Humminbird sidescan

**Bronson** · 03-06-2016, 11:22 AM

I have a 1197 Humminbird and used to get some excellent reads with it. I remember putting in a small lake years ago and couldn't believe all the things I saw popping up on screen. I used to use brown as my color of choice but now, none of the colors seem to make a difference making it almost worthless.

My question is what are the best settings for sharpness, sensitivity, etc. to use and is there something else I should be using. I've had the unit several years and wondered if the transducer should be replaced and if that would help.

I'm almost to the point that I'm considering a Lowrance unit but don''t want to go that route if I can make this one right.

Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

**wannabe fisherman** · 03-06-2016, 12:46 PM

a good start would be go back to factory defaults and start over

**shadboy** · 03-06-2016, 12:46 PM

Wash the transducer good with soap and warm water, check the transducer cable for damage, and check the terminals on both cable and head unit. Mine acted up one time and I had squished a bug between the head unit and the connector. As for the sharpness, sensitivity, etc., it has to be adjusted for different depths and bottom hardness. You just have to play with it to learn those. I run mine a little higher than factory defaults almost all of the time. Just my thoughts, I hope you get it straightened out!

**scrat** · 03-06-2016, 12:53 PM

Here is a quick start setting chart. Like wannabe said start from the factory default to start with.

**vic n** · 03-06-2016, 01:04 PM

I would try some of these fixes, especially the factory reset. But I think you should also try finding someone locally who has an 1197 and swap your unit onto his transducer, and also plug his unit into your transducer. Very simple test and will give lots of answers.

**Zippy** · 03-08-2016, 11:06 PM

Scrat, thats good stuff right there. Where did you find that? Doug always has some good info.

**scrat** · 03-09-2016, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by Zippy

Scrat, thats good stuff right there. Where did you find that? Doug always has some good info.

I have found a lot of his Humminbird sonar information on Bass Boat Central.
BBC Boards

**wannabe fisherman** · 03-09-2016, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by Zippy

Scrat, thats good stuff right there. Where did you find that? Doug always has some good info.

Doug also has a LOT of videos on you-tube

**Zippy** · 03-09-2016, 08:36 PM

Was on the water today and lost my left side on side imaging, switched to 2d and it was not working at all. It was a sudden change and I didnt understand what as going on. Shut down the unit and restarted and still not working. Decided to look over the back of the boat to see if there was anything blocking the transducer and sure enough there was a reed draped over it. After taking it off I was back in business. Any idea of how something with the diameter of a pencil could disrupt one side and the entire 2d return? I would think some signal would still get through? Shows how something relatively minor can completely shut you down.

**wannabe fisherman** · 03-10-2016, 06:33 AM

the signal goes out in a fan shape and right at the 'ducer is where it's the smallest like not much more than pin point that would be my GUESS.

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