Helix 5 SI problems

[Evan K]

I'm hoping some folks with more experience setting these up and using them can weigh in here.

I just took mine out for the first time this evening after correcting a battery issue. I don't know if the things I'm experiencing are because I have the transducer mounted incorrectly or something like that or if I just need to adjust the settings, or what. This is on a 1236 jon boat, with a 55 lb thrust trolling motor transom mounted about 16" away.

I was on a pond that averaged probably 6-7 feet deep, anywhere from 3' to 10'. I tried using side scan and saw nothing, just basically heavy light color that grew darker gradually toward the outer edges. No depth differences or such were showing, much less structure (I went past a dock and several brush piles but didn't see anything noteworthy).

The down imaging seemed to be a bit funky too. First there was always a thick solid line across the top, no matter if I turned down the surface clutter to 0. Occasionally the depth would suddenly change by a couple feet, go from 5 to 8 or 9 feet, but no change on the graph image (and I know the actual depth didn't change). Then sometimes it'd suddenly go from a fairly normal looking image with perhaps 2 feet deep of bottom showing to 10 or 12 feet of bottom. The pond is pretty consistently muddy bottomed, so I'm not sure why this was happening.

The traditional sonar screen showed many of the same problems.

I have the transducer mounted exactly as Humminbird recommends; at the stern, parallel to the bottom of the boat, projecting perhaps 1/8" or so below the stern. I should also note that the images aren't choppy or anything, there isn't any air bubbles or such messing it up. I do know that when the motor runs the surface clutter increases a lot and I can see the shaft blocking a stripe on the left side of the side imaging.

Any suggestions? This is my first experience with a boat and sonar and I'm not sure what I should try. Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

Are you using Switchfire Clear?????

What battery are you using for power to the Helix???

 

[Evan K]

2 hours ago, Wayne P. said:

Are you using Switchfire Clear?????

What battery are you using for power to the Helix???

 

I'm using a small 12v 7ah battery. It's in the same box as the trolling motor battery but is separate.

Switchfire clear is enabled.

2 hours ago, Wayne P. said:

Are you using Switchfire Clear?????

What battery are you using for power to the Helix???

 

I'm using a small 12v 7ah battery. It's in the same box as the trolling motor battery but is separate.

Switchfire clear is enabled.