Topic: Bad transducer on 998c SI?

[dvanpham]

Hi Friends,

I may have a bad transducer on my 998c SI (I believe it's the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T transducer) but wanted to make sure I'm not missing something in my troubleshooting.  My 998c SI only shows a depth of 1.6 feet in 2D sonar mode.  Sideimaging and downimaging still work but downimaging won't adjust the picture to the depth of the image and will only show the top 10' of the downimage.

To troubleshoot it, I connected my 998c SI unit to my 798ci SI transducer (XNT 9 SI 180 T) to see it would show a 2D image and it worked fine.  I have no Y cables or anything between my HDSI transducer and my 998c SI.

Any thoughts on what else to do or try?  I really don't want to go through the trouble of removing the transducer, paying to get it repaired and then installing it again.   

Thanks in advance everyone.

Duc

[newkid4si]

Duc
    Your testing seems to point to the transducer.
    Did your 998 come with 6.18 installed or did you update from a lower level?
    The reason I ask is my 998 didn't like 6.18 when I updated from 5.70.
    Went back to 5.70 and it's back to normal.
    Many units have no problem with 6.18, but mine wasn't one of them.
    Unit was updated by HB at the factory, thus eliminating operator error.
    5.70 is available in the downloads section if you want to try that.

                      Mike

[dvanpham]

Good question, Mike.  I upgraded to 6.18 from 5.70.  I've always done the upgrade via the SD card slot and don't have a cable to perform the downgrade to 5.70.  I don't suppose there is a way to downgrade to 5.70 via the SD card slot is there?

When you say your Humminbird didn't like 6.18, what types of things were you seeing?  Did you see the problem I'm having?

Thank you.

[newkid4si]

Duc
   
    Yes you can use the SD card to go back to 5.70. I did. No cable needed.
    Start with a card with no data on it. (This is a very important step.)
    Download 5.70 from downloads section to the SD card.
    I copied the next part from one of ITGeek's post.


    Turn on your unit with no SD cards in it.
    Reset your unit defaults
    Put in the card with the upgrade on it.--- (upgrade it this case is 5.70)   (I think you answer two questions on display next)
    When the update is done.
    Reset your unit defaults.
    Shut off the machine.
   
    Once the unit starts to update-- don't touch anything-- until it' done.
    Also make sure your power source isn't interrupted.

   Disclaimer--- I think this info is correct, but my track record warrants a through search on this site to make sure it is.
   If anyone sees a error, please point it out BEFORE he tries this.

                              Mike
   

[Bob B]

Regarding the proceedure for doing a software update,

There are differences of opinion regarding when to insert the SD card, but I personally would go with Ggecy's suggestion on this thread.  http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=1217.msg6554#msg6554

For more information see the links I posted on this thread.  http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=4502.msg27970;topicseen#new

[dvanpham]

I appreciate the help, guys.  I'll try that this weekend when I can get access to the unit.  Holding out for hope that this will fix it because I don't want to think of the alternative...

[newkid4si]

Duc
 
    Where are you in the warranty period? Are you in the HB Select program?
    If the software change doesn't work, give them a call before you return the unit.
    They may offer some ideas we haven't.

              Mike

[dvanpham]

Mike,

I'm in the Select program and am pretty sure my unit is out of warranty.  Now that I think about it, I only bought the unit 18 months ago and Select let's you have 2 year warranty, correct?

I'll call them later this week and talk to them as well.

Thanks,
Duc

[newkid4si]

Duc
   
    Original 998 warranty was 1 year. Shortly after my warranty expired, HB started the Select program with a two year warranty on the 998.
    Hum.. phone HB- can I be "grandfathered into program". Noooooooooo!
    Son your roadkill, highway pizza, thrown under the bus--- but I digress. I'm almost over it now. Like that's going to happen.
    Other than that, I've been very satisified with HB customer service.

                Mike

[Humminbird_Greg]

Mike,

I'm in the Select program and am pretty sure my unit is out of warranty.  Now that I think about it, I only bought the unit 18 months ago and Select let's you have 2 year warranty, correct?

I'll call them later this week and talk to them as well.

Thanks,
Duc

Duc,
Unless this problem started when you updated your unit to the 6.180 software than there is no way it is related to the software version.  Your unit is under warranty: call Humminbird and see about getting the XHS-9-HDSi-180-T transducer replaced so you can go back to fishing.

[dvanpham]

Thanks for the help everyone.  I finally got around to taking a look at this and called Humminbird support today.  Matt is sending out another transducer and it should be here early next week.