Transducer/Sounder Help- Elite 7 Ti

Hi All,

 

Another Transducer positioning and sounder set up question.

 

I have an Elite 7 Ti with the Totalscan tranducer and having the common issue of it not reading at speed. I had it out to 40m the other day and couldn't read anything over about 4-6 kn. Over that I had to dial the sensitivity and colorline WAY back, to the point that i'm not confident i'm actually going to sound anything. Then when I slow down it's basically a blank screen until i dial it back up. I was running it in High Chirp mainly but also tried med. chirp and 200kHz, same reults basically.

 

I understand it's all about transducer positioning but I have tried a couple positions (inside and outside of mounting plate) and as low as i can go. Anyway, I have attached pics of the current (and previous, inside) positions for your comments/advice.

 

I have also attached some pics of out at 40m last week, both at speed and drifting. Also, feel free to let me know what i'm looking at in terms of bottom. I did manage a Black ass and size Dhu off some of it.

 

Thanks in advance.   

Image Upload: 

scano's picture

Posts: 1246

Date Joined: 31/05/07

I have a question

Tue, 2020-01-14 16:47

 Did you run your tranny wire from the head unit to the transducer, completely seperate to any engine wiring or power / battery wires? From the looks of it where your screen has heaps of green all through it (first few pics), it appears to be getting interference from somewhere. If it's near engine / charging wiring, that would explain the slower speed having less interference (slower engine rpm therefore less charge output). 

the only problem ther times I have seen something similar is if you have a phone or GoPro plugged into a cigarette lighter plug charger on the dash or near the screen. Whilst plugged in for charging, it made the screen experience heaps of interference. 
 

hope that helps 

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Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Thanks for the reply scano. I

Tue, 2020-01-14 18:13

Thanks for the reply scano. I can certainly look into that, from memory it is on the same side but not next to the main power cable. I did try revving the motor which showed no interference at all, but that's obviously in neutral and not loaded up.

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Tranny Cable

Wed, 2020-02-26 08:35

Hi Scanno,

 

Just for an update, I re-ran the cable (temporarily) across the floor and tried it on the weekend. Didn't seem to make much difference.

I raised the tranny height at the same time and managed to get a few extra knots out of it but the screen still became cluttered as before. 

I will keep playing with tranny position and setting and keep the thread updated for other Elite Ti/Totalscan users.

 

Cheers,

Trav 

bunfish's picture

Posts: 42

Date Joined: 18/04/17

what boat do you have?I have

Wed, 2020-01-15 10:06

what boat do you have?

I have the Elite 7ti also, on my 660 Trailcraft, which have the same problem & starting to get really over it..

Heading to a Sounder night @ Tacklewest on the 29th which hope to pick up some tips / look at alternative options within a certain price range.

will be following this thread though

 

 

 

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Quintrex

Wed, 2020-01-15 10:54

Quintrex Coast Runner 480. Only had it about 8months, but very happy with it. Had the Elite 7 ti sounder for a few years now and it was similar (but slightly better) on my dinghy.

 

Reading a bit it seems like a comon issue but others are claiming to get them reading well at speed. Seems to be very sensitive to tranducer position, like most trannys i suppose. I might try running the cable differently and raising the tranny.

 

Let me know if you come away with any insights/solutions.

NORUN NOFUN's picture

Posts: 1018

Date Joined: 15/08/11

Interesting read on the setup

Wed, 2020-01-15 11:55

Interesting read on the setup of your transducer.

Specifically points out that if the transducer is out of the water it will not read bottom.

It also says :-

. Hold the whole assembly up against the transom or transom
step to the desired position. If mounting on the transom, align
the bottom of the transducer with the bottom of boat. Use a
pencil to mark the pilot holes (D). The transom mounting plate
has screw slots for adjusting the transducer position height

Holding your ruler underneath the hull it should line up with the bottom of your transducer (sit on top), from your photo's it looks to high to me ??

Your side and down scan will only work at slow speeds, chirp should read no problems at speed. Are you running chirp only at speed ?

I have pretty much read the manual only and seen your photo's so just a guess really. Hope that helps.

Cheers

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

I'll have to read the manual

Wed, 2020-01-15 12:42

I'll have to read the manual again but i was under the impression that the join line should line up with the Rule/hull. I agree that it may be too low though, worth a try.

Yeah mainly run High chirp, but did experiment with 200kHz. Thanks for your reply, really appreciate it.

Any general comments on the sounder reading/ground (at drift) though?

 

Cheers

NORUN NOFUN's picture

Posts: 1018

Date Joined: 15/08/11

I should have said sitting

Wed, 2020-01-15 12:06

I should have said sitting too low compared to the ruler

Posts: 865

Date Joined: 30/12/09

 the first photo looks like

Wed, 2020-01-15 19:17

 the first photo looks like it could be facing forward too much depending how you boat sits when up and about on the plane

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 Get busy living, or get busy dying!

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

I have the front of the boat

Thu, 2020-01-16 07:29

I have the front of the boat up high and the driveway slopes away so it probably looks worse than it is in that photo. The rule is inline with the bottom of the hull though, but i'll check it again. Thanks.

