Author Topic: Having trouble dialing in my transducer (Read 10892 times)

Scrutch · « **on:** April 08, 2011, 11:37:45 PM »

Got my 1197 installed yesterday and went to the lake to shake out any bugs. I can't seem to find the sweetspot with the transducer to get any images in the screen. On the screen with side imaging, down imaging and switchfire I get static in the switchfire pane, garbled images in the downimaging pane, and some images in the side imaging pane but you can't really make out what you're looking at. I think it
s the transducer angle. I nearly froze my arm off reaching down underwater to adjust the angle but could not find the sweetspot. I never got any accurate depth readings either. Most were readings around 1000 - 1500 ft. once in a while I'd get it down to 200 ft but still nothing accurate.

I have a stepped hull and my transducer is mounted in the step with a clear view of the bottom and sides.
No motor running. I had only my in-dash Zercom flasher running so I could see the actual depth.

Anyone have any dialing-in tips that might help?

Roddy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:53:20 AM »

Scrutch; Try a run at 1-2 kts, flasher unit OFF. HB set to 75 feet each side, in 20-30 foot water. Good Luck Roddy

Jolly Roger · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2011, 07:45:41 AM »

Hi Scrutch and welcome to the forum,

as Roddy already mentioned: Turn off the flasher. I don't know what frequency the flasher uses, but it might interfere with the frequencies of your 1197.

Make some snapshots of the screen you're referring to and post them here. Pictures of your transom and the spot where you have the transducer mounted will help as well (from straight behind to see if it's level with ground / boat bottom and from each side to see what else might be screwing up the screen).

What transducer have you chosen in the transducer selection menu? Make sure you have High Definition or (HDSI) chosen!

Keep the side range 2.5 times the depth you're cruising. And choose the right chart speed in relation to your boat speed. I wrote something about it here:

http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=242.0 .

I hope this helps and good luck

Regards / Harry

Scrutch · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:14:24 PM »

Checked transducer selection, HDSI was selected. Going out tomorrow again. Do you think it could be a low voltage or interference issue? Voltage readings were 12.0 to 12.1 the entire time. I'm gonna take another battery with me too. I know that one reads 12.8 sitting on my workbench. I'll shut everything off except the HB to try to isolate any interference from the Zercom or the Terrova. Those were the only things running yesterday.

transom pics...

Roddy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2011, 03:58:18 PM »

Scrutch; Your pix show two (2) instal's, witch are uou using? Roddy

sonar2000 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2011, 04:54:07 PM »

Roddy, I think that is an optical illusion....

It looks like it is mounted on the inside step...
Chuck

Jolly Roger · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2011, 05:16:27 PM »

Hm, doesn't look bad to me so far.
Make sure you have nothing else connected to the battery but your 1197.
If you have everything else switched off and the screens are OK, switch on one thing (pump, engine, flasher, trolling motor etc.) after the other and see if the screens starts to screw up

Hope you'll get things sorted out.

Regards / Harry

Roddy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2011, 07:35:29 PM »

Chuck; Yea, I did not look close. Sorry! Roddy

sonar2000 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2011, 11:11:59 AM »

Roddy, it was probably right after your nap.......

Maybe he will also post some pictures of the screens...
Chuck

Scrutch · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:40:35 PM »

Forgot to take my SD card so no screenshots... but...

more clues...

Took a separate battery to eliminate the low voltage and interference possibilities.

Side and Down imaging was clear. But no depth readings and no switchfire regular sonar. Still heavy interference or garbled vertical lines on the screen.

Then...

I unplugged the transducer from the lead coming out of the head unit labeled "side imaging" and plugged it into the lead labeled "Dual Beam". Now switchfire sonar works with good depth readings but obviously no side or down imaging.

I'm a puzzled newbie!

sonar2000 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:59:56 AM »

Scrutch. I am confused. What are you talking about in the transducer plug going into the head. I thought the 1197 only had one input for the transducer.
Are you running some middle connector cable...
chuck

Scrutch · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:43:49 PM »

My 1197 has two leads coming out of the transducer plug on the back of the head unit. One labeled "side imaging" and one labeled " Dual Beam"

There's acutally five wires coming out of the large square plug:
1. GPS
2. Power
3. Transducer " side imaging"
4. Transducer "down imaging"
5. Accessory

Jolly Roger · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:04:48 PM »

???Huh???
Sounds like you have a splitter cable connected to the head. If you just have one transducer on your boat, unplug the splitter cable and connect the transducer directly to the head.

Regards / Harry

sonar2000 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:09:45 PM »

Harry, that is what was confusing me. The "head" only has one large 4 cable plug and 1 two cable plug. It sure sounds like there is another type of cable out there.

So I ask of Scrutch....Where did you get this unit and can you post a picture of what you are talking about..
Where did the 5 cable plug come from?

Chuck

sonar2000 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:27:06 PM »

OK, here is what I have found...
AS SIDB Y ---- Allows two transducers to connect to one unit. An SI and a DualBeam.......
AS SILR Y ---- Allows two SI transducers to be connected to one unit. One for left and one for right....

Now to understand how this works.....

Scrutch. is this one of the cables you have. maybe the SIDB

Chuck

Jolly Roger · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:35:28 PM »

It's gotta be the AS SIDB Y cable Chuck.

Harry

sonar2000 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:39:15 PM »

Yeah that has to be it.
I am guessing you would only get one or the other with the two cable thing..
Was this prior to the HDSI transducer?

??
I will have to look deeper into this. Just for curiosity sakes...
Chuck

Scrutch · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:59:13 PM »

Guys Pat yourselves on the back...you're on the right track...

I do have a splitter cable. SI & DB. No part numbers on it but I suspect it's the SIDB...

Just got off the phone with HB. They told me to eliminate the splitter cable. They said that in order for everything to work properly, BOTH transducers must be plugged into the splitter cable. Since I only have ONE transducer it was filtering out the other signals.

The previous owner obviously had TWO transducers and I just reassembled everything not knowing any better.

If I can get away tonite, I'll go to the lake and test everything again.

I'll post my findings as soon as I can. GREAT forum fellas. You're all very helpful. Thanks a Zillion!

sonar2000 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2011, 05:09:49 PM »

thanks for clearing the air.
glad we were able to help.
You should be fine with the cable plugged in direct......
But as always......let us know of the test tomorrow...
Chuck

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2011, 02:04:14 PM »

Sorry I wasn’t hear earlier to help but I think that Harry gets the zillion here. With the AS-Si-DB-Y cable he would either get just the Si sonar and water temperature when plugged into the “Side Imaging” plug or just the 2D sonar when plugged into the “Dual Beam”.

Scrutch I would be looking for the cable to that inside-the-hull DualBeam transducer that I suspect is inside-the-hull of that boat.

Scrutch · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2011, 06:01:33 PM »

I'll get a DB transducer soon. New to me 1197. My boat.

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