Gday crew.

Trying to make it thru the dreaded shortchange over to night shift. 4 weeks down, 2 more to go till get home at last. Have been doing a bit of study to learn the full extent of what my sounders are showing me.  Im sure there are a bunch of crew hiding out there that have a wealth of knowledge. Hopfully thay are willing to share some inside info.

I (Think i)know the basics, but what are your takes of the few shots attached? type of bottom, equip settings, colors ect. what am i really looking at kinda thing.. 

The left hand shows levels of Color and Gain on the screen, where as the structrescan shows the Contrast also.

The last sounder shot is of my buddies dhuie show in the last pic that he got on a rod made for whitting pretty much. 

Any and all advice or info greatly apprecited. 

Guys I have a Garmin GPSMAP750S sounder combo unit, I would like to know if anyone else is using one of these and what settings you use (gain, white line, nise rejection etc etc.

I have had it for nearly 2 years now but I'm still struggling with it, mainly once I am deeper than 30m I struggle differentiate the bottom doesn't really get thicker (harder bottom) or show any significant tails on the bottom of the echo (broken ground).

I don't have a problem detected echo's off the bottom and mid water it's more so reading and understanding the bottom.

cheers in advance

Wondering if anyone uses a software to manage their GPS marks, rather than do it on the GPS?

Common problem I hear from people and with myself is you often mark spots when out but don't get round to naming the marks for future reference. Once you have a heap of marks you cant remember which is which.

Renaming them on the GPS it self is pretty time consuming so wondering if anyone uses software on your computer to make all the changes required then uploads it to the GPS? One thing needed would be the PC software needs the charts installed.

For example, I've got a Lowrance HDS 7 with the navionics charts, so the navionics charts would be needed on the pc as well. This kinda rules out free software products like easyGPS which is more for backing up data.

Anyone do this type of thing?

Bodie

Hey all ,

Does anyone know where i can buy glycerine for my wet box transducer setup?

Cheers Paul 

i have a Simrad NSS12 evo 2 (latest update instaleld) and a Lowrance HDS 10 gen 2 (also latest update installed)

They are both networked together via NMEA2k to a BSM3 module, amoungst a bunch of other electronics.

Running a LSS2 transducer for structurescan and a TM275LH-W for the CHIRP. (LSS2 tranny hooked direct to the NSS, the chirp tranny is hooked via BSM unit)

My issue, as soon as i select "LOW CHIRP" my NSS unit freezes up and shuts down. It powers up and continues to shit down/start up untill i remove power to my BSM unit (have the yellow wire via switch) This is turn forces the NSS to start up via default non chirp settings. It runs sweet with no problems in high CHIRP. i can dial what ever frequency i want in and still runs. Just the low chirp makes it freak out :-/

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Having purchased a new boat recently, I made a small 'to do' list of things I wanted to personalise the boat with. One item was replacing the old garmin sounder with a furuno 587, keeping the old lowrance gps for navigation until it dies and replacing with a nice combo unit (mainly for the downscan/structurescan option when shallow which furuno don't do).

Unfortunately my gps decided to call it quits a couple of weeks ago so I now I've had to switch my plans and get the combo unit first but before I do I have a couple of burning questions.

 - Are the combo units that bad? I don't see myself heading deeper than 80m while I get used to fishing offshore which may take a good amout of time

 - It seems that with these combo units that it's all down to personal preference, I've nailed my choices down to either an HDS gen 2 (non touch) or the Garmin GPSMap. Can anyone offer experience/faults with these units?

My preferred budget is around $2k - I do realise I could buy a 5inch gps and 5 inch furuno sounder for this but my orignal plan was to get something larger and I want to stick to this. I think the smaller screens will end up frustrating me.

I'm looking at; Garmin GPSMap 820/1020 ($1800/$2200), HDS10 Gen 2 ($1750 plus tranny's - I'll use my old card), HDS8 Gen 2 ($1399 plus tranny's). Not really interested in what I've seen from the simrad/hummingbird gear.

The gear is going in a 6m c'console.

 I am in the prosses of setting up my new boat and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed at the service out there in regard to sounder and potter advise. I have been to three outlets now and no one seem to know much or for that matter care about any units. Maybe we are all just smart fisherman now and don't need advise and have made our minds up before going. I think I know what I want but I would still like advise on what I'm thinking is correct. The range available now is extensive and the pricing options are also many. Unusual when you have money to spend and no ones keen.

