depth finder basics

Jonnysig · Post by **Jonnysig** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 6:51 pm

Finally have a depth finder in the front of my boat and the owners manual doesnt offer much. Not familiar with depth finders and could hardly find any info for beginners online. Its a Garmin Echo 100. Nothing special. I was hoping someone could give me some beginner info on what my device has to offer.

One option It has is to adjust the "range" of the depth scale. Automatic or manual mode. Really have no clue what this is. The other option I have is to adjust the "gain". Again automatic or manual mode. Can anyone help me out? I usually get good info from you guys. Thanks!

eagle123777 · Post by **eagle123777** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:38 am

Jonnysig wrote:Finally have a depth finder in the front of my boat and the owners manual doesnt offer much. Not familiar with depth finders and could hardly find any info for beginners online. Its a Garmin Echo 100. Nothing special. I was hoping someone could give me some beginner info on what my device has to offer.

One option It has is to adjust the "range" of the depth scale. Automatic or manual mode. Really have no clue what this is. The other option I have is to adjust the "gain". Again automatic or manual mode. Can anyone help me out? I usually get good info from you guys. Thanks!

go to bassboat central they have sever threads on depthfinders u will probably find what u need there...i dont use garmin but the automatics would be set to a factory setting for the depth and gain may be a sensativity setting. when on the water try the automatic and if u dont like the result swtich to manual and adjust the depth and gain and see what ya get u might like that result better...then use it..

Delaney · Post by **Delaney** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:38 am

For the most part the auto setting displays the bottom reading in the bottom area of the screen so you can see what's between top and bottom. If you had bottom setting on manual at 100 ft. and you were in 20 ft of water the bottom would show close to the top, not leaving room to show this. Back in the days of flashers I used to set gain on high to find bait fish. With todays LCD's I leave on auto as I don't believe they are any good at this, and I see this as a problem.

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:41 am

Google is your friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9QQSLA71IQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6BNJuaKL-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stfFdWJWgG4

User Manual
http://assets.academy.com/mgen/21/10151821.pdf

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:52 am

i dont know about the garmin's but I start out following Don Ivino's settings to start with and make adjustments from there, the below link is a good educational start. The depth most people leave it on auto, I will change it to manual for certain applications, but rarely.

http://www.iovino.com/lowrange