Garmin 400c Sonar Issues

The Garmin 400c is about one month old and is mounted on the trolling motor. I've made some videos that display the problem of which I think there are several.

My other sounder (transom mount) is a Lowrance x5. I can clearly see fish arches on it but no matter how I set the gain I just see large blobs on the 400c.

I see dots up & down from the bottom of the lake to the top. Can't figure out the noise. It happens even when I have the trolling motor off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyJu5q_CVVo

There are times when the 400c compleetely loses the bottom. The video below shows it in about 30ft and changing from narrow to wide doesn't change anything. Here are some videos showing it loosing the bottom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ssKS4uM8mE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z1__pF9qfc

This was shot right after the one above when it finally found the ground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u-y6akKOfQ

I've gone back & forth with garmin support a few times and I'm starting to wonder if they have me on a wild goose chase. They just want me to change the gain manually, change range manually, etc.

It looks to me like you have the sensitivity too high. Double check that your transducer is pointing straight down. A little tilt can destroy the quality of the returns.

possible loose power connection, or broken/weak wire somewhere in the loop.

The transducer is pointed straight down.

I did pinch the transducer wire a little during install but didn't think it was enough to damage anything. It barely made a mark on the outside coating. I'm good with a soldering iron so maybe I should remove that spot.

I'm just hesitant to do that if Garmin will RMA the unit.

I would try the exchange route 1st as if you cut & repair the wire, they won't exchange it at all then. Might be something else, but if you can exchange the whole setup, I would try that 1st, or put the setup on a buddy's boat and see if it works any better.

Try turning up your scroll speed. Seems way too slow in the videos.

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Originally Posted by chaunc

Try turning up your scroll speed. Seems way too slow in the videos.

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I'll look into that. Didn't even know it was an option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jimp

I would try the exchange route 1st as if you cut & repair the wire, they won't exchange it at all then. Might be something else, but if you can exchange the whole setup, I would try that 1st, or put the setup on a buddy's boat and see if it works any better.

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I bought it on eBay. He said it was an authorized seller but I'd just assume do an RMA at this point. I should have paid the extra $10 to get it from Amazon so I know exchanges would be a non issue.

I received the RMA from the place I ordered it from today but unfortunately they shipped me the dual frequency model instead of the dual beam model. There wasn't a trolling motor mount included with the kit so I'm wondering if I should deal with the hassle of RMAing it a 2nd time or figure out a way to mount the transducer on the trolling motor. In about 5 minutes of googling I don't see any mounting kits for this so I may need to fabricate something (not a good thing for a computer nerd). Suggestions?

Cabelas or bass pro shops sells them. I'm sure i got mine from one of them.

Cabela's: Search Results

http://www.basspro.com/Lowrance/Eagl...t/48407/111797
hope these work.