Topic: 997c Side Scan Issue

[jhcreid]

Well, just got the unit installed and I'm a little discouraged.
  Issue: Can't see scan on left side, think the motor is blocking scan.
I placed the transducer in the same location as my previous transducer. I bought the unit used, so I downloaded the manual from the website and utilized the mounting template for install. I placed the transducer about mid way from the outdrive to the waterline, right side of outdrive. The bottom right of the stainless bracket is just on the dead rise.
I have the transducer about 1/4 inch below the bottom of the boat, it actually creates its own wake when I’m on plane.
The right side scan is great, very little on the left.
I also had to tilt the head down to get the sonar to read depth, is this common as well?
Hope it's not a transducer re-location issue as I have already plugged the hole through the stern. If you have help, or can suggest other threads, please let me know.  Thanks!

[Del]

Welcome to the forum!
Can you, by any chance, add a photo of the mounted transducer ?
And no, to tilt the head down to get depth readings is not common and just sounds strange 

Anyways, congratulations to that nice unit! I'm sure we'll get it running and you will be happy with it soon.

Greetings,
Del

[jhcreid]

The boats in the water now... I'll grab the scuba gear and underwater camera and get one posted soon. I saw a picture on this forum that looks very similar to my installaion. I'll post it.. stand-by..

[jhcreid]

This is not my boat, but very similar installation. On an inboard/outboard boat, is it common to have to use multiple transducers to avoid the "motor shadow"? If so, can I use both transducers at the same to get full scan of the left and right side, or do I have to look at one side/transducer at a time?
Guess I need to buy another $250 transducer?

[Del]

Your guess is probably not that bad. If your installation is really similar it's probably the best way to install a 2nd transducer. Bother transducers can be connected with an Y-Cable so you will have left reading of the left transducer and right readings from the right transducer - so you'll have both SI returns at the same time.

Before you go on and buy another transducer and install it, i would still consider posting some photos of the original installation on your boat (from the back like the one you've posted and from the side, so we can see if the signal will be blocked - from the left side if the transducer is located on the right, too please) and probably an screenshot of the shadow you're seeing on the unit. I'm still very curious about this need "to tilt the head down to get the sonar to read depth". But if you think you're right, then the 2nd transducer and the Y-cable will be your best solution.

Greetings,
Del

[jhcreid]

Will get the pics tomm.. thanks..

Next: I need to install updates; I registered the unit yesterday and the Humminbird website says I needed four updates. What I've done so far is downloaded the updates onto a SD card. Can I simply reset defaults on the unit and plug in the SD to update all in one shot, or do I need to down load to SD, then to unit one at a time? Hope this makes sense.

The unit also came w/the Navionics Premium card that I've tried to update via their website. I downloaded the "Chart Installer" program on my computer. When I place my unlocked Navionics chip into my computer, the computer recognizes it because it tries to open to view contents.
Problem: When I run the Chart Installer program and try to "Get freshest data", the program gets hung up on the "locating your chip" step, like it can’t find the SD card that I know my computer recognized.  Any ideas?

Thanks a bunch!

[Humminbird_Greg]

Look at the files listed in your Humminbird account again.  Only one of those files is for updating your 997c Si unit.  One is for the HumminbirdPC program and two are converters for a sonar recording viewer program.

When you say that you “had to tilt the head down to get the sonar to read depth”, do you mean that you had to tilt the back end of the transducer downwards to be able to get a depth reading at fast boat speeds?  If so, than this may be normal for your boat.

[jhcreid]

So I gotsome great "right side" screen shots of wrecks that I'll be uploading soon. Still no luck with the "left side scan", I've attached some install pics today, looks like I'll be buying the second transducer for the left side? Any input on how this install looks?

[jhcreid]

Some more..

[sonar2000]

The left side part of the transducer may be getting bubble interference fromm the speed sensor just left of the ducer.   
Wow...that is a lot of water spray.....
Chuck

[Humminbird_Greg]

Also blockage by the motor to the left of the transducer.
The second HDSi transducer and the AS-Si-LR-Y will clear the missing left Si sonar up for you.

[jhcreid]

  yeah, I wanted to mention that the above shot was taken at 30mph, I think it's kinda of funny that I've got two wakes behind my boat now. Yesterday was the first time I was running at 30mph and was unable to get a depth reading at around 35 ft of water.

[jhcreid]

So I posted some screen shots on the image gallery under "shipwrecks". Notice they're all right side. Got some nice shots up to about 70' of water. All shots were taken in lake Champlain, fresh water.

[Del]

To be honest, the speed sensor is really in the worst location. Even moving your transducer might improve your returns.

Greetings,
Del

[jhcreid]

Don't use, nor need that freaking thing anyways, maybe I'll just flip it us as the  gps speedo is just fine. We'll try that and see how it goes.  Thanks.

[Roddy]

Remove the speed pitio tube!  Roddy