I personally like to try things like that out first before I buy them.
If you wanna test it just find something to mount it on like possibly even the base for your Vex, or a piece of wood, bucket, cooler, etc. then rig the transducer to hang level and use your Vex battery to power. As long as it's the standard HB dual beam transom mount transducer it's not too hard to set up. I have a Humminbird that I was using for the last few years till I picked the Garmin up a couple weeks ago, I can post a pic of how I rigged the transducer if you want.
I've read quite a few positive posts from guys regarding the Helix 5 on the ice. Do a search on iceshanty.com and I'm sure you'll find all the info you need.
You should probably hit up Wazee sometime especially if you're that close. It's a nice change of pace with the scenery and the fishing is so different from everything else around here. It's pretty cool to look down the hole and see Trout circling your jig 30ft. down. Plus knowing that somewhere in that tiny lake is a Walleye the size of Rosie O'Donnel's leg doesn't hurt either.