Topic: 598 problems. PICTURES!

[Hummin3535]

My 598 isn't working and don't know what else to do. I've had the unit for about 2 years and I've never been able to read bottom with the side imaging mode. It seems to never have a good picture and looks fuzzy as the transducer isn't working properly( or maybe my fault somewhere). I've posted pics to show where I've mounted the transducer. If I were to be sitting in my dock should I be able to see a shadow or screenshot of the pilings sitting next to me in 10ft of water? I've had to take my boat in and out of the water to adjust the transducer and have done this a bunch of times. The transducer was leveled and wasn't being blocked. The wires were in the conduit with the engine wires and someone told me to send it thru the other conduit. Still no progress. I now have the unit running straight from transducer over deck of my boat to helm and have the transducer mounted on a piece of wood. This is so I can adjust the transducer in order to not have to take the boat out. I don't know what else to do. I've posted pics to show where it's mounted in transom and a shot of the reading of me moving and aitting still which is basically the same blurry pic on the screen. If anyone could try and point me in the right direction I would greatly appricate it. Transducer has never hit anything before and has no damage to what I can see.

[mike fish]

I'm having a hard time seeing the pic of transducer mounting so I can't comment on that. Better pic and a side shot would help. Some of the basics are you want water contact on surface of TD at all times, no strakes or items if front of TD that are going to cause turbulence or air bubbles over surface of TD.
Your other pics You'll want to get your SI range down, I run my 798 at 50-55' sometimes even 40'. The smaller screen you need a smaller range to get better detail. I believe the guideline is 2- 2-1/2 times your depth. Senistivity changes with depth too, again I'm usually in the 7-9 range and color depends on daylight for me. Some days blue is easier to read then amber and vice versa. Actual screen shots from unit are easier to interpet.  If you have 1 SD slot then you'll have to replace mapping card with SD so you can record screen shots.

[Hummin3535]

Here are a few more pics

[rnvinc]

In addition to Mike's suggestions above ...:

Your 1st SI image is showing a boat speed of 7.6mph ... Faster boat speeds cause more turbulence and aeration of the water coming out from under the hull ...and some of the SI sound pulse is reflecting off these bubbles (basically the bubbles are blocking the SI sound pulse from reaching the intended targets) ...

The best scanning speed is going to be from 2-5mph ...and always match the SI Chart speed to boat speed ...

Your xducer mounting looks suitable for your hull for SI scanning ...

For high speed depth readings - you just have to try it and see ...

Try slowing down to 3-4mph, match Chart speed to boat speed ...

Also insert a blank SD Card in the slot, enable "Screenshot" under the Accessories tab, then use the "Mark" button on the unit face to save a screenshot to the SD Card ...

Actual screenshots from the unit are much easier to discern on the forum than pix of the display ...

Rickie

[Hummin3535]

Totally understandable about the boat speed. No matter what speed I go it's the same blurry picture. I've tried going slower and same result... Those were the only pics I had on my phone. I will try using a memory card and take some more pics and try to adjust the transducer. Might just end p buying a new one.any other suggestions would be great and if your sitting still at the dock should I be able to see the piling a next to me on side imaging? Thank you

[mike fish]

Seeing your piling? Yes and no.
 Yes probably, the TD beam has to be lined up with it and it's a narrow beam. It gets compared to cheese slicer in water.