HB 898c SI Questions

Bought a HB 898c SI and can't figure out a couple of things.
Any help would be much appreciated.

1. I see that with unit you can see or follow your jig in the water below the boat. I've seen pictures on internet showing this. I can't figure out how to do this. What settings have to be in place to make this happen?

2. I fish fresh water lakes and the Mississippi. Lake depths no more than 60-70 feet. Fish mainly for crappie and walleye. What settings should this unit be set at to give optimum performance for this type of fishing?
I'm talking about all the settings and I know there could be preferences, but would really like to make it work to max and I'm challenged as to electronics. Also know this may be lengthy answer and I appreciate your tme and effort answering. I've read the manual over and over, but need help. Maybe this could become a sticky to help a lot of us challenged in this area.

Thanks so much to anyone with knowledge and willingness to share.

Fuzz

Try these...

Go under the "Setup" tab in the Main menu ...
Scroll down to "User Mode"...
Set "User Mode" to "Advanced"...

Then go under the "Sonar" tab in the main menu ...
Scroll down to "beam select"..
Set "beam select" to 200/83...(this blends the 200kHz 2d beam and the 83kHz 2d beam)

Then go under the "Sonar" tab in the main menu..
Scroll down to "side view frequency"..
Set "side view frequency" to 800kHz ..(800kHz SI beam gives clearer images than the 455kHz SI beam)

Then go under the "Sonar" tab in the main menu...
Scroll down to "Switchfire"..
Set "switchfire" to "max mode" ...
Exit out of main menu...
Open any 2d view...
Click "menu" button once to open 2d sonar xpress menu...
Adjust "sensitivity" up until "some" clutter shows on 2d screen (but not so much clutter that it covers screen)...

Exit out of all menus...
Open any SI view...
Click "menu" button once to open SI xpress menu..
Scroll down to "SI Range"...
Set "SI Range" to about 60-70 (I keep mine on 70 most of the time)
Scroll to "Chart Speed"..
Set "chart speed" to match boat speed...(1mph=1chart speed, 2mph=2chart speed, etc)
Scroll to "SI Colors"..
Set "SI Colors" to a pallette color that is pleasing to your eyes..
Scroll to "SI Enhance"...( this overlays the SI Enhance window onto the SI image with several settings)
Set "Contrast" to 10-12
Set "Sharpness" to Off (raising this setting will make fish easier to see but also makes the SI grainy)
Set "Noise Filter" to Off ( unless you are having RF interference problems)
Set "SI Sensitivity" to adjust "brightness" of SI image
I keep the "SI Enhance" window up on my screen anytime I am viewing SI...

This gives the abilitiy to change "SI Sensitivity" setting without (opaquing out) any other split view that I have up at the time...

I use the SI Sensitivity setting as a "brightness" control for my SI image (as different water conditions/bottom compositions will make the image brighter/darker..)

SI Sensitivity up will brighten the image...
SI Sensitivity down will darken the image...

I frequently change this SI Sensitivity setting as my SI image changes in brightness...

Here is a screenshot of the "SI Enhance" window overlayed onto the SI image... I had to adjust the sensitivity to 19 to get this mud bottom to reflect enough sonar echo to get an acceptable image...

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...c/020c59aa.jpg

Rickie

I think you can only see your jig in the switch fire mode of regular sonar, not in the down image or side image shots and what rnvinc said above should get the results you are looking for. Good luck.

Also helps to try this on a calm day. I could only get my jig on the screen in over 10ft of water.

Finding Blue Cats on Sonar Part 1 - YouTube
Try that and see if it helps . That guy has some good videos