Topic: Updated Firmware 7.120 Now Available for 798CI SI HD

[FlyFisher SLC]

Updated Firmware 7.120 Now Available for 798CI SI HD 

[salado]

just updated mine

[Beaulieu80]

Do you guys see fish with your units? I have an international unit and I saw 2 fish in 3 months when my spotts are full of fish. When I go out with my older unit 565 I do see fish with it. Does my new 798 is not fonctioning? I have the latest software.

[coldsteel]

I had an older 798 that had external gps. I sold it with boat. I saw fish all the time with it.  I bought a new boat and new 798 with internal gps last fall and I never see fish anymore, even when I'm catching fish. I spoke to a woman from humminbird and she was not polite and seemed to be annoyed that I called and asked about this issue. She did tell me they were aware and an update to fix would be coming. That was a long time ago and I don't think this new update addresses the problem. My next unit and any after that will be Lowrance.

[FlyFisher SLC]

Yes, I have a love/hate relationship with the 798 SI.  There are times when I am amazed at its accuracy and consistency in finding trout in lakes and reservoirs.  At other times, I'm dismayed that I'm catching fish but nothing but bottom structure on the display.  Some observations.

I often record data to upload to Navionics.  I think this overtaxes the CPU because the chart speed slows way down, the Fish ID Alarm beeps but neither a fish icon nor fish arch on the display, and at times the GPS freaks out and boat icon starts flying along at 70+ mph.  Stopping the recording and powering on and off the unit can help -- but other times not.

Second, the location of the transducer can make a big difference in readings.  Proximity to boat hull, prop wash, bow wake, etc. seems to block, distort, or camouflage accurate readings.

Third, a minor change in transducer angle (yaw or pitch) can have a major effect on seeing symmetrical fish arches.  I've starting checking transducer angle with bubble angle to ensure it is perpendicular in all respects to the lake bottom.

I'm going to continue to attempt to eliminate user error, while hoping that Humminbird will make good on promises of software upgrades.

[coldsteel]

Can the angle be checked with boat on trailer?

[Beaulieu80]

I hope that my GPS is been fixed too. When i move arround my boat icon get way off of the original position from my auto chart map which prevent me to track new places effeciently. this also prevent me to fish on the right spot...

i wish that my 800$ will be spent on a great product not something that just fonctionning half of it.

[coldsteel]

I know how you feel. You spend aloof money on what you think is a great product and you get crap.
I'm going to try and sell my units on craigslist or ebay and buy Lowrance.

[salado]

Didnt this update give the ability to use AUTOCHART with the 798 ci HD SI?

[rnvinc]

Didnt this update give the ability to use AUTOCHART with the 798?

I don't know the answer to this salado...I don't have the verbiage for the software updates...

Greg is teaching this week so it may be a day or so before he checks in...

You can call HB and ask them the question...

1-800-633-1468

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

From the update description it say this update add the auto detect of AutoChart card yes. I try on my unit and it does not seems to be detected at all...

798CI SI HD (Version 7.120)
Release Date: 07/31/2014

Description:

New Features

    Adds support for AutoChart PC and ZeroLine Map cards

[Beaulieu80]

I found how to auto detect AutoChart with this new update.

go to chart tab, at the bottom there is two new menu tiem. select AC which is pointing to the cutom lake directory

[Beaulieu80]

I have a big 3h recorded video and Fish ID has been fix because it is working now. even with the inside simulator the fis id work with Icon

im starting to love it now!

[FlyFisher SLC]

Glad to hear it.  I found some nicks in my transducer cable that may have caused problems I associated with update.  Need to get out with other transducer and give it a valid test.  Let us know what else you observe. 

[Beaulieu80]

I found from previous update that this new one 7.12 have a WAY better GPS position. Now i'm always on the right place even if I go fast or not which allow me to use AutoChart even more effetiently. Before in time to time I was like 100-200 feet away of the original position.

