Thread: Time to Vent

I agree looks like humminbird , being in eufaula could have a demo day there every couple months......really like the 360 technology but I would like to see it in action.

And that's exactly why the electronics boards were created....(I think I'm reading 15 different boards per day now)..

Users understood there were way more questions needing answered than what is supplied in the manuals....

We are users helping users....

(I like the idea of a demo day in Eufaula...that would be cool)...

Rickie

tenncrappie please don't take this wrong. What exactly do you expect the manufactures to do? I understand that the manuals don't answer all the questions or explain all options in great detail and can be confusing . Realistically they are no different than computer, phone or car makers for that matter, they all come with manuals, but not a lot of detail on how to use them.

After installing my HDS units a few years ago and after reading the manual I did a ton of reading on the internet to find a good base set up for them. I wrote this down and headed to the boat and with the manual went through the menu and changed the settings and to familiarize myself with them. Once on the lake I started pushing buttons and changing settings to suit my likes. If I got the unit screwed up I'd go back to my notes to get my base set up back. Yes it took several hours of reading and watching but it sure shortened the learning curve on the water. When I bought my new Touch I went to the lake with no fishing equipment in the boat and spent about three hours messing with it.

IMO time on the water working with them is the best teacher, asking lots of questions helps too .

Again, please don't my reply wrong, not trying to be a wise arse.

You don't even get a manual any more. They just refer you to a website, so if you want a printed page to refer to, it's on your dime even after you've dropped good money on the product.

Let me ask you justinp61 first thank you for responding and in me asking you some questions I'm not here trying to be a jerk just wave the flag of other folks like myself that are short on the learning curve I guess you would say. so the first thing you mention is a computer in your example correct. Well if I buy a computer what can I do ? Go take classes!!! Can you do this with fishing electronics? No. One of the next things you mention is take it out and play with it correct? Case 2 Lot of us myself included aren't comfortable doing this for fear of screwing up a 1000.00 piece of equipment for fear when the setting are messed up who is there to fix it??????? So all I ask is look at it from the other side of the street and when these guys change in say offering class or seminars let me know that when I'll jump on their stock.

One more thing. I was taught long ago to give back. If I could ever learn this stuff to the point I was good enough to teach others I would do it for free. Wonder how many Bird and Lowrance employees working for free????????

You can always go to factory default to reset like it come out of the box, I have tried several setups of (this is the best settings you can get) and didn't like any of them. First go out to your boat at home, find out what buttons do what, come on here or elsewhere and get several setups, go to the lake and start trying them. You might find one that you like, or at it will at least give you somewhere to start and you can make little adjustments. That is how everyone that provides us the info on here did it at one time or another,and every now and then someone finds something to tell them that they didn't know.

I'm just speaking for myself here. I own a couple humminbirds, the biggest being an 1197. After I registered it on the humminbird website, I got a thing in the mail called' humminbird select.' It's my understanding (I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time today) that anyone registering an 800 series or higher gets this. I've owed this thing for probably 3 years, and Ive seen 1 45 minute online video(for humminbird select members--Oh, it is free) on the updates they have and how to use them. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not complaining, Humminbird's user manuals all recommend that when you buy their stuff you should activate the simulation from the startup menu and learn the features of the unit (by using the users manual and simulation mode at the same time) before you ever take the unit out on the water. youtube is also a powerful tool for learning the features of these things. I am in a Muskie club, and have (not intentionally ) sold some of these units and it amazes me that most of the guys I know don't take the time to learn how to use (to their potential) these units. It seems to me, that the side imaging is the most confusing topic I hear about.
In the above screenshot, does everyone understand the row of numbers across the top of the screen? By the way, that's the cover for the pump intake in the lake that I fish