04-05-2008, 11:49 PM
[crazy] I bought a new Hummingbird 343c and love it when it is warm enough to work. I was hoping some one of you had a secret. Thanks I want to use it on the ice.
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04-05-2008, 11:49 PM
04-06-2008, 12:34 AM
Leaving the back light on helps to keep them warm on cold days. Facing the screen at the sun helps too.
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04-06-2008, 03:23 AM
a couple of things I have found to work....
1. Keep your FF insulated from the cold while transporting to/from the lake. I have mine all packaged in a coleman cooler that holds the battery, the screen, and the transducer. Usually coolers are to keep items cold in hot temps, however the reverse is also true. It will keep things warm inside when the air temps are bitter outside. I throw a couple of hand warmers in the cooler before leaving home and they keep everything toasty warm until I get to the lake to get set up. Even after I get set up, the handwarmers help keep the battery warm for longer run time.
2. Even though I have a truck with lots of room in the bed... My cooler with the FF in it always gets to ride in the cab with me and stay warm.
3. As soon as you set up your FF out in the cold turn on the backlight (display light) to its brightest setting. This will help keep the LCD screen warm.
4. And as spyder said... face the screen toward the sun.
I have fished several days on the ice when my truck temp said -31 degree's at strawberry. I have never had a problem with my FF since going with the set up I described above. If anyone needs any pics let me know and I'll shoot a couple.
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1. Keep your FF insulated from the cold while transporting to/from the lake. I have mine all packaged in a coleman cooler that holds the battery, the screen, and the transducer. Usually coolers are to keep items cold in hot temps, however the reverse is also true. It will keep things warm inside when the air temps are bitter outside. I throw a couple of hand warmers in the cooler before leaving home and they keep everything toasty warm until I get to the lake to get set up. Even after I get set up, the handwarmers help keep the battery warm for longer run time.
2. Even though I have a truck with lots of room in the bed... My cooler with the FF in it always gets to ride in the cab with me and stay warm.
3. As soon as you set up your FF out in the cold turn on the backlight (display light) to its brightest setting. This will help keep the LCD screen warm.
4. And as spyder said... face the screen toward the sun.
I have fished several days on the ice when my truck temp said -31 degree's at strawberry. I have never had a problem with my FF since going with the set up I described above. If anyone needs any pics let me know and I'll shoot a couple.
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04-06-2008, 01:15 PM
Same set-up for me. A small lunch size cooler holds the FF, Battery and Transducer plus a few pieces of PVC for the transducer bracket.
I also use a couple hand warmers. Most important, as stated above, The FF spends the night before fishing inside the house, gets a warmer in the morning and rides in the cab of the truck to and from the lake. Once I set up at the lake I drape one of the hand warmer thingies over the top of the unit, not blocking the screen.
If it's -31 at the ramp, I know that I will be setting up the tent and heater and I'll have it up to at least 50 in the tent, and the heater and FF sit next to each other.
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I also use a couple hand warmers. Most important, as stated above, The FF spends the night before fishing inside the house, gets a warmer in the morning and rides in the cab of the truck to and from the lake. Once I set up at the lake I drape one of the hand warmer thingies over the top of the unit, not blocking the screen.
If it's -31 at the ramp, I know that I will be setting up the tent and heater and I'll have it up to at least 50 in the tent, and the heater and FF sit next to each other.
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04-06-2008, 03:16 PM
[cool] Thanks for the advice. I have mine in a cooler but it rode in the back of truck and no hand warmers. Now I can't wait to try it again. I guess it's scofield for me. I hate to see the ice fishing go but I love to see the summer fishing come. Oh well, I'm just hooked on fishing and gardnering. What can I do but fish and play in my garden? Good fishing to all you BFTers out there. And thanks again.
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04-06-2008, 03:56 PM
Just turn it on before you leave home, it will be good and warm before you get to the lake. Never leave it in the freezing cold out side overnight, like in your truck or boat.[cool]
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04-06-2008, 04:40 PM
Don't buy a hummingbird.....
I have owned many "fish finders" and the best I know of is Lowrence they work in cooled and hot and all inbetween...
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I have owned many "fish finders" and the best I know of is Lowrence they work in cooled and hot and all inbetween...
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04-06-2008, 05:30 PM
Don't turn it on before you go! The transducer is designed to be used in water. A little once in a while might not be a bad thing, but I wouldn't run one for any extended period of time without it being in the water.
CB radios, and ham radios are also negatively affected by running them without an antenna.
Fishrmn
CB radios, and ham radios are also negatively affected by running them without an antenna.
Fishrmn
04-06-2008, 05:44 PM
Say what??? I've run mine out of the water for hours and hours. On cold nights, I leave it on all night! On "cooler", slightly below freezing mornings, I turn it on before I head to the lake. I've never heard anything that says running a transducer out of water causes any damage to the transducer or the unit itself. Lowrance techs told me to run it many years ago!
Radios can be affected by not having the antenna plugged in. However, when a sonar is running, the transducer IS plugged in, or should be to do any good and activate the pixels.
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Radios can be affected by not having the antenna plugged in. However, when a sonar is running, the transducer IS plugged in, or should be to do any good and activate the pixels.
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04-06-2008, 11:01 PM
You're still running a transceiver in a detuned state. I'll choose not to, thanks. Now, if you've got a demonstration mode, or screen, then the unit is probably designed to run without a transducer, or without sending a signal through it while in the "demo" mode.
I've never had a problem keeping the fish finder in the cab of the truck while driving. And then turning the backlight on when I power it up. If you've run yours out of the water without problems, so be it. I won't.
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I've never had a problem keeping the fish finder in the cab of the truck while driving. And then turning the backlight on when I power it up. If you've run yours out of the water without problems, so be it. I won't.
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