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I recently purchased a helix 5 sonar. I plan to get out on the water this week and start playing with it. I'm just curious as to any tips or tricks that might help me get started and obviously catch more fish. Keep in mind this unit is strictly sonar. No SI or DI.
Thanks!
Listen to this guy as he points to stuff on the screen (not the settings) . Don't matter what unit you have. look and listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTacpPjjWiU
The trick to using Sonar is understanding what you're looking at. Check out Humminbird's site. They have a great tutorial on there. http://www.humminbird.com/Category/Technology/CHIRP_FW/Quote:
Originally Posted by ptylerpugh
Thank you. I will give it a look. I have used sonar before but not really in depth. I have watched a lot of videos but was just seeing if anyone had any tips for targeting crappie. Like what contrast, screen colors, etc. works best.
Thanks!
Factory Defaults is a good place to start with basic sonar ...
Then press "Menu" twice to get into the Main Menu System and cursor over to the Sonar tab ... Then cursor down to Beam Frequency and set this to 83/200kHz ... This will allow the Unit to show you fish in the narrow 200kHz sonar cone and the wider 83kHz Sonar cone at the same time ...
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...psaey6dgnp.png
Exit out of the Main Menu System ...
Then, press the "Menu" button 1 time and adjust Sensitivity up or down to an acceptable amount of screen clutter (bump it up until it shows too much clutter for your liking and then back it down 1 or 2 clicks) ...
Higher Sensitivity will help show more data on the screen that the unit normally filters out ...
And raise the Chart speed up to about 6 or 7 ... The higher the better to allow the screen to refresh quicker as it scrolls ...
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And remember ... The very right edge of the display is what's under the xducer - everything to the left is "stuff" you've already passed over ...
Rickie
Thanks Rickie. Hopefully the new throttle cables will be installed in the Mercury tomorrow after work and I can get out and try this new unit.
What if your unit don't adjust to 83KHZ?
Which unit do you have ...??Quote:
Originally Posted by no luck
Rickie
688 ci di it shows bottom and some stick ups but I have never seen anything that looked like a fish it was set on 455
Your 688 DI has 200kHz 28°/455kHz 16° sonar cones for 2d ... which are smaller than the 200kHz 20°/83kHz 60° sonar cones in the SI and regular 2d units ...Quote:
Originally Posted by no luck
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...psgjw1zmmb.png
The smaller 2d sonar cones will show better detail than the wider 2d sonar cones ... But with less coverage ...
Arches in 2d are a factor of how long a certain target stays in the Sonar cone ... smaller 2d sonar cones are just not wide enough for arches - unless the target is moving the same direction as the boat ...
Rickie
How much "margin of error" is there for marking waypoints? 10 ft + or -?
Inherent error (from the GPS system overhead) is why brands spec GPS accuracy at 8-10ft 95% of the time ...Quote:
Originally Posted by nccater
That other 5% of the time can be waaaaaay off ...
Rickie