Anyway thinking of a Furuno 587 and a Lowrance hds 7 touch as the plotter. Anyone running this set up ? Be interested in any advise (on this topic).

Cheers

I was just seeing if anyone knew what some good sounders were that were compatible with the

Thanks,

BerserkFishing

Can anyone tell me what dransducer setting i need to get the most out of this setup. I had a 585 and TM 260 on my last boat and it was either 600 or 1kw. The 587 has about 8 different options for tranducer type.

Cheers

hi guys, we have recently just fitted the furuno fcv 295 with a 1kw dual frequency 50/200 transom mount transucer. seeking some advice on how to set up the sounders settings to gain optimum peformance.

Hi all, with all of the new sounders out I'm after some current advice on which sounder to get for my 3m roof-topper tinnie. It would need to be waterproof, able to be used at 60m depth max, and run off a smallish battery due to limited space. Price max $1000. And I might need a GPS too. I'm thinking of putting it on some sort of arm so that it folds back when not in use. Thanks for your advice.

Hi

Does anyone know (from experience) any good service techs for radio/nav problems in W.A ?

Al

Hey guys, I've been trying to sort out the picture on my elite 5 for a bit but I regularly go by myself so testing and adjusting has been slow. Anyway today I locked the steering and had a look at various speeds to see what's going on. Usually 5-12knots is unusable and 12-30knots is ok in manual with some tweaking but still slight interference.

Issue 1 is easy to rectify. I fitted a bracket to the transom and the tranny is too close to the edge where bubbles are forming. This will fix the 12-30kn problem.

Issue 2 doesn't look so easy. Water is spraying from the front of the leg forward into the transom, also the water level at the front of the leg is much lower than the rear so water is swirling from well behind the outboard, fast down the sides of the outboard and sloshing into the transom. There is no clear water on either side from 5-12knots currently due to the foam.



Should i I put a vertical plate to the side of the tranny to shield it from spray once I've centralised it on the bracket? Boat is a 18ft seaquest with 90 merc. 
 

 Hi Guys

First time buyer of a sounder so I'm a complete n00b and I apologise for the question but I really have no idea or preference. 

Looking for advice from you experienced blokes as to what I should buy. I mostly spearfish but occasionally do some bait bottom bashing and troll. I already have a GPS unit so it doesnt have to be a dual sounder/GPS but can be if you guys reccomend so. 

Need an easy to use unit as my dad who has just figured out how to use an iphone needs to be able to use it also. 

budget is around $700 give or take a couple hundred either way. ANY tips, advise or help is appreciated!

Also, best retailer to buy, in store or online is fine. 

Aleks

 Need help with my Navman 4500 sounder. The screen is constantly flickering when powered up. Just wondering if anyone one in the Yanchep or Two rocks area is using the same unit. Plan was to bring my head unit over and plug into your power and see if it still flickers. Then I know weather to replace the head unit or rerun all the wireing.

any help would be much appreciated

cheers

 As the fishing was rather crap on Monday (still better than working tho), had a go at recording and logging the sounder info at a local fishing spot to reaveal a more detailed view of the lump, actual positions.

Took about 10-15mins to log.

Used a free version of Insight Genisis to upload the data, maybe better software out there but it was free.

The contour lines are in feet, cause its american.

Was then able to upload data back to Sounder (Lowrance Elite 5 HDI) to view.

Should be rather easy to work out the spot, not that i've ever caught anything decent from there.

 Hi,

I was watching the FWA episode that was on the weekend where Ryan went out deep for Grey Band and Blue Eye. I paused the tv and took this photo of the sounder and just have a few questions.

In the shot, is it a rock that is showing on the sounder, fish or coral that is showing in the centre of the picture?

And on the right hand side of the picture, not the A Scope, is that just fish by themselves or ground and fish combined?

The reason I ask is that I have been out a few times in the same depth and got a similar picture on my sounder but it only has a 500w transducer and the fish don't show as strong. One outing, I caught some grey band off of this type of sounding but the second time out, the current was so strong that my baits weren't staying on the bottom for long and I didn't catch a thing other than a few green eyed sharks. I didn't know if it is structure or just interference from something. I can turn my gain right up and make it solid instead of broken up but then I get clutter all over the screen. In the near future, I will upgrade to a 1kW transducer but for the time being, I would like to know what Ryan's sounder was showing.

