Hb 581 di

[Banjomarsh]

I just got a Humbird 581 DI unit. I have been playing with it in simulator mode. I don't know if there is something wrong with it as it seems to be out of focus. The display seems washed out. Turing the contrast all the way up helps, but I am afraid that I won't be able to see it at all in sunlight. Has anyone else had this problem? I am going to mess with it some more, but if I can't do any better, will send it back to Cabela's

[Humminbird_Greg]

The 581i DI unit has a monochrome (black & white) reflective type display. This means that the brighter the light that it is used in the easier it will be to see it. So using it outside in the sun will improve the viewability of the display.
Have you tried viewing it outside?
How are you powering the 581i DI unit?

[Banjomarsh]

I have it hooked up to one of those portable jump start batteries. It shows 13.5 volts on the display. No, I haven't tried it outside yet, just in my garage under florecent lighting. Right now I am going through the manual to try and get used to all of the display possibilities. I have had 2 Hbird's since the mid 1980's and still have a Lowrance X-67c that I like, but the GPS is all new and all Greek to me for now.