Help with sounder, please

[ndb8fxe]

Hello all - The display is an Lowrance lcx-111hd. It seems to read pretty well in shallow water of 40ft or less, but there is a lot of clutter at the top:



As I get to deeper water I lose the bottom on the graph, but the digital data still reads a bottom, sorry this one is split screen:



Passing through 200-250 ft. I loose all bottom info.

This is a new boat to me. Is this the transducer?anyone know what kind?



On my old(sold) boat I had an 12 yr old Garmin 178C and I could read bottom up to 700-800 feet without problem. I'm assuming my new setup should perform at least that well.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to troubleshoot this problem?

Thanks,

[BoeMarineBrian]

Is your range set to automatic?

[kilowatt]

I would say for the surface clutter on top there is a setting i think it is surface clarity or something like that. Turn it up some should take care of most of that. Then you can go up with the sensitivity to help with the detail and seeing the bottom. And if that is the transducer the install job looks bad. Looks like they siliconed a transducer to the bottom and are shooting thru the hull. When installed right that cuts the sensitivity way down. I had that unit on my boat was a good unit i upgraded to a touch screen when it died a year or so ago.

[yachtjim]

Kilowatt is right about the ducer. I would suggest replacing it with a B60 thru-hull. that should help your performance significantly.

[ndb8fxe]

Is your range set to automatic?

Thanks Brian, I have set it to both auto and manual for the depth I was at. Neither worked.

I would say for the surface clutter on top there is a setting i think it is surface clarity or something like that. Turn it up some should take care of most of that. Then you can go up with the sensitivity to help with the detail and seeing the bottom. And if that is the transducer the install job looks bad. Looks like they siliconed a transducer to the bottom and are shooting thru the hull. When installed right that cuts the sensitivity way down. I had that unit on my boat was a good unit i upgraded to a touch screen when it died a year or so ago.

I have messed with the sensitivity settings to no avail, but I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm thinking you are right about the transducer. Are you sure the item in the picture is the transducer? I don't know what else it could be.

Kilowatt is right about the ducer. I would suggest replacing it with a B60 thru-hull. that should help your performance significantly.

Thanks Jim, Can you tell if that is indeed the transducer? Any idea what model it might be, just out of curiosity?

Also I see you are recommending the B60, which I will likely take your advice(and get it from you), but is there a "shoot through" transducer that is worth installing. You know how some boaters get nervous with holes below the waterline.

[yachtjim]

The P79 has the same guts as the B60, but the hull does reduce your range.

That is the ducer in your pic.

[kilowatt]

There is a surface clarity turn that up to help with the top of the screen. Then manually turn up sensitivity to help with the bottom. Also see what your ping speed is set at. I run mine wide open. But the transducer will probably help more than anything.

www.lowrance.com_Root_Lowrance-Documents_LCX-110C_LCX111CHD_LCX-25C_LCX-26CHD0151-311_030705.pdf

www.lowrance.com_Root_Lowrance-Documents_LCX-110C_LCX111CHD_LCX-25C_LCX-26CHD0151-311_030705.pdf

Edited November 18, 2014 by kilowatt

[kilowatt]

The attachment is a page in the manual that shows where the surface clarity and ping speed is located. I attached it 2 times somehow but i think it will help you get your settings better.

[ndb8fxe]

The P79 has the same guts as the B60, but the hull does reduce your range.

That is the ducer in your pic.

What do you think I should be getting as far as depth coverage with the current setup and how much should it improve with the B60? I just want to make sure my expectations are not out of wack.

Also, on your B60 installation videos, what hull is that?

There is a surface clarity turn that up to help with the top of the screen. Then manually turn up sensitivity to help with the bottom. Also see what your ping speed is set at. I run mine wide open. But the transducer will probably help more than anything.

Thank you Kilo - I will adjust those settings next time I get the chance to get out on the water.

Edited November 18, 2014 by ndb8fxe

[ndb8fxe]

Hey Jim - I just went to your site to purchase the B60, I had no idea there were so many to chose from. Do you happen to know which one will work with my Lowrance 111C? I know I need to 20 deg. I see one from Lowrance, but it is 12 deg.