Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Review: Forward-Facing Sonar for APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE
Our Humminbird MEGA Live 2 review covers its three views, the displays its listing names, mounting options, and who should skip it, including HELIX owners.
Updated November 2, 2026
The Humminbird MEGA Live 2 is a forward-facing live sonar transducer, not a complete fish finder. According to its Amazon listing, it works with Humminbird APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE control heads, shows Forward, Down, and Landscape views, and connects to the display with an included Ethernet cable, without a separate sonar box. There is no screen in the box, so it only makes sense if you already run, or plan to buy, one of those three display families.
Our short answer: if your boat already has an APEX, SOLIX G3, or XPLORE at the bow and a trolling motor or pole to carry the transducer, the MEGA Live 2 is a Humminbird live sonar worth considering. If you run a HELIX, Humminbird says it is not compatible; with another brand’s display, look at your display maker’s live sonar first. Two owners on the listing compare it with the first-generation MEGA Live; this review covers the MEGA Live 2 only. This Humminbird MEGA Live review is research-based. Compatibility, range, and power figures come from Humminbird’s MEGA Live 2 compatibility page, fuse and power draw chart, installation guide, and operations guide; the rest comes from the Amazon listing.
This guide is general product information, not repair or electrical safety advice. Follow the installation, wiring, and charging instructions in your product’s manual, stop using any battery, charger, or electronics that overheat, swell, or smell of burning, and contact the manufacturer.
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Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Forward-Facing Sonar Transducer
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Humminbird MEGA Live 2 at a Glance
Figures marked (Humminbird) come from Humminbird’s help center and MEGA Live 2 manuals; the rest come from the Amazon listing.
| Spec | Humminbird MEGA Live 2 (listing model number 710310-1) |
|---|---|
| Type | Live sonar imaging transducer, forward-facing; no display included |
| Views | Forward, Down, and Landscape |
| Compatible control heads | Humminbird APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE; APEX and SOLIX G3 need software 5.060 or later (Humminbird) |
| Not compatible | Any HELIX, SOLIX G1, and SOLIX G2 (Humminbird) |
| Range | Up to 150 ft (Humminbird operations guide) |
| Power | 12 VDC, 2 A fuse; 1.15 A steady draw (Humminbird) |
| Connection | Ethernet cable to the control head, no external sonar box |
| In the box | MEGA Live Imaging transducer, 20 ft Ethernet cable, 10 ft power cable, trolling motor mounting bracket, mounting hardware |
| Trolling motors named | Minn Kota Ultrex, Ultrex QUEST, Fortrex, Maxxum, and Edge |
| Other mounting | Most forward-facing sonar poles; transom (MEGA Live 2 Transom-Mount required); TargetLock (MEGA Live 2 TargetLock Adapter required) |
| Warranty | 2 year, manufacturer |
What We Like
- No black box. The listing says the transducer connects directly to the control head through the included Ethernet cable, without an external sonar box, which means one less component to mount and wire.
- Three views from one transducer. The listing names Forward, Down, and Landscape modes, so the same unit can look ahead of the boat or straight down, with Landscape as a third view.
- Long cables in the box. A 20 ft Ethernet cable and a 10 ft power cable come with it, per the listing.
- Flexible mounting. The trolling motor bracket fits either side of the shaft, according to the listing, and the description names pole, transom, and TargetLock options with the right adapter.
- Owners report easy installs. One owner says it was easy to install right out of the box, and another, who replaced a first-generation MEGA Live, says the swap and the network cable were easy.
What Could Be Better
- A short compatibility list. It works with APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE control heads; Humminbird says it is not compatible with any HELIX or with SOLIX G1 and G2 units.
- Few listing specs. The listing gives no beam angle, range, frequency, or power draw. Humminbird’s operations guide gives a range of up to 150 ft and its fuse chart a 1.15 A steady draw, but we found no beam angle or frequency.
- Adapters for some mounts. Transom use needs a MEGA Live 2 Transom-Mount, and TargetLock needs a MEGA Live 2 TargetLock Adapter, per the listing.
