Depthfinder Issue

[32eml24]

I am having issues with my depthfinder.  I know there are so many possible causes so I will be as descriptive as possible.  The problem is that it reads all over the place.  For example it will fluctuate between 900 and 500 feet popping up random numbers.  Sometimes it freezes too which could be related.  Now here is all the other information:  I just installed a new transducer.  Followed the instructions exactly.  It was suggested to me that it could have been mounted incorrectly, but it is the same transducer as the original one.  The original one just cracked, so I had to replace it.  It was also suggested that perhaps the transducer wire was laying/running near other wires and this was messing up the signal, so I pulled everything back apart and made sure it wasn't close, still didn't work.  It is not above the water, it is not in the path of the exhaust from the motor, it is not a bad connection from the transducer to the fishfinder either.  I am wondering if this situation or anything similar has happened to anyone else, and what did you do to correct it?  Thanks for any help you are able to give.
Ethan

[Eric]

What is it?  Color 5 inch Lowrance unit?

[32eml24]

No, it's a Humminbird, but I'm still interested to hear your story?

[Bender]

Which model Humminbird? Mine has been doing that in shallow water but last week they released a software update that is supposed to correct the problem. The Lowrances do the same thing in shallow weeds but there was a software update that fixed it on my 520c by adding a shallow water mode. I haven't downloaded the HB software yet since there are no weeds anywhere down here and I haven't had many problems losing bottom.

[32eml24]

I wanna say it's like a 363? If that's possible. Definitely 3 hundred somethin series. It's still the original one that came with the boat; it's not that new.  It reads like there's weeds right at the top, but I think that's a setting I am able to change.  Could it possibly be a fuse somewhere that has blown?  It's like the unit can't read what the transducer is telling it to put up on the screen!  And I would bite the bullet and buy a new one if it didn't happen after installing a new transducer.  So last night I hooked the old one back up (the bracket is broke from hitting a wave, which was why I replaced it.)  Anyways, took it out to a small lake close to my house and just let it sit there... didn't know if you had to test it in water or not.  Didn't make a difference because it still did the same thing with the old transducer, which read just fine before the mount snapped.  I have a feeling this is going to end up being one of those things where you say "OH........ SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT RIGHT AWAY!" And it will be a simple fix, hopefully. 

[Joby @ Humminbird]

One other thing you can try if you know someone around you that has a unit that you could try out on your setup. This will tell you if it is the unit or the transducer or some other issue.

[Waterfoul]

Have you called Humminbird customer service and explained the issue to them?  They are pretty good at diagnosing issues for customers.

If you get to the last straw and just can't get it going, give me a call here at West Marine, Grand Rapids and I'll see what I can do for you.  616-954-9822.

Mike