Universal Sonar: No more temp, and (now) weak signal
 

For Christmas, to my astonishment, my wife got everybody to contribute
to the topmost item on my wishlist, a Minn Kota Maxxum 65, and she even
(accidentally) got the upgrade US (Universal Sonar) model.

So I replaced the CRUMMY old stock Evinrude 20 something pound thrust
on my boat, and everything was perfect... well almost. My bow-mounted
Garmin 240 used to have temp when I had the Garmin puck transducer
mounted to the old trolling motor, but it seems the Universal Sonar
doesn't do temp. This is actually a pretty big disappointment,
especially since that was the only thermometer on the boat.

I know at least a few people here must have experienced the same thing,
and I'm wondering what solutions you came up with.

One more thing: Last weekend my sonar was showing a very weak
signal--the bottom was so faint that it couldn't calculate depth
automatically. Also, bottom was the only thing I could see (and just
barely). No chance I could discern structure, balls of baitfish, etc.

I adjusted the contrast, though I knew that would do no good (and it
didn't). I tried raising the motor and splashing it down to get rid of
any potential bubbles on the transducer surface (US transducers are
mounted in an inverted "well"), and I don't suspect that was the issue,
either. Also the clicking of the transducer *seems* as loud as ever.
Also, I reconnected the sonar plugs to make sure that the contacts were
good, but they look nice and clean, and reconnecting didn't affect the
signal at all.

Anyway, I've still got the old puck transducer, so I could do some
side-by side transducer testing, but wondered if there was anything
else I should check.

Thanks!
Jamie

I said it before, if you want US go with motorguide. The MK US is not
ready to be marketed...

Warren

"Jamie Jackson" wrote in message
oups.com...
For Christmas, to my astonishment, my wife got everybody to contribute
to the topmost item on my wishlist, a Minn Kota Maxxum 65, and she even
(accidentally) got the upgrade US (Universal Sonar) model.

So I replaced the CRUMMY old stock Evinrude 20 something pound thrust
on my boat, and everything was perfect... well almost. My bow-mounted
Garmin 240 used to have temp when I had the Garmin puck transducer
mounted to the old trolling motor, but it seems the Universal Sonar
doesn't do temp. This is actually a pretty big disappointment,
especially since that was the only thermometer on the boat.

I know at least a few people here must have experienced the same thing,
and I'm wondering what solutions you came up with.

One more thing: Last weekend my sonar was showing a very weak
signal--the bottom was so faint that it couldn't calculate depth
automatically. Also, bottom was the only thing I could see (and just
barely). No chance I could discern structure, balls of baitfish, etc.

I adjusted the contrast, though I knew that would do no good (and it
didn't). I tried raising the motor and splashing it down to get rid of
any potential bubbles on the transducer surface (US transducers are
mounted in an inverted "well"), and I don't suspect that was the issue,
either. Also the clicking of the transducer *seems* as loud as ever.
Also, I reconnected the sonar plugs to make sure that the contacts were
good, but they look nice and clean, and reconnecting didn't affect the
signal at all.

Anyway, I've still got the old puck transducer, so I could do some
side-by side transducer testing, but wondered if there was anything
else I should check.

Thanks!
Jamie

That doesn't help me too much now, unfortunately. I just went to look
up old posts of you warning about MK US, but all I could find were
posts where you were down on MG (non-US, I guess).

It's still under warranty, so I'll get it fixed if the transducer's
broken. What a drag to empty the boat and bring it in for repair,
though, unless there's a good way to remove the TM from its mount...

Even after I get it fixed, though, I don't know if I can keep living
without real-time temp up at the bow (so I might be using the puck in
any case).

Oh well, the rest of the motor's great (there's nothing like going from
a 23# to an efficient, 65# 24V with *real* variable speed), and I
didn't even really *ask* for US in the first place. ;-)

Thanks,
Jamie

I just returned a piece of junk called Motor Guide. It was the new PTsv.
I'll never have another. The ticking sound is normal and according to Minn
Kota there is nothing that can be done. They say since all transducers tick
during normal operation (and they do), the noise is traveling up the tube. I
haven't done it yet, but it seem to me you could put some foam, or even
stuff a rag in the tube to muffle it. As for it not reading the bottom,
check your sensitivity. Turn it up until you start to get clutter, then back
it off a little and see if that helps.

..
"Jamie Jackson" wrote in message
oups.com...
For Christmas, to my astonishment, my wife got everybody to contribute
to the topmost item on my wishlist, a Minn Kota Maxxum 65, and she even
(accidentally) got the upgrade US (Universal Sonar) model.

So I replaced the CRUMMY old stock Evinrude 20 something pound thrust
on my boat, and everything was perfect... well almost. My bow-mounted
Garmin 240 used to have temp when I had the Garmin puck transducer
mounted to the old trolling motor, but it seems the Universal Sonar
doesn't do temp. This is actually a pretty big disappointment,
especially since that was the only thermometer on the boat.

I know at least a few people here must have experienced the same thing,
and I'm wondering what solutions you came up with.

One more thing: Last weekend my sonar was showing a very weak
signal--the bottom was so faint that it couldn't calculate depth
automatically. Also, bottom was the only thing I could see (and just
barely). No chance I could discern structure, balls of baitfish, etc.

I adjusted the contrast, though I knew that would do no good (and it
didn't). I tried raising the motor and splashing it down to get rid of
any potential bubbles on the transducer surface (US transducers are
mounted in an inverted "well"), and I don't suspect that was the issue,
either. Also the clicking of the transducer *seems* as loud as ever.
Also, I reconnected the sonar plugs to make sure that the contacts were
good, but they look nice and clean, and reconnecting didn't affect the
signal at all.

Anyway, I've still got the old puck transducer, so I could do some
side-by side transducer testing, but wondered if there was anything
else I should check.

Thanks!
Jamie

BTW, your temp no longer works because there is no sensor for it in the US
xducer. You could add an external one. I'm considering that right now but
since I have one on the console, its no biggie for me.

Oh, I don't mind the clicking, actually, because at least that means
it's transmitting. Too bad it doesn't seem to be *receiving* very well.

I did try to adjust the sensitivity (gain) but that didn't do any good
either (maxxed out barely showed anything at all).