1. Humminbird
  2. SONAR & IMAGING
  3. General Information

Understanding Transducer Frequencies and Cone Angles

Updated

The Humminbird transducers presented in the tables below are categorized according to their 2D capabilities:

High Wide CHIRP Transducers

Side Imaging

HW MEGA Side Imaging+ Transducers
APEX and SOLIX HELIX Minn Kota Built-in
  • XM 14 HW MSI T
  • XTM 14 HW MSI T
  • XPTH 14 HW MSI T
  • SSTH 14 HW MSI T
  • XM 9 HW MSI T
  • XTM 9 HW MSI T
  • XPTH 9 HW MSI T
  • Built-in MEGA SI+

 

MSI+ sonar uses two very precise sonar beams that are aimed at right angles to the path of the boat. The side beam coverage is very thin from front to back, yet very wide from top to bottom. The beams provide thin slices of the bottom for high resolution imaging.

The beams can be operated at one of three display frequencies: MEGA+, 800 kHz, or 455 kHz.

HW MEGA SI+ transducers also provide MEGA Down Imaging+ and (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar.

MEGA+/MEGA Highest resolution, sharpness, and range up to 500 ft (side to side).
800 kHz Alternative frequency with sharp returns up to 250 ft (side to side).
455 kHz Performance for deep water and overall coverage up to 800 ft (side to side).

 

HW MEGA Side Imaging Transducers HW Side Imaging Transducers
Select HELIX Models
  • XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T
  • XTM 9 HW MSI 150 T
  • XNT 9 HW SI T

 

HW MEGA SI transducers operate at MEGA and 455 kHz frequencies. They also provide MEGA DI and (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar.

HW SI transducers operate at 455 kHz. They also provide DI and (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar.

 

MEGA Highest resolution, sharpness, and range up to 500 ft (side to side).
455 kHz Performance for deep water and overall coverage up to 800 ft (side to side).

 

Down Imaging

HW MEGA Down Imaging+ Transducers
APEX and SOLIX HELIX Minn Kota Built-in
  • XM 14 HW MDI T
  • XTM 14 HW MDI T
  • XM 9 HW MDI T
  • XTM 9 HW MDI T
  • Built-in MEGA DI+

 

MDI+ sonar beams point down and scan the water with razor-thin, high definition beams that are wide side to side, but very thin from front to back.

The beams can be operated at one of three display frequencies: MEGA+, 800 kHz, or 455 kHz.

MEGA DI+ transducers also provide (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar.

MEGA+ Highest resolution, sharpness, and depth up to 250 ft.
800 kHz Sharp returns up to 125 ft.
455 kHz Deep water performance up to 400 ft.

 

HW MEGA Down Imaging Transducers HW Down Imaging Transducers
Select HELIX Models
  • XNT 9 MDI T
  • XNT 9 HW MDI 75 T
  • XTM 9 HW MDI 75 T
  • XNT 9 HW DI T

 

HW MEGA DI transducers operate at MEGA and 455 kHz frequencies. They also provide (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar.

HW DI transducers operate at 455 kHz, and they also provide (2D) Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar.

MEGA Highest resolution, sharpness, and depth up to 250 ft.
455 kHz Deep water performance up to 400 ft.

 

Dual Spectrum CHIRP

(2D) HW Dual Spectrum CHIRP Transducers
SOLIX and APEX HELIX Minn Kota Built-in
  • XNT 14 HW T
  • XTM 14 HW T
  • XP 14 HW T
  • XP 14 HW
  • XPTH 14 HW T
  • XNT 9 HW T
  • XP 9 HW T
  • XP 9 HW
  • XPT 9 HW T
  • XPTH 9 HW T
  • XTM 9 HW T
  • Dual Spectrum CHIRP

 

Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar provides conical coverage directly below the boat. The beam can be adjusted to show the full, narrow, or wide frequency range. The sonar returns are displayed on the Sonar (2D) Views.

Full (Default) Uses the complete frequency range.
Narrow Increased bottom detail and better target separation.
Wide Maximize coverage and show big, clearly defined fish arches.

 

83/200 kHz Transducers

Side Imaging

83/200 kHz Side Imaging Transducers
SOLIX and ONIX HELIX and Legacy
  • XM 14 20 HDSI T
  • XM 14 20 MSI T
  • XTM 14 20 HDSI T
  • XTM 14 20 MSI T
  • XPTH 14 20 HDSI T
  • XNT 9 SI 180 T
  • XTM 9 SI 180 T
  • XHS 9 HDSI 180 T
  • XTM 9 HDSI 180 T
  • XPTH 9 HDSI 180 T
  • XM 9 20 MSI T
  • XTM 9 20 MSI T
  • XPTH 9 20 MSI T
  • All Transducers listed in the table above provide (2D) DualBeam sonar at 83 kHz and 200 kHz.
  • MSI Transducers provide MEGA, 800 kHz, and 455 kHz beams for both Side Imaging and Down Imaging
  • HDSI Transducers provide 800 kHz, 455 kHz beams for both Side Imaging and Down Imaging.
  • SI Transducers provide Side and Down Imaging at 455 kHz. 

 

 

MEGA Highest resolution, sharpness, and range up to 250 ft (side to side)
800 kHz Alternative frequency with sharp returns and range up to 250 ft (side to side)
455 kHz Performance for deep water and overall coverage up to 800 ft (side to side).

 

Down Imaging

83/200 kHz Down Imaging Transducers
Select HELIX Models
  • XTM 9 WIDE DI 20 T

 

Down imaging transducers also provide 2D DualBeam sonar.

 

800 kHz Sharp returns for shallow water.
455 kHz Greater bottom coverage and deep water performance up to 350 ft.

 

2D 83/200 kHz

2D 83/200 kHz Transducers
SOLIX and ONIX HELIX and Legacy
  • XNT 14 20 T
  • XP 14 20 T
  • XP 14 20
  • XTM 14 20 T
  • XFM 9 20
  • XNT 9 20 T
  • XNT 9 20
  • XP 9 20 T
  • XP 9 20
  • XTM 9 20 T
  • XPTH 9 20 T
  • XPT 9 20 T
  • XAP 9 20

 

Medium (83 kHz) Used for deep water returns (more than 800 ft). Can be used at high speed.

High (200 kHz)

 More detail at shallower depths (less than 800 ft).
Medium/High (83/200 kHz)

The returns from both beams are blended by starting with the wide beam return, dimming it, and then overlaying it with the narrow beam return. The narrow beam sonar returns will stand out from the wide beam sonar returns.

 

50/200 kHz Transducers

50/200 kHz Transducers
APEX, SOLIX and ONIX HELIX and Legacy
  • XM 14 74 MSI T
  • XNT 14 74 T
  • XPTH 14 74 HDSI T
  • XPTH 14 74 MSI T
  • XNT 9 DB 74 T
  • XTH 9 DB 74 P

 

50 kHz (Low) Deep water performance (more than 1500 feet). 50 kHz can be used for deep returns at high speed. If 50 kHz is selected, the 200 kHz beam pings in the background but is not displayed.
200 kHz (High) More detail at shallower depths (less than 800 ft).

 

200/455 kHz Transducers

200/455 kHz Transducers
Select HELIX and PMAX Models
  • XNT 9 28 T
  • XNT 9 DI T
  • XTM 9 28 T
  • XTM 9 DI 25 T

 

High (200 kHz) Greater bottom coverage in deep water (up to 600 feet).
High (455 kHz) Smaller cone (16°) for shallow water (up to 350 feet).

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