Topic: 898SI Transducer tilt?

[jgcox6]

Hey guys, I got my 898SI unit out for the first time yesterday and was a bit disappointed of my images.  I will start off saying that i had 6.61 ver loaded and got very blocked images on the 2D sonar.  I also had what seemed to be very dark images out past 40ft or so...i was in relatively flat area.  I adjusted the sensitivity, had it set from 8-12 at times.  I had increased the scroll speed (it was matched at my speed 3-4mph initially) when the images were dark to like 5 per Doug's comments on 6.61 ver. and that didn't seem to help.  After I played around with sensitivity and other settings, I changed to the 6.49 ver and didn't seem to really help. I matched my screen speed to my motor speed I went past numerous docks with poles anchoring them and never saw the poles on either side, even when i would turn around and go back the other way to eliminate just one side of the transducer.  I also adjusted the distance and still couldn't see the poles even though i would be within 20 ft or so from them.

I will try to attach a couple of pics later...but i do want to ask a transducer question or two:

1. I tilted the transducer down to see if it would help, seemed it improved it alittle but not much ...shouldn't it be level to get the best image?

2.  How far tilted is too far?

3.  Has anyone compared the 6.61 ver to the 6.49 on the 898's?  My 2d sonar seemed blocked on both versions to me... 

4.  Did 6.49 ver have kinda blocked images on a 898DI unit.

[Humminbird_Greg]

1. The best Si images will be when the bottom of the transducer is parallel with the surface of the water.

2. When it starts affecting the sonar to the point that you don’t like it.  That may be at different degrees to different people.  As an example: I don’t like the transducer angled down at all in the 2D sonar but I don’t seem to care as much if it is angled down in the Si sonar (I know: weird!).