Topic: Black screen on Matrix 12

[Plant Guy]

Greetings,  Just installed new out of the box Matrix 12.  Power on the unit and get a black screen.  Push menu and no response, just black screen.  Boat on trailer and over concrete, not in water.  Unit will not power off, must turn off key.  Checked all connections and power supply.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

[ITGEEK]

You did not mention this, but is the transducer hooked to the unit?
I don't know anything about a Matrix 12, but it could possibly make a difference.

If you have one, did you check the inline fuse for corrosion?

[Plant Guy]

......everything is new and everything is connected.

                  Standing by.....

[ITGEEK]

You could maybe tap on the back of it with your hand to see if it flickers.
The unit may have an internal loose connection.

I would also inspect the unit connectors and cable connectors to be
sure nothing is bent or broken.

If it's new in the box, can you return it?

[Plant Guy]

.......all cables and connections are fine.  Everything hooked just as the directions say.  Rechecked all numerous times.  Unit will power on.  Screen is not totally black.  It has very thin horizontal lines alternating from black to gray with minor noise overlaid on top.

The boat is NOT in the water.  It is on the trailer on a concrete driveway and NOT in motion.  Am I just getting a static picture of the hard concrete that fills the entire screen with one horizontal pattern?

But........when the unit powers up there are no text windows displayed, there is no response from the Menu,View, Exit, or Power/Light Keys.  None!

Has the unit lost it's Software (possibily from an errant electrical jolt during installation)?  Can it be reinstalled?  if so how?

              Standing by......

[ITGEEK]

The unit is not going to be picking up any images from the transducer
through the air.  Also, nothing needs to be in motion in order
for the sonar to work (on water).

In your owner's manual, are there any sequence of keys you can
push to get a system status screen?

If you can't physically see the screen, I think it will be difficult to
try and update the software.

Also, I don't know if you have an SD card slot or not, or a place to
hook a computer.  If you don't have either of those, then there
isn't much you can do as far as software upgrades go.

If you can't send the unit back where you bought it, is it
still under warranty?

I'd call HB customer service.  They may have some info for you.

[LocDown]

is the contrast on full black? ..do you hear beeps or anything when pressing buttons?

[Humminbird_Greg]

If holding the power button in does not turn the unit off, then it is locked up.  Without the unit being able to respond to a key press there is no way to update the software or re-program it.  I think that you will need to try retuning the unit to whomever you bought it from or contact Humminbird and see if we can still service these older units.