2d sharpness on a 998

I recently bought a 998 and I can not get the screen to sharpen up. It seems like for some reason every little detail seems to be blurry and not crisp looking at all. Everything I see on 2d sonar seems to look like just blobs. I am running the orginal software because I have heard bad things about the recent upgrades. My settings are as follows:
Beam select: 200/83
Surface clutter: 4
Mode: clear
Fish I'd: on
Fish id sensitivity: 7
Rts window: narrow
Color: orginal
Bottom presentation: structure id
Zoom width: narrow
83 hrz sensitivity: 2
Noise filter: low
Color bar: on

This is a transom mounted transducer and I believe it is in a correct spot. My water color of my lakes is usually dirty to staind water clarity. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

I think that's just the nature of 2D sonar. 2D sonar uses a cone type beam, whereas SI and DI use a thin slice type beam. If you look at the post "tuning your Lowrance" on the SI forum, both the H/B 2 D pictures and the Lowrance 2 D pictures don't show any crisp pictures.

Try these...(but like Shellback said...it may be just what it is)..

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Originally Posted by bowhunter1

I recently bought a 998 and I can not get the screen to sharpen up. It seems like for some reason every little detail seems to be blurry and not crisp looking at all. Everything I see on 2d sonar seems to look like just blobs. I am running the orginal software because I have heard bad things about the recent upgrades. My settings are as follows:
Beam select: 200/83 ...try 200 only as the 83/200 tells the unit to alternate pinging the 83 and then the 200
Surface clutter: 4 ...this is fine unless your water has a lot of clutter
Mode: clear ...try "Max Mode" (in water deeper than 10ft) and then lower the main Sensitivity in the Xpress menu to an acceptable "mid water column" clutter level
Fish I'd: on ...this is not going to help much when set to 200 only as only the returns in the 200kHz 20° cone are going to show anyway ...turn this Off unless you like seeing the little fishies on the 2d image
Fish id sensitivity: 7 ...tied to Fish ID above
Rts window: narrow ...this is a vertical flasher and will help confirm echo returns that show up in the 2d scroll - if a blip shows in the RTS window ... it should immediately show up at the right edge of the 2d
Color: orginal ...personal preference
Bottom presentation: structure id ...personal preference
Zoom width: narrow ...this only applies when viewing the "Sonar Zoom View" and it adjusts the width of the left side of the "Sonar Zoom View"
83 hrz sensitivity: 2 ...N/A when set to 200kHz only ...set to 6-9 when set to 83kHz or 83/200kHz then adjust main Sensitivity in Sonar Xpress menu to an acceptable "mid water column" clutter level
Noise filter: low ...turn this "Off" unless it is needed to filter RF
Color bar: on ...this just takes up screen space IMO

Also...try high and low settings of "Chart Speed" as some software versions look better with a fast 2d chart speed and some software versions look better with a low 2d chart speed ...(and realize this also sets the chart speed for the DI and the SI ...which are better suited for matching chart speed to boat speed)

This is a transom mounted transducer and I believe it is in a correct spot. My water color of my lakes is usually dirty to staind water clarity. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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Post some screenshots of what you are seeing with your previous settings....

Rickie

I like this HB 2D screenshot of my jig. Post a couple of your pix for us to see.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...ictures007.png

Thanks for the quick responses. I will try to back on the water ASAP to try the new settings out am take pics!

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Originally Posted by bowhunter1

Thanks for the quick responses. I will try to back on the water ASAP to try the new settings out am take pics!

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When changing settings ... Sometimes it is easier to see the setting change affect if you allow the screen to scroll 1/2 the display after changing a setting and then press the 4way cursor to "freeze" the screen scroll...

Then take a screenshot with the screen "frozen"...

This allows inspecting the data closely at the "previous" setting (1/2 screen) compared to the new setting (1/2 screen)...

Changing several settings in quick succession jumbles the data all together making it difficult to see the effects of each setting change...and even harder to remember which setting change affected what in what way...

Rickie

watch out for digititus

2d sonar 1.mp4 - YouTube here's what my 998 looks like but keep in mind i have my Transducer tilted down in the back some.this gives me good high speed 2d readings while not sacrificing my si/Di.that's why instead of good fish arches they all slanted.still the same results as long as i understand what Im seeing

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Originally Posted by brettw

watch out for digititus

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i don't think i like you:Rofl

actually you do like me, you just think you don't!