Need some help/input from the Humminbird folks

[AZfisherdude]

I am wondering if anyone experiences a situation where, when using down imaging, the screen suddenly goes blank from the bottom up? Could be 5% to as much as 60% of the screen from the bottom up. This happens frequently and inconsistently on my unit (798ci). Everything else reads fine. No problem reading with side imaging.

Anyone experience anything like this? Ever?

I am currently dealing with Humminbird on this and would like some input from other owners of these units. I guess Lowrance guys could chime in too if this happens to them.

[Humminbird_Greg]

AZfisherdude,
Could this be due to the depth range changing? Example: the depth range is zero to 20 feet and than changes to zero to 40 feet. The 30 to 40 foot range would be blank.

[AZfisherdude]

Hi Greg, thanks for offering an idea. Unfortunately this is not the case. It occurs randomly regardless of depth and when it happens it is there and then gone. Meaning what was visible is no longer. So it isn't a matter of it appearing to be blank as per you suggestion but rather it really is. I actually spoke to you a while back on another forum about this. You initially suggested trying a new transducer and Humminbird sent me one. That didn't fix the problem and when I re-explained it, you agreed that I should send it in. I sent it in and it was returned rather quickly with a note that said "software updated". I foolishly took this to mean that it was a software issue and was now repaired (In actuality they applied the recent software release which I am capable of on my home pc.).
It being winter, I was unable to get out for a bit but my first trip out had the same thing happen.
I called Customer Service and explained that it wasn't fixed. Saquinthia (sp?) said they would need to keep it for a bit this time to investigate and sent me a return label. I said it was fine to keep it as long as it gets fixed.
To my surprise, it was shipped back two days after it was received. I was wondering how they fixed it so fast and called. I was again told that there was no problem found with the unit and that they updated the software (which was already updated).
I then spoke to a gentleman named Jeffery. He suggested that I make some recordings on the unit and send those in. There was some confusion and difficulties getting these files to him but eventually it worked out and he received them. He passes them on to a tech who incorrectly responded that

"When he speeds up the bottom reading goes crazy. When he is idling around it seems fine. On the Down Imaging not displaying on the screen. He does have to remember that his side imaging range does have an effect on the down imaging. So if he has his side imaging range set at 75 feet on each side and then he gets deeper than 75 feet you will not get a bottom reading on the down imaging. He needs to go to a wider range. In down Imaging if he is near a canyon or a mountain drop off he needs to set his down imaging beam to narrow.

I really do not think there is a problem with the unit."

Now, I sent several 2 minute recordings in and made sure to do them differently in different areas. I used the 20hp motor, I used the trolling motor, I went fast and slow. In addition, I know from this happening on multiple lakes, on the flats, and with no motor on at all, that it has nothing to do with the speed or being next to canyon walls.

If there is nothing wrong with my unit then surely others will have experienced this? Hence my question in this forum. I posted on a local forum as well. There are plenty of sites to post on but I wanted to try that one (cause those guys are on the same lakes) and this one because I know there are a fair few users here that know these units intimately.

Last I heard from Jeffery, it was suggested that my trolling motor has something to do with it. I find this hard to believe since it happens when no trolling motor is even in the water sometimes when it happens. In addition, I replaced my old TRANSOM MOUNT Endura 30 with an Endura 50 and it was happening then as well as now. My troller is hooked up to its own battery. Apparently he is sending me another transducer to try out as well as a shielded power cable and a trolling motor choke which goes on a foot control from what I can tell? I have a transom mount..........

I was thinking they were starting to blow me off until he told me that they were sending me some other stuff to try. The weather is going to suck this week but I will try to get out and make more recordings. I'll do whatever I need to to get this unit working correctly! If anyone wants the files I recorded I can upload them somewhere. It was my first time recording and so the clips are short and not that great but you can see the screen go blank in sections (with no memory trail..... the whole bottom portion goes blank).

[chaunc]

I'd like to see those recordings. I have 3 birds, 987CSI, 997CSI, and 1197CSI, and i haven't noticed any of them doing that. Post your recordings and we'll all get together to see if we can figure out whats going on with your unit.

[AZfisherdude]

Great! Thanks chaunc. RECORD.zip
The first couple are real short. I think I started a longer recording on 3 or 4 through 7. I don't recall for certain which is which now but some are with the trolling motor and some are with the gas motor.

A few questions since I am new to this stuff.
1. How do you view other screens when recording? Specifically, what do I need to press while on the recording screen that will allow me to view what is currently being recorded? I was unable to figure this out when I recorded which made the whole thing harder.
2. I downloaded Humviewer to look at the files but they did not appear as they did when viewing on the unit. Why? ie. I did not see the bottom of the screen show the blank section as it did on my unit when looking at the down imaging.
Thanks for the help!

