Garmin LiveScope Troubleshooting Guide: Fixing a Rocking Image
If your Garmin LiveScope screen is rocking or tilting back and forth, even in calm water, the issue is usually caused by AHRS (Attitude Heading Reference System) miscalibrating or malfunctioning. AHRS is responsible for stabilizing your sonar image, but if it’s off, your screen may constantly shift, making it difficult to track fish and structure.
The first step to fixing this issue is to recalibrate the compass, which resets AHRS. If the problem persists, you may need to turn AHRS off and manually adjust Pitch Angle.
Step 1: Recalibrate the Compass to Reset AHRS
Compass calibration resets AHRS and stabilizes the sonar image. If LiveScope is tilting or shifting, this should be the first fix to try.
How to Calibrate the Compass on Garmin LiveScope
- Press the Home button on your Garmin unit.
- Go to Settings > Sonar Setup > Installation > Calibrate Compass.
- Select “Start Calibration.”
- Rotate the boat in a full 360-degree circle on the water.
- Continue rotating slowly until the calibration completes automatically.
💡 Tip: You must be on the water for this calibration to work properly—performing it while docked may not be effective.
This process resets AHRS and stabilizes the screen, preventing the sonar image from shifting unnaturally. In most cases, this will immediately fix the rocking issue.
Step 2: Turn Off AHRS & Adjust Pitch Angle Manually (If Needed)
If compass calibration does not fix the issue, the AHRS may still be malfunctioning. You have two options:
- Call Garmin Support for additional troubleshooting.
- Turn off AHRS and manually adjust Pitch Angle.
How to Turn Off AHRS & Adjust Pitch Angle
- Go to Settings > Sonar Setup > Installation.
- Turn AHRS (Stabilization) OFF.
- Manually adjust Pitch Angle until the bottom appears level on your screen.
This method stabilizes your LiveScope image in calm water but does not adjust for movement in waves like AHRS normally does.
Step 3: Check for Physical Mounting Issues
If the problem persists even after calibrating the compass and turning off AHRS, check the transducer mounting:
- Ensure the transducer is mounted securely and is not shifting while on the water.
- Make sure cables are routed away from interference sources (such as trolling motor power cables).
- Verify that the transducer is installed in the correct orientation for Forward, Down, or Perspective Mode.
Final Thoughts
If your LiveScope screen is rocking or tilting, always start by calibrating the compass, which resets AHRS. This usually fixes the issue immediately.
If the problem persists, turn off AHRS and manually adjust Pitch Angle to stabilize the image in calm water. Just note that turning off AHRS means you won’t get automatic stabilization in waves.
