HDS10 Sounder problem
Hey Guys Im having trouble getting a clear picture on my HDS10 when underway, it provides a good picture up to about 3 knots, then the screen fills with clutter from top to bottom! It would often lose bottom alltogether at planing speeds in deeper water, >25metres.
To try fix the problem I recently swapped from a 200/83khz tranny to an Airmar P66, at the same time I moved it to the Starboard side of the engine, (swapped locations with the structue scan tranny) I also downloaded the latest software update. Correct Transducer has been selected in installation menu.
I've only done 1 water test but the problem is the same over about 4 knots clutter from top to bottom, what am I doing wrong?
I've read all sorts about strakes, not being too close to propellor radius etc, well its about 3" from prop radius, and its on the "inside" of a strake that terminates half way down the length of the hull by ~4inches.
Can anyone else with a HDS and a transom mount tranny comment on the units performance whilst underway?
Thanks in advance
***Edit/Update*** Sounder shot is after dropping tranny down 5-6mm and is at 22 knots, previously would be clutter from top to bottom, annd often lose bottom altogether.
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
I'll start it off. Have you
I'll start it off. Have you selected correct transducer in your settings. Try to get a pic so we can eyeball it
on the Drift
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 09/10/14
Yes I have selected P-66 5K,
Yes I have selected P-66 5K, I'm starting to suspect wiring maybe? poor earth or too much voltage drop. . .
You mean a pic of the Tranny?
Cheers
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
Yeah bud take a pic of
Yeah bud take a pic of positioning. try to get as level with the hull with photo so we can see how high or low you have tranny
Broady
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 16/01/13
Does sound like Turbulence
I know a lot of the HDS units have had issues losing the bottom at speed. I have a HDS12 Touch and only fixed it by instaling a through hull tranny, but in my case it had more to do with the hull shape of the Signature.
I have since added a transom mounted chirp transducer which I can only use at slow speeds or at drift. The clutter top to bottom is consistent with my experience on the transom mount unit when there is excessive turbulance around the back such as when I take off from a standing start or backup. It doesn't take much speed to get that clutter and lose bottom as well.
There is a lot going on at the back of my boat now!
I would have a good look at your setup making sure the transducer is in clear water at speed, and particularly making sure there is nothing forward of the transducer such as a live bait well water pickup. Positioning is everything and theres lots of resources both on here and around the web on installation. You've done the right thing by swapping sides, assuming you now have the transducer on the clean water side of course!
I do suspect there is an issue with the sensitivity of the software, have heard of too many Lowrances having similar issues. Maybe broadband sounders are more fickle?
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
drop it down
it definately sounds like transducer position issue to me, drop it right down lower than the manual suggests and then see how you go
otherwise post a pic so we can see the position and comment
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
Strap it to a broom handle
Strap it to a broom handle and lower over the side at speed so you can change the angle it point down and to ensure no bubbles are getting under it ... sounds like install issue
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
90% chance of being tranny
90% chance of being tranny install issue. 3 common issues:
- tranny installed too high
- tranny installed flat or even worse angled up at the back. Must be angled 5 degrees down at the back to stop cavitation.
- tranny installed behind a strake, through hull fitting or turbulence area. Stepped hulls......arrrrhhhh.....
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
on the Drift
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 09/10/14
Thanks for all the input
Thanks for all the input guys, I have taken a pic, but I have already dropped the tranny down ~5mm since yesterdays run, I cleaned the battery terminals and replaced the fuse to the sounder so I'm confident of the power supply.
The tranny is nicely angled rear down, there are no through hull fittings forward of it, there is a strake about 3 inches to starboard, which terminates 1500mm forward of the tranny, so If I move it starboard it'll be behind the strake. If I move it portside it'll be too close to prop?
Transom is half pod, and curved so not super easy to move from here without a custom bracket :(
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
theres your problem
I dont think it helps having your tranny angled down too much at the back, slightly is ok but nothing too noticable, when your cruising your boat will naturally be pointing nose up anyway so think about where your transducer is facing then.
The strake 1500 forward wont make much difference I have the same on mine, you might find dropping it 5mm isnt quite enough
RobertMc
Posts: 326
Date Joined: 19/01/09
pm sent
pm sent
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
???
??? do tell
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
If the bottom of the hull has
If the bottom of the hull has antifoul or paint flaking off like the transom, then that wont help. Otherwise, the tranny now looks pretty good to be honest.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
centrline on tranny
if you look on the transducer there should be a line in the moulding where the two halfs join together that is the line that should be level or just below the hull level at the highest point
of course with nothing in front to cause turbulence so its not the bottom of the tranny to be just below but half way up the traany....if you gey my drift! with the slightest angle forward that is back end down.
T_revz
Posts: 45
Date Joined: 30/04/13
I've had issues with my
I've had issues with my elite 5 and moving it up each trips has been improving it. Unfortunately haven't been out in weeks to finish sorting it out. But I've got tranny cord laying across the floor and will separate dual batteries next trip to see if its electrical interference but I'm pretty sure its placement. When I first got it there was interference above 5kn. Now only an issue from 5kn-10kn. Have fitted custom bracket and probably moved up 20mm so far. But I've never lost bottom, just rain from top-bottom
Bluedog
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/07/11
I'd have the bottom right
I'd have the bottom right corner of the mount right down level with the bottom of the hull. I run a HDS and got a great reading at speed first go, also run a furuno and didn't get a good reading until I went as low as possible. Worked for me but might not work for everybody, worth a shot though.
on the Drift
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 09/10/14
Quick update guys i'll post
Quick update guys i'll post a pic later but Sounder performance is now much better at speed, slight clutter, but it no longer fills with clutter from top to bottom as soon as I exceed 4 knots, can now get a good picture on the plane at 24 knots.
Thanks everyone for all your help, it was driving me nuts!
bsir
Posts: 565
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Interested
What did you change?
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Agree, quite annoying when
Agree, quite annoying when you google this sort of thing and the poster doesnt add how they actually fixed it
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
on the Drift
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 09/10/14
To clarify
To clarify, I cleaned battery terminals, replaced corroded fuse, and dropped tranny down 5-6mm (this info is in my above post!)
The photo at the top shows the tranny as it is installed now. After dropping it down.
I think it was dropping tranny that improved sounding, as T_revs called it "rain" from top to bottom was a constant problem beforehand.. .
JohnF - the anitfoul on the bottom of the hull is much smoother and in better condition than the transom cheers!
fishy fingers - the old Lowrance tranny has the moulded line halfway up the unit but the P-66 doesn't
Photo quality is crap sorry but it was a bit choppy,
Sensitivity 62%
Colourline 60%
Surface clarity low
Noise filter off
It still looks like there may be room for improvement if I drop it down further?
Timwoody86
Posts: 129
Date Joined: 05/07/14
check your hull
to see if there is any obstructions directly in front of the transducer, ie a chine, that can cause air bubbles and stuff your reading. you don't want your transducer to far in the water depending on design you only want it 10-15mm below the hull.
shut up and fish