Sounder/ Transducer help required

I have a Lowrance sounder x107cdf sounder .I have no difficulty reading the bottom at any speed up to a depth of about 120mtrs. I went to the derwent a few weeks ago and the sounder lost bottom unless I was drifting and even then it was not holding bottom all the time. According to the srecs it should penetreate to 650mtrs. I know these figures are propably on the optomistic side but would have figured 200mts was well within range.
My question is , Does the angle of the transducer effect depth range? I have it set up level with the bottom of the hull as per instructions but am I better having the leading part higher than the back to angle the beam forward and driving over the return signal. Or anything else you can suggest to try and get better depth penetration. Doesn't even when using 50 khz all i get is a glack screen and says i'm in about 5 mtrs of water when i'm actualy in 200mtrs.
Performance Features from manual says following
Cheers
Paul
• Depth penetration to 2,500 feet (760 m)
• 4,000 watts peak-to-peak power
• Dual frequency 200/50 kHz Skimmer transducer with built-in temp/speed/distance readings
• Includes transom-mount sensor for precise trolling speed/distance log readings
• FlashGraf LCD flasher+sonar graph with COLORLINE
• Adjustable ping speed automatically engages HyperScroll for locating fish targets at higher boat
speeds
• FasTrack vertical flasher bar
• Overlay data
• Standard sonar features - Advanced Signal Processing (ASP), COLORLINE, Advanced Fish Symbol
I.D., FishTrack, multi-zoom options, sonar alarms, backup memory, and more


Posts: 236

Date Joined: 04/06/07

From what I've seen any 600w

Sun, 2008-08-31 09:15

From what I've seen any 600w sounder is only any good out to around the 200m mark. Furuno, JRC etc etc  have the same problem, you have to travel very slow around 5knt to get a decent reading as they just don't have enough signal strength. The only answer is 1kw plus.

NOHA's picture

Posts: 914

Date Joined: 24/06/07

Yeah mate at that depth you

Sun, 2008-08-31 09:31

Yeah mate at that depth you will get a weak bottom signal at best.

That rated depth is in fresh water not salt. 

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Posts: 485

Date Joined: 09/11/06

thanks Noha / Vagabond

Sun, 2008-08-31 09:38

Looks like it is the nature of the beast rather than the way I have set up the transducer. Won't bother messing with the transducer if it wont improve performance.
Paul
Any day fishing is a great day !!

Posts: 16

Date Joined: 01/01/70

improving!

Sun, 2008-08-31 11:49

Definatly most sounders dont read to their estimated max depths. Lowrance is not my area but the likes of the New Broadband sounds good re improving the units clarity & enhansing the power from what i've heard!

Even my high powered Furuno comercial unit has to work hard in water deeper than 200m plus and certainly driving slow is the only way for me to get a good screen reading!

 

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Paul G's picture

Posts: 5215

Date Joined: 12/12/07

Paul i have a Lawrance

Sun, 2008-08-31 19:07

Paul i have a Lawrance sounder and we were in the 200m today and it was struggling to read the bottom , kept flashing trying to fix itself on the bottom, we used it in 130m and it was fine i think we may need to get the broudband setup if these depths are going to be fished.

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