HDS7 with structure and side scan

[Jeff Jewell]

I'm in the market for a new depth finder, a friend has the HDS7 with the structure and side scans, I like it except for the side scan portion of it, it seems like it shows the same picture out both sides, and doesn't show obvious stuff like trees in the water, now it could be operator error...is there a trick to operating and or understanding what your seeing?

[Ken Sauret]

It's mostly just getting used to what you are seeing and how to interpret the picture. A tree standing in the water will show up as a bright lightly colored stripe going up and out to the side of the screen. Behind the tree will be a dark area where there was not return from the transducer because it hit the tree. It will look like a shadow of the tree. It would be good to go find a very rocky bank so you will know there is structure on the bottom and see what it looks like on the Structure Scan. If your picture looks bland and the same on both sides then there is nothing but a smooth bottom on both sides of the boat.