Awesome. Thank you for the advice. I'll check it out Sunday and post results!

jfdawson, what do you think about Montys setup? Any thoughts as to what might be causing his interference lines? Puzzles me...

Grout/ Monte,

If I had to guess... I think the right Sidescan is catching the motor as it shoots out right, which is why the white lines center. The left side is catching the sonar TD because they are mounted at the same height... Hence the white lines on the left side of center. On my skeeter, I bought the TSS jack plate bracket. After installation I had to order the 2" extension to get it lower because I was getting white lines due to the skeeter sponsons in the way of SideScan. Once I installed the extension ( ie. Lowered the LSS2) the white lines went away. As you (grout ) suggested in another post above, I would lower the LSS2 or raise the sonar and see how it looks. Also, trim the motor all the way up and tell us if the white lines disappear?

I would also suggested a differnt pallet on the SS to the blue or brown as I think it shows a better contrast. Pallet 13 on sonar will show better fish definition and bottom contours, IMO.

Here's a graphic ( not mine ) that helps explain what each sonar& SS beam looks like:

The lines are still there with the outboard totally out of the water. The last screenshot i posted was with the SI transducer lowered (it is now about 2 inches lower than the downscan transducer. The front/back beamwidth is supposed to be 3.2 degrees, but that only means that the power of the ultrasound is down by 50% at 3.2 degrees. My right pontoon is 7.5 degrees forward of the transducer, but I still think I am getting a return off the right pontoon (it is big so it returns a lot of power). I also may be getting a return off the transom. I think I may just have to live with it the way it is, but if you have any other suggestions I will try them.

Thank Grout Scout, will turn overlay off.

Monty, something that keeps making me scratch my head, is the color of your sonar? Is that a palette # or why is it black & white? Something is just not right with your setup and I can't figure out what it is.

ELITE 4x-DSI

Recently installed this unit on my boat, wanted something fairly inexpensive with color, DSI, GPS and sonar and this was exactly that. I would rank myself a novice with these units, with that said after getting out on the water, while running the DSI and sonar all I could was clutter from both? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Are there settings I have to modify out of the box?

I'm in the market for a bass boat and am considering used and new. To be able to get a firm price on new I'll need to provide the electronics and config I want. I could use some help here with Lowrance - what are your preferred new models for dash, ram mount, and bow? How do you set your standard views on the dash and ram?

Thanks!

SRB, depends on your budget. If you're a man of money then you can buy some gen 3 HDS 12's. You really need to say what you want, need or are willing to spend for anybody to properly help you.

Yes, the gen 3s look great. I would not want to afford 3 HDS-12 on my boat, however, and I suppose the best way to reduce cost would be to go with one large screen in the dash or ram and the 2 others smaller - HDS - 7 in the bow?

SRB, if you don't need chirp then get some gen 2's. Much cheaper.

Ok, I have heard about 'chirp' since before it came to the fishing market and I'm curious to know what comments any of you early adopters think, now that it has been out for awhile?????????

Also, I have a question about chirp, as applied to Lowrance's gen 3 products. First, it is my understanding that chirp is a pulse of multiple frequencies (to be very basic). If Lowrance has true chirp, how do they do that with the same transducers used since HDS came out? I'm thinking it's not true chirp but, some sort of algorithm that approximates chirp. I crystal produces a single frequency with very little side frequencies. I would think you would need a large number of crystals in the transducer to produce chirp. Am I correct? Wrong? Somewhere in between?
Comments please.
PS: I have fished with a buddy that has chirp on his gen 3 touch. I can't see any difference with chirp turned on!

I'm no "chirp" expert; but If you want real chirp you have to get an Airmar TM150 transducer or one of their more expensive ducers, the one I wrote is the cheapest option. Some say the Lowrance ducer does a decent job for the cost of it. Chirp is really the most beneficial when you get to deeper water sonar. It's true benefit is deep water, (offshore & such). Not a big benefit for us bass & shallow water guys.

Scout, I believe you are exactly right. So why is Lowrance stressing it so much? Guess I just don't understand what they are trying to accomplish with their product line. Seems they are only a 'me too' company with no real inovations, just copy what others are doing.

I would concur with your opinion. Heck even Garmin figured out a way around the all in 1 ducer that Humminbird has a patent on. So now Garmin has a all in 1 ducer and Bird has one; but Lowrance couldn't figure it out (or care to???).

I have no need for the chirp line but we will have no option in the future if we stay with Lowrance.