Humminbird Down Imaging Mounted Sideways? Sidescan?? 2024

ctf58 reply :

I was reading in another post and came across this post.

"Basically Down Imaging is nothing but Side Imaging in a verticle or traditional 2D view. The two SI images are combined and filtered to give you the view under the boat. Some people have a harder time understanding SI and for them the DI is more of what they are use to with traditional sonar. I think there are some very good advantages to DI, especially for fishermen, but as I have stated before, you really are not gaining any new data from the DI view. "

So it made me think, could I in theory mount my DI transducer say 45 degrees on my trolong motor and have Side scan imaging on a swivel to "Look around"? Just wondering if anyone else every thought of it or tried it. I know it sounds odd?

I was also wondering if manually setting the depth would limit the distance, sort of like on a SI unit setting to read 100 ft to the side.

The whole reason for this post is two fold.

1. I like to tinker with stuff.

2. DI is great if the water is deep enough. I typically fish in less than 20ft of water so I'm not seeing a large area. If I were jigging under the boat that would be fine, but I bass fish and thought if I could "see" to the side out, say 75ft then I could cast to something without having to first drive directly over it to find it and possibly disturb the fish. I understand the depth reading would be off but I think a person could learn to adjust for that. I also thought about manually setting the depth to see if the unit reacted somewhat like setting a SI unit to scan 100ft out to the side.

I have my ducer mounter to the trolling motor so I was in theory thinking as Alex_under. angle it about 30 degrees off vertical plus with it being on the trolling motor I could literally look around 360 degrees by slowly turning the motor..

I'm not having buyer remorse, I just did not think about the area I could see in DI under the boat and I bought the unit for "Finding" structure. I can not afford a SI unit and thought this might be a "poorboy's" solution.

Thanks again

Clint

Wayne P. reply :

That would be similar to just using one side of a Side Imaging view. Each SI beam covers the water from the surface to past vertical under the transducer.

redboat reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 1:36 AM, Clint Ford said:

I2. DI is great if the water is deep enough. I typically fish in less than 20ft of water so I'm not seeing a large area. If I were jigging under the boat that would be fine, but I bass fish and thought if I could "see" to the side out, say 75ft then I could cast to something without having to first drive directly over it to find it and possibly disturb the fish.

I may not be fully understanding you: Are you saying your SI isn't effective in shallow water? Mine works out to the side pretty well on low frequency (455 Khz as I recall); on the higher 800 Khz frequency it's not as effective in shallow water.

Here's one I shot in 3 feet of water at 455 Khz:

J Francho reply :

Quote
I may not be fully understanding you: Are you saying your SI isn't effective in shallow water?

No, he's saying he has a DI, not an SI unit.

redboat reply :

I thought DI was a function of a SI unit? Didn't think 'bird made a unit that had DI that didn't also have SI.

J Francho reply :

You're the only one that mentioned Humminbird specifically. Lowrance has several DI units.

So does HB, apparently: http://store.humminbird.com/products/410760/788ci_HD_DI_Combo

redboat reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 5:17 AM, J Francho said:

You're the only one that mentioned Humminbird specifically. Lowrance has several DI units.

I assumed he was referring to Humminbird specifically based on the name of the thread.

Interesting that they'd make a DI that isn't also SI. Wonder what the rational for that is? Easier to mount? Less expensive?

Wayne P. reply :

Humminbird has several units that are Down Imaging and dual frequency 2D sonar. Their models with DI in the model name are the ones. There are three larger screen versions in the 2012 line. 858c DI, 958c DI, and 1158c DI. A total of 10 units with the Down Imaging feature.

Another note "Down Imaging" is a Humminbird product.

"Down Scan" is a Lowrance product.

Wayne P. reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 6:29 AM, redboat said:
I assumed he was referring to Humminbird specifically based on the name of the thread. Interesting that they'd make a DI that isn't also SI. Wonder what the rational for that is? Easier to mount? Less expensive?

It's even more "interesting" that Lowrance has units that are Down Scan only. They have DSI in their model names.

That catagory of units give the consumer the imaging technology at a lower cost.

