Standard Configuration

I just purchased my first fishfinder Humminbird 899 SI with a bow 859 DI. Unfamiliar with both units could somebody help me with a standard configuration with all the different settings. I do have the manuals but there is a lot to understand. I was hoping I could start fishing with the units and change the settings as I become more familiar with each setting. I just need some standard advice and screen views. Thanks

Check out You tube there is several videos that show settings, and adjustments, for these units.

My 899 seemed to be pretty much hook up and play. Hit the view button to scroll through the different screens to you get to the one you want to see. 4 white round buttons are for saving short cuts to the screens you use the most. Think when you get to a screen you want to use often just hold down one of the white buttons to save the short cut.

Mines pretty new so havent got much farther into it than that. To busy fishing.

Mike, yes the units do work however there many settings i.e. sensitivity that needs to be set however what is the standard setting that everybody tends to use? Fish ID, clutter, etc. Granted I can watch many hours of You Tube videos for other types of units but i want to fish now with these units using some type of standard settings. Can you help me out. Thanks

Like said mine was pretty much plug and play. Didnt really mess with the settings. Scrolled through the screens to find what I wanted to see and go.

My front unit did have some issues with trying to use the transducer on the terrova. Gave up on that and hooked it back into the transducer it came with on the rear of the boat. Nice to have the down imagining on it.

Maybe later on this summer Ill spend some more time getting familiar with the advanced settings on the side imaging. Never been a real big electronics guy. Would much rather fish than push buttons.

Here are the settings I use. These are a combination of what Doug Vehrenberg has in his YouTube videos and things picked up at various seminars. These setting are what i use for an 898 and 858 unit. May not be best for you but it is a starting point.

When loading new software Menu, Menu – Navigation
Export All Nav Data – Saves all waypoints, tracks etc. to SD card
Menu, Menu Setup – Restore Defaults
Load SD card with updates into unit and power on – Follow on screen instructions
Load SD card with Nav Data – it will be automatically loaded

Sonar settings – Si, Di and 2D – Menu, Menu Sonar
1) Dual Beam – 200/83 kHz – 200kHz is 20 degree cone, 83kHz 10 ft depth= 10 ft coverage
2) Side View frequency
455 KHz gives 180 degree coverage (most of time use this)
800 KHz gives about 110 degree coverage (Use to focus in a specific thing like a tree)
3) Imaging Frequency – 455kHz for most things
4) SwitchFire – Max Mode
5) Fish Id – off
6) RTS Window – Narrow
7) Max Depth – set twice the lake max depth
8) Down Imaging Beam Width – Narrow shows right below the boat, wide shows max coverage

Chart Menu – Press Menu, Menu – Chart
1) Water Level Offset – go to a flat on the lake and adjust
2) Depth Highlight – Select a good depth – maybe the outside of the weed edge
3) Depth highlight range – 1 – 2 feet
4) Shallow Water highlight – 1 – 4 feet as needed

Di Settings – from DI screen press Menu once
1) DI Sensitivity – Start at 10 (default) – white dots are fish, white is also a hard bottom
Usually in the 8 – 12 range is about best depending on the lake bottom hardness
2) Chart Speed – At or slightly below boat speed
3) DI Colors – Users choice – one of the ambers works well
2D Settings – from 2D screen press Menu once
1) Sensitivity – try Auto
2) Chart Speed – max

SI Settings – from a SI screen press Menu once
1) SI Side – Both
2) SI Sensitivity – See DI Sensitivity
3) SI Enhance –
Sensitivity – same as above
Contrast – 10 adjust like a digital picture (don’t blow out highlights)
Sharpness – Low – medium – backlight off
4) SI Range – 50 – 80 ft
5) Chart Speed – At or slightly below boat speed
6) SI Colors – Use Green/Red helps distinguish between hard and soft bottom areas. User’s choice otherwise