Thanks,

Ken

I have a Garmin 501c on a 3m Finns Dinghy. I originally had it on the Port side but was told that I should have it on the Starboard side as the prop throws bubbles toward the Port side. I bought a speed sensor and installed that on the Port side and moved the transducer to the exact same position on Starboard side (where the green dot is) but now I am getting interference the length of the screen at around the 4knot mark whereas it was fine before. If I go slower it's fine and if I go faster it's fine. The only difference was I slightly changed the angle of the ducer so I've now changed this back.

Can anyone help me crack the dark art that is transducer placement?

 Anyone no what this cable is for?

Would like to no its use before i try sell it.

Looks like it could be a radar cable maybe?

15 mm wide 8 core furuno cable.

10 meters long 

Larger black and white cable plus smaller white,black,green,blue,yellow,orange,brown and red.

Just want some opinions on whether to buy a raymarine A65 chartplotter or an elite 5 plotter/combo.

I have a dragonfly and am extremely happy with the sounder but think its just a little small in split screen mode with the plotter showing.

I see chsmith has the A65 without wifi with a nav gold card for $699. I Presume I can use the card out of my dragonfly and sell the one I get making it a pretty good deal. Don't see any reason I would need wifi with it either.

Alternatively I could get a Lowrance.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

 Aloha,

Has anyone mounted a B260/265 tranducer on a pole?  Is the wire to transducer housing waterproof?  Looking for ways to optimize transducer signal (for deep drop) w/o going the more expensive flush thru-hull transducers and still be able to read at 12knots.

Mahalo,

Sean

 Hey just purchased a garmin 550c and would like to know if putting its transducer on the inside of the hull would work in the 40s 50s and 60s  and if I could go faster then /10-15 knts without it fading out my boat is fiberglass 

 G'day guys

i am setting up 3d bottom mapping with my electronics upgrade, is any one using MaxSea or olex and what are the pros and cons of each system, tough decision 

cheers Damo

 HI there does any one know how to get the tracking line  on the hds 7 touch ATM I have it for a short distance but I'd like it to stay permanently until I want it gone as the way it is now is hard to see how the drift is going and so on  so I've got a trip away this weekend coming and really want it sorted   Everythen else is good with the combo except this getting good readings everythen is sweet 

I have been advised by a few people of late not too install a Furuno 587 with a 1kw transducer but look to installing a Furuno 295. With what research I've been able to do it seems the 295 is more commercial focused and not suitable for trailer sized vessels, so stated in other reports. My boat is a Bar Crusher 780HT. Last comment I received was the transducer for the 295 was a monster dimensionally and could be difficult to fit. Comment would be appreciated.

 G'day All,

Last year I upgraded to a Furuno 587 which is brilliant. I went with the standard P66 600w transom mount trannie which is ok.... but.. we're starting to fish deeper which isn't too much of an issue for the combo whilst moving slowly. Up to about 30-40 meters it holds bottom ok at comfortable cruising speed +-22kn but after that it battles a little. I'm wanting to upgrade to a 1kw trannie and would prefer to go through-hull (ss264 pair or B744 with high-speed fairing but will require a trailer mod as it won't work well with rollers) to remove the turbulence a transom mount can experience. Failing this a shoot-through (M260) might be an alternative.

Has anyone had experience fitting either a through-hull or shoot-through transducer to a Reef Runner? If so which type and where did you install it? Any help or guidance/advice would be appreciated.

I'm about to pick up a new Bar Crusher 780 HT. In the package I have selected a Furuno 587 sounder with 1 kw transducer and a Lowrance HDS12M with Platinum chart Aussie wide. To round it out Lowrance 4G Radar. Appreciate any comment positive or negative - I still have time to change on the electronic selections.

 G'day all, I'm in the market for a new fishfinder and have come across a JRC FF 70 for a good price. I know the FF 50 and 60 were well liked but what about the 70? Or should I just fork out for a Furuno 627 or Koden CVS 126?

Cheers

 Hey guys just wondering if anyone on hear is running a tm260 on a hds. I have the 585 tm260 but was wondering if anyone could hit bottom in 300 plus mtrs at more the 2/3 knts as my 585 won't. I'm only asking because my hds 9 with its shit standard 50/200 reads bottom upto 230/250 with no adjusting. Any info would be appreciated as I would like to look for ground while towing skirts and is abit beyond the 585 cheers