Doug Vahrenberg

Here's what Humminbird Side Imaging and Down Imaging is a ll about Finding and Locating Fish to Catch... School of Bass Munching on Gizzard Shad... Lots of Bait and Crappie... Side Imaging on Trolling Motor Finds a School of Bass... The Proof from the Above School... Point Loaded with Fish... Big School on Trolling Motor Mounted Side Imaging... Single Big Fish... Follow the Leader... Found a Big Ol' Bass... Big Blue Cat Munching... School of Bass... See the Big Bass???

Humminbird has an Exclusive feature that is called SI Enhance that helps you locate and spot fish easier. Here are a two series of images that show the differences at all 4 levels and how SI Enhance can help the "Fish" jump out at you. Find the Fish in the Creek? Scattered Fish... Motherlode of Fish: SI Enhance OFF: SI Enhance Low: SI Enhance Med: Hope learning about this feature helps you see more fish on Side Imaging versus just structure on Side Scan Sonar...the real reason we invest in Hi Frequency Sonar Systems...to catch more fish.

Learned a little more today... I just got off the phone with some GPS Specialist that I know. One being the Resident GPS Expert at Humminbird to get the answers which you requested and end without a shadow of any doubt why I can track 17 Satellites with my Humminbird GR-50 Receiver. All 3 Experts I talked with explained the US GPS Constellation is not symmetrical or spaced equally. Some satellites are in clusters or small groups, as you can see in the image below but still all help in locating position. They also stated that the advertised constellation is 24 satellites but right now there are from 31-32 active satellites in orbit that can be used to calculate your position. So Yes you can track over 12 satellites at certain periods of time in the current consumer US Constellation. The reason for clusters or groups of satellites is because older satellites are being upgraded with new satellites and both the old and new satellites are both functioning at present time with accurate data to help in locating your position. They also stated that there are actually 3 WAAS Satellites orbiting right now. 2 (like advertised) are maintaining the intended track and a 3rd is in and out of service but can be displayed and provide position location as it becomes in service. With consumer electronics the maximum allowable displayed trackable satellites are 18 but more can be tracked that are coming above the horizon or falling off the horizon but not displayed. If you look at the image below the light gray satellites are being tracked but the data is not being used at the present time to help establish position because they are outside the useable threshold Humminbird uses to help locate position. Other words until they reach a threshold that will help improve the accuracy that data is not figured in to calculate location but still being represented and tracked. When they reach that level they can add benefit to locating position then they will be represented in black. The benefit to being able to track additional satellites is to increases the response to acquire position and it allows the GPS to maintain a higher level of accuracy as it can start tracking a satellite earlier as it rises above the horizon and hold on to it longer before it leaves the horizon. Having open channels allows for improved GPS performance. I also was informed the Current Galileo Project by the European Union is not being used and only 2 Satellites are currently orbiting earth and the accurate track of these satellites are not valuable yet to improve GPS in locating your position. Glonass Project maintained by Russia is orbiting and can become available for civilian use in the near future but as of date none of the Glonass Constellation is being used in position location for Humminbird. The Standard GPS Receiver from Humminbird is not only providing more as standard equipment but is prepared for expansion when new opportunities arise as more and more Position Satellites are added to the current Constellations and the use of other Constellations become developed. Hope this helps you learn more about how your Humminbird GPS Performs.

Wire direct to the battery not existing boat wiring not getting enough juice. Or the battery is to small or old.

The GR-4 (12 Channel Receiver) and the GR-16 (16 Channel Receiver) also can get the Enhanced 4x Per Second Refresh Rate when hooked to the unit too.

