C120 fishfinder not working

[earthmover17]

When I pull up the fishfinder, depth screen on my C120 it just shows 1/2" to 1" wide bars at all different levels across the screen. The bars go from the bottom of the screen to a certain depth towards the top. As I understood the way this is supposed to work the depth line is supposed to run fluidly across the screen at the appropriate depth. It's almost like it picks it up for a second and then loses signal.
Should I be looking at the transducer or the C120 itself? All other functions on C120 work fine.
Jack

 

[Four Suns]

Did you put a new transducer (with the right wattage for a fishfinder) on or did you use the underpowered/non-fishfinder one that was on the boat from the factory?

 

[earthmover17]

Did you put a new transducer (with the right wattage for a fishfinder) on or did you use the underpowered/non-fishfinder one that was on the boat from the factory?

It was all on the Boat when I got it but you gave me a direction to look. That might explain it as it's always done this since I've owned the Boat. Once again I appreciate your help.
As a boobie prize I will send you my old Fluxgate compass when I replace it as you are so fond of them. I think if you recieve enough of these you could make a nice stern anchor.
Jack

 

[earthmover17]

I figured out my transducer is an Airmar. Is this a POS or are they a decent transducer?

Jack

 

[Jackie J V]

Hi Jack,
I also had extensive and frustrating problems with the fish finder. Unfortunately, it's also the only depth sounder on my 560. I was getting accurate readings from time to time, infrequent failures, and finally extended periods of readings as you're describing.

Had techs crawling around my boat last year, did various software upgrades on my E120s (something to check is that you have current software - there are documented glitches related to fishfinders). That unfortunately did squat for me.

Other paths were investigated - all to no avail. I even swapped out the DSM300 with a borrowed new one - which didn't work any better (actually worse) however I'm not sure I had all the configurations set right as I did not know the type of transducer used (no documentation and no lables on the units).

Finally, had DSM300 yanked and sent back to local Raymarine distributor for software upgrades and bench testing. As a final step while the boat was out of the water, I had them replace the transucers and rewired them back to the DSM.

Everything works now, based on testing moving around the marina - I haven't ventured out so far this year (was snowing and 90 Km/hr winds yesterday afternoon).

Which variable fixed it. I don't know. I always suspected the transducers, maybe Gary's right. I don't think mine were the original transducers, however maybe the previous owner replaced crappy transducers with, well, crappy transducers.

Good luck. I'm just glad to have my depth sounder back as we gunk hole in a lot of variable depth locations with granite bottoms.

Paul

 

[compensation]

Make sure that the correct transducer is selected in the DSM setup. Software updates with hard re-sets will change the MFD to the default transducer. If yours is different from the default, the sounder won't work.

Even if you don't know the exact model number, there are only a handful of possibilities, so trial and error can work. You can also call Raymarine - and describe the transducer to them and they can give you a best guess.

 

[bmac]

:huh:

Hi Jack,
I also had extensive and frustrating problems with the fish finder. Unfortunately, it's also the only depth sounder on my 560. I was getting accurate readings from time to time, infrequent failures, and finally extended periods of readings as you're describing.

Had techs crawling around my boat last year, did various software upgrades on my E120s (something to check is that you have current software - there are documented glitches related to fishfinders). That unfortunately did squat for me.

Other paths were investigated - all to no avail. I even swapped out the DSM300 with a borrowed new one - which didn't work any better (actually worse) however I'm not sure I had all the configurations set right as I did not know the type of transducer used (no documentation and no lables on the units).

Finally, had DSM300 yanked and sent back to local Raymarine distributor for software upgrades and bench testing. As a final step while the boat was out of the water, I had them replace the transucers and rewired them back to the DSM.

Everything works now, based on testing moving around the marina - I haven't ventured out so far this year (was snowing and 90 Km/hr winds yesterday afternoon).

Which variable fixed it. I don't know. I always suspected the transducers, maybe Gary's right. I don't think mine were the original transducers, however maybe the previous owner replaced crappy transducers with, well, crappy transducers.

Good luck. I'm just glad to have my depth sounder back as we gunk hole in a lot of variable depth locations with granite bottoms.

Paul

Paul

What did you see when you were having problems with your MFD? I have multiplexed E-120's with a DSM300 that keeps losing the data signal from the master (doesn't matter which one is set to be the master) and I have to restart the slave to get things back. Both MFD units have been back to Raymarine, the cables have been replaced and the software updated over the winter. First time out this year I had the same thing happen twice. I'm wondering if I should send back the DSM300. ANyone else have this issue with E-120's and DSM300?

 

[Jackie J V]

Hi Brian,
I have a similar set-up, but I don't think my issue was signal loss from the master - I believe it was signal loss from the DSM/transducer.

