerrellisking
How do you like the 7 on bow? Easy enough to see?
Posted on 3/2/26 at 8:39 pm to Capt ST
I can’t give you an honest answer cause I don’t use it. It came with the boat new year before last.
My oldest son puts it on periodically to get water temps and see with down imaging while he runs troll motor for high school fishing. We could see brush piles and what we assume is fish on them while we were at Toledo couple weeks back.
Eventually I’ll put the 9 up there on bow and want a bigger one for dash. I find the 9 is a tad small and hard to read gps when I zoom out.
My oldest son puts it on periodically to get water temps and see with down imaging while he runs troll motor for high school fishing. We could see brush piles and what we assume is fish on them while we were at Toledo couple weeks back.
Eventually I’ll put the 9 up there on bow and want a bigger one for dash. I find the 9 is a tad small and hard to read gps when I zoom out.
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