[kosmo]

Great! Thanks chaunc. RECORD.zip
The first couple are real short. I think I started a longer recording on 3 or 4 through 7. I don't recall for certain which is which now but some are with the trolling motor and some are with the gas motor.

A few questions since I am new to this stuff.
1. How do you view other screens when recording? Specifically, what do I need to press while on the recording screen that will allow me to view what is currently being recorded? I was unable to figure this out when I recorded which made the whole thing harder.
2. I downloaded Humviewer to look at the files but they did not appear as they did when viewing on the unit. Why? ie. I did not see the bottom of the screen show the blank section as it did on my unit when looking at the down imaging.
Thanks for the help!

go to recording screen, press menu once then press the start recording option then either use the preset buttons or use the view button to change screens

[kosmo]

Great! Thanks chaunc. RECORD.zip
The first couple are real short. I think I started a longer recording on 3 or 4 through 7. I don't recall for certain which is which now but some are with the trolling motor and some are with the gas motor.

A few questions since I am new to this stuff.
1. How do you view other screens when recording? Specifically, what do I need to press while on the recording screen that will allow me to view what is currently being recorded? I was unable to figure this out when I recorded which made the whole thing harder.
2. I downloaded Humviewer to look at the files but they did not appear as they did when viewing on the unit. Why? ie. I did not see the bottom of the screen show the blank section as it did on my unit when looking at the down imaging.
Thanks for the help!

your unit has a built filter that blocks unwanted noises.hummviewer wont have this .you get just the vraw data that will have to be cleaned up by using the contrast/brightness and the color schemes option,just right click on a file when open in hummviewer

[AZfisherdude]

go to recording screen, press menu once then press the start recording option then either use the preset buttons or use the view button to change screens

I swear I tried this repeatedly and it wouldn't let me leave the recording menu unless I stopped recording...... I'll try again next time I go out. I was thinking there was a trick to it becuase it wasn't working the obvious way that you stated. Hmmmmmm.

[Humminbird_Greg]

AZfisherdude,
I had to borrow a unit but I downloaded and reviewed your recordings. I’m not sure what you are calling blank Si/Di sonar and have attached a few Screen Snapshots I made while reviewing your recordings and added some text to them. What I mainly saw were a few different things:

1.) You had the Si Range set too shallow for the water depth that you were in on at least four of the recordings (#1, 2, 4 and 5). If the Si Range is set to less than the water depth than you will not see any Si sonar returns from the bottom. See Slide 2 and Slide 3.

2.) On recordings 6 and 7 I noted that there were some “blank” looking wavy areas (see Slide 1). These appear to happen in shallow water and off to the right side only. I also see a constant right Si sonar return on many of your recordings. Is your Si transducer on the left side of your motor? I ask because this is typical of some sort of Si sonar (in this case the right Si sonar) blockage. It would affect the shallow water readings only and not the deeper water readings. It does look irregular though upon closer examination, so could be something moving or flapping on the right side of the Si transducer or could be air bubbles coming off the right side of your hull. Easy way to test for this: shut the motor off and let the boat come to a drift and see if it disappears or not. If it does than it was air bubbles off the hull and if it did not than it is something on your boat causing the right Si sonar blockage. The wavy part could be due to water wave action causing the boat and therefore the blockage, to move up and down which increases/decreases the slant range to the Si transducer.

[AZfisherdude]

Hi Greg, Thanks so much for taking the time to look at those files. I really appreciate it! I know that the range was set too shallow (in hindsight) on this trip for some recordings. This was my first time doing it and I was having some difficulties and as such did not pay attention to everything going on. The biggest problem was that I didn't know what depth I was at due to me not being able to get off of the recording screen. Next time out I will leave it on the default of 150.
The wavy thing was probably due to wakes from larger boats at the time. I am guessing.
The return to the right is my propeller. Yes I have it (the transducer) mounted on the port side of the stern. My understanding was that it is not unusual for this to be seen in a return?
The blank area you noted in the image where you went out to 80 but I was at 75 is exactly what it looks like except that side imaging is fine. In other words, if you hadn't zoomed out to 80 and left it at 75 yet the DI screen looked similar while the SI screen was normal, then you would have it. It is blank.
These recordings were terrible (first time), and are not typical of my problem. It happens frequently and irregardless of speed or depth. I just can't believe that this would fall under a simple thing like depth range set incorrectly or lots of people would experience it and be asking about it. I mean, I can see the bottom fine with every other view except the DI when this happens. Seldom am I in water as deep as I was there. Next time I will go to a different lake.