ff cant find bottom

yesterday i turn on the ff and launched.
it seamed like a eternity, maybe 5 mins.
the ff could not find bottom, never had problem before. water bath.i check made sure plenty of water no bubbles.
turned on and off a few times . gave up went paddling and lo and behold were reading bottom.
is there something else i could do ?

Is there a sensitivity adjustment?  Setting for salt/fresh water?  Loose connection or corrosion on the plug from the transducer?  Fresh battery charge?

Just a few ideas of what might have been the problem. 

I've had that happen once.  No rhyme or reason why.  I usually undo the fittings, both power and ducer.  Then reconnect & power on again.  There is also a 'soft reset' function that will clear any hiccups in the memory.

Bill

 
  Were you in cold water?  Maybe you were over a solid thermocline?   Or maybe in a demo mode?

I had that problem at LRC. it lasted about 30 mins. I turned it off and back on a couple of time, I even unplugged it and plugged it back in. nothing worked. then it just started working.

I had that problem at LRC. it lasted about 30 mins. I turned it off and back on a couple of time, I even unplugged it and plugged it back in. nothing worked. then it just started working.

once it started working it would lose bottom then find it,repete a few times.

I've had that happen once.  No rhyme or reason why.  I usually undo the fittings, both power and ducer.  Then reconnect & power on again.  There is also a 'soft reset' function that will clear any hiccups in the memory.

Bill

After pondering this thread, I experienced a loss of bottom while trying to learn how-to with my Elite-4 yesterday.  I was on Keswick below Shasta when it registered 20 feet of water by number but the screen showed no water below.  The water was somewhat murky.  My question is; since I was near the inflow of a stream that drains a highly polluted EPA clean-up mine site, could mineral runoff (Iron Mt. Mine site) be heavy enough to interfere with readings?  My screen cleared up as soon as I peddled upstream (uplake actually) as I cleared the inflow.

It can also happen if you are over a large bait or fish population that basically blocks the sonar from reaching the bottom.  Sometimes all it takes is to change frequencies.  As for water type... It can play a role in ability to reach bottom.  Clearer, colder water gives best readings I believe.

bill
how about bone chilling cold 20 deg
it crossed my mind that the wet bath was icing over.

Maybe but they use these for ice fishing so ????