Posts: 218

Date Joined: 08/03/09

You are not alone

Thu, 2020-01-16 17:20

Google elite ti fishwrecked and read the threads.  Mine is hopeless with totalscan unless I am doing 5 knots or less and it is calm, same problem all depths, when drifting I get a good picture.  I have tried so many different spots for the transducer the mounting board on the transom looks like swiss cheese. I siliconed a hds DFSHBL 50/200 khz inside my boat, firing through the hull, it reads great at all speeds (over 30 knots), but you need a solid glass hull to shoot through.

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Thanks for the reply Wagyl,

Fri, 2020-01-17 07:14

Thanks for the reply Wagyl, although it doesnt sound encouraging. I will persist for a little bit more and try a few different positions, general consensus is that it might be too low, after that it may be a transducer/sounder upgrade.

 

Thanks again.

Posts: 100

Date Joined: 02/06/17

 I have an elite 9 ti that I

Fri, 2020-01-17 09:49

 I have an elite 9 ti that I use for maps, the totalscan is still hooked up and I read bottom at 20 knots. My old man also has one that is his primary sounder and his also reads bottom at cruising speed without clutter.

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

That's encouraging. Are they

Fri, 2020-01-17 11:12

That's encouraging. Are they both transom mounted? Do you know if the hull is inline with the bottom of the transducer or the join line, like mine? Thanks for the reply.

Posts: 100

Date Joined: 02/06/17

 I can't attach photos to

Fri, 2020-01-17 12:28

 I can't attach photos to this thread but if you like give me your phone number and I'll send some pics.

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

PM Sent

Fri, 2020-01-17 13:34

Pm sent with phone number.

 

Thanks. 

Posts: 34

Date Joined: 11/01/19

pics

Fri, 2020-01-17 13:14

 i'd be very interested to see the set up too. i have the elite 9 with same problem with noise on the screen at speed. 

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Update

Wed, 2020-02-26 08:36

I re-ran the cable (temporarily) across the floor and tried it on the weekend. Didn't seem to make much difference. I raised the tranny height at the same time and managed to get a few extra knots out of it but the screen still became cluttered as before. I will keep playing with tranny position and setting and keep the thread updated for other Elite Ti/Totalscan users. Cheers, Trav

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Update 2

Tue, 2020-03-03 12:09

With basically the same settings/position as above I tried trimming the motor up and it cleared the screen right up and I was able to get a good reading at 15Kns+.

 

Only problem is I had to trim the motor up to the point that it was very easy to cavitate. Might still have to play with tranny position a bit, maybe out further from the motor?

 

settings now on low for both noise rejection and surface clarity.

 

Trav 

Posts: 48

Date Joined: 19/02/09

Elite 9TI Transducer

Fri, 2021-03-26 22:50

 Hi Trav,

I have an Elite 9 with a Totalscan transducer and was ready to Bin it. I tried all sorts of positions on a reefrunner and ended up inverting the unit so the wire comes out the back and it improved, Just undo the 6 bolts holding it on the bracket and flip it and put it back together. Then change the screen and flip that as well for side scan. I thought the cable might have been producing bubbles. That made a difference. The Transducer for chirp is at the cable end with it now at the rear, it is in deeper water and hopefully cleaner water.  then I went one step further and stuck it under the hull on the keel and im good for 30 knots and not to mention sidescan is now clear of the motor blocking the beam. I have some cavitation issues in a tight turn but its all good 98 percent of the time. Move yours further away from the prop as your last update tells me its tubulence from the motor as well.  You may also be getting air bubbles off the welds right at the rear of the hull. it doesnt take much to mess up the water flow. Look for a nice flat area ahead of the unit. It is a black art with Transducer placement and the advice from others is all good. Keep trying!

Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Hey Mate, Thanks for taking

Tue, 2021-03-30 08:03

Hey Mate,

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

I turned it around on the bracket a few months ago, as suggeted. It did improve it and I was able to get a decent read at 14-16knots, this has been acceptable for me at most depths.

 

I do want to try and get it under the hull but can't find a decent place on my small boat and with the trailer design.

 

Like you said, I'll keep playing around and fine tuning, should get it to do the job. It'll probably be time to upgrade by that time though.

 

Thanks again.

 

Trav 

scubafish's picture

Posts: 947

Date Joined: 15/08/12

I think

Sat, 2021-03-27 11:21

Your not going to get anything in that washing machine ,on the last photo.
I would suggest you bolt it to a skeg (like a surfboard ) put that on a pole that you can flip up & down and put it well down in the water column .
Chines are too close together and boat is to short to get a good amount of water displacement to obtain clean water at the back of the boat.
Ali boats do not displace enough water(heavy enough)Aspeaserly the Quinney.
Slow speed Only!
IMO.

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Posts: 61

Date Joined: 19/02/15

Thanks for the reply

Tue, 2021-03-30 08:08

Thanks for the reply mate.

 

You are probably right, there doesn't seem to be any clean water at the back. Unfortunately the budget doesnt allow me to upgrade to a bigger boat at the moment, so I will just have to make do.

 

I'll keep fine tuning and if all else fails I'll fab something up.

 

Cheers,