For a while, the fishfinder would work fine, then would lose signal and display the sort of data that I think Jack described in his opening thread. Sometime this would mean a blip in the smooth display of data, other times it would mean that the fishfinder would be out for an extended period. I spent much of last summer trying to identify any commonality as to events which might be occuring when I'd lose data, but couldn't find anything to pin it to. I had upgraded the software on the E120's (which I have running off the SeaTalk hs network switch) and had generally looked over all wiring and cables (both personally and then by a tech).

Finally, over the winter I had the DSM300 pulled and sent into CNC Electronics (local Raymarine service centre) for testing and upgrades. I'll try to find out more on what they had done. Both they and the marina service manager had thought that this would solve the problem, however I decided as a final step to simply change out the transducers and rewire those back to the DSM before putting the boat back in the water (a subsequent haulout would be more expensive than the transducers).

I think it's now working, but that is based thus far on limited testing moving around the marina and running the fishfinder in my slip. I'll report back when Spring returns...

Paul

Paul

 

[earthmover17]

Good info guys. I removed the transducer from the thru hull just to look at it. That's what I do when I don't understand something. I reinstalled it and voila now it works. At least in the Marina it does. I assume it had been jarred loose and wasn't transducing ( that's what a transducer does is transduce). Actually I have no idea what it does.
I will be taking the boat out soon as to Sea trial the depth finder.

Jack

 

[Little Princess]

bmac/Jackie JV:

I know I'm a few months behind you, but I saw your post and have been struggling with the same issues with the exact same setup you have. Most of my problems were solved with the software updates (5.52 for the E120's and 4.12 for the DSM300), but I still get the "Connection Lost - Reset As Master" problems occasionally AND I am also losing the signal from the transducer ALOT, even just sitting at the dock.

Two things I can pass along:

(i) My electronics guy, CMI (local here on Long Island, bmac) believes that the network switch is very sensitive to voltage problems and has been testing a LinkSys switch in place of the Raymarine with good results. I haven't made the change yet as my problem is mostly the loss of transducer signal, but that should solve the network connection problems if it proves out.

(ii) I've read plenty of accounts online that also document the sensitivity of the DSM300 sounder to power issues. Some people have reported sending their units back to Raymarine to "reflow the solder joints" and others have just rewired or cleaned their contacts with good results.

At the end of the day I might just have a bad transducer, but I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. I'm tired of having such expensive equipment without the ability to get a good depth reading.

 

[bmac]

bmac/Jackie JV:

I know I'm a few months behind you, but I saw your post and have been struggling with the same issues with the exact same setup you have. Most of my problems were solved with the software updates (5.52 for the E120's and 4.12 for the DSM300), but I still get the "Connection Lost - Reset As Master" problems occasionally AND I am also losing the signal from the transducer ALOT, even just sitting at the dock.

Two things I can pass along:

(i) My electronics guy, CMI (local here on Long Island, bmac) believes that the network switch is very sensitive to voltage problems and has been testing a LinkSys switch in place of the Raymarine with good results. I haven't made the change yet as my problem is mostly the loss of transducer signal, but that should solve the network connection problems if it proves out.

(ii) I've read plenty of accounts online that also document the sensitivity of the DSM300 sounder to power issues. Some people have reported sending their units back to Raymarine to "reflow the solder joints" and others have just rewired or cleaned their contacts with good results.

At the end of the day I might just have a bad transducer, but I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. I'm tired of having such expensive equipment without the ability to get a good depth reading.

Little Princess (somehow that doesn't sound right here), thanks for the feedback. Roger at CMI did the original install on my electronics and has been on my boat more than he cares to think about. Ask him about my boat and he'll tell you all about it. I just love when the DSM drops out or the slave unit loses the data and has to reboot just as I'm in 3 feet of water in Moriches Bay:smt013:smt013. I'm sure if Roger gets yours (or mine) fixed he'll try it on the other.

 

[Alex F]

...I removed the transducer from the thru hull just to look at it. That's what I do when I don't understand something. I reinstalled it and voila now it works. At least in the Marina it does. I assume it had been jarred loose and wasn't transducing ( that's what a transducer does is transduce)....

Since you removed the old one why not repace with a new transducer, which you would know for sure that is compatible with your DSM unit? I think extra ~$300 would worth the aggrivation.

I just added extra transducer to my setup and used broze version B60-20. Just by looking at the new one and the original ducer (still in the boat) I can't see how people choose plastic version to cover 2 1/1" whole in the very bottom of the hull. It also felt like lense quality of the bronze unit is much better.

I'm not sure if you have only one transducer, but I've learned over the years that it's best to have more than one. There're always situations when they will loose signal, but for the most part at different occasions while one will stay active when the other looses the signal (at least this is what I have). So, when we talk about system backup, failover or redondency this is one of the primary items that need it the most.

Just my .02c.