Humminbird sonar issues

[mnhunter79]

Why does the grapgh clearly show im in 7.6 FOW but the digital read out in the top left corner shows 17 FOW. It keeps jumping around from 10 to 20 FOW, but the graph always shows the correct depth. only does it in shallower water. ALL other electronics are OFF, tried adjusting sensitivity (dont help) and my max depth is set to 30FOW instead of the auto mode of 1500 FOW..HELP please.

[Bigtom]

I think we need more info. Did you just install it? Or did it read like this before now? on a diffrent lake?? What is the sensitivity set on?

[The_Seasock]

It appears to be reading a second echo and failing to display correctly. Time for a new one?

[mnhunter79]

I just installed it 3 wks ago, had it on the same lake 4 times, i did do the software upgrade and it did help but not completely. everything else with this unit works great (898c si). sensitivity is at 20, tried to go with less but the bottom reading on graph just gets thinner and more green/yellow instead of red/green

[mnhunter79]

it is brand new. is it possible i got the bad apple of the bunch?

[Bigtom]

Could it be reading a thermocline?

[The_Seasock]

I don't think so, maybe a Lowrance would be the next choice. If you can, try another transducer, I really doubt it is the display unit, most likely the cheap Chinese transducers they use just as Lowrance does. If not return it and look at a better brand.

[The_Seasock]

Not likely, look closely and see how the bottom contours are the same as the false reading, thermocline would be steady at depth and its too early for warm water stratification.

[JohnMickish]

First off, have you called Humminbird? There people are some of the best in customer service, which is more than I can say for the people at Lowrance. Give them a call and I bet they have you figured out in less than 5 minutes.

[mnhunter79]

yes i called them , and e-mailed them. one person says its the ducer, next says its the unit itself. they did say to send it in and they will send me a new one, which is nice to know.

[CAMAN]

You are getting a double echo. Angle the transducer slightly forward and see if it goes away. Also charge the battery or get a new one if it is getting old, 11.8 volts is starting to get on the low side and may affect performance.

[Nick Kuhn]

Try re-angling the Xducer. If that doesn't help I think the Xducer itself may be bad. With the sensitivity at 20 the entire bottom should be red and it should be green throughout the water column from algae. You might be able to try the head unit on someone else's boat just to be sure.

[TooTallTom]

I've mentioned it before, and I read someone else mention it also. There's an entire HSOforum with forums frequented by HB staff devoted to the Humminbird Side Imaging units. Google Humminbird Side Imaging forum and you'll find it.

It's a great site, full of helpful people. Short of Humminbird personnel, they probably are the most knowledgeable resource you have at your disposal.

[kg2]

HB makes their own transducers in Eufaula, AL.

[kevfish1]

I bought a new hummingbird last year and it does the same thing. Had it updated, 3 new transducers and one new unit. Still does the same thing. Does this just in the shallow water like under 9 feet deep. nI mostly fish shallow lakes so it is a problem. Never got it resolved with hummingbird. Spents days on the phone with them and must have put the boat in the water 50 times making adjustments. finally I gave up

[JohnMickish]

Wow. Not to sound like a jackwagon or anything, but after three transducers and a new powerhead it almost sounds like the problem is in the boat with the way the cables are run. Anyways, that's to bad. Was that a 898SI as well or a different model?

[whitebassman]

Hd the same issue. I adjusted the Switchfire setting and since then has displayed correctly while on three different lakes/rivers.

The other problem i've had is losing depth reading while anchored. It would read depths in the hundreds. Which i figured was a transducer angle/depth issue. Good luck.

[kevfish1]

It was a different model.. 531?? or something like that

[mnhunter79]

I exchanged the head unit and tested it today, still does the same thing but not as bad, and now it reads the bottom good at full throttle (36.7 mph) which the previous unit did not, and i did not adjust the ducer.(strange) but good. ive been told to purchase the Y-cable and the 2D sonar ducer to resolve this issue, but spending 1500 dollars on a unit, it SHOULD come with everything needed to operate correctly!! I sent HB an e-mail on this issue, we'll see what they have to say about it.

[suncruiser234]

Like Whitebassman said try adjusting the switchfire. When I run WOT I need to have the gain at 60% or better to read the bottom well.

11.8 volts is not good either. I think it's time for a new battery.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Wow. Not to sound like a jackwagon or anything, but after three transducers and a new powerhead it almost sounds like the problem is in the boat with the way the cables are run. Anyways, that's to bad. Was that a 898SI as well or a different model?

I agree, it could possibly just be in the wiring. Do you have it wired to an electric panel or directly to the battery? If the power is coming from some sort of electrical panel try running power directly from a battery. Its a long shot but could help, worth trying.