Minn Kota Maxxum Pro 101/US & Lowrance Sonar Equipment

[jackcasey]

Has anyone had any issues with the New Minn Kota Maxxum Pro 101/US bow mount motor (US= built in Universal Sonar transducer) and Lowrance equipment operation utilizing the built in transducer?

[Scott D.]

Yes, I have the 101US and Lowrance 332C. DO NOT WASTE THE EXTRA MONEY FOR THE US MODEL!!!! Feedback, and I don't care what "Fix" guys want to claim they have done. Been there, done it. Dude, just get an external transducer. As far as the 101, awesome TM. My buddy has the same set up as me, same "fixes" attempted, same problems still exist.

[Steve Ericksen]

I haven't had any issues or interference with the built in sonar with my x-15, but have noticed the transducer is about 5 times louder than the external mount.

I ordered a new external transducer a few weeks ago and I'm still waiting on it.....I agree don't spend the extra money on the built in...

[Marc]

Scott D., you really can fix the interference problem you are having with the universal sonar and Minnkota Maxxum 101. Did you install the internal ground wire and install a ground from your starting battery to your trolling motor batteries? I have done this on two boats now, and get zero interference from the motor. I thought before you were having a problem with the transducer not working properly...losing the bottom?

Frankly, I love the Universal Sonar. It does have a narrow cone angle, so you will see better bottom detail, but less fish since it doesn't cover as large of an area. With the deep water fishing I often do, this is a plus. It is also great in that you don't snag weeds with the transducer, or damage it when running too shallow into rock.

[185vsfrog]

Marc, I just switched to the maxxum pro 80 with lift assist and universal sonar. I am wondering what everyone is saying about intereference issues with the universal sonar. My boat is set up from C&C marine. All I did when I switched my maxxum 74 to my maxxum pro 80 was hook up the power cable and get the universal sonar adapter for my lowrance x102c. Seems to work fine but I definitely notice that the sonar is super loud now. Should I go back to my external skimmer for stealth? I fish alot in the delta where a graph is not as important but stealth alot of times is. What are the interference issues that people are talking about?

[Ray Vanacore]

I have the same set up and did what I was told by Minn Kota and followed Marcs suggestion, and everything is working for me. I have 2 X15s with GPS Net worked. The Tranducer dont seem any louder then the external I had on. I know that if your sensitivity is set to high you will get spikes sometimes.
Ray Vanacore

[Marc]

The interference many people notice is the radio frequency that is generated by the maximizer speed control on the Maxxum series of motors.

Any motor that conserves battery power by sending pulses of electricity to the motor instead of a steady stream of electricity generates this radio frequency, which sensitive sonars will display as black marks all over your screen.

If you ever try to play an AM radio from the front deck of your boat while running your trolling motor you will hear the static from the motor everytime you depress the power button on your foot pedal.

If your boat doesn't have this problem then it was properly setup with a good ground bond between the trolling motor, your trolling motor batteries, and your starting motor battery.

Some people don't notice the interference problem until they increase the sensitivity setting on their sonar. Without manually adjusting sensitivity, the sonar unit automatically filters out the noise created by the interference, which also filters out valuable signal information that helps find bait, your lure, and even fish. With a properly setup system you can increase sensitivity to the point that you can see your dropshot worm in 65 feet of water with no problem.

[Marc]

Oops, I forgot to mention the "noise" of the transducer clicking being louder with the Universal Sonar. I need to learn more about this myself because I don't know the answer. I do know that on my first Universal Sonar, the transducer also made a much louder clicking noise than usual like you noticed...but then one day the noise level went back to what I consider a normal level. I have no idea why. Whether the noise was loud or unnoticable, the sonar worked equally well. Strange.

I was also concerned that the louder clicking would alert highly-pressured fish, and was very glad that the sound went back to normal. If it happens to me again I would play with the sensitivity setting and see if the sonar is automatically ramping up to 100% sensitivity, which may indicate that there is a problem with either the transducer or the sonar unit.

Sorry I can't help more with this issue, other than to suggest calling Minnkota about this one.

