Humminbird Side Imaging Forums
Side Imaging Forums => 997c SI, 998c SI & 999ci HD SI => Topic started by: cdill35 on September 15, 2013, 05:35:13 PM
-
This is the first unit I have ever owned, so at $1,300 (on sale) I figured I was purchasing a high end unit. Please help me understand why my sonar screen looks nothing like what I see on Lowrance units or screen shots of Huminbird Units.
My Sonar is very pixelated. It's not clear at all. The side and down imaging seem OK but even they are not as clear as what I have seen on Lowrance units or even screen shots of Humminbird units I have found online. I should have taken a screen shot today but I didn't, just trust me that it looks like I am looking at an old school color Atari game. Very little detail.
I have the beam set to dual, and the other setting (I'm not sure what it is) is at 455 hertz? Depth is set to auto.
Here are some pictures of where I have mounted the transducer on my 2002 Triton TR20, which it constantly flips up whether I bump anything or not. Have I installed it incorrectly?
I want to believe that it's user error and I did, in fact, purchase a quality unit.
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm296/cdill954rr/null_zps0e1892e6.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/cdill954rr/media/null_zps0e1892e6.jpg.html)
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm296/cdill954rr/null_zpsc300a2ef.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/cdill954rr/media/null_zpsc300a2ef.jpg.html)
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm296/cdill954rr/null_zpsd4ea0724.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/cdill954rr/media/null_zpsd4ea0724.jpg.html)
-
Cdill35
It looks like it is mounted too close to the engine, suppose to be at least 15 inches? Hard to tell from the photo, also the belly of the transducer should be mounted less than 1/4 inche off the bottom of the boat so there is a smooth flow of water and it is not in line with steps or rivets or any obstruction that follows the flow of the water because any bubbles cause distortions
Maybe someone here has the same boat and can post a picture of their install
-
Try to get and post some screenshots so we can see what you are seeing...
Rickie
-
Do you know what software version came loaded on the unit?
-
I dont know what software came loaded but I did an update. I'll get some screen shots on Wednesday for you guys.
-
Also find out what version of software you updated your 998 unit to.
The transducer looks too low in the backend too but it is hard to tell what its real angle is when you are on the water. Ideally the bottom of the transducer should be parallel with the surface of the water when you are underway.
Hard to tell if it is mounted too low in the water. Will need better pictures to determine that but it could be part of the reason why the transducer is kicking up. Try removing the transducer and pivot arm (the black plastic piece that holds the transducer to the metal bracket) and bending in the side ‘ears’ of the metal bracket inwards to increase the amount of force needed to make the transducer kick up. Reassemble the transducer and see if that helps or not.
-
Thanks for the reply Greg. Ill get you the answers to what you asked.
When I am "underway" or on pad should the transducer be out of the water and parallel or in the water and parallel?
Is does slope downward toward the back end of it farthest from the hull.
-
Ideally the transducer will be in the water and parallel to the surface of the water. Any air (bubbles) that gets between the transducer and the water will stop it from working. What complicates this with the Si transducers is the fact that the Si sonar beams radiate out of the sides of the transducer and not just underneath as the more conventional 2D sonar transducers do.
Not sure if you have read about this or not but what many others do is they mount their Si transducers were they are protected from damage but still get good Si sonar readings. They then install an XP-9-20 DualBeam transducer and an AS-Si-DB-Y cable for all of their 2D sonar readings. This allows each transducer to be installed where they work the best and for a fiberglass boat it is usually hard to beat an inside-the-hull transducer for high-speed depth readings.