Airmar 109 with FCV-295

[TrudiD]

Boat: Hoku Radon 26 Ft, Transducer is a thru hull Airmar 109 paired with FCV-295. Based in Hawaii. Usually fish rough water.
Have been using on default setting for a while with minimum results knowing the potential is much greater. Want to target Onaga (Flametail) snappers between 100-160 fathoms when bottom fishing and Tuna in the 40 fathom range so looking for a mix of two for optimal settings.
First would be setup XCDR menu, currently have HF not connected with LF connected & 82khz selected/82b-35r.
Should I select manual? If so what do I plug in for HF connection, Freq, Tranducer, Tap, Freq & Band with?
Same with Low Connection, Freq, Transducer, Tap, Freq& Band with.
What do I select for TX power?
How would I use 2kw for Lower frequency & 1kw for Higher frequency?
Will use Demo mode to adjust gain & clutter once I get settings correct. As of right now I feel like I get a lot of false readings/ can’t determine what I am looking at.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. As of right now my FCV-295 is producing minimal results.

 

[Johnny Electron]

Nice hull. Sounder config is very much like taste of ice cream, it is very individual in taste. The photos provided has an advance rate of 4/1 really changing the screen and targets. You might get some photos at different depths at a normal 1/1 advance for @Deep Blue to look over.

 

[Deep Blue]

TrudiD,

While both the FCV-295 and FCV-1150 are not “CHIRP” sounders, but you can set the R109LH’s High and Low frequencies manually at an optimum starting point and then adjust it manually within the set bandwidth from the menu.

Please note that the FCV-295 and FCV-1150 have three frequency ranges that are LOCKED OUT and are not selectable. Those frequencies are 53-65kHz, 111-139kHz, and 171-183kHz. Also note that you do NOT connect the transducer’s Orange TID Wire.

For use with the R109LH, you must set the FCV295's TAP Settings as follows: LF for TAP-"B" and HF for TAP-"C"

You then can set the FCV295’s for 35kHz for the Low Frequency, and then set 142-145kHz on the High Frequency for your depth fishery ranges. You may need to adjust accordingly, but start with 142-145kHz first.

For settings for the FCV295, I recommend the following:
Picture Advance: "1/1"
Bottom Range Shift Area: Set to the operating water depth that you are fishing.
Color Erase: "0"
Interference Rejection: Usually set this to "OFF". However, if there are signs of interference, then you'll need to adjust accordingly, but start with "OFF" first, then try "Medium", and if these is still interference present then use "High"
High Frequency TVG: "5" Keep in mind, less is more when using this setting.
Low Frequency TVG: "5" Again, with this setting less is more...
Clutter: "0" This is where I start out slowly by adjusting this setting until the background noise starts to go away. Most of the time, this setting can be somewhere between "10-20", but sometimes it can go as high as "30".
White Line: "OFF". Only use this feature if you are bottom fishing.
Transmit Rate Mode: "MANUAL"
Transmit Rate: "20"
I like to select a "BLACK" Background, this will help bring out any of those weaker fish targets in the background.

- Deep Blue