Author Topic: Interference/Ghost signal on new 899 (Read 54142 times)

sfw1960 · « **Reply #50 on:** March 10, 2014, 12:32:17 PM »

Quote from: rnvinc on March 10, 2014, 10:29:53 AM

Here is the HB Select program that will give you a second year warranty...

You should sign up for this before your 1st year goes out...(and the sooner-the better)..

http://www.humminbirdselect.com/

Rickie

Got that RIGHT!

http://www.humminbirdselect.com/

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #51 on:** March 10, 2014, 03:18:10 PM »

If those last three screen snapshots were taken with everything on the boat turned off I would try mounting the transducer on a pole long enough so you can stick the transducer down below the level of the boat and then rotate it around to it points in different directions. That will point to or eliminate anything on the boat blocking or reflecting the left Si sonar. It could still mean a bad second transducer or unit though, so if you cannot find another to cross-test with; send both unit and transducer to Humminbird to test and possibly boat test if needed.

jerklip · « **Reply #52 on:** March 10, 2014, 05:07:05 PM »

Rickie, I registered with Humminbird Select today. Thanks for that.

Spyder - I'm sure the ducer cable is routed near at least some power line(s) as it runs from the head, down through the console, and down the length of the boat to the transom. All of this routing is through enclosed areas and I'm not sure I can do much about the proximity to power lines in that situation.
But yes, I tested with everything in the boat turned off. No aerator, no bilge, no front sonar, no nothing. Dead calm still after several minutes of drifting, and the motor trimmed up completely out of the water. Everything quiet as a church mouse.

Thanks for helping yet again Greg. I will test again on a pole as you have described.

jerklip · « **Reply #53 on:** March 11, 2014, 11:37:18 AM »

Tested with the transducer on a cane pole.

The interference will go away, but only after lowering the ducer 5.5-6 ft. down into the water !!

3 ft down, still interference.
4 ft down, still interference.
5 ft down, still interference.

My hull only sits about 18 inches down into the water.

But around 5.5 - 6 ft down, the interference line merges into the bottom signal, and goes away. Actually the bottom signal comes up and kind of absorbs the interference line.

This was tested sitting dead calm still in the water after several minutes, with the motor completely out of the water, and nothing on except the transom/anchor light (night time). tested at the transom.

This shot (455) shows no interference - Fantastic !! But the ducer was about 6 ft. down. Note the depth only shows 3.6 ft but I was in about 10ft. of water.

This shot (800) show no interference again - Fantastic again !! But it was nearly 6 ft. down again.

The disparity between the left side and right side on 800 is mostly gone in this image. And the strange color layers just above the bottom are gone....unlike in this picture from earlier.

This shot is with the ducer 3 ft. down below the surface, in about 10 ft. of water. Interference is back.

I missed the best pictures of slowly raising and lowering the ducer back and forth from 3 ft deep to 6 feet deep, and seeing the interference line come and disappear back into the bottom signal. But I do have this one that shows the effect a little bit.

I did rotate the transducer 90, 180 and 270 degrees while testing on the pole. No real changes as I rotated. If I only had it 4 ft down, there WAS an interference line and rotating did not change the look. If it was 6 ft. down, there was NO interference, and rotating had no effect on that either.

So....I'm plenty frustrated. I can't very well operate it with the transducer 6 ft. down into the water.

I have NOT run a dedicated power wire directly to the battery yet. It is still wired to a lug under the console.

I will follow up with Hbird CRC as well with this information.

If you don't mind, I would appreciate any further observations and suggestions.

Thank you,
Curtis

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #54 on:** March 11, 2014, 11:46:22 AM »

Well at least you eliminated the boat as a possible cause. It’s down to the (new) transducer and/or the unit. I think that you are just going to have to ship them in to Humminbird to get them tested. I would ask if they can be tested together on a boat if there is no problem found while bench testing.

rnvinc · « **Reply #55 on:** March 11, 2014, 12:58:45 PM »

And send HB a copy of your diagnosis trials that you listed above...with pix

Rickie

cache22 · « **Reply #56 on:** March 11, 2014, 03:43:38 PM »

Seems to me that jerklip has gone the extra mile in all his testing efforts and HUmminbird should stop messing him around and ship him a new unit, new (free) transducer, and apologies, he can send the bad unit back for all their testing. Not impressed with this kind of customer service!!