Global Positioning Systems are not all created equal and in today's modern world. GPS was founded to help Armed Services locate position and use for protection and guidance. Well today GPS is being used more and more by a wide variety of industries. Look at farming GPS Position can guide or steer machinery with Centimeter accuracy but these systems can cost approximately $50,000 and require Base Station Correction signal or Annual Subscription Fees to get this level of Accuracy. Humminbird with the GR-50 Receiver we will see offers outstanding accuracy for standard Equipment Receiver on all Internal and External Receiver in the 700, 800, 900 and 1100 Series Units. A 50 Channel Receiver can maintain a lock on 50 different satellites at a single time which allows for faster acquisition of location and maintaining the lock on the satellites as they begin to leave the horizon and pick up new satellites as they start rising in the horizon. The more satellites the higher the accuracy level to calculate your exact location time after time, year after year. The GR-50 when hooked direct into the unit will provide 4 Times per Second Refresh Rate of your location which allows for faster direction changes and tracking your exact location. Here is a Screen Capture of the GR-50 the other day tracking 17 Satellites at one time: Here is the Current Satellites Planned and Orbiting From the 3 Northern Hemisphere Constellations. US Constellation: 32 Satellites with 28 Useable GLONASS (USSR): 24 Satellites Planned with 20 Useable Galileo (European Union): 30 Satellites Planned and 2 Useable This data was the most recent I have been supplied, may be more satellites available. On the GPS Diagnostics Screen one thing I like to look is HDOP Calculation. This is the Horizontal Dilution of Precision which is the measurement of the contribution of satellite geometry to the uncertainty in a position fix. The lower the number the better. Here's a refence chart to valves and relevance of the GPS Data: 1: Ideal - This is the highest possible confidence level to be used for applications demanding the highest possible precision at all times. 1-2: Excellent - At this confidence level, positional measurements are considered accurate enough to meet all but the most sensitive applications. 2-5: Good - Represents a level that marks the minimum appropriate for making business decisions. Positional measurements could be used to make reliable in-route navigation suggestions to the user. 5-10: Moderate - Positional measurements could be used for calculations, but the fix quality could still be improved. A more open view of the sky is recommended. 10-20: Fair - Represents a low confidence level. Positional measurements should be discarded or used only to indicate a very rough estimate of the current location. >20: Poor - At this level, measurements are inaccurate by as much as 300 meters with a 6 meter accurate device (50 DOP × 6 meters) and should be discarded. How to Find the Accuracy of your Humminbird The GPS Diagnostic View can tell you alot about the performance of your GPS Receiver and the Reception you are receiving. To get to the GPS Diagnostic View you can access it through the Start-up Menu or the easiest way is to go into the Master Menu (Hit Menu Twice) then scroll with 4 Way cursor over to View Tab. Hit Up Arrow on the cursor and towards the bottom you will see the GPS Diagnostic View and status will be Hidden. Turn it on to Visible. (See Pic Below) Now page through the VIEWS to get to the GPS Diagnostic VIEW. Hitting VIEW will page forward. EXIT will page backwards through the VIEWS. It will look like the Image Below. So what does all this mean and how do I use it? We will go through each letter and explain what it is and what it does. A: The "Bullseye" tracks the satellites and tells you signal strength of each one. Depending on the Channel of GPS Receiver you have you may see more or less. GR-4 tracks up to 4 Satellites, GR-16 up to 16 Satellites and the new Standard Equipment on many models the GR-50 can track up to 50 Satellites. The Bar Graph next to each number tells you signal strength. THe darker the number the stronger the reception. This correlates to the distance the satellite is from the center or your location. The more satellites near the center or represented in black the better the postion or accuracy to mark your location. B: Is the type of fix you are getting. No Fix, 2D Fix, 3D Fix or Enhanced. Enhanced is the highest level. Enhance uses correction data from WAAS, EGNOS or MSAS to help increase position accuracy. A 3D or Enhanced Fix is need for Navigation. C: HDOP or Horizontal Dilution of Precision. Is a value for the current position of the satellites used to calculate accuracy. The lower the number the better the accuracy. Humminbird usually shots for 0.6 to 3 for best accuracy levels. Here is some good reading on Wilkipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...PS%29 D: Estimated Position Error is the estimated distance the current position is off from being exact. Humminbirds average is less than 2.5 Meters or 8.2 Feet. E: Altitude is the calculated height of the GPS Receiver above sea level. F: Speed: Is the GPS Calculated speed G: Course: Is the direction the boat is heading. 0/360 Degrees is straight North, 90 Degrees is East, 180 is South and 270 is west. H: Left Card Reader Slot. In this example I have a HyCapcity SD Card with 3.63 GB of 3.8 GB left for storage. I: Right Card Reader Slot: In this example I have a Navionics Premium East Card installed and the unit recognizes it. J: Current GPS Position K: Time and Date from the GPS Receiver L: Type of GPS Receiver the Unit is Using M: Selected Readouts. These are the user defined readouts that are displayed in all VIEWS. I have Depth, Position, Speed. Course and Volts selected. FYI: GPS Satellites transmit the time and date and the receiver uses the time and date information to calculate the distance from the satellite. This is how GPS position can be determined by receiving multiple Time and Date Transmissions and calculating the position on earth compared to satellite location and time and date. Hope this helps you understand the relationship and performance differences between the different GPS Systems available for recreational use Plus how to know the accuracy of saving waypoints and returning precisely back to them.

