Humminbird Info guys

[arkansasbowhunter]

Well I called and talked with Hb today regarding my issues between my terova and my HB 597. They sent me the power cable already and that didn't solve my issues. I was told that there was nothing else they could do for me but that there was a update for the HB software due out in 3 weeks or so that should fix the issues. I asked the lady what was I supposed to do with my HB as it was useless. I was told to wait for the update. HMMMMM, gotta love that HB tech support. Why in the heck put out a device that costs as much as these darn things knowing that they have issues. What a load of baloney. Doh

[jack]

Hang in there bowhunter.Hopefully,they'll get it fixed and the enjoyment/satisfaction will outweigh the downtime.I'm going thru the same deal,with the 596 hd di.

[kosmo]

i no that it must be pritty frustrating for yall,but hang in there. im getting very good performance out of my 597. it works pritty good for me. im sure that humminbird will get yall up and running soon. good luck.

[rnvinc]

RF interference is definately a beast to overcome sometimes...and every setup is different....what works for one setup may not work for another....

One has to remember that these new units are VERY sensitive mini computers...

Unfortunately, I feel RF interference submission technologies have not advanced as fast as sonar technologies....

Keep at it...the benefits in the end will be well worth the trouble you are facing now....

Rickie

[Humminbird_Greg]

You also have to remember that not everyone is experiencing trolling motor interference on their units. Like someone posted: “RF happens”

[arkansasbowhunter]

Greg, your are correct some people aren't experiencing issues. From what I have read its mainly people with hd depth finders. IMO still is no excuse for the many folk that are experincing the issues. When you pay the amount of money we have paid, I would expect the units to work. Why not put out an alert on package letting the consumer know about the issues that may occur before purchasing. I would not have bought mine then. Right now I have a $700 boat anchor.

[rnvinc]

Greg, your are correct some people aren't experiencing issues. From what I have read its mainly people with hd depth finders. IMO still is no excuse for the many folk that are experincing the issues. When you pay the amount of money we have paid, I would expect the units to work. Why not put out an alert on package letting the consumer know about the issues that may occur before purchasing. I would not have bought mine then. Right now I have a $700 boat anchor.

One needs to understand that certain boat setups just have RF interference....that's not the DF fault...

It could be the wiring in the boat....

It could be the battery setup.....

It could be the specific TM and hows it's wired into the boat setup....

It could be a number of different things...

The RF that people experience is basically the boat's problem...not the DF.....

It just so happens that when a very sensitive electronic device is thrown into the dynamic mix of marine electronics and boat wiring....the DF seems to get the blame for the RF interference....

Ever wonder why the electronics of ole didn't seem as susceptable to RF interference..??

Maybe it's because those older electronics were not as sensitive to RF interference....

We all want the latest and greatest sensitive electronics to pick out the smallest and finest of detail possible to show on our sonar screens....

But with that sensitive technology comes the fact .....that the more sensitive that manufacturers make the electronics-the more susceptable they are to picking up the RF interference that's ALREADY in the boat's setup...

Fix (or find a way to control) the RF interfence that's in the boat setup...and then the DF will have nothing (or little) to pick up....

Manufacturer's suggestions to help with RF interference is their way of trying to help with either 1 of 2 things...

1. Control and minimize the effects of the boat's RF interference on the electronic...
2. Find and fix the RF interference the boat is emmitting.....

So, actually manufacturers are going out of their way to help customers find a RF problem...that's not even caused by the electronic device....the problem is the owner's boat setup...but yet the manufacturers try to help anyway.....

The problem is not the DF....

Rickie

[arkansasbowhunter]

I put this DF on a boat with no other electronics. It has a outboard and a TM. The DF was wired according to the specifications of the manufacturer. Why would there a fix be coming out in 3 weeks for a problem if it was left up to the consumer to find some mysterious RF my boat is emitting. It seems that most complaint on this issue has been with the Terrova from what I have seen. I haven't researched it in depth however. Nothing is stated by the manufacturer about the RF issues. One can find this information out when people like myself put this information available for others to find. I am not a electronic guru by any means. So I guess what you are saying is don't buy the device if you don't have any electronic knowledge and aren't willing to find some mysterious RF wave that I have know idea how in the world to find even with the Humminbird tech support. What I look for when purchasing an expensive depth finder is when it is mounted according to the manufacturer specifications the darn thing to work. If they have a fix for the problem then they are acknowledging the issue with not just me but many other people, or else why develop a resolution just for one person. Doesn't make sense to me.

[rnvinc]

Maybe I should have broken my statement down a little farther....I apologize...What we should first try to determine is if the interference you are seeing is actually interference or another problem that could lend one to think it is interference.If your unit only shows interference when another electronic is running (such as when you run the TM) then the problem is actually the TM and not the DF.....There are even instances where 2 boats are sitting close enough together for 1 boat's DF to pick up RF from the adjacent boat...If yor unit is showing interference when no other electronics are on....then there could be a problem with unit, the xducer, or the unit's wiring. ...I am at a loss as to why HB told you a fix was in the works...Can you indicate that the problem you are seeing is all the time, or just when the TM or big motor is running...??Rickie

[arkansasbowhunter]

I will try to use the unit this week and get back with you. I have attempted to use it 2 x now and both times became frustrated with it and turned it off. I used it on my little flat boat with a different TM with no problem. It was great loved it. Only used it 2 x on that boat before deciding to put it on my bigger boat I am rigging out for crappie fishing. From what I remember when I turned it on this past weekend, without the TM on the screen read fine. when the Tm was turned on to slow 20 on the dial the screen went crazy and the bottom jumped all around the place. turn the TM power dial down and the screen went back normal operating the way it did on my little flat boat. I just purchased the terrova last week and at same time moved DF over to the bigger boat with the terrova. It is wired with a choke on the power cord from HB. I ran the wires to the fuse block of my boat where I have a bilge and interior light wire to it. Neither of those have been used. The fuse block runs to the cranking battery for power. The TM is on its own separate 24 volt system. I don't readily know how to ck the TM at home and not on the water other than putting it in a barrel of water and trying it out. I did see where some people have grounded the Tm somehow to the depth finder neutral wire. I have not tried that as HB didn't offer that as a solution. The Tech said "we know there are issues and we are working diligently to offer a solution. There will be an upgrade offered to our customers in 3 weeks as it is being finalized. It will be offered ot our customers first that are registered with HB and I should recieve an email notifying me of the update for the software on the unit". I asked the tech what was I supposed to do with my unit for the next 3 weeks. She had no suggestion, other than to wait for the software update!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can help I appreciate it. I know Anesthesia and not electronics RF stuff.