Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Double Digit on May 29, 2011, 11:38:27 PM

Title: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on May 29, 2011, 11:38:27 PM
Hey guys as i use my unit i see more and more a dark picture on the left side of my image.One minute it will be fine a nice clear crisp image..the next minute half of the left image is very dark like a big shadow takes over half of the left image.A few minutes later it is clear again...Very strange any ideas???.....Thanks jim
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on May 30, 2011, 09:32:38 AM
DD....cant remember if you posted pictures of your installation but again would be helpful.
Could your boat be tilting at times causing the transducer to point upwards on one of the elements? 
Do you have the motor and transducer relationship so that if you are making a turn one side of the transducer is being blocked?
Again a picture is worth a thousand words.
Chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on May 30, 2011, 01:01:36 PM
Hi sonar2000
 I posted some pictures of my install awhile back.The few guys that responded said all looked ok.I posted a picture of a boat i found it was on the left side of the SI ill post it again for you to see its the only picture i have right now.I wont be on the water again till the weekend i will take a few images then to show you if it happens again.Its just strange because nothing changes ill be going in a straight line same speed flat calm no rocking of the boat.One minute nice clean image the next a big shadow will cover half of the left SI.I know without a picture its hard for you to picture.Next trip i wont forget my sd card....
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on May 30, 2011, 01:36:18 PM
I thought I remember you had posted install pictures.  I will look them up.  I think we agreed the install looked ok.
Wondering now if the transducer is acting up. I have seen some posts alluding to the possibility of a factory assembly defect causing some transducers to fail. Something to do with not securing the connections in the final produce.
Is it possible to move you unit to another boat and try their transducer...
Chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on May 30, 2011, 10:34:27 PM
Hey chuck,
 Well lets hope your wrong about the transducer failing because no joke it took me over 8hrs to get that transducer cable through the pvc channel that runs from the transom of my boat to the center console.It kept getting stuck in the same spot we used grease we tried everything we could think of, I  just about gave up when one last pull and it popped at first i thought the string broke,But there it was i couldn't believe it.So the thought of taking it out and going through that again.....OMG....THE HORROR......As far as  knowing somebody else that has one of these units unfortunately nope...I'm the only one that i know that has one.These  SI units dont seem as popular on saltwater as they are in fresh water....So all i can do is see if it happens again Saturday and if it does i will snap some images for you to look at and you can let me know what you think.Thanks for listening Chuck....I will  post my images Saturday night.....JIM
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on May 30, 2011, 11:19:45 PM
Hey chuck i was just searching through some images that people posted and i found an image that looks exactly what I'm talking about...this is it....See how the left side of the SI is shadowed out?
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: edwardpic on May 31, 2011, 07:36:54 AM
I sometimes get a shadow or partial view on the left as well. What I found is my motor position blocks the signal just a tad...when Im searching in an area I just trim my motor up a little and the screen clears up...Thats just my situation...maybe try trimming the motor up and see if it clears up
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on May 31, 2011, 09:54:01 AM
Trimming the motor as Edwardpic said may give better results.
Also is it possible the transducer is not level to the water surface. For some reason I did not find your previous install picture.
Could you repost here. 
Chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on May 31, 2011, 09:59:46 PM
Hey chuck
 
Here is the pictures of my transducer.... since ive takin these pictures i lowered the transducer  about a half inch....but the tilt of the transducer i didn't change...
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on June 01, 2011, 10:13:37 AM
Is that a kicker motor on the left side of the transom I see in the second picture?  Make sure both motors are up and out of the way when you go out next time and see if that makes a difference.

Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on June 01, 2011, 05:05:01 PM
If the motors are up and out of the way how does he drive the boat.....
chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on June 01, 2011, 11:22:38 PM
Hey guys
 That's actually  the boat next to my boat...But i will make sure that my outboard is up as high as it can be and still work...Well 2 more days and ill be out on the water fishing and playing with my unit...Stand by for my pictures.....Thanx guyz
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on June 02, 2011, 09:40:50 AM
You got two boats DD?


Most can trim their motors up enough to not block the Si sonar and yet still propel and steer the boat Chuck.

Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on June 02, 2011, 10:35:36 AM
Was hoping that he did not have to try and row at 3 mph..... ;D
Chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on June 03, 2011, 11:19:02 AM
Was hoping that he did not have to try and row at 3 mph..... ;D
Chuck

 ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: sonar2000 on June 03, 2011, 11:53:49 AM
You and me both.....whew..... :P
Hopefully he can get to the root of the problem...soon......
Chuck
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: IRC Kevin on June 05, 2011, 05:43:18 AM
A long shot, but may be worth considering. Is your boat actually level when in the water and loaded with essentials such as crew, fishing kit and beer? It doesn't take much to make a boat list to one side, especially if narrow beam, wind or current may do it.
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: stillbear on June 05, 2011, 07:24:22 AM
Double Digit I agree with Kevin could be a listings issue might consider turning the trandsducer
toward the port side just a little.I would find a buddy an put his head on your ducer see what
kind of image you get. Gary
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on June 05, 2011, 09:20:23 PM
Hi everybody,
 Well went out Saturday afternoon to catch the outgoing tide for some porgy's.I told my buddy to be at my house at 1pm he ends up showing up at 230 and now everythings gonna be a big rush.So i figured i would do my experimenting on the way back in it would be getting dark no sun glare good time to play around with the SI.When i got to the porgy grounds i was scanning the bottom for some good boulders.This was the first time i got to see big rocks on the down imaging.At first i thought they were schools of porgy's because the image has a space between the bottom of the rock and the sea floor.Maybe they are fish like i said this is my first time scanning the bottom with the down image with big rocks all over.I can see them on the SI and there is no doubt but the bottom image is strange what do you guys think?Well anyway we got done fishing and started to head in when this wicked east wind kicked up and i mean WICKED....The long island sound went from calm to crazy in 10 minutes.So there went my plans of experimenting with the
SI to  try some different stuff.I did get to take 1 image of the left shadow that I'm talking about.After i took the image i was heading to the ramp and it was nasty out so i picked up alittle speed around 5-6 mph and i looked down and the shadow was gone.So I'm thinking that for me to get good images with the SI i need to be going between 5-6 mph unfortunately i will have to wait to the next trip to experiment.I snapped a few pictures to upload. The down looking images are of what i think is the boulders.The one image of the SI is of the shadow on the left side that went away with alittle more speed.The other SI was taking of the bottom at the porgy grounds i was going abit faster and no shadow.I think I'm just a total newbie to this SI stuff and need alot more experience with this technology.Only being able to get out once a week its gonna take me yrs to figure this stuff out,But luckily with this forum i have access to all your guys experiences and well that's a great tool to have access to......
Title: Re: Dark picture on left side of SI
Post by: Double Digit on June 05, 2011, 09:21:26 PM
Here are the SI images....
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