Are you getting interference from several transducers with the same frequency close to each other?.Is it correctly oriented? Most models need to be precisely oriented towards the bottom, and will not work properly if bent in a different direction.Is it installed correctly (as specified in the user manual)?.If you observe one of these issues on your fish finder, the next step is to inspect your transducer for the following problems: Display shows erratic readings (especially when the boat speeds up).Display shows surface reading, but no bottom reading.Here are the most common types of incorrect display readings that are caused by transducer errors: One indication that the transducer is likely to be the cause of the problem is if you get an incorrect reading on your fish finder display. If your display has a weak signal, or fails to turn on at all, it could also be due to a drained battery (in order to avoid that happening, check our review on the best fish finder battery). If your depth finder is not reading correctly, there are a number of different reasons that can cause a fish finder to perform incorrectly, so the first step is to get an idea where the problem is coming from.įish finders consist of two main parts: the transducer, and the display/processor unit (for more details, take a look at our article on how does a fish finder work). If all of this looks good, and you’re still not sure what is causing the problem, swap either the transducer or the main unit and test again, which should give you an unequivocal answer. Also check that the connection to the main unit is undamaged.
Next, check that it is positioned correctly, with the right orientation towards the bottom. If you find dirt or barnacles, clean it gently. So how can you tell if the transducer is bad?įirst of all, check the transducer for damage or dirt on its surface. If your fish finder isn’t performing as it should, one possibility you need to consider is that the transducer isn’t working properly.
How To Tell If Your Fish Finder Transducer Is Working (And How To Troubleshoot Common Problems)įish finders greatly improve your chances of catching fish, but unfortunately they don’t always work correctly.