So i broke down and bought a nice shiny new HDS-8, got it mounted, took it to the lake and the sonar has a ton of clutter on the screen. I epoxied the transducer in the hull, ran power straight from the battery, adjusted the sensitivity which helped a lot however fish are not marking as arches and there is still a bit of clutter on the screen. anybody have any ideas?

Have you matched the unit with the transducer?

1. Does it have 4.o software? I know you just bought, but the new software just came out last week and the unit was probably at dealer location when the update came out

Hit the menu screen and then go ti system and then scroll down to about and press ent. To check your software. If doesn't say 4.0 go to lowrance website and go to down loads and fellow the instructions

2. Then go into your sonar menu's and put it freshwater mode ( it's set in general issue mode as default.. You need change this first.
3. Noise reduction on low
4. Surface clutter on low
5. Ping speed at 18-19

Also do u have another depth finder going at the same time?
6. Color line 72-74

hey jason,

i dont think i have the 4.o software, on the menu i couldnt find the ti system. i did however match the transducer to the sonar. i also changed the other levels that you recomended. i didn't have my other sonars on today and it did start showing fish arches but there is still some clutter on the screen. overall it has improved alot. i just wonder if it has something to do with my transducer location? i epoxied it about 8 inches in front of the existing one in the hull.

by the way, i REALLY appreciate your assistance on this!

hit menu key and go to system and press ent the scroll down to the bottom to about and press ent. that will tell you what software you have.

I bet you had your other depth finder going they other day and you where getting cross talk from between the 2 units.