Understanding Noise Reject on Garmin LiveScope LVS32 and LVS34
Noise Reject is one of the key settings on Garmin LiveScope that helps clean up your screen by filtering out interference. While it can make your image look smoother, setting it too high can also remove valuable details. Knowing when and how to adjust Noise Reject will help you maintain a balance between a clean display and retaining important sonar returns.
What Does Noise Reject Do?
Noise Reject is a filter that reduces unwanted clutter from various sources, including:
- Trolling Motor Interference: Electrical noise from the motor can create horizontal lines or distortion.
- Other Sonars Nearby: If multiple transducers are pinging in the same area, their signals can interfere with each other.
- Water Particulates & Debris: Mud, algae, and floating debris can cause extra noise on the screen.
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Filters Clutter: Running other settings like Color Gain and Gain higher can cause clutter. Certain color palettes will show clutter more than others, noise reject filters this clutter.
By adjusting Noise Reject, you can clean up the image and remove false returns that don’t represent fish or structure.
Noise Reject Settings: Finding the Balance
Garmin provides multiple Noise Reject levels, each affecting how aggressively the filter removes interference:
- Off: No filtering applied. Best when you want the most real-time feedback and aren't experiencing interference.
- Low: Reduces mild interference while keeping most details intact.
- Medium: A good balance that removes more noise while still showing key details like fish and bait.
- High: Aggressively filters interference but can also cause a delay in your sonar returns and remove real targets.
When Should You Adjust Noise Reject?
Noise Reject should be adjusted based on the conditions you’re fishing in and the type of feedback you want from your LiveScope:
- Use Low or Off in Clear Water: If you aren’t dealing with interference, turning Noise Reject off gives you the most raw data with no delay.
- Increase It When Facing Heavy Interference: If you're getting a lot of screen clutter from trolling motor noise or other sonars, try Medium or High.
- Avoid High Unless Necessary: The High setting smooths the image, but it introduces a delay and can filter out small fish, bait, and even your lure.
The Trade-Off: Cleaner Image vs. Real-Time Accuracy
While Noise Reject makes your image look cleaner, there’s a downside to using it too aggressively:
- More Filtering = More Delay: A high setting smooths the image by averaging multiple sonar returns. This can make the screen look nicer but introduces lag, meaning fast-moving fish or your lure might not appear exactly where they are in real time.
- Can Hide Small Returns: Baitfish, small game fish, or soft returns near structure can get filtered out, making it harder to track them.
Practical Tips for Adjusting Noise Reject
- Start at Low or Off: Only increase if interference is an issue.
- Check Your Cables & Transducer Placement: If you're seeing interference, it might be a wiring issue rather than something Noise Reject needs to fix.
- Use High Only When Necessary: If screen clutter is overwhelming, try Medium first before moving to High.
- Test While Moving & Stationary: Noise Reject affects returns differently depending on whether you're moving or sitting still. Adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Noise Reject is a great tool for improving screen clarity, but it’s not a fix-all. Keeping it as low as possible ensures you don’t lose valuable sonar returns. If your image is too cluttered, try adjusting Gain, Color Limit, or even repositioning your transducer before cranking Noise Reject to High.
