Humminbird XPLORE 12 CMSI fish finder without transducer, echo sounder & GPS

Humminbird XPLORE 12 CMSI+ is a high-end marine electronics system. To clear up the terminology in your request:

• CMSI+: This stands for Compact Mega Side Imaging +. It indicates that the unit is capable of MEGA Side Imaging+, MEGA Down Imaging+, and Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar.

   

• “Without Transducer” (CHO): If you see “CHO” in the product name or description, it stands for Control Head Only. This model does not include a transducer in the box.

   

Is it a Fish Finder, Echo Sounder, and GPS?

Yes. All Humminbird XPLORE 12 units (regardless of whether they include a transducer or are “CHO”) are fully functional, high-performance fish finders, echo sounders, and GPS chartplotters.

Even the CHO (Control Head Only) model contains:

• Internal GPS: It has a built-in, high-precision, dual-band GPS antenna for navigation, chartplotting, and waypoint management.

   

• Echo Sounder/Sonar Processor: The unit’s internal software and hardware are fully capable of processing sonar data. It simply needs you to connect a compatible transducer (or share sonar data from another Humminbird unit via Ethernet) to display that information on the screen.

   

Why buy a “CHO” model?

The Control Head Only model is ideal if you are:

1. Networking: Connecting to an existing Humminbird Ethernet network to share sonar data from another unit on the boat.

    

2. Using Built-in Transducers: Connecting to a Minn Kota trolling motor that has “Built-in MEGA Imaging” (which eliminates the need for an external transom-mount transducer).

    

3. Customizing: Needing a specific type of transducer (e.g., high-speed through-hull) that is not the standard transom-mount unit bundled with the base models.

Summary of your search:

If you purchase a model labeled “XPLORE 12 CMSI+,” it will come with the XM 14 HW CMSI T transducer. If you purchase the model labeled “XPLORE 12 CHO,” it will not have a transducer, but it will have the GPS and echo sounder capabilities built into the head unit itself.