Thread: Project "HB Donut"

Do you want the “HB Donut” fixed…??

What have you actually done to get the “HB Donut” addressed by HB….??

Those were 2 questions I finally sat down and asked myself about this aggravating “Donut” issue…

I did a little research and this is what I found….;
1. HB users at crappie.com are the most vocal about the “Donut” ….because we fish SLOW techniques….crappie fishermen are about the ONLY ones complaining about the "Donut"...
2. Greg and Joby ARE working on getting their bosses to address this “Donut” issue…
3. The “Donut” issue was NOT on the HB wish list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/
4. The “Donut” issue is on the HB wish list at http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=482.0 (but
it’s a very vague description of the actual issue)
5. I, MYSELF hadn’t even taken the time to contact HB about the “Donut”….

I decided if I really wanted this “HB Donut” issue fixed…then I need to do something constructively instead of just complaining about it….

The first thing I did was add the “HB Donut” issue to the HB sideimaging yahoogroups wish list…this is what I imput there…:

All GPS capable HB units

"Update code in GPS capable units such that “boat directional icon” on chart view actually shows boat directional tracking at speeds down to 0.1mph. Presently boat directional icon turns into a round circle “Donut” shape at speeds less than 0.5mph. Slow trolling type fishing or looking for structure and/or waypoints at boat speeds of less than 0.5mph is hindered greatly with a “Donut” shaped boat directional tracking icon."

Then I logged onto my account at Humminbird :: Fishfinder :: Depth Finder :: GPS Chartplotters :: Side Imaging Sonar Technology :: Marine Fish Finders and sent them an e-mail saying this…”

I fish exclusively for crappie which dictates that most of my fishing techniques involve SLOWLY trolling various baits or SLOWLY moving from "waypoint marked brushpile" to "waypoint marked brushpile" for locating crappie...generally at boat speeds of 0.1mph to 0.4mph...These types of "slow fishing techniques" are impossible to perform efficiently using my $3000 HB unit when the boat icon on the chart view turns into a round circle (Donut)....not giving adequate direction of the boat travel at slower speeds... I have friends that own Lowrance and Garmin and both say their units show boat direction on their chart views down to 0.1mph...so it's evident that it IS possible to program these HB units to show boat direction at the slower speeds.... People that I have talked to that are versed in how GPS chartplotters work are unanimous in voicing that this can be fixed by programming some simple algorithms into the HB unit's software.... I find this very unsatisfactory that I have a $3000 unit that will not even tell me what direction my boat is moving in the normal "slow trolling" techniques that I use the most in search of my target species...... Does HB plan on addressing this issue...?? I would think that if Lowrance and Garmin can show boat direction on their chart views at slower speeds...then HB would not want to be outdone by the competition.... Please get rid of this "Donut" boat icon on my chart view at boat speeds down to 0.1mph and give me actual boat direction like a $3000 unit should....

If you are a HB user and want this "Donut" issue to be fixed, I STRONGLY URGE YOU to e-mail Humminbird and , at least, tell them how you feel about the "Donut" issue...

Just a thought, jaxsprat, but if they think they fixed the slow GPS problem by the 4x refresh rate update, what are the chances that this problem is still in their que?