Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

[lmannyr]

Hey,

I have the Humminbird 798 Side Imaging unit thats about 8 months old now. After using it from June '09 till about Nov I thought the unit was great. When I use it this season for the first time this week, the left side is BLANK!!! What the HELL!! Does the unit not like being idle? Or does the transducer not like the long Florida cold weather?

Anyhow, I was hoping to reach out to a local thats willing to swap a Humminbird side imaging unit for troubleshooting purposes so I can figure out if it's the transducer or the head unit.

If your local and willing to help PM me.

Anytime anyday..

Thnanks

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Here is my trouble.....nothing on the left suddendly after a good first season with it last year.

Passing a docked boat

Passing under Blue Heron Bridge

 

[John_S]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

I am not close but would have helped you out if I was.

Check to make sure one of the pins in the connector didn't get bend over or the connector didn't push out from behind the metal retainer.

If you have an older 3-beam or quad HB transducer, that could help troubleshoot, if a SI owner is not available.

Also, contact HB tech and get on record with them. If need be, I think they are only a 2-3 week turn-around.

FWIW: My SI transducer has survived NY winter weather.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Ya, if you need to send it in they have a really fast turn around time. They probably only have it in the shop for a day or two. It's the mail that's the slow part.

My head unit always had a rattle in it. Sounded like a plastic piece broke inside. For the $1,000 I spent on it I sent it back at the end of my first season for them to fix it.

Their tech support team (i've called them on some other questions) are top notch!

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

I would just for grins and giggles do a software update on it. It never hurts, then if its a code corruption isue it will fix it. I'd be thinking transducer but who knows....

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Software has been upgraded. First thing I did when it started acting up.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Software has been upgraded. First thing I did when it started acting up.

I betcha it's the bent pin thing that John said. I've bent those pins myself! I've broken pins off on other cables and did not know it. Check and see. We can tell you how many pins there are supposed to be by looking at our units.

Like John said, we in the Northeast leave our transducers out all winter when the boats in storage and I've never had a cold issue effecting the transducer.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

There are 5 nice bright gold pins on the transducer side and 2 nice bright gold pins on the power side. It matches the pins on the head unit.

 

[John_S]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Yep, that is the right number of pins. Did you take out the two connector holding screws and make sure the metal retainer is behind the connector? I've seen the screws losen up and the connector will push down a quarter inch or so and have intermitent behavior. It is not obvious by just looking down at the pins. I can't think of any easy way to swap left and right si unless you had a splitter cable ($25).

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Yup, the metal connector retainer is still place. Verified it buy removing the said 2 screws. Hopefully someone nearby has a 798 we can swap to troubleshoot. I'd hate to rip out the transducer.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Sounds like you have done all you can. Don't drive yourself crazy trying to find the issue when it may be electronic in nature. Just call their tech support on Mon and they will diagnose it in minutes. Some tech places are even open on Sun. Give it a shot.

And cheer up, it could be worse. It's 50 degrees here and 40 mile wind gusts. My Wife just sent me a pic an hour ago from some boat she is on right in front of Houston's on the intercoastal near fort Lauderdale She's down there till Wed.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Try asking here under the Fla forum. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/ Also on the electronics forum where we have a couple of HB reps that frequent the forum.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Try asking here under the Fla forum. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/ Also on the electronics forum where we have a couple of HB reps that frequent the forum.

Try the hulltruth.com it's a very active site with over 100,000 members and many are right in your area because it caters more to coastal boaters. You will probably be able to bring your head unit over to another members boat with a similar transducer.

 

[skargo]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

I guess buying a side imaging Humminbird was a priority over fixing your brakes?

I think Iboats should ban you for promoting dangerous trailering and your total disregard for others on the road.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Any West Palm, FL Humminbird Side Image Users

Whats up with that?