HDS7 gen 2 touch running AIRMAR TM260

Ok, I'm running Hds7 touch with Tm260.

im not getting clear images, around 40m I can get ground on both 50 and 200 but screen seems to have heaps of interferance, Iv tried turning all other electrics off but didn't help. 70m-250m 200 drops out completely, 50 reads but only picking ground under 3knt. Fished 150-240 yesterday but only able to pick up bottom when I was drifting. Not getting defined fish arches in any depth just vertical lines. I have m260 (5k) chosen in the settings and tried playing with other settings but not having much luck. Transducer mounted in the centre between outboards pretty much spot on to what airmar recommends. Seen some really nice clear images of what blokes are getting on there hds units on here and mine is not even comparable. Please help.

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scubafish's picture

Posts: 962

Date Joined: 15/08/12

" but only able to pick up

Tue, 2015-05-26 08:33

" but only able to pick up bottom when I was drifting".
Sounds like cavitation interference.
Would suggest you get someone to video area when moving along,GoPro would be good.

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Stewk's picture

Posts: 30

Date Joined: 28/11/13

Very hard to say, maybe you

Tue, 2015-05-26 10:06

Very hard to say, maybe you could post a picture of the installation?
I know the Airmar manuals say to mount the unit in the centre of a twin outboard boat. However on my old boat with twins we mounted a TM260 then a TM265 Chirp transducer on the starboard side, not in between.
This worked best for me and I had no issues at any speed. The only issues I ever had was when stopped the transducer would get interference from aeration as the boat moved up and down in the swell.
Are the motors counter rotation?

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 If things don't change, they'll stay the same.....

Posts: 31

Date Joined: 09/10/14

Is this a completely new

Tue, 2015-05-26 13:29

Is this a completely new install or a Transducer upgrade? 

If so how was it with the prevoius tranny?

Have you updated the HDS software? may help a bit

more info needed about the install, I used a HDS10 for 2 years and mucked around a lot with settings/transducer etc.

Bought a new FCV-587 and the image is crystal clear up to 36 knots with same transducer in same location. . . installed it ~5mm deeper only change

 

good luck!

Coombsy's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 25/05/15

thanks for the

Tue, 2015-05-26 20:15

thanks for the replies.
motors are counter rotating, the whole set up was bolted on when the boat was completed in December 13. iv been persevering with it trying different settings on the unit only thing I have not done yet is lower the transducer. I had a good run with the lowrances units until now. We have been pushing deeper since upgrading the boat, most my mates are running the furuno but I didn't want to be beaten, not yet anyway. last trip to the shelf was rougher than usual and was definitely the worst readings on my sounder. I will get photos of the transducer installation and post tomorrow so if you could have a look and tell me if you think it needs to be modified that would be great.

nico's picture

Posts: 226

Date Joined: 17/08/10

 I have the 1kw airmar

Tue, 2015-05-26 21:03

 I have the 1kw airmar transom mount picks up fine till 35 knots spent a few trips fine tuning, issue I have is the transducer keeps sliding out from the bottom stainless shaft that's hold the module in position,only happens when we push hard in the rough water  annoying when it comes time to sounding when it drops in and out  hanging over the transom to pull out the pin and reposition the module in to place becomes a mission, any one had this issue or a fix for the problem?

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Coombsy's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 25/05/15

 Nico, I just clip mine in

Wed, 2015-05-27 06:25

 Nico, I just clip mine in and out. No need to pull the pin. I have mine unclipped sitting up when I launch (As my local is off the beach) then I just put my leg down between the outboards and push down, clips straight in.

Scotte's picture

Posts: 1145

Date Joined: 07/12/06

 It looks like its very close

Wed, 2015-05-27 21:04

 It looks like its very close to the keel?

Posts: 6265

Date Joined: 26/04/14

 I would try leveling it out.

Thu, 2015-05-28 08:02

 I would try leveling it out. Looks like it's angled down to much. Keel could be a problem. Is it directly above your bung?

sarcasm0's picture

Posts: 1396

Date Joined: 25/06/09

Looks to high to me

Thu, 2015-05-28 08:23

Also because it is on the keel line it would be similar to running it behind a strake or chine I would have thought? When you are cruising have you had someone else drive and looked over the back to see the water color around the transducer position?  If its bubbling/frothy, the transducer isnt in clear water and will not read well.  

Could be the port motor as a counter rotater is putting wash across the transducer also creating cavitation?

Bryan 

z00m's picture

Posts: 1086

Date Joined: 10/05/14

It needs to be moved one side

Thu, 2015-05-28 08:29

It needs to be moved one side or the other of the keel line. The keel would be producing turbulence right in front of the transducer.

Stewk's picture

Posts: 30

Date Joined: 28/11/13

It's pretty hard to say, but

Thu, 2015-05-28 08:31

It's pretty hard to say, but I think it is probably turbulence.
You could try to drop it a little deeper, but personally I would move it to the starboard side.

See note from Manual:
CAUTION: Do not mount the transducer in line with or near water intake or discharge openings or behind strakes, fittings, or hull irregularities that may disturb the water flow.

Here is an old pic of my boat. It's not a close up but you can see where the transducer is mounted with a twin motor setup. This worked perfectly at all speeds....

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Coombsy's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 25/05/15

 I'm making some adjustments

Thu, 2015-05-28 09:15

 I'm making some adjustments tonight and will give it A run over the weekend. Watched a few YouTube flicks on the installation. Looks like it needs to be lowered and the wedged spacer removed which should bring the back up a bit. Failing that, think it will have to be mounted on the starboard side. It is mounted directly above the keel line and bung. The bloke who did the outboard install assured me this was the spot to run it with the two outboards. Big job if I have to move it to starboard side, I will have to get a plate welded on as I won't be putting holes through the transom./p>

Posts: 31

Date Joined: 09/10/14

 Can you post  a Sounder shot

Thu, 2015-05-28 09:20

 Can you post  a Sounder shot so we know what the "interference" looks like?

You can test for Alternator/electrical interference by revving an engine on the hand throttle in neutral

Whats it like if you drive forward on only the Starboard engine? that could eliminate possibility Port engine is causing the problem

Are you getting on the Plane before the interference shows up? 

mullinz's picture

Posts: 32

Date Joined: 05/12/10

 Any update??  Having the the

Tue, 2015-12-29 21:44

 Any update?? 

 

Having the the same problem with my tm260 transducer 

Coombsy's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 25/05/15

Got rid of it

Sun, 2016-05-08 13:08

in the end I got the shits with the interference, tried several different positions neither fixed the problem to the point I was happy.

Replaced the whole  system with a koden 2kw system, wet faced the  Transducer and the thing is amazing! Only been out with it a few times and still working it all out but 100% improvement already.

 

Posts: 198

Date Joined: 25/05/10

Seems to be a very common

Sun, 2016-05-08 19:52

Seems to be a very common problem with the HDS systems and has been discussed on this forum several times before. I can place my transducer just about anywhere on the furuno and get a good picture, regardless of what , settings or transducer position I have with the hds touch, no luck. I've given up, good chart plotter though.

Posts: 1

Date Joined: 18/03/16

 Hey Coombsy, hope the new

Sat, 2016-10-22 08:52

 Hey Coombsy, hope the new system is all good and you are catching not fishing.... 

Wondeirng what you did with the old system, in particular those wedge shaped SHIMS that slide in between the hull mount and the Tranny... I am looking for 2 for my Airmar 1kw tranny but you cant get them separately.... as a long shot was wondering if you happen to have the old shims and they need a new home... happy to pay a few bob for them if you have....

 

 

Cheers mate