Author Topic: help with transducer position/questions... (Read 15667 times)

BakerFX4 · « **on:** April 23, 2014, 04:23:45 PM »

Ive been lurking for a while and I've done my best to gather as much info but wanted to be sure on my specific application. I have a procraft boat and a 998si HD unit. As of the few times ive been on the water, I've noticed that my side imaging looks "OK" when in 12-13 foot of water but in 3-6 foot of water, the right side goes blurry (no detail). I plan on completely redoing it. I bought a Y cable and the xnt 920 for my high speed/2d. By youtube vids/this site, Ive gathered to put the 2d TD just to the left or right of my drain plug and adjust it accordingly. As far as the SI transducer.... I dont have a jackplate but have no problem buying one and putting it on if need be. Im including pics of my transom. I still have to learn settings also. So far, my DI and SI have looked NOTHING like the clarity as some of the pics ive seen on here. Ive been watching the doug vids on youtube and learning what I can but i need to get my TD's setup correctly first. Im thinking mounting it to left or right (opposite of my 2d TD) of the motor at the bottom of the transom. But I would still have the issue of motor interference unless trimmed WAY up. So is a jackplate seeming necessary? Im open to any suggestions guys and thank you for any help.

Video on youtube of guy that seems to know what he is talking about as far as the 2d TD placement.


Humminbird Transducer Setup

Bob B · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2014, 05:56:59 PM »

Maybe post some pics of what your shallow water SI looks like.

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2014, 06:49:17 PM »

Yea, i wanted to do that but its gettin new carpet put in right now. Ill try and get some asap. My left side shows detail where as the right side seems to show detail from center according to depth. If its 3' deep, detail is minimal before it gets blurry. At 10' detail ranges further from center line. The "blurryness" appears as a bunch of lines perpendicular to centerline of boat. Just nothing. But like i said, it ranges from depth. My DI doesnt look good at all as far as detail. My switchfire seems ok after i played w the settings as Doug V recommended.

newkid4si · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2014, 09:40:24 PM »

BakerFX4

I suspect your problem with the shallow water blurry image is that the right SI is being partially blocked by the bottom of the hull in front of the motor.
When you get in deeper water, the majority of the signal should transmit under the hull. Likely the deeper the water, the better the image.
Your planed move should eliminated this problem.

Mike

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2014, 09:50:40 PM »

Thanks alot for the info man. When I first installed it, I put it in that countersunk spot thinking it may help get it out of the way of the motor. Do you think I should get a jackplate and kick the motor off the hull some? Once its installed on the transom, I think the motor will be in the way when trimmed down. I dont really care for the idea of having to trim the motor way up and all while idling. From my research, a jackplate is around 300-400. I have the means of installing it myself at my dads shop so if needed, ill get one. Thanks again for the help.

newkid4si · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2014, 11:15:09 PM »

My guess is that countersunk area would work with a 2D type of transducer, but the SI type transducer requires different mounting conditions. I would be
looking at the area right or left of the water intake on the step. That way it would be protected and offer a clean left/right view without the cost of a jack plate.
The 2D for high speed would be from the other transducer. BUT, before you do anything, get input from people with this type of install.

Mike

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2014, 11:45:19 AM »

I see four possibilities here for you BakerFX4:
1. Go for the jackplate. It sounds like you want one and they can help the performance of a boat, however this is an expensive way to mount your HDSi transducer. If you go with the jackplate you need to get one that will push the motor back more than six inches so that the HDSi transducer will fit under there. You may also want to get a hole-shot plate as well so you can mount the transducer in the center and also not have the HDSi transducer get a sonar reflection from the other side of the jackplate.
2. Mount a second HDSi transducer in the countersunk spot on the right side of the boat hull and connect this transducer with the others using the AS-Si-LR-Y cable. If you use the Di sonar though it will affect what this sonar looks like in a negative way.
3. Install the HDSi transducer either on the vertical face of the step where the drain plug is or on the horizontal face just above it. I don’t know if there is enough room in either location but this will expose the transducer to more possible damage from waterborne debris.
4. Install the HDSi transducer next to the motor mount and trim that motor up when you want to use the Si/Di sonar. From what you have stated though; you don’t want to have to do this.

