Structure scan issue

I just installed my HDS8 combo pack. I did the install on flat level ground and adjusted the setting of the LSS-2 to relate to the on the water reading for side to side and front to back running roughly 2-6 mph. Well when taking it out the side image will black out after about 80ft on average. It blacks out on both sides at the same distance so I ruled out the motor casting on the unit. I have even lifted the motor all the way and used I-pilot to take me around. No change I have not been out in real deep water all test have been done in 3-19 fow give or take some. I also have changed the unit from 800 to 455 with no real difference on distance. Any help would be great can't wait to get it working and giving me more distance.

With the Lowrance side scan the shallower the water the less effective range you will have. The angle of the beams and the depth of the water dictate the range. Unfortunately it's one of the things you have to live with when you Lowrance.

That's my results as well.
Doesn't work well at all in deeper water.
Too dark, not enough power IMO

I had the same issue with my Lowrance and LSS-2 unit on my first setup. The shallower the water, the less we could get with the side scan. Kind of raises a question as far as how shallow one can get to get effective and clear returns on the structure scan setup as far as side imaging. I believe we only made it to 8ft is the shallowest we went and the quality wasn't the greatest. Anything over about 10 FOW we had really good luck with, just the shallow depths weren't very good. Maybe someone here can chime in and describe a possible fix? That was one of the reasons I was really thinking about going with HB units for my new boat because the quality of the picture seemed to be a little clearer and the side scan seemed to be better in my book...but went back with lowrance instead because I am more familiar with the system. Sorry, got side tracked and off topic. Anyway maybe someone can come up with a reasoning or possible solution. Seen a gentleman on here by the name of Rickie I believe. Very smart in this field, maybe he will chime in with something. Ok I'm done ranting, sorry for hijacking your thread, best of luck bud!:biggrin

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Originally Posted by brettw

That's my results as well.
Doesn't work well at all in deeper water.
Too dark, not enough power IMO

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This shot was taken with the unit in auto, I wish I'd thought to run the range out.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...psbcc4b2c1.png

Well your picture is so good I'm going to check my setup.
Sorry to complain so much.
My SI unit is good up to 30' of water, excellent DI, average GPS,

Maybe my lakes mud bottom is absorbing a lot of reflective power

The Lowrance StructureScan shallow water hinderance is simply a matter of beam angle coverage....

The Lowrance SI beam angle ls only covering approximately 130°...(Lowrance will not publish their measured beam angle)...

Any target above that 130° is simply in the outer/upper fringes of the strength of the sound pulse...less sound pulse strength in the this section of water (above the 130° coverage) just doesn't reflect much of the sound pulse...

Less sound pulse strength = less echo return data = less data to "paint" into the SI image ....

Why Lowrance will not change their SI piezo design so the LSS beam would include more of the upper reaches of the water column...(which also would allow more strength in the sound pulse farther out)....??

I have my opinion...but no one knows for certain....

Rickie

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

Why Lowrance will not change their SI piezo design so the LSS beam would include more of the upper reaches of the water column...(which also would allow more strength in the sound pulse farther out)....??

Rickie

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My guess is the answer is in the lawsuit settlement with HB.

Good guess.
CAN'T SOMEONE MAKE A PERFECT FISH FINDER AND SUPER INEXPENSIVELTY

Why have I seen screenshots every where that show 100 plus ft out in 10ft or less on Lowrance units. This is what made me question things on my end with my system

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Originally Posted by Dsage

Why have I seen screenshots every where that show 100 plus ft out in 10ft or less on Lowrance units. This is what made me question things on my end with my system

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you can get different results because of the strength of the returns coming back.a hard bottom will give better returns than a soft.objects sutch as concrete and steel ,will give a stronger return than wood plastic.
So you will see pictures of 100+ in 10ft of water, coming from a lowrance unit when conditions are right.but to just say that always you can expect that,then no I would say no because of two things,the angle of the si peizos and the interference between the di and the si peizos. (You can place a pease of that weather stripping tape,you get from walmart over the di peizo to increase your range and also help on the shallow water quality. )

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Originally Posted by justinp61

My guess is the answer is in the lawsuit settlement with HB.

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This is my guess also...

Rickie

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Originally Posted by justinp61

This shot was taken with the unit in auto, I wish I'd thought to run the range out.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...psbcc4b2c1.png

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Would you tell us what this structure is in the pic. Bridge?

Stump Hunter, that's lock and dam E on Lake Barkley. The dam is on the left and the lock chamber is on the right. You can see one of the lock doors on the right, on the left the A frame looking thing is a lone wicket and the dark dots along the top of the dam are where the wickets were attached.

you guys sure have a lot of interesting stuff to look at up that way. Nice shot :ThumbsUp

Allz I have is brush, sunk boats , n fish to look at

I wish I was smart enough to figure out how to cut the cable off an Onix transducer and stick a Lowrance connector onto it! Then I feel like I would have a perfect graph with the 12t. Dang you Lowrance with your suck shallow water SI.

The funny thing is I can get better (& cleaner) range on my TM mounted lss1 than I can from my lss2. Even when my lss1 was on the transom it gave better returns. Justin's shot has always amazed me.

I have found that in shallower water that reducing the side range down to 60 ft or less will give much cleaner returns.:twocents

And everywhere else

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Originally Posted by justinp61

My guess is the answer is in the lawsuit settlement with HB.

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HMMM....never thought of that....That could be the answer.