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #57 on:** March 11, 2014, 04:44:13 PM »

At any time jerklip, or anyone else, could pack up their unit and transducer and shipped them into the Service Department for testing. However, without first taking the time to troubleshoot where the problem is he could have well been wasting his time and money. Usually these sort of issues are from a physical blockage of the Si sonar beam and not the unit or transducer. If blockage were the root cause of his problem we would be well on the way on how to overcome this with a different placement of the transducer or some other option.

When I worked as a Service Tech the number one diagnosis was that there was no problem found with the unit or whatever was shipped in. If at all possible I try to prevent units being shipped in when the unit is not the problem. I’m sorry that you disagree.

jerklip · « **Reply #58 on:** March 12, 2014, 05:58:43 PM »

Hbird customer service has already issued a return authorization number (maybe not the right language) and directed me to send the unit and transducer in for evaluation. So they are engaged and moving to solve the problem. I'm thankful for that.

gbishop · « **Reply #59 on:** March 12, 2014, 09:53:55 PM »

Sending my 1199 back for the same problem.I tried my 998 on the new transducer and it worked great. Think this bug is in the head unit of the 99 series.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #60 on:** March 13, 2014, 10:16:37 AM »

I don’t think so gbishop. If it were you would be seeing a whole lot of Internet chatter about it.

I already got an e-mail and phone call about your unit from the CRC folks jerklip.

gbishop · « **Reply #61 on:** March 13, 2014, 10:49:48 AM »

Greg it may not be in all of the 99 series units but I put my 998 on the new transducer and it worked great like it always does.the interference in my unit is worse than jerklips.My unit will be shipped in tomorrow.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #62 on:** March 13, 2014, 03:50:03 PM »

Hopefully the Techs can pinpoint the problem and get it right back out to you gbishop.

jerklip · « **Reply #63 on:** March 23, 2014, 09:53:18 PM »

Sent my 899 and HDSI ducer in to Hbird service on Friday, and they had it back in my hands Thursday. I thought that was pretty good.

The interference line is diminished, but not gone. But I can live with it.

But the big difference between the left and right side on 800 is still no better at all. The left side still looks like it's over heated or something in the pictures. Plus it still shows the layers coming up off the bottom on the left side, and DI. NEVER do these layers show up on the right side.

I'll be sending these pics to my CRC rep again tomorrow.

Some of these pics are with the motor up, off and drifting. Some are idling...you can see the prop wash. All except the last are on 800.

The layers disappear and reappear as the bottom depth/signal rises and falls.

The last picture is just showing that the interference line is still there on 455. This is motor up, and drifting.

Lastly, I posted some interesting screen shots in the "general pictures and screen captures" area of the forum, of some object I found and just looking for opinions as to what it may be.

Thanks all,
Curtis

andyrm66 · « **Reply #64 on:** June 16, 2014, 02:48:59 AM »

I have an 899 with same issue, I thought prop wash, but not so sure after seeing your prop wash. Next time Im out, Ill grab some more screen shots.

sfw1960 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 16, 2014, 08:52:09 PM »

It was my understanding all 2014 SI units have an 800KHz "wash out" software issue that they are working on...
I have a new HDSI XDCR, but have not installed it because of this - Greg??
Any words of wisdom here?

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #66 on:** June 17, 2014, 07:54:19 AM »

None Robert.
That is my understanding as well.

sfw1960 · « **Reply #67 on:** June 17, 2014, 08:16:01 AM »

Well... in due time!
Let's hope that NEW young gun you guys got is a whiz bang programmer!

Bryson · « **Reply #68 on:** July 21, 2014, 01:19:30 AM »

Hi, am having the same issue , did you sort it out?
Thanks

mmikos · « **Reply #69 on:** July 21, 2014, 06:09:40 AM »

I pretty much have the same problem on my 899 unit. see bright line thread

jerklip · « **Reply #70 on:** November 21, 2014, 09:16:16 PM »

Just to maybe bring this thread to a close, I sent my unit in for repair again and apparently this time it works. I had been away from the forum for a while and when I came back I read about a new fix that involved software AND hardware. So I dug up my old emails etc., requested a repair, and BINGO....it works correctly now. I have only tested it one time for a short period, but it sure looks like it is finally fixed. Nice looking images on both sides with 800 now. I will try to come back and post a few images. Thanks to all of the fine forum members who helped so much. You know who you are.
Jerklip

slabbacks · « **Reply #71 on:** November 22, 2014, 05:55:23 AM »

Great news jerklip

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Author Topic: Interference/Ghost signal on new 899 (Read 54142 times)

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