Topic: New to me 997C - sonar now working!

[w2f4]

Over the winter I purchased a used 997C.
Was told unit was in perfect working order, ~ 2years old.
It appears in very good condition, shows 167 hours of use.
GPS works fine.
Installed the transducer per manual and advise from this board.
Finally hit the water this past weekend, and the sonar isn’t working.
I had previously updated to the latest release – process including - reset defaults, update, reset defaults.
Batteries are strong, and the P/G connections secure.
Power and transducer connections are bright, corrosion free, snug as expected.

Observations while tied up in a marina slip in ~5 feet of water-

System automatically goes into normal operation, which I think is an indicator it found a transducer.

System status never shows temperature.

The transducer has an extension cable, 7 pin connector, when the extension cable is used, depth never appears, and on the basic sonar view, scale to 10 ft, just a horiz color bar from the top down about 1 foot.

Without the transducer cable extension, going directly in with the 5 pin transducer connector, after startup in another ~ 1-2 min, crazy depth number will appear, 264ft / 555ft, flashing. Basic sonar view adjust the scale accordingly.

Any experience to suggest this is likely a transducer vs head unit issue?

The transducer is the older one, color of the printing per past info from Greg.

Is it worth getting a new transducer for starters?

Any info / advise greatly appreciated.

[Humminbird_Greg]

w2f4,
It is more likely to be the transducer than the unit but let’s make sure first by testing your 997c Si unit on someone else’s boat that has a Humminbird unit.  It does not have to be another 997c Si unit as most of our units have used the same 200kHz 2D sonar in them.  Connect just the power and transducer for the test.  All we are looking for is a correct bottom depth reading here.  You could also test their unit on your boat. 

[w2f4]

w2f4,
It is more likely to be the transducer than the unit but let’s make sure first by testing your 997c Si unit on someone else’s boat that has a Humminbird unit.  It does not have to be another 997c Si unit as most of our units have used the same 200kHz 2D sonar in them.  Connect just the power and transducer for the test.  All we are looking for is a correct bottom depth reading here.  You could also test their unit on your boat.

Greg,
Appreciate your advise.
Someone i know had a small b&w hb ff, I'll try to get a hold of it and test that unit with the 997c transducer & power on my boat.

[lcookie]

Did you make sure the sonar was turned on in your settings?  Hit power and make sure the sonar line reads on.

[w2f4]

Did you make sure the sonar was turned on in your settings?  Hit power and make sure the sonar line reads on.

Thanks for your comment.
Yes, i had confirmed sonar was set to on.

[w2f4]

bought a new sealed in package HDSI transducer, mounted it on a pole and tested - still no sonar / no indication temp sensor connected. This is turning into the worse electronics experience for any of the 9 boats I've had over the years. In no way is this a hb bash, i bought the unit used and rolled the dice, looks like i got burned.

at this point, i'm thinking perhaps the next step is one of these -

could the latest frozen rev of software be an issue, try reverting to some prior version?
seller still saying it worked when he had it. and I'm noting was a much early software release when i purchased it a few months ago.

send everything to hb for evaluation - at min some cost for eval? likely some cost for repair, if repairable?

even considering - gps works prefect, before getting into a deeper lo$$, sell as gps only unit recoup some money, sell the new transducer, and buy some other unit.

advice welcome and appreciated.

[ITGEEK]

I don't think anybody would buy the unit as a GPS only unit.  If it is designed
to have sonar, they would want that too.

If it were me, I'd first carefully double check the battery condition and all
connections again.  Look at the pin connections on the unit and see if they look OK.
Then, I'd check the menu item for the type of transducer to be sure the correct
one is selected, and that it is set to on.
If those weren't the problem, I'd try and install an earlier version of the software.
Then go from there.

Good Luck.

[w2f4]

I don't think anybody would buy the unit as a GPS only unit.  If it is designed
to have sonar, they would want that too.

If it were me, I'd first carefully double check the battery condition and all
connections again.  Look at the pin connections on the unit and see if they look OK.
Then, I'd check the menu item for the type of transducer to be sure the correct
one is selected, and that it is set to on.
If those weren't the problem, I'd try and install an earlier version of the software.
Then go from there.

Good Luck.

Thanks for your advise.

I redid the P & G feeds, including a new fuse holder.
SONAR NOW WORKING 

Thanks again for everyone's advise.