This is a Humminbird 1197c. But the 798c, 898c, 998c can do the exact same thing.

Not on this day I was actually working teaching others how to use their Humminbirds in the above images but this technology has helped me add alot of fish in the boat. Here's a couple other cool images showing 180 Degrees of Coverage and Splitting Trees... Side Imaging... Down Imaging of the same...

No the Thermocline is the bottom level of where fish can live. They can be anywhere from the surface down to that level so it helps to eliminate unprodcutive waters. But many times in clear reservoirs the fish like to live as deep as possible so they can hide in the shadows if no cover exists. Using your fish finder to find the depth the fish are helps when the fish are inactive and won't chase for dinner. Guess it's like walking in to a fast food restaurant or going thru the drive thru sometimes you like to go in and other times you just don't want to leave the comfort of your vehicle. Sometimes fish will travel for food and sometimes they want it the easiest way and that's close to the comfort zone or summertime home like at the edge of a thermocline.

A good friend of mine Mike Bucca did a neat experiment on Thermocline using his Humminbird and said I could share: ------ I did a little experiment this morning to show scientifically EXACTLY where in the water column is the TRUE thermocline and how do the fish relate to it. Is the thermocline the dense portion of the sonar returns? or just above it? Or is it at the very very start of the returns? Is my 1197SI sonar accurately measuring the depth of the thermocline? Lets find out.. Here is a pic of my initial sonar shot taken this am. Did it in several colors but chose this one. Here is one I took at a slightly different area a month prior in 3 way mode showing sonar, Down Imaging as well as Side Imaging. To get the thermocline to show up you need to make sure your in Split Fire MAX mode. I used 200/83 dual beam and I cranked the sensitivity up a pretty good bit.. I believe I was around 15 with sensitivity Before I started this project I involved a buddy of mine. Some of you might know LTBama from the BFHP. I remembered a post a while back where he purchased a Cline Finder temp gauge and I asked him to borrow it.. Very well made gauge by the way. I cleaned the temp sensor and took my temperature with it by mouth and it actually showed 97.0 degrees.... Pretty darn accurate by my book. It has 50ft of cord and the cord is marked in 2ft intervals with the actual depth written on the marks which helps in case you lose your spot you can just look at the depth marked on the 2ft interval marks. It also winds up like a carpenters snake? Very solid unit. Well since I only had 50ft of depth to work with on this unit (which is plenty). I went to a fairly deep place and started measuring the temperatures as I go down the water column. I was very surprised the the temp was CONSTANT down to 22ft of water. I actually thought the unit was broke but I brought it back out of the water and when it hit the air temp it moved appropriately?? So back to measuring water temps. Here are the coordinates that I recorded and their respective depth/temperature. 0ft 88.2 F 2ft 88.2 4ft 88.2 6ft 88.2 8ft 88.2 10ft 88.2 12ft 88.2 14ft 88.2 16ft 88.2 18ft 88.2 20ft 88.2 22ft 88.2 24ft 88.1 26ft 88.0 28ft 86.4 30ft 85.0 32ft 84.6 34ft 83.3 36ft 82.8 38ft 82.1 40ft 81.2 42ft 80.8 44ft 79.8 46ft 79.5 48ft 78.8 50ft 78.4 I decided to take this one step further and graph the actual coordinates onto the image. I made the image bigger so that all my graph coordinates would fit. This way you can overlay the cline finder data with an actual sonar image and notice the effect easier. The image turned out fuzzy because I saved the photoshop things on there a few times Now here are some shots of fish screenshots from this morning so that you can piece the data together. Looks like the fish are topping out right at the 27ft barrier just like the temp graph and sonar overlay image shows... I showed this one specifically because it shows a fish well below the thermocline. That one fish around the 38ft mark probably won't be at that depth for long due to lack of sufficient dissolved oxygen. So in conclusion the 1197SI sonar IS a good indicator of the depth level of the thermocline. It also shows that the leading edge of the thermocline returns seems to be the cutoff point for the depth level of fish and not the densest portion of the sonar returns. So the strategy for this type of lake is to find deeper cover that intersects the 27ft depth mark. It can be offshore (ahem) or it can be 27ft deep near the shore. Bait choices are fairly easy. Anything that you can countdown and swim to the 20 to 25ft barrier but off the bottom for suspended fish. Some swimbaits, underspins and spoons are just a few good bait choices. etc This is what you are looking for. If you do everything right... :newyear: :newyear: Thanks again to Dugald for allowing me to borrow his cline finder unit.. -------- Now here's what you can do to maximize you screen area when you find a Thermocline. Using Lower Range to your advantage especially with thermoclines to view only the "Fishable Waters" He is an image of in Auto Depth Control on a 798c: Now look at the size of the details when you cut out the "Non-fishable waters" in this case I set Lower Range to 40'