Also, I have twice more GPS lost position than before, I need more investigation

[rnvinc]

Also, I have twice more GPS lost position than before, I need more investigation

Is your Snapshot feature turned on with no SD Card in the slot...??

We've seen weird things with this scenario before in the past ...

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

I think by default it is OFF.

but no i have not seen anything with it. but it does work on my unit.

[rnvinc]

Just for clarification...

Are you losing your GPS icon Positon on the chart views ... Are you losing your chart views ...Or are you losing actual waypoints that you have marked ...??

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

when Im on the chart view yes, i got a popup message saying GPS lost position and the screen is no longer moving. it can takes up to 10 mins before it gets back online

[FlyFisher SLC]

I've had this same issue where an error messages appears saying something to the effect "No GPS Position" or "GPS Position Lost" and the boat icon on the chart view stops moving.  Of course GPS satellite configurations are dynamic as well as the unit's view of the horizon, but this has happened on large lakes with an unobstructed, 360 degree view.  This makes me wonder if it is really a satellite location issue or an internal problem with the 798 electronics.

However, mine usually regains a satellite lock in a few minutes, but some times I've had to cycle power to get back a GPS lock.

Again, I'm often recording sonar data to create Navionic's charts for the lakes I fish, and this clearly impacts the 798's performance.

Next time I use my 798, I'm using my best transducer and will not record data and report what happens.

[Beaulieu80]

I have to turn too when it takes more than 10mins. even but rarely it does not fix the issue. i wait couple of minutes whith the unit off and it work or display position lost

[rnvinc]

when Im on the chart view yes, i got a popup message saying GPS lost position and the screen is no longer moving. it can takes up to 10 mins before it gets back online

If the unit chart views were completely disappearing ... Then it would possibly be a cable connection issue (for an external GPS antenna...I'm not sure which yours is)...

The unit will not display any chart view if the unit does not detect a GPS antenna connected ...

Your issue does not lose the chart views ... But instead just loses GPS position and the boat icon freezes...this indicates your issue may be a problem within the GPS antenna itself...(if external- malfunctioning ... if internal- malfunctioning) ...

Do you have access to an external GPS antenna that can be tested on the unit...??

Or test your head unit on someone else's GPS antenna ...

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

I don't have access to any external connection no.

since I still have plenty of months for my warranty, i will do more test, if it keep doing so I will call my local HB retailer.

[rnvinc]

I don't have access to any external connection no.

since I still have plenty of months for my warranty, i will do more test, if it keep doing so I will call my local HB retailer.

Another "just for clarification" question...

Your profile says 798cxi HD SI Combo...

Is this correct ... Meaning your unit is, indeed, the internal antenna model...??

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

Im from Canada yes, International unit yes

[rnvinc]

Even tho your unit is an internal antenna model ... you can still connect an external antenna to it...

So you have an option to send the 798 in to HB... to fix the internal antenna... or purchase an external antenna ...

You might even think about upgrading to the AS GPS HS antenna with heading sensor...(which shows your boat orientation heading even while completely stopped)...

Here is my write up of the HB AS GPS HS antenna ...

http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=5109.msg32045#msg32045

Rickie

[Beaulieu80]

I fish all day yesturday and no GPS lost this time

everything was working as expected.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Was it warmer or colder than on other days when the unit lost the GPS?
Was the water smoother?
Maybe the boat batteries were charged more?

Looking for something that would explain why it would not work one day and work the next.  Intermittent electrical connections are usually triggered by moisture, temperature and/or vibration/shock.

[Beaulieu80]

Yesturday (Sunday) was colder and rainning,

Battery was full yes like before, wire look the same too

[Humminbird_Greg]

I would watch it to see if it seems to be temperature related.

[FlyFisher SLC]

Here is my write up of the HB AS GPS HS antenna ...

http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=5109.msg32045#msg32045

Thanks for very informative testing of the HB GPS antennas.  For the way I fish, getting a separate antenna puck could be very helpful.