Topic: DOWNSCAN????

[billyboy]

I"ve downloaded the most up to date version since downscan came out for my new 997.
How do I get to view the downscan on the unit?? No info in manual since it's new..
Bill

[RGecy]

Hey Bill,

Welcome to the forum.  Have you installed the Down "Imaging" update on your unit yet? 

If not, read this and watch the videos: http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=14.0

If you have updated your unit and everything went OK, then you may need to enable to Down Imaging Views.  Hit the Menu button twice and go to Views.  Scroll thru them and see if the Down Imaging views are visible (or even there).

It is possible that the update didn't take properly and we have seen times when the views are not even there.

Robert

[billyboy]

Thanks Robert on the help to install 4.750 I must have done something wrong. Now have down imaging. Now that is solved can you suggest a good sensitivity and chart speed for clear Lake Erie water in the 30- 40 foot range.
Thanks Bill

[sonar2000]

Sensitivity is best determined by you and while running the unit.  Chart speed is generally matching the forward speed of the boat.  Best imigaing is at trolling speeds (2 to5 mph) So make your chart speed match your speed.  Also side distance is usually best in the range of 2 to 3 times the depth. So if you have varinging depths you might want to keep an eye on the side to side distance. Keep in mind that the water column is directly under the boat and is displayed outwards before the actual bottom.  For example if the lake is 40 feet deep and you have the side to side set to 50 feet you will only see about 10 feet of side display.
The best  solution to screens is to go sonaring and not fishing (for a while).  Get to know your menus and screens so that immediate setting changes can be easily obtainred. 

Chuck

[rnvinc]

Chuck gave good advise on some general settings to start you out.....

The waters I fish are usually 25 ft or less...SI is pretty dark on a mud bottom at more than 20ft deep...harder bottoms will show up pretty good to about 30 ft or so...(harder bottoms give better sonar return...softer bottoms less so)...

I usually keep my DI sensitivity at 20...

I usually run 800kHz on the SI ...455kHz will give much brighter screens but much less detail...

SI contrast at 10...then adjust the SI sensitivity to get the screen to the brightness level that looks best for the water that I am in...(raising the SI sensitivity brightens  the screen, lowering the SI sensitivity darkens the screen)

When I am fishing I keep the SI Enhance up on my screen constantly so that I can change the sensitivity up or down as the bottom and/or depth changes to brighten or darken the screen to my liking....

[justfishin]

The manual is on their web site as a PDF which can be download to a smart phone and used on the water.

It would be nice if they offered a manual for sale but I haven't found one. I use mine on the phone but dang that screen is small 

James

[rnvinc]

Mt 1197 actually came with a printed manual...but..

Several months before I bought my unit I downloaded and printed the manual from the HB website...all 200 pages or so..

Then, I trimmed the full sheets down , punched holes in the pages and bought a bunch of carkey "Quick attach" rings...tedious...but now I have 2 copies of the manual...one for the boat and one to take to work to study....

[Humminbird_Greg]

Printed manuals for the 997 unit are available from the Humminbird Customer Resource Center folks at 1-800-633-1468 but they will not contain any information on the Di sonar as this came out after the manuals were printed.  Your best bet is to ask for a operations manual for the 998c Si unit which does contain the Di sonar Views and menus information.

[billyboy]

What a site.Very helpful people with great ideas to solve the issues. Great tips so please keep the tips coming. I will be printing them all. If Lake ERIE would ever settle down I could get out on the Easterb Basin to learn the  unit
Any folks have tips for fishing Aruba from the shore without the SI and DI of coarse.  Heading down there on the 20th..

[countryboycansurvive]

I wouldn't worry too much about down imaging if I were you.  Side imaging provides better info.   Down imaging is pretty much a composite of the side imaging, minus the shadows.

[rnvinc]

I wouldn't worry too much about down imaging if I were you.  Side imaging provides better info.   Down imaging is pretty much a composite of the side imaging, minus the shadows.

I agree...although I have the DI showing on my 3 way split view..I have all the other DI views hidden...I just don't find that useful....

[billyboy]

Thanks Gents Maybe get out on Erie next week end as there was 12-16 footers out there Saturday.. Bill

[countryboycansurvive]

I agree...although I have the DI showing on my 3 way split view..I have all the other DI views hidden...I just don't find that useful....

That's pretty much the only way I use it also.  It's most useful I think in letting you know what structure you're seeing in the 2d sonar.  For instance, if I see a good laydown in the SI I'll try to make another pass directly over it to see what the 2d shows, to get a good idea of how high it projects above bottom.  Since objects in the 2d and DI are lined up vertically,  looking at the DI lets me verify what structure I'm seeing in the 2d.   

[Wayne P.]

I use the Down Scan to help interpret the 2D view

[RGecy]

Wayne, now thats a pretty cool snapshot!  You need to submit that to the SI Image Contest!

Robert