Ps21 interference

[fishfood]

I ran a 21 yesterday and with the other sonar unit shooting through a Us2 transducer the noise on the ps21 made it unusable. It looked like radar pings radiating across the screen. I finally turned off the sonar but that can't be the only solution? It was mounted on the tm foot.

Do do they make a panoptix compatible model that has sonar only? I don't see a way to turn off the si/Di and leave on just the sonar with the 93sv. He may have to run the garmin sonar on the tm. He can turn off the sonar only on his unit and would use what little sonar he does off the unit hooked to the garmin.

Thanks

[LWINCHESTER2]

This interference stuff can be a nightmare. I felt like I gained quite a bit running multiple units when I went from Hbird to Lowrance. Then gained again when I went to Garmin. Still running 5 units usually, 2 that are Lowrance. Kind of off your thread on the PS21 but I've been running the PS31 on the 7610 and PS30 on the 93sv. In 150 FOW I would get interference that come and went, probably connected with the pointing of the PS31. Yesterday I rearranged my xd connections. No plan in particular I just change things around quite often. Moved the PS31 to the 93sv and connected a GT8 that I have also pointing forward a bit. Then put the PS30 on the 7610 and changed from the GT50 to the GT51. Unbelievable. Fished for about 3 hours, no interference. Had the GT51 on 260 instead of 455. Apparently that was it because I was running the GT50 on 455. I thought the interference was coming from running 2 Panoptix xd's. Had the opportunity for some great screenshots on the 7610 but on the first one my finger must have bobbled and it when to the Home screen instead of making the screenshot so I just said to heck with it. Haha, that's not really what I said!!! I think they are going to fix this but I wish they would get on with it.

On topic they also need to add individual element control to be able to shut off stuff. Separate controls for turning off 2d, side, down one or all as selected, especially on these combo transducers. That request has been sitting out there a while too.

Also for you guys that are thinking about running Panoptix on a 7 inch screen take note. It works very well. On the 93sv I had the left 2 inches on 2d. Worked very well. You would need to do full screen on a 7 inch unit but you shouldn't have any hesitation with such a combination.

Discovered that when using a combo screen that the scroll history setting is ignored for the Panoptix on both units. Doesn't show. A little embarrassed to have used it this long and just now caught that.

[fishfood]

This interference stuff can be a nightmare. I felt like I gained quite a bit running multiple units when I went from Hbird to Lowrance. Then gained again when I went to Garmin. Still running 5 units usually, 2 that are Lowrance. Kind of off your thread on the PS21 but I've been running the PS31 on the 7610 and PS30 on the 93sv. In 150 FOW I would get interference that come and went, probably connected with the pointing of the PS31. Yesterday I rearranged my xd connections. No plan in particular I just change things around quite often. Moved the PS31 to the 93sv and connected a GT8 that I have also pointing forward a bit. Then put the PS30 on the 7610 and changed from the GT50 to the GT51. Unbelievable. Fished for about 3 hours, no interference. Had the GT51 on 260 instead of 455. Apparently that was it because I was running the GT50 on 455. I thought the interference was coming from running 2 Panoptix xd's. Had the opportunity for some great screenshots on the 7610 but on the first one my finger must have bobbled and it when to the Home screen instead of making the screenshot so I just said to heck with it. Haha, that's not really what I said!!! I think they are going to fix this but I wish they would get on with it.

On topic they also need to add individual element control to be able to shut off stuff. Separate controls for turning off 2d, side, down one or all as selected, especially on these combo transducers. That request has been sitting out there a while too.

Also for you guys that are thinking about running Panoptix on a 7 inch screen take note. It works very well. On the 93sv I had the left 2 inches on 2d. Worked very well. You would need to do full screen on a 7 inch unit but you shouldn't have any hesitation with such a combination.

Discovered that when using a combo screen that the scroll history setting is ignored for the Panoptix on both units. Doesn't show. A little embarrassed to have used it this long and just now caught that.

I'm going to run it on the shaft next time. I was to busy playing with my new Ultrx this time out to try much. I'll try and get a screen shot next time. What is the procedure for a screen shot on the 93sv? Since the only thing we are interested in is the panoptix I haven't read the manual..... lol

[LWINCHESTER2]

You'll probably have to wait for Doc. Sonar for a good Panoptix manual. I think he is planning a video and manual.

Screenshots: Press and hold the Home key till you see a screen flicker. It's better than the 7610 as you won't die of old age waiting for it. But if you want your full screen back quickly you'll have to acknowledge the on-screen notification that it made a screenshot. The unit really needs to know that you saw the message.

[fishfood]

You'll probably have to wait for Doc. Sonar for a good Panoptix manual. I think he is planning a video and manual.

