Time to Vent

Never ceases to amaze me how these companies want to sell you a product but don't want to help you learn how to use it. All you ever get from them after your purchase is look at this manuel or google it or play with it or ask someone else. Reminds me a lot of my former employer who many times over the years when new tech stuff would come around would sidestep and do a end-around getting you to learn it where they could weasel out of paying you for your time to learn it. I'm not the best on this high tech stuff and I will bet there are others in the same boat. I've several friends who absolutely refuse to buy new depth finders and fishing related products just because you can't get any training(Hands On) Do the companies not realize the sales they are missing out on with these people? I've heard many say they would pay as much as the unit itself if they could just go to class somewhere within a day drive of where they live just to learn. That takes in a lot of territory and a lot of fisherman. and here we are again on the eve of the holiday season with guys and gals soon to be unwrapping new hardware only to be able to operate it to 50% capacity or just collect dust on the bedroom floor. Merry Christmas and sorry for the vent. Hope the new year brings heavy stringers to all.

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 :banghead. 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 :biggrin.

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. Attachment 145744
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

You are correct about the computer classes. I have never seen any around here put on my the computer companies. There is a guy local to me that does in fact do on the water sonar classes, I've read of guys in other areas that offer this service also. Most of the time they are brand specific though and I'm not sure what they charge.

You mention a fear of pushing the buttons, I completely understand. That's why I have my settings written down, if I have to reset my unit I have my base settings. Plus most units can be reset to factory defaults, no harm no foul.

There are lots of good people here and on other forums like this one who are more than willing to help anyone with problems or questions. There are employees from both Lowrance and HB that post here and other forums that are willing to help also. I think it would be great PR if they did it more but I'm sure their time is limited as is most of ours.

I purchased a DVD at cables for the 1197 actor I purchased the unit that helped with basic functions.

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Originally Posted by Brn2fsh

Attachment 145744
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

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*12.1ft is the depth of the cursor when the cursor was activated...
*15.4ft is the water depth under the cursor...
*65ft is the linear distance from the coordinates of the cursor to the GPS antenna's present position...(this changes as the boat moves even while the cursor is active)....
*129°t bearing is the direction from the gps's current position to the coordinates of the cursor...(this changes as the boat moves even when the cursor is active)...

Rickie

I also have the Lowrance HDS system on my boat. I can honestly say the BEST money I spent on these units was an on the water tutorial with a expert on the Lowrance units. We went through everything from setups, settings, waypoint management, networking, sonar and structure scan interpretation, and more than I could remember. Even let a friend with same setup come along. Just an example, some replies state they write their settings down in case they screw something up. My settings are saved on an SD card. If something happens, or I change some settings, I update them on the card, and can immediately replace them if something happens. Waypoints are also saved, or updated regularly on card. Hate to lose them. If your unit goes in for service, your settings, waypoints, screenshots, are probably gone. Your unit will come back with default settings. Every day on the water, I usually remember something from that day. Again, I learned so much more than the manual or experimentation ever would have. If you can find someone in your area that performs this service, I recommend that you use it. It's money well spent, and can help a person utilize the potential of these advanced electronic units.

For the last few years, Humminbird has had a hands on demo at the Grizzly Jig spring show in Caruthersville, MO. You get to actually have the unit in hand, push buttons, and ask questions. This really sold me on their product and assisted tremendously in learning to use their side imaging units. I have not seen a schedule for this years show which should happen around the end of January, but Osofishy could probably let a person know if they are having the Humminbird seminar again this year.

thanks that would be lots of help.

You should check basspro and cabelas calendars around springtime for seminars.

You can down load the Lowrance manuals and save them to a file, then install and read the manual on you HDS. I did this for billbob and I aso put the Ipilot manual on his unit for reference. You can read any PDF file on the Lowrance. FYI

Check the Humminbird Facebook page for upcoming seminar dates as well.
There are some good YouTube videos that may help you as well.
On the Yahoo UnOfficial Humminbird Side Imaging web site there are some guides who are listed that do on the water sonar tutorials.

Time on water can be a big factor for many of us. When we can finally get out there, many of us are trying to catch a few fish. Yes, it's true our time might be better spent learning our electronics and finding new waypoints. I've seen where there are a few guides around KY lake who will check and make sure everything was installed properly and who are supposed to help you learn it well enough that you will be able to do it on your own. Price is about the same as a fishing trip.

You can learn a lot in your lounge chair.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

You can learn a lot in your lounge chair.

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If you want to learn about Humminbird, the best all round info I have found is Doug Vahrenberg's videos. He has his own website, or you can go to his YouTube channel and watch them. http://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass His web page videos are here http://www.dougvahrenberg.com/Videos.html but unless you have a computer with a lot of memory, his web page can bog things down..
The YouTube channel is the easiest way to watch them. By the time you watch all these a couple of times you will be will on your way to understanding you unit.

The best way to get the manuals is to go to the support page on Humminbirds website.....download the manual you want. The problem with the paper copies is that every software update obsolete's the manual.
Scroll down this page and you should find your unit. http://www.humminbird.com/support/ProductManuals.aspx

Don't forget you can download and read any pdf file on your HDS. Handyman guides and picturs. Wow!! Putt you HDS in a simulator mode and play away in yo lounge chair while you watch the Rodeo girls.. Hey, my DeWalt drill battery good power supply.