new hummingbird problems

This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 11 months ago by Bass Cat Boats.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

Author

Posts
July 9, 2011 at 6:26 pm #410233

fishone
Participant

I just bought a new PII with a HB 898 on the back and a 858 on the front. I have had issues with them since day one. (1) First, I had to install software upgrades from Hummingbird to both the units. I would have thought buying a new boat, this would have been taken care of when I received the PII.(2) 2nd, after installing the upgrades, I had two issues with the 898. (a) the maps/gps was not installed on this unit and the (b) depth jumped constantly from 1 ft to 1000 ft.(3) I did another download from HB for the maps/gps. I then did an upload to the 898. Now the gps/maps work ok but the depth still jumps around like crazy.(4) Per HBs request I put the 898 on the front and the 858 on the back. The 898 depth still jumps around and will not lock in up front and the 858 reads the depth perfect at the back position. This would indicate to me there is a problem with the 898.I am getting extremely frustrated with HB and the 898 unit. HB is acting like there is nothing wrong with the 898 unit. I think it is defective. I am going to be really pissed if I hit something and damage the prop or lower unit and the 898 says the water depth is 1000 ft. This is a brand new unit and I need the depth to be accurate as I fish some extremely shallow lakes. I am looking for any help anyone can give me. I am very disappointed with the Customer Service so far.

July 9, 2011 at 7:58 pm #410235

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

AYhe units are not upgraded as Humminbird would not provide BCB with a master SD card for updates. They felt the updates are too frequent to continue sending out SD cards to all the OEMs and we requested 8 cards with updates. We requested that and the units were being sent to us without updates from the immediate manufacture. The HB staff wants to have you update those units and register those serial numbers. The folks on the 800 line are usually pretty good and we have forwarded your comments to a HB staff person for their review. BCB

July 9, 2011 at 9:14 pm #410237

fishone
Participant

BCB,I understand your situation and not upset with BCB. I have had my PII and the HBs for over 3 weeks. I have had numerous calls and e-mails to HB to try to fix all these problems. I need to know the correct depth at the console when I take off on plane, run and then sit the boat down. Without knowing the correct depth it is very easy to tear something up which I do not want to do. It is my opinion the 898 unit is defect and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.I do appreciate yo forwarding my comments to a HB staff person!!! There is either an easy fix for the unit or it is defective. THANK-YOU!

July 9, 2011 at 9:33 pm #410239

billius
Participant

Ive had 5 different HBs on two different boats. All of them, except the 858 I have on the bow of my current Cougar, have had the depth jump all over the place. What cured it for me, (Ive mentioned this before on some of the threads here) is to set the depth manually, instead of keeping it on auto. I had a 797 on the dash of my Baycat and now have a 997 on the dash of my CougarFTD. Both units will not read depth at speeds over 50mph. You might also try to get versions of the old software and reload it. I tried to use the latest updates on both my 997 and my 858 and it messed both units up big time. So I got the original software and reloaded it, things are okay now.

July 10, 2011 at 1:11 am #410242

fishone
Participant

Billius,Can you tell me how to go in the 898 and and change the depth to manual and what depth I should set it on? I dont understand why a 858 would read the depth correctly and the 898, which is the same exact unit only with side scan will not!!! Does not make any sense to me!Thanks!

July 10, 2011 at 3:03 am #410245

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Fishone,Do you have 2 transducers hooked up to the 898 (1-side imaging, 1-thru hull)?

July 10, 2011 at 5:11 am #410247

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

bilious, at above 50 mph there is too much air between the hull and water to get a signal. The hull compresses the air and bubbles occur. Also trimming the nose down helps to get a reading at a higher speed and trimmed properly you can get a signal up to appx. 60 mph.

July 10, 2011 at 2:55 pm #410251

FTDoo7
Participant

Sometimes pending wich card you have in their it will lock up up on ocassions wich is not good . If that worried ,install the old flasher somewhere or switch to the other brand.

July 11, 2011 at 7:01 pm #410253

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

BCB–Just so you know I have NOT been contacted by a STAFF person from Hummingbird yet. I just sent and e-mail the the 800 person and I have dealing with requesting a STAFF person to get back in touch with me asap. FRDoo7—I tried to get the dealer to install a Vexilar FL 10 but he said I wouldnt need it with the HB 898. As expensive as these units are, they ought to be able to read the correct depth. Waknbass15—The boat came with the HBs hooked up from BCB. I am assumuing there is an in hull transducer and there is the side imaging transducer is on the Detwiller Jack Plate.

July 11, 2011 at 7:13 pm #410256

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The Vexilar is an excellent unit. The HB units work fine and we dont know what to expect on the contact. The 800 contact you have is where we would suspect them to direct their efforts through.
Author

Posts

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login Register