Screenshots: Press and hold the Home key till you see a screen flicker. It's better than the 7610 as you won't die of old age waiting for it. But if you want your full screen back quickly you'll have to acknowledge the on-screen notification that it made a screenshot. The unit really needs to know that you saw the message.

Thanks

[Larry3215]

I have seen those radar like waves a few times - but not when my trolling motor was attached. I have assumed it was some sort of interference from the sonar on another boat. It never last long, so I havent worried about it.

[fishfood]

I have seen those radar like waves a few times - but not when my trolling motor was attached. I have assumed it was some sort of interference from the sonar on another boat. It never last long, so I havent worried about it.

I left the other unit on for 30 minutes trying different settings on both units and they continued. No matter the adjustments they stayed the same. I will try and get a video or image next time out.

[Larry3215]

Were there other boats near by? Maybe they were putting some signal that caused it.

[MonteSS]

I had what I think you are referring to. But mine was from the TM being on certain speeds.

[DonnieG]

Exactly what I have, Bill.

Were you able to resolve the issue?

[JordanC]

I get those lines as well when I use my trolling motor. It comes and goes on its own. Sometimes I bump the gain down a notch and it goes away. I don't run my ps-21 on auto settings anymore and usually have to mess with it while fishing. I'm going out Striper fishing tomorrow and I'll see if I can get some pics or video as well.

[TroyBoy30]

never seen that with my ps31

[DonnieG]

never seen that with my ps31

Troy, I asked that question on another board as to whether the interference was on the 31..
I have my 30 & 21 on the same transducer stick & the 30 is clear..

[Larry3215]

The "radar pings" Im talking about are not like that. They are semi-circular waves that start small up in the top left and get larger as they move away from the transducer. Its like you are seeing a single "ping" on the screen move away from the transducer location and it expands in a perfectly circular manner, then disappears about half way across the screen. Its like you dropped a rock in a pool in the top left corner and the wave moves diagonally across the screen.

I also get the "rays" occasionally, but mostly only a single one and they are faint and dont last.

The really interesting thing to me is I see both of those things when my trolling motor isnt even on the boat. In fact, Im not sure I ever did see them when running the TM. I never have any interference from my trolling motor though.

This leads me to think something else may be going on - maybe.

Let me ask again - are you guys seeing these things when other boats are around?

[DonnieG]

Larry, no other boats in sight.....

[Larry3215]

Strange.

[Larry3215]

Actually, Todd did say the rays were normal to some degree. Some sort of interference with the PS21 bottom clutter software.

That pattern above looks pretty severe though.

[rnvinc]

The "radar pings" Im talking about are not like that. They are semi-circular waves that start small up in the top left and get larger as they move away from the transducer. Its like you are seeing a single "ping" on the screen move away from the transducer location and it expands in a perfectly circular manner, then disappears about half way across the screen. Its like you dropped a rock in a pool in the top left corner and the wave moves diagonally across the screen.

Just an observation ...

We do know that Sonar will reflect off the underside of the water's surface (from 2d double echo scenarios) ...

If there are waves at the time the above scenario happens... and the anomaly shows at the uppermost part of the Panoptix display (water surface) = it seems plausible that the beam may be reflecting off the under-far-side of individual waves ...

(Note to remember - any Sonar beam does not stop at the manufacturer's measured angle spec) ...

Rickie

[Larry3215]

I guess that could be one possibility but I dont think that is the only reason. The first time I remember seeing it was inside Gig Harbor (salt water) and the water was dead flat. There are a ton of moored boats in slips and at anchor and sometimes a lot of traffic. It was not unusual to see interference on my old Humminbird when we were there. Ive also used the PS21 in big water in the Straight of Juan de Fuca when it was really rough but didnt see the pings. Ive also seen it when we were in fresh water.

The only common denominator for me is my 7610/GT51, but I dont think thats it because the pings would come and go without me changing anything on the 7610. Its the same with the "rays" they come and go all on their own without me changing anything on the 7610.

Im starting to think Todd has it right. If its a bottom clutter thing, it may come and go depending on the type of bottom you're over. On the other hand, some of you seem to only have it when the trolling motor is on and/or at certain speeds.

Maybe the trolling motors (some of them) are generating some sort of noise (sonic or electrical) that is interacting with the bottom clutter software. If so, I have no clue how to resolve it unless Garmin can come up with an up-date in the software.

Have you guys that have it bad played with the Noise Rejection settings?

[fishfood]

Were there other boats near by? Maybe they were putting some signal that caused it.

Closest was about 1/4 mile. I did have a barge go by and the panoptix went nuts. I would assume it was the acoustics from the props and motors running.