In this article, you will learn how to adjust DownScan display settings, choose the most suitable color palette, and optimize the DownScan view for easier interpretation of underwater structure.
Opening DownScan Settings
Once the DownScan UnderVision module is installed and your Deeper Quest is powered on and connected to its Wi-Fi network, you can access the available DownScan settings:
Open the Fish Deeper app.
Tap the Settings icon.
Select DownScan as the sonar mode.
From here, you can adjust the available DownScan settings, including:
Sensitivity
Color Palette
Show toggle button on sonar data screen
Depth Alarm
Sensitivity
Sensitivity controls how much sonar information is displayed on the DownScan screen.
Increasing sensitivity reveals weaker sonar returns and finer underwater details, while reducing sensitivity filters out weaker echoes for a cleaner image.
Use lower sensitivity when:
Scanning in shallow water.
The display contains excessive noise.
You want a cleaner view of the bottom.
Increase sensitivity when:
Scanning deeper water.
Looking for small underwater details.
Identifying vegetation, branches, or submerged objects.
More bottom detail is required.
There is no single correct sensitivity setting. Adjust it according to the water conditions and the amount of detail you want to see.
Color Palettes
DownScan offers three color palettes:
Classic
Day
Night
Each palette displays the same sonar information. The difference is only how sonar returns are visualized, allowing you to choose the display that is easiest for you to interpret.
Classic
The Classic palette is the default DownScan color palette and is based on the color scheme commonly used by traditional boat sonars.
It provides excellent contrast between the water column, bottom, and underwater objects, making it easy to distinguish changes in underwater structure.
As with the other palettes, brighter and more vivid colors indicate stronger sonar returns, which are typically produced by harder or larger objects. Softer bottoms, vegetation, and weaker sonar returns appear in darker shades.
Day
The Day palette uses a light background for improved visibility in bright conditions.
The interpretation of sonar returns follows the same principle as the Classic palette. Stronger sonar reflections appear brighter and more vivid, while weaker reflections appear darker. This makes it easier to distinguish changes in bottom composition and underwater structure, especially in bright daylight.
Night
The Night palette is designed for fishing in low-light conditions and uses inverted colors compared to the Day palette.
Although the appearance changes, the interpretation remains the same. Strong sonar returns are displayed with more vivid colors, while weaker returns appear less intense. The darker background also helps reduce screen brightness during evening or night fishing.
Choosing a Color Palette
There is no universally "best" color palette. Each palette displays the same sonar information - the only difference is how it is presented.
Choose the palette that is easiest for you to interpret based on:
Ambient lighting.
Screen brightness.
Personal preference.
You can switch between palettes at any time without affecting the sonar data being displayed.
Show Toggle Button on Sonar Data Screen
When enabled, a DownScan toggle button is displayed directly on the sonar screen.
The toggle button allows you to quickly switch between CHIRP and DownScan without opening the Settings menu, making it easy to change sonar modes as fishing conditions or your scanning needs change.
For example, you can use CHIRP to search for fish and then switch to DownScan to inspect underwater structure, identify bottom features, or find a suitable location for bait placement.
Recommended Starting Settings
The following settings provide a good starting point for most fishing situations.
Setting | Recommendation |
Sensitivity | Start around 50-70% and adjust according to water conditions and the amount of detail you want to see. |
Color Palette | Choose the palette that you find easiest to interpret. |
Show Toggle Button | Enabled, for quick switching between CHIRP and DownScan. |
Depth Alarm | Optional, depending on your fishing conditions and personal preference. |
As you become more familiar with DownScan, you may find that different settings work better depending on lighting conditions, water clarity, depth, and the type of underwater structure you are scanning.