- A heading sensor is optional. The listing says it is compatible with an optional GPS heading sensor, so that part is not in the box.
- Cost comes up in reviews. Two owners mention the cost: one calls it expensive but worth it, and another still calls it over priced while saying it beats the first generation.
Compatibility: Which Displays Work
Compatibility is the first thing to check. The listing title reads “for XPLORE, APEX, and SOLIX G3 Fish Finders,” and the description says the transducer “is compatible with all Humminbird APEX, SOLIX G3 and XPLORE models.” That is the whole list the listing gives.
If your boat has a HELIX, Humminbird says MEGA Live 2 is not compatible with any HELIX model, or with SOLIX G1 and G2 units. It also lists software version 5.060 or later for APEX and SOLIX G3 units. The same caution applies to any Garmin, Lowrance, or Simrad display: the listing names only Humminbird control heads. Before you buy, confirm your exact control head and its software with Humminbird or your dealer.
Owners on this listing do not name their display models, apart from one who calls the view on their Humminbird “locator” great after moving up from the first MEGA Live. If you are buying the display too, compare Humminbird fish finders in the APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE families before choosing the transducer.
Mounting and Installation
The MEGA Live 2 ships with a trolling motor mounting bracket that fits either side of the shaft, according to the listing. The description names Minn Kota Ultrex, Ultrex QUEST, Fortrex, Maxxum, and Edge trolling motors, so on a bass boat with one of those at the bow, a shaft-mounted transducer generally points wherever the motor head points.
The other options in the listing each need something extra. In general, a pole mount lets you aim the transducer separately from the motor. The listing says it can be used with most forward-facing sonar transducer poles, so check the fit with Humminbird or your pole maker before mounting a live sonar transducer on a pole. A transom install needs the MEGA Live 2 Transom-Mount, and Humminbird’s TargetLock system needs the MEGA Live 2 TargetLock Adapter.
Plan the cable runs before you drill or zip-tie anything. The 20 ft Ethernet cable goes to the control head and the 10 ft power cable goes to the boat’s power, per the listing. Humminbird’s MEGA Live 2 installation guide calls for a 12 VDC supply and a 2 A fuse. Follow Humminbird’s installation instructions and safety notes for the power connection and fusing, and leave changes to the boat’s wiring to a qualified marine technician.
Views and What They Show
The listing describes three viewing modes. Forward looks ahead of the transducer, which is how live sonar lets you watch fish and your lure out in front of the boat. Down looks straight below. Landscape is the third; the listing does not describe it beyond the name, and it frames the three modes together as “complete underwater visibility.”
The listing also mentions “dynamic bait and lure tracking,” waypoint marking for favorite spots, and customizable color palettes. The listing gives no figure for range or beam angle (Humminbird’s operations guide gives a range of up to 150 ft); its only comment on coverage is the marketing line that the cone angle is “optimized” while “maintaining broad coverage area.” One owner who fishes the Chattahoochee River says it lets them locate fish in places they had never been, and another says it is better than the first generation.
If you are new to live sonar, it helps to know what LiveScope is, since Garmin’s version of forward-facing sonar is the comparison most shoppers make.
How It Compares
The obvious rival is Garmin LiveScope. Garmin’s LiveScope 2 page says the LiveScope 2 transducer connects directly to a compatible Garmin chartplotter and power source, with no black box, and offers Forward, Down, and Perspective modes, with an adjustable perspective shaft mount and a trolling motor barrel mount in the box. Garmin lists bottom tracking out to 250 ft in freshwater for LiveScope 2 and 125 ft for LiveScope 2 HD.