JIGFISHERMAN. reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 6:50 AM, Wayne P. said:

It

It's even more "interesting" that Lowrance has units that are Down Scan only. They have DSI in their model names.

That catagory of units give the consumer the imaging technology at a lower cost.

Check the post above yours. Humminbird has the same thing.

Even their largest unit is now going to be offered in down imaging only for a reduced cost compared to the SI/DI unit.

Wayne P. reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 7:38 AM, JIGFISHERMAN. said:
Check the post above yours. Humminbird has the same thing. Even their largest unit is now going to be offered in down imaging only for a reduced cost compared to the SI/DI unit.

I don't get what you post is about. The post above the one you quoted is mine also.

JIGFISHERMAN. reply :

I'm curious if what your asking is possible as well.

Can you turn a DI transducer sideways to use it as a SI unit?

JIGFISHERMAN. reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 7:44 AM, Wayne P. said:

I don't get what you post is about. The post above the one you quoted is mine also.

Ahhhh I didn't even notice that for some reason.

Ya, looks like they both offer them. Of the two, to me it seems the Humminbird would be the better unit because you can switch between Down Imaging, and regular sonar, The Lowrance is Down Scan only.

J Francho reply :

Communication breakdown, lol.

FishinDaddy reply :

Can anyone actually answer the OP's question? I have thought about aiming my TM transducer to the side but have never tried it. In theory it should work, just the interpretation would be a challenge to master.

ctf58 reply :

@ redboat

That statement came from a Humminbird forum and I beleive it was an employee at Humminbird.

ctf58 reply :

I have a Humminbird 570DI

Sonar

Down Imaging® w/ DualBeam PLUS™

w/SwitchFire™
200 kHz / 25° @ -10db
455 kHz / 16° @ -10db

455 kHz / 75° @ -10db
800 kHz / 45° @ -10db

Depth: 250ft (DI)/500 ft

Still wondering if my original question could work? On Humminbird forum some say yes.

ctf58 reply :

Wayne P. reply :

The answer is simple, try it to see if you can get the results you want.

ctf58 reply :

WayneP

I will give it a try. I just did not want to reinvent the wheel if someone else had tried it and said it was a waste of time. I just popped in my head one night and seemed to simple.

J Francho reply :

Get some screen captures if you can, I'd like to see it myself.

Wayne P. reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 10:31 PM, Clint Ford said:

WayneP

I will give it a try. I just did not want to reinvent the wheel if someone else had tried it and said it was a waste of time. I just popped in my head one night and seemed to simple.

It's never a waste to time to experiement and you may help others with their equipment.

I have a SI transducer that one if the SI beams stopped working (I think I damaged the cable with the trollling motor mount). I can still use the 1/2 of it for SI and DI.

weezy109 reply :

On 1/12/2012 at 11:44 PM, Wayne P. said:

It's never a waste to time to experiement and you may help others with their equipment.

I have a SI transducer that one if the SI beams stopped working (I think I damaged the cable with the trollling motor mount). I can still use the 1/2 of it for SI and DI.

I don't think there is nething special in the wiring, like its not fiber optics or nething, so you can probably fix that in a matter of minutes if you can find where the connection broke. Actually never seen one myself but wiring is wiring generally speaking.

Wayne P. reply :

On 1/13/2012 at 6:28 AM, weezy109 said:
I don't think there is nething special in the wiring, like its not fiber optics or nething, so you can probably fix that in a matter of minutes if you can find where the connection broke. Actually never seen one myself but wiring is wiring generally speaking.

Thanks, I have spliced transducer cables before. With the new stuff, getting the shielding back in place so RF interference is not an extra issue would be a chore. With this particular transducer, it was made before extra shielding was part of the mfg and is a RF magnet anyway. It has been replaced for over a year.

weezy109 reply :

On 1/13/2012 at 6:37 AM, Wayne P. said:

Thanks, I have spliced transducer cables before. With the new stuff, getting the shielding back in place so RF interference is not an extra issue would be a chore. With this particular transducer, it was made before extra shielding was part of the mfg and is a RF magnet anyway. It has been replaced for over a year.