Mike was right in that the right Si sonar is being blocked by the boat hull. Since the Di sonar comes from both the left and right Si sonar, these same repeating lines are showing up in the Di sonar too. Getting the transducer in a better location will clear both up.

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2014, 12:00:49 PM »

Thanks a ton guys... Yea, i think ima go with mounting my high speed TD at bottom by drain plu on vertical part and mount the SI TD on the horizontal part so that its somewhat out the way but still has a clear view of clean water. Similar to the way the guy in the vids is setup but just not using the thru hull. Ill still get some pics and keep you guys updated. Thanks again.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2014, 12:50:23 PM »

BakerFX4,
I would have opted for the inside-the-hull XP-9-20 DualBeam transducer. You can still install the XNT-9-20 there if you want. It would be less hanging off the back end of your boat and an inside-the-hull transducer is usually the best location for high-speed depth readings on a fiberglass boat.

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2014, 06:04:45 PM »

I finally changed the location of my SI transducer and opted to just have to trim the motor up. I also added the other transducer and it all is working great. My images are pretty clear but our lakes tend to be pretty shallow with alot of grass so its kinda tough to point out fish. I just need to spend a little more time looking at sample pics/vids to learn more of what I am looking at. Thanks for all your help guys.

(Just wanted to report back because too often there are no replys with the issue solved)

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2014, 12:05:12 PM »

Thanks BakerFX4 !

rnvinc · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2014, 09:08:44 PM »

Pix Baker...we need pix...

We like tryng to find fish in the images too...!!

Rickie

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2014, 09:12:29 PM »

I actually got a cid of a stump field w trees laying down that i wanna post so that maybe yall can pick apart the detail and/or fish and maybe suggest some setting changes if need be. Ill upload it...

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2014, 11:17:24 PM »

yeah, this moving files/opening up in some other program/etc is killing me. Im used to just uploading to youtube or photobucket but this looks like a job. Anybody willing to PM me their email and ill send them my files from the sd to be uploaded. It may be a few days before I get all this figured out. haha. I took some good vids and im anxious to "see" what you guys "see".

rnvinc · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2014, 08:56:20 PM »

How to embed yotube videos...

http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=64.msg122#msg122

I find Robert's second option in the above post works easiest...

*Open your video in youtube
*Copy the entire URL in your browser's address bar
*Paste the URL in the message pane of your reply here
*Click "Preview" to see if it looks the way you want....

Rickie

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2014, 10:07:22 PM »

this is the best I could figure out yet.... I "made movie" from Humview and uploaded it to youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_DHgnxmjLE&feature=youtu.be

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2014, 10:20:55 PM »

heres a snapshot from Humview... (its not as blurry in humview as the vid/photo)

rnvinc · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2014, 01:28:37 PM »

Sure is a lot of tall vertical structure in that lake...

What are they...??

Rickie

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2014, 01:42:57 PM »

Trees and stumps everywhere. Banks lined with grass. Area looks good and i catch a few but not very big.

birda40 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 26, 2014, 09:48:16 AM »

Has anyone installed the ducer near the drain plug with any luck? I have the same type of boat.

BakerFX4 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2014, 10:07:14 AM »

It would work good and be fine but just be in danger of getting damaged. If u just fish open water unlike our trees and stumps and such, that would be fine imo.

rnvinc · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2014, 12:34:10 AM »

Quote from: birda40 on May 26, 2014, 09:48:16 AM

Has anyone installed the ducer near the drain plug with any luck? I have the same type of boat.

If the drain plug doesn't stick out into the path of the side beam, there should be no issue....

Some have opted to test with double sticky tape before drilling holes in the transom...(just be sure it's stuck good)....

Rickie

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