Topic: Helix7 defect?

[joe20toon]

When my depth range is from 0 to 20 feet, the bottom is shown in red when below 10 feet. Above 10 feet it turns to a lighter orange color. It looks like a defect, as the bottom is the same hardness, meaning it should show dark red at 10 feet and less and not show a washed out orange color. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

I've also noticed this happen in the 0 to 10 foot range where at 5 foot or less the bottom shows a washed out orange color. It looks like this is happening at horizontal mid-screen.

I've been using "fishfinders" for many years and haven't noticed this before.

[Ohio Archer]

A lot would depend on the settings of the unit.  Sensitivity level, SwitchFire mode, actual bottom composition and how much stuff is suspended in the water column.  I have a 7 but can't say whether or not I've seen or recognized this.  Been about a month since I was last out on the water.

[joe20toon]

It's happening mid way on the screen, not the bottom 2/3rds, etc. ...

[rnvinc]

What you are seeing in that specific image is a double echo caused by a very hard bottom ...  allowing the sound pulse to reflect off the bottom - then reflect off the water's surface - then reflect off the bottom again - then return to the xducer ..

The unit is displaying what it "thinks" is the actual bottom and displaying it in the center of the display ...it has reds because it is a very strong return echo ...

Then also the unit is displaying the "second echo" at "twice the depth" at the bottom of the display ... And because the sound pulse is on its "second round trip to the bottom and back" - the return is not as strong ... Therefore orange ...

When the unit is in Auto Depth range ...it adjusts the image to keep the bottom (or what the unit "thinks" is the actual bottom) displayed toward the center of the screen ...regardless of the actual water depth ...

This can be changed by opening the Xpress menu (1 Menu press) and change the "Lower Range" to a value just below the digital water depth ...(which effectively puts the "second double echo" below the display reach where you won't see it) ... 

The color ranges of the bottom characteristics is determined by how strong the return echo is from the return pulse ... Which indicates bottom hardness ...

Each pallette choice displays this differently as to which color represents hard returns and soft returns ...
 
I use "Lower Range" when there is not a great difference in digital depth to allow the actual water column echo returns to use more of the available screen vertical height ... (That bottom changing on display automatically drives me nuts) ...

Some like seeing the "second double echo" because it's a definite indication that the bottom is very hard ...

Rickie

[joe20toon]

Here's another picture of it. You can see at 5 feet there's the lighter orange above and the normal dark red below. Seems the top half of the screen is not displaying the colors correctly. The colors change halfway horizontally across the screen...

I understand about the "second echo" returns but, this is not what's happening.

[rnvinc]

The SI image in the last pic shows weeds or some type of underwater grass ...

This will creates a multitude of different strength returns in the 2d image ...

I do see the distinct color difference in orange and red at the 5" depth level ...but that could be an anomaly of the grass echo returns ...

Does this same distinct color scenario happen over a clean bottom with no grass ... ??

I don't see that anomaly in this image over a clean hard bottom ...


Rickie

[joe20toon]

The SI image in the last pic shows weeds or some type of underwater grass ...
...

Does this same distinct color scenario happen over a clean bottom with no grass ... ??

I don't see that anomaly in this image over a clean hard bottom ...


Rickie

Thanks Rickie,

Yes, the anomaly happens over a clean hard bottom. Unfortunately, I don't have picture of it but will get one next time out. It happens at the halfway point on the screen. The pic with the weeds was the best example I have right now. The pic without the weeds does show it happening at the lower half of the screen.

I hope this isn't a defect but, sure looks like one. Also, I wonder if others are not noticing (or don't have the problem) on their units. It does show the bottom but, the abrupt, halfway up the screen color shift is annoying.

Well, I tried to crop another pic and it didn't come out good at all...
At the middle - halfway on the screen, the upper portion of the bottom is yellow, under that is orange.
I know, bad pic...

[joe20toon]

Here's another example...

[Bob B]

Pretty sure Rickie is correct about the weeds .... Looks like the same thing in that last image.

[rnvinc]

It might be a good idea to contact HB, explain the anomaly ...and offer to send them some snapshots ...

If it is a defect ...it definately needs to be logged at HB ...

And they may even have more info of this than we (at sideimagingsoft) know of ...

1-800-633-1468

Rickie

[joe20toon]

It might be a good idea to contact HB, explain the anomaly ...and offer to send them some snapshots ...

If it is a defect ...it definately needs to be logged at HB ...

And they may even have more info of this than we (at sideimagingsoft) know of ...

1-800-633-1468

Rickie

Thanks...

Sorry about the pics. Even without weeds, the mid screen color change happens. Next time out I'm going to take some better pictures and some video. I'm calling this a "glitch" since it happens a bit more than 50% of the time. Also, I'm going to try and stop Auto Ranging and see if that helps. I like the "original" palette but may see if this happens on the other colors...

Hope to have an update in a few weeks.
 

[joe20toon]

I managed to get a video capture of the issue. As I mentioned, there's a noticeable color change midway on the screen. I think this pic shows it better.

I should have cropped previous pics...

[rnvinc]

Not sure this video capture will show up but, here's another example:

That last pic would be a very good example to send HB ... It shows your issue very distinctly ...

Rickie

[joe20toon]

Thanks Rickie for the quick (quickest) reply. I was still editing my text...  While that was a good example, I've seen more obvious variations of color shifts at the mid point on the screen. I'm going to keep the camera ready to get more images for Humminbird. I will cancel the side scan and have 2D set for full screen.

[rnvinc]

Is this "color shift" always at the mid line of the display (meaning a display problem) ...??

Or is it somehow related to water depth (meaning a software problem) ...??

Rickie

[joe20toon]

Is this "color shift" always at the mid line of the display (meaning a display problem) ...??

Or is it somehow related to water depth (meaning a software problem) ...??

Rickie

The color shift (glitch) is always at the mid line on the display.

[NJsquatch]

The color shift (glitch) is always at the mid line on the display.

Did you contact HB? What did they say?

[bobcoy]

I managed to get a video capture of the issue. As I mentioned, there's a noticeable color change midway on the screen. I think this pic shows it better.

I should have cropped previous pics... You might be better served if you did a screen snapshot of the screen in stead of the photo. I was wondering if that is still there if you turn off the depth lines. Bob

[joe20toon]

I just did a solftware/firmware update and the color shift issue has been fixed. At least on "original palette" color. 

[rnvinc]

Well that's good news ...

Thanks for updating your thread ...

Rickie

[joe20toon]

Well that's good news ...

Thanks for updating your thread ...

Rickie

Sorry it took so long to update the post. I don't get out on the water nearly as much as I'd like.

I should mention after the update, the side scan also seems better. The blue palette seems to have a better definition to it. Maybe it's just me - my eyes, as I don't know if the update includes an improvement on resolution.