I was actually not trying to be a smarta@@. Hmm that is interesting, like I said i've never actually seen inside transducer cable. What type of shielding do they use, in guitars we sometimes use shielding tape to cut down on RF interference too, is it something similar, like just copper shielding?

Wayne P. reply :

Yes, each conductor has a shield and this particular one may have the shield under the outer insulation also. I haven't cut insulation to see. Just mashing the cable increases RF interference sometimes.

I didn't consider your comment as being a smartaxx. Actually an accurate statement and may be of some benefit to someone with a similar issue.

weezy109 reply :

Probably does then, that stuff is fragile and a pita to deal with.

ctf58 reply :

This is from another forum where a guy Has been trying the same thing with his Humminbird 596c

His comment

Re: 596c HD DI to a half of SI

« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2012, 10:50:25 AM »

Yes, I have been continued with this experiment. It is very useful to look for submerged large objects (from 3-4 meter length) placed on big area, such as single tree, stones.

Maximum range is limited by 240 ft to ONE side(see Max. Depth adjustment). If you want more details or ability to see smaller objects like fish you should decrease Max. Depth. This model does not have Zoom function, nevertheless you can get "Zoom" using Upper Range and Lower Range of X-press menu.

I rarely take camera on boat. My boat slips badly on the ice river so, Waiting for a new season. Then new photos and videos will appear.

P.S. I often fish at twilight and adjust Light (Brightness) 5-7. When I off the unit and on again, Light level is 10 (default). It is not comfortable:(.

My reply

Re: 596c HD DI to a half of SI

« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2012, 06:02:36 PM »

Great to hear. I was thinking about mounting it at an angle on my trolling motor so that I could swivel and "Look" around. I am a fisherman and think being able to see the structure from a distance and not driving directly over it and disturbing the fish would be better.

Question

If you scan a submerged tree say 50 feet away does it look like a tree? What I'm asking is the image good in your opinion?

His Reply

Re: 596c HD DI to a half of SI

« Reply #12 on: Yesterday at 09:05:32 AM »

Quote

Large tree looks like tree lying on the bottom up to 150ft from boat at 30ft depth. The image is quite good.

Another guy that does search and rescue says that they turn Down Imaging to the side to look under docks and underwater cutouts in banks for bodies and the images are pretty good.

Sam reply :

Clint, I understand your thinking.

Yesterday I asked an individual at a local tackle shop that sells the Lowrance and Hummingbird units your query and he said that turning the transducer to the side would not work.

True or false, that is what he told me.

Have you ever heard of Wilson Frazier, the Professor of Sonar GPS?

Wilson has a series of three DVDs about sonar and GPS units. I suggest you consider investing in Sonar GPS 101 and then add the 202 and 303 videos. You will learn a lot about how sonar works and what you can do with your units.

The DVDs are produced by 2advise Productions at www.2adviseproductions.com.

You may also try to find Wilson Frazier on the Internet at Frazier Marine Group.

Frazier will be at the Richmond Fishing Expo and if I can catch up with him I will ask him your question.

I will let you know what he says if I can ask the question.

Sam reply :

Clint, it looks like the 2adviseproductions is not on the web any longer.

Try this site: http://www.itainttv.com/

Have fun!

Wayne P. reply :

Sam

"Yesterday I asked an individual at a local tackle shop that sells the Lowrance and Hummingbird units your query and he said that turning the transducer to the side would not work."

Obviously that person knows nothing about the imaging technology. Selling those products vs. owning and operating those products are two different things.

ctf58 reply :

Thanks for the suggestions Sam. I will check those videos out.

I think I have a pretty good idea of how sonar works, that is why I think it will work. The unit has no idea or care where it is pointed as long as it is in water

The guy from the other forum says that it works really well. He has his fixed at a 30 degree angle on the transom.

This just started as a idea, but wow, I never thought I would get this much feedback. I'll definitely give it a try in the spring.

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Humminbird Down Imaging Mounted Sideways? Sidescan?? 2024

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