Fish Finder going crazy - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

warrior · 07-30-2012, 07:07 PM

Any suggestions on what could be wrong with my FF because it will work by showing depth, structure etc as it should and then bounce to show 6'. Sometimes it's good for awhile and other times it bounces back and forth consistently. The unit is a Hummingbird GPS unit; all the GPS functions work fine and it only seems to be the sonar function. I've checked and reset settings; I guess before I jump and buy another one, I was wondering if anyone had the issue and fixed it.

Thanks

blitzburgh · 07-30-2012, 08:49 PM

Make sure the transducer is free from any obstructions. Depending on your mount, you may have to reinstall it.

CheapPelican · 07-30-2012, 09:28 PM

Sounds like your having a similar problem to the one I'm having with my 570di. the depth finder seems to get stuck between 16'-18' depths while the chart is updated uninterrupted. It flashes as if it has trouble locating bottom. It only flashes between these depths and will do it from 10 - 20 minutes at a time.

The warranty is up on mine so its going in for repair.
http://www.humminbird.com/Faq.aspx?TaxonomyId=95A1764

Badtaste2k · 07-30-2012, 10:24 PM

I have a HB 587ci. Mine had some similar issues. Always with the Sonar. So far it has always been due to the connection of the transducer to the unit. I was getting weird Temp readings, cleaned the connections, fixed the issue. Then I was getting weird depth issues. Cleaned to connections, fixed the issue. Then I was getting inconsistent readings as well as a lot of noise and depth fluctuations. That time it was due to the plug slipping down a little on the mount so the connection was there, but weak. I had to just reset the plugs on the mount.

Check and clean your transducer connector on the wire. clean the male pin transducer connectors on the unit. Check the wire plug on the mount and make sure it is tight and as far up on the mount as it can go.

Don't kmow if that will help, but it worked for me!

Good Luck

Dan

GregAndrew · 07-31-2012, 06:55 AM

How do you have your transducer mounted? A bad connection will make it easier to lose the bottom.

gupppy · 07-31-2012, 07:57 AM

i've been having trouble with my cheapo humminbird matrix 12 or something like that. it came with my kayak, mounted in the hull with a transducer hull mount (foam surround, gooped in ducer). finally got fed up with it this past weekend. i ripped it out of the hull. when i looked, there were about a million tiny little bubbles in the goop stuck to the ducer. probably not enough to do anything negative to obstruct the signal. however, there was one big bubble that had water in it. when the water leeches out/dries out, it's a huge gap/bubble of air. not good. i'm sure that's what's affecting the signal. right now, i have my ducer mounted outside of the yak but have yet to test it. we'll see how it goes.

07-30-2012, 07:07 PM	#1
warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 99	Fish Finder going crazy Any suggestions on what could be wrong with my FF because it will work by showing depth, structure etc as it should and then bounce to show 6'. Sometimes it's good for awhile and other times it bounces back and forth consistently. The unit is a Hummingbird GPS unit; all the GPS functions work fine and it only seems to be the sonar function. I've checked and reset settings; I guess before I jump and buy another one, I was wondering if anyone had the issue and fixed it. Thanks __________________ With a prayer in my mouth I dashed unarmed through a line of soldiers my clothes were cut to pieces my horse was wounded but I was not hurt, as I reached the door of my lodge my wife handed me my rifle saying "here's your gun...fight" The great Chief Joseph

07-30-2012, 08:49 PM	#2
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Make sure the transducer is free from any obstructions. Depending on your mount, you may have to reinstall it. __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-30-2012, 09:28 PM	#3
CheapPelican Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Too far from the launch. Posts: 443	Sounds like your having a similar problem to the one I'm having with my 570di. the depth finder seems to get stuck between 16'-18' depths while the chart is updated uninterrupted. It flashes as if it has trouble locating bottom. It only flashes between these depths and will do it from 10 - 20 minutes at a time. The warranty is up on mine so its going in for repair. http://www.humminbird.com/Faq.aspx?TaxonomyId=95A1764

07-30-2012, 10:24 PM	#4
Badtaste2k Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Pedro Posts: 144	I have a HB 587ci. Mine had some similar issues. Always with the Sonar. So far it has always been due to the connection of the transducer to the unit. I was getting weird Temp readings, cleaned the connections, fixed the issue. Then I was getting weird depth issues. Cleaned to connections, fixed the issue. Then I was getting inconsistent readings as well as a lot of noise and depth fluctuations. That time it was due to the plug slipping down a little on the mount so the connection was there, but weak. I had to just reset the plugs on the mount. Check and clean your transducer connector on the wire. clean the male pin transducer connectors on the unit. Check the wire plug on the mount and make sure it is tight and as far up on the mount as it can go. Don't kmow if that will help, but it worked for me! Good Luck Dan

07-31-2012, 06:55 AM	#5
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	How do you have your transducer mounted? A bad connection will make it easier to lose the bottom.

07-31-2012, 07:57 AM	#6
gupppy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: IE Posts: 171	i've been having trouble with my cheapo humminbird matrix 12 or something like that. it came with my kayak, mounted in the hull with a transducer hull mount (foam surround, gooped in ducer). finally got fed up with it this past weekend. i ripped it out of the hull. when i looked, there were about a million tiny little bubbles in the goop stuck to the ducer. probably not enough to do anything negative to obstruct the signal. however, there was one big bubble that had water in it. when the water leeches out/dries out, it's a huge gap/bubble of air. not good. i'm sure that's what's affecting the signal. right now, i have my ducer mounted outside of the yak but have yet to test it. we'll see how it goes.