| Spec | Humminbird MEGA Live 2 | Garmin LiveScope 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Amazon listing; Humminbird manuals for range | Garmin product page |
| Displays | Humminbird APEX, SOLIX G3, XPLORE | Compatible chartplotters, per Garmin |
| Separate sonar box | None | None |
| Views | Forward, Down, Landscape | Forward, Down, Perspective |
| Mounts in the box | Trolling motor bracket | Perspective shaft mount, trolling motor barrel mount |
| Range figure | Up to 150 ft (Humminbird operations guide) | Bottom track to 250 ft in freshwater (125 ft for LiveScope 2 HD) |
On paper, the two share the basics: no separate sonar box, a transducer wired to the display, and three views. The practical difference is the display you own. The MEGA Live 2 listing names only Humminbird control heads, and Garmin describes LiveScope 2 with a compatible chartplotter, so the choice usually follows the electronics already on the boat. Humminbird gives a range of up to 150 ft, and Garmin lists bottom tracking to 250 ft in freshwater for LiveScope 2; the two makers describe these figures differently, so do not compare them directly.
If you are still deciding whether live sonar is worth it for your boat at all, settle the display question first, because it decides which transducer you can use.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- HELIX owners. Humminbird says MEGA Live 2 does not work with any HELIX.
- Garmin, Lowrance, or Simrad owners. Look at your own display maker’s live sonar instead.
- Anglers with no display yet. The box has no screen; plan to buy an APEX, SOLIX G3, or XPLORE as well, or consider a complete fish finder.
- Boats without a supported trolling motor or pole. Transom mounting needs a separate adapter, and the listing names only Minn Kota motors for the included bracket.
- Buyers who want full specs first. Neither the listing nor the Humminbird documents we read give a beam angle; ask Humminbird or a dealer.
Why You Should Trust Us
We do not conduct our own product trials. This review draws on the maker’s published specifications and manuals where we could open them, the Amazon listing, and owner reviews posted on that listing where available. The AnglerTechLab Score starts from Amazon owner ratings, with a limited editorial adjustment explained on our How We Review page. This review uses the Amazon listing for the MEGA Live 2, the owner reviews on that listing, Humminbird’s help center and MEGA Live 2 manuals, and Garmin’s own page for the comparison, and we name the source of each detail. The score has no editorial adjustment, as explained on our How We Review page. Commissions never change our verdicts. More live sonar coverage is in our forward-facing sonar section.
Final Verdict
The Humminbird MEGA Live 2 is a straightforward choice for one group: anglers who already run an APEX, SOLIX G3, or XPLORE and have a Minn Kota trolling motor or a sonar pole up front. For them, the listing describes a single transducer with three views, no sonar box, long cables, and a bracket in the box, and owners report easy installs. Everyone else should start with the display question. If you run a HELIX, Humminbird says it is not compatible, and if you run another brand, that maker’s live sonar is the natural match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Garmin LiveScope or Humminbird MEGA Live 2?
Neither is better across the board, and the display on your boat usually decides it. The MEGA Live 2 is listed for Humminbird APEX, SOLIX G3, and XPLORE units, while Garmin says LiveScope 2 connects to a compatible chartplotter. Both skip the separate sonar box and offer three views. Garmin publishes a bottom tracking range for LiveScope 2, and Humminbird gives a range of up to 150 ft for the MEGA Live 2; the two are described differently, so they are not a direct comparison. Garmin’s LiveScope Plus System is different: its box includes a GLS 10 sonar black box, per Garmin’s LiveScope Plus page.
Does the Humminbird MEGA Live 2 work with a HELIX?
No. Humminbird’s help center says MEGA Live 2 is not compatible with any HELIX, SOLIX G1, or SOLIX G2 unit.
What comes with the MEGA Live Imaging transducer?
Per the listing: the MEGA Live Imaging transducer, a 20 ft Ethernet cable, a 10 ft power cable, a trolling motor mounting bracket, and mounting hardware. Transom and TargetLock adapters and a GPS heading sensor are separate, and no display is included.
Can you mount the Humminbird MEGA Live transducer on a pole?
Yes, according to the listing, which says it can be used with most forward-facing sonar transducer poles. Check with Humminbird or your pole maker that the transducer fits your pole before you buy.
About the author
Mason McKinney enjoys fishing Minnesota's lakes for crappie, walleye, and other freshwater species. He uses forward-facing sonar, GPS fish finders, and spot-lock trolling motors to locate fish around underwater structures and maintain precise boat positioning.