[mark poulson]

Marc,
I have anX15 on my console, and an X98 on the bow. I have to freeze the chart on my X15 when I'm fishing, or the X98 loses the bottom when I'm in 20+ feet, and then the chart goes goofey.
My friend has a 480 on the console, and a 135 on the bow, and doesn't have any interference/cross reading issues.
Is there something I can do to be able to use both at the same time?
I noticed both his units have about the same power levels, while my X15 is much more powerful than the X98. I figure that must have something to do with it, but, beyond guessing, I have no clue.
Mark (yes, I know I spell my name wrong)

[Marc]

Mark,

I think I have to punt your question to a technical advisor from Lowrance. I have to believe there is a problem with either your front meter's transducer (most likely) or the receiver portion of the sonar. You should not be losing bottom even when you get overlap in deep water.

If it was me, first I would try switching meters and seeing if the problem follows the meters. In other words, if you switch meters and the problem then is with the console unit and not the bow, then I would suspect the sonar head unit (reciever) is bad. If the problem stays with the front sonar, then you will know that the bow transducer has gotten weak from either age or internal damage. Transducers do get weak with age or having contacted bottom causing internal damage.

Let me know what you find out when you get it resolved. I would not live with this problem!

[Rob]

I had same issue with interference with MK and Lowrance. I have Max Pro 101 on new boat and in deep water screen blackout. I had internal ground put on under warranty and it took care of it, period. I understand that the internal ground is standard on new models but prior to 06 may not have. I also previous to this fix grounded the neg of TM and starting. Hope this helps.

[mark poulson]

Marc,
I'll try switching the units this Saturday, and see what that tells me.
Thanks for the idea. I'll let you know what happens.
Mark

[bozzo21]

I have the same problem with losing the bottom as well on my transducer unit. I always had the problem with the old unit and recently upgraded the console unit and put the x-15 on the bow with the same transducer from before. Now I am still having the same problem.

I'm wondering if someone could elaborate on the internal grounding stuff you all are talking about. How could I go about trying this. Is there some schematics or something online that i could look at to get some guideline to it? Or do you all think that it is the transducer and I should just start there with a new one?

Thanks

[Marc]

Bozzo21, the internal grounding wire should be installed by an Authorized Service Center since it involves taking apart the waterproof seals, and wiring incorrectly can easily burn out your speed control.

The problem of losing the bottom is unlikely to be corrected by this anyway. The grounding is to prevent interference that usually shows up as a blackening of your screen only when you depress the start button on your trolling motor pedal. Normally the bottom is still locked on even when interference blackens your screen.

I do have a pdf document the explains the grounding process that I could email, but again it sounds like you have a different problem. Losing the bottom can be the result of not having the transducer pointing straight down to the bottom, or else a failing transducer, or else a failing reciever in the sonar head unit.

Usually the problem is a failing transducer, so I always check this first. Try using another transducer with your front meter to see if the problem still exists. Switch sonars in your boat, or borrow a transducer, or move your front meter to someone else's boat that has the same transducer, etc. to determine if the problem still exists with a different transducer.

[Equipment Pros]

Like to add a note to the questions posted.
1) Motor generated interference on the Lowrance FF will be most noticible as the sensitivity is increased to say 90% or more.
The ground wire on the MK trolling motor does cure 95% of the noise induced into the Newer Lowrance Fish Finders (200khz / blue connectors). I have installed several 07 models and as yet, have not seen the above mentioned ground wire factory installed, although I did see one factory motor with spade lugs in place, but the wire had been cut out. ??? The ground wire installation should be done by a factory authorized tech. or your warranty will be voided.
2) Personally I have found that the transducer that works best for me is the HST-WSBL. I will take this over the PDT-WBL or the internal transducer. I am able to fish a 1/16oz mini jig in 70 ft. or more and see it clearly. (New Lowrance Units are Awesome.)
3) Crosstalk between fish finders on the same frequency can cause you to loose bottom contact. Set the one your not watching to stop chart. This will allow a GPS to function without the transducer crosstalk. This crosstalk is most prevalent in deeper water.
A standard 20 degree transducer in 20ft of water, covers about a 7 ft. diameter circle on the bottom.
Hope this helps.