Here is a neat image of a 6" Irrigation Pipe that shows Humminbird Full 180 Degree of Coverage in Side Imaging actually it overlaps a hair by this image because you can see on both sides. Also Down Imaging and 2D of the same Irrigation Pipe Crossing a Creek. Fallen Bridge to the Right Was not in coverage area of the 2D and DI area of Coverage. Few more Images of the Pipe: Here we went right over the Fallen Bridge in DI and 2D:

1197c is still a current model for 2010. It depends on date of manufacture if it will have the latest updates. All 2010 product produced after Jan 12 will have the latest updates installed. If not it's a simple download - free of charge for the life of the unit.

Here are few Video Clips I made from Sonar Recordings I have made while on the water with my Humminbird Electronics. Some show features but they all show how the unit displays the data. Makes it easier to understand what is happening versus a screen capture. Humminbird Down Imaging, Side Imaging and More: Humminbird 1197c Recording: Humminbird SI Color Pallete Options: Humminbird Switchfire 2D Color Pallete and Background Options:

Don...I've running the Transducer Shield and Saver for a couple years already. Scap custom builds mounts and knows his Side Imaging he runs a 997c and when he builds the mounts they have the correct horizontal aperture already built in. I love his Trolling Motor mount very durable and protects your investments. The thru hull has been very well proven too...

Thanks for the welcome if there is anything you would like to discuss here or images you would like to see I have thousands from all over the country and from less than a Foot deep to 150' deep. Grassm, rocks, wood, fish, you name it I've probably captured it. I'll stop in from time to time. or if you have direct questions let me know. Email: imonem@ctcis.net or the best resource with thousands of images and over 6500 Members of SI the Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/

Redbud ... I've been capturing that bridge since 2004! You got some incredible images!!! Here's where I drove directly down the middle of the bridge and split it perfectly on both sides. It proves Humminbird has NO Blind Spots! 100% coverage for 180 Degrees! This was with Humminbird's 1st Generation Technology not with the improvements made today... Wonder if that bright spot in the top of the bridge is the old bell that is suppose to be still hanging in the bridge?