Topic: 997 Transducer/Sonar Question

[IMhooked]

Hi folks,

If my 997 at the console is showing GPS info fine, side imaging accurate, but my sonar depth and 2d information keeps showing 3.1-3.9 feet of water regardless of the actual depth is my transducer bad/going bad?  Tried adjusting the pins slightly..no change, the 'ducer itself is clicking, just digitally showing me false shallow reading.

Thoughts/troubleshooting advice welcome.

P.S. I did the new update and no change before or after.

Thanks!

[LocDown]

Are you on water or off water?

[IMhooked]

On the water with the issue.  Thanks.

[ITGEEK]

Make sure you have the correct transducer type selected.
Set your max depth to Auto or 10 feet deeper than the water you are in.
Have you checked your transducer for cracks/damage/clinging debris?
Is the mounting tight (cannot move)?
Have you played with the sonar sensitivity settings?

Is your transducer more or less level to the water,
with the boat fullly loaded on the water?

You could try setting all of your settings back to default and go from there.
I Have to ask:You are not in simulator mode are you?

It's very strange that it's locked on a particular depth.
You would think if it went bad that it just wouldn't work, or the depth would be 0.

Good Luck.

[IMhooked]

Thank you IT..Here's my homework..

I will make sure transducer type is re-checked and put Max depth to Auto.

No visible damage.

Mount is a tad loose, but still parallel to water/boat pad.

I'll play with the sensitivity..I would think that the fact that I get accurate SI images that the 2D sonar line would fluctuate as well, but remains flat.

Lastly, if the above doesn't bring about positive change I'll restore defaults and test before re-uploading the update!

[ITGEEK]

IMhooked:
I just thought of one other remote possibility.

It could be interference from one or more other
electrical devices on your boat.
Namely, your main motor and/or trolling motor.

There is a very easy way to check it.
Turn off everything in your boat (and I mean everything) except your sonar.
Then test it, if it works normally, then you probably have some
type of motor interference.  People have also posted that
VHF radios can cause interference issues.

If interference is the problem, there are numerous posts on this site that will help you
alleviate it.  Just search for "Interference".

Good Luck.

[IMhooked]

Went through all of the above suggestions.

This past weekend while practicing and competing in a tournament I had side-imaging, but my interlink between my 997 and my bow unit keeps intermittently connecting and disconnecting.  The sonar readout digitally does not change numbers but does fluctuate by 3.4 3.6. 3.8 even in 10 fow.  The down imaging shows an accurate readout of the bottom but the depth reported is not. 

Last day of the tournament my gps kept dropping in and out of operation as it was intermittently recognized.