Humminbird 385CXI COMBO GPS Fisfinder. New TRANSDUCER!

Description

Humminbird 385CXI COMBO GPS Fisfinder. New TRANSDUCER!
Humminbird 385ci Combo Review
The Humminbird 385ci is a combination fishfinder and GPS chartplotter. This chartplotter fishfinder combo is fitted with a 3.5-inch display screen, an internal 50-channel GPS receiver with WAAS capability, built-in 300-watt sonar, and Humminbird UniMap covering U.S. coastal and inland lakes.
Other models in the 385-series feature the same 3.5-inch color display screen and all the attributes of our test unit. The two other available models include the Kayak and Portable versions. A couple other units in the 300-series use a slightly large monochrome screen.
The 385ci package ships with the display unit, a tilt and swivel quick-release mounting bracket, power cable, operations manual on CD, quick start guide, installation guide, and a dual frequency transom mount transducer.
To facilitate on the water testing of the 385ci sounder and chartplotter I mounted the unit to a test rig using accompanying bracket to use aboard our 20-foot Seacraft test boat. The quick-release bracket that accompanies the 385ci makes easy removal of the display for safe storage off the boat quick and easy.
humminbird 385ci chartplotter fishfinder combo unit
Humminbird 385ci Combo
When in use on the boat you will find that the bracket rotates and tilts to optimize the display viewing angle. There are a limited number of preset positions on each axis and the unit snaps from one to the next holding firmly where it is set. Flush mounting this display unit in a panel requires the purchase of an optional IDMK-300 kit.
The back panel of the display has connectors for the XNT 9 20 T transducer, a power cable, and a for an optional cable that will let the 385ci interface with other NMEA 0183 devices. All the cables run through the inside of the accompanying bracket.
The display has a front panel footprint that measures approximately 5.3-inches wide and 5.1-inches high. Overall depth is 3.5-inches. A single SD card slot on the front panel is protected from weather and water by a gasketed cover. The 385ci can use Navionics Gold or HotMaps cartography.
Screen Size and Viewability
The Humminbird 385ci Combo screen uses a portrait layout that measures 2.8-inches high and 2.1-inches wide yielding a 3.5-inch screen size when measured on the diagonal. Screen resolution is 320 by 240 pixels.
I found the 385ci display screen to be bright enough when viewed in daylight conditions. Details appear fairly sharp and there was little to no reflectivity evident. One thing to keep in mind with a unit of this size is just that the size. There is not a lot of screen area here and you need to stay fairly close to the unit to read this screen easily. A 3.5-inch screen only has about half the screen area of a 5-inch display.
As expected the display screen darkens somewhat when viewed through polarized sunglasses, however it remains readable even out to severe side angles. Overall this screen shows plenty of detail when viewed in chart or sonar modes. I rated the Humminbird good for day and night viewability. No screen fogging was apparent in the display at anytime during our review.
Like other Humminbird chartplotter fishfinders I’ve reviewed the 385ci lets the user choose from one of three background color palettes that include white, blue, and black. In chart view choosing white background will show water in white and land areas in a pale yellow, switching to the blue palette changes water to blue and land to brown, while picking black leaves land areas brown but changes water to black.
Selecting the white palette will enhance daylight viewability and this is the color I used for testing during daylight hours. Night viewing can be improved by choosing the black palette, especially when operating in a very dark environment. Sonar page colors change along with the chart background choice. From the sonar menu you can also choose one of four color palettes.
To adjust the screen brightness you would give the on/off button a quick press and then change the setting with cursor left/right arrow keys.
Operation
humminbird 385ci combo chart page
Here is the chart page showing navigation information to track to a waypoint.
The Humminbird 385ci Combo uses nine front panel pushbuttons and a 4-way cursor pad to provide control of all functions. Beyond the dedicated functions keys control of the unit is accomplished through a menu system. A double press of the Menu button will get you to the main menu from any page. Six top-of-the-page tabs—Alarms, Sonar, Navigation, Chart, Setup, and Views&mdsh;get you to the right area of the menu fast.
Individual page views can be set by the user and are scrolled forward using the View key and in reverse using the Exit key. The user can select to view or hide up over a dozen different preset pages. Individual pages are selected as visible or hidden using the view tab in the main menu.
You will find full screen views of the chart, several sonar page options including one with a large data block overlay, chart and sonar split screen, and diagnostics available.
The chart views include a standard two-dimensional hart page with a basic built-in map, a three-dimensional Bird’s Eye view page, and a combo chart/sounder page. This unit comes with only a basic map installed and that is how it was equipped for my review. To get detailed cartography and associated services, port information and the like requires purchase of a Navionics chart card.
Sounder views include a full screen sonar, dual frequency, split screen zoom, full screen with big digit data overlay, and flasher. You can make any page visible or not as you see fit.
Waypoints
Navigating to a cursor selected point is as easy as placing the cursor over the place you want to go, pressing Mark, and then pressing GoTo. This action creates a waypoint, names it, draws a course line onscreen to the waypoint, and adds data boxes at the bottom of the screen with distance and bearing to the point.
humminbird 385ci combo chart page
Large data box overlay on a sonar page.
You’d navigate to a saved waypoint in a similar fashion. Place the cursor over the desired waypoint, then press the GoTo button, and navigation to the point will begin. To stop navigation you press Menu and select Cancel Navigation. You can also choose the waypoint from an list and execute a go to command from there.
To modify waypoint data you would select it from the chart view or waypoint list. You can change the internally generated numeric name to an alphanumeric name up to 11 characters long, select from a variety of onscreen icons and adjust the position data as desired. The Humminbird 385ci can store up to 2000 user waypoints.
Routes
Routes are easiest to create underway by beginning to navigate to your first point and then moving the cursor over your next planned turn and pressing GoTo. Doing so adds the second waypoint to your planned route. Continue to add more points as desired.
You can create a route in the 385ci by using the Routes menu. From here you name the route, then select waypoints, order them as desired, and save the new route. Various menu options let you review the route information, travel the route forward or in reverse, and move or skip a waypoint. The Humminbird 385ci Combo will store up to 50 routes.
If you enjoy the thrill of catching the big one from a kayak, this is the fishfinder for you. This all-in-one unit combines fishfinding, mapping and GPS with a brilliant color display in a package specifically designed for your kayak
3.5-Inch Diagonal Screen
320V X 240H Pixel Color Screen
256 Color TFT Screen
1000 ft. Depth Capability
DualBeam Sonar