Ive got a very strange problem. I just installed this unit and took it out for a check. 90 % of the time I get hardly any definition off the left side display. All dark no drop. Just a few spots on the left that may be something.

Its got to be something in the installation. I had this same problem on a previous same model on a different boat. This is a brand new unit. I never did figure out why the other unit was that way, I traded that boat for this one and put another 798 on this one. Ill post a picture of my display.

The motor is not blocking the transducer beam at all. Even all the way down. The transducer is mounted level in relation to the boat, It may be off a couple of degrees but that should be well with in operational tolerances. The right side reads good in all conditions. The first time this happened I traded transducers with a new one from Bass pro shop and it did the same thing.

Help :-[

dude let me know what you find out , the last three trips out I have had the same problem tried different settings and everything else I could think of.

Does any one in the Memphis area have a 798 si on there boat that shows both sides of the side scan image all the time?  I would like to meet you at the lake one day, to test my head on your transducer.  Ill pay for gas and buy ya lunch.  It'll help me.  A HB rep is helping me on the yahoo boards. 

Curiousangler, apparently you and I aren't the only ones.  Has yours always been like that or did it just start?

Have you tried lifting your motor to see if it is the problem.  Mine looks just like that till i tilt the motor up just a bit. 

Ive run it all the way up till the prop breaks the surface. No change. Ive got the transducer bolted to a pole right now. Im gonna take it to the lake in the morning and drop the transducer about 3 feet under the boat and see if that cures it.

no mine was fine in the begining, i am thinking i messed something up by beating the transducer up I am on my third mount for it, but no it just happnened like 3 trips ago

I just got back from the lake and now Im more confused than ever.

I mounted the transducer to a piece of PVC conduit. I carefully marked it so

that a line would show me, (when held next to the transom) the original

mounting depth and 1 inch increments so I would know how much deeper it need to

be if the current mounting location was wrong.

We put the boat in and headed out. Once we got out on the lake I had my son put

the transducer in up to original mounting mark. The unit performed flawlessly

at the original location, and all depths tested afterwards.

I do have one complaint though. I had the Si set to 150' per side. and the

screen was dark from about halfway on each side and outwards beyond that.

Also the internal gps will not work. All I get is "no gps position fix. I was

out there for thirty minutes in the middle of the lake and it couldn't get a

fix.

the no GPS fix just happened to me and I have an external antenna - my first time on the water with my 998 on saturday and no GPS - nor probs with my side imaging, it worked beautifully - curious that you have the same no fix issue......HB told me I need to send in the unit and the reciever for they to fix or replace - 3-5 day turn around they claim - what a bummer of a start, sorry man, they should fix the issue quickly and get us to funcitonality - hey tell them you want them to send you a mailing label pre-paid if you do have to send it in, otherwise they may try and let you pay for shipping to them - I complained about that and they are sending me a label

Did you call them?  I sent them an email Saturday and they haven't responded yet.

Called them a few times, always got through to "heidi" who was very nice and helpful so far who agreed to send me a packaging label - I am sending my unit back in for replacement.....so far they have been helpful - Ill keep you posted - I would just call them if I were you.