www.eaglesonar.com
Pub. 988-0156-041
FishElite 500C and
SeaCharter 500CDF
Fish-finding Sonars & Mapping GPS
Installation and Operation
Instructions
Copyright © 2004 LEI-Eagle
All rights reserved.
No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished,
transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written
consent of Eagle Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial
distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.
®
Eagle
trademarks of LEI. MapCreate, FreedomMaps, IMS and
NauticPaths are trademarks of LEI. Fishing Hot Spots
registered trademark of Fishing Hot Spots Inc. Navionics
, FishElite 500C and SeaCharter 500CDF are registered
is a
is a
registered trademark of Navionics, Inc.
eXitSource Database, copyright 2001-2003 Zenrin Co.
Ltd. Exit Authority and eXitSource are trademarks of
Zenrin Co. Ltd.
Eagle Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our policies,
regulations, and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so
without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without
notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. On the cover:
SeaCharter 500CDF shown. Other models covered in the manual are
similar.
For free owner's manuals and the most current information on
this product, its operation and accessories,
visit our web site:
www.eaglesonar.com
Eagle Electronics
P.O. Box 669
Catoosa, OK USA 74015
Printed in USA.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Read Me First!......................................................... 1
Capabilities and Specifications:
FishElite
How Eagle Sonar Works............................................................... 5
How Eagle GPS Works ................................................................. 6
Introduction to GPS and WAAS................................................... 8
How to use this manual: typographical conventions ................ 11
Section 2: Installation & Accessories..................................15
Preparations................................................................................ 15
Transducer Installation.............................................................. 15
Selecting a Transducer Location............................................ 16
How Low Should You Go?....................................................... 17
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 18
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 19
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation....................................... 24
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 25
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation and Installation ..................... 26
Speed/Temperature Sensors....................................................... 29
Power Connections...................................................................... 32
Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable .................... 33
GPS Antenna/Receiver Module Installation.............................. 37
NMEA Cable Connections .......................................................... 38
NMEA Wiring ......................................................................... 38
MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation ............................ 38
Other Accessories........................................................................ 39
Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation ........................................ 41
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 41
Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 42
Main Menu .................................................................................. 42
Pages ........................................................................................... 44
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 44
Navigation Page...................................................................... 45
Map Page................................................................................. 45
Sonar Page .............................................................................. 46
Basic Sonar Quick Reference ............................................... 49
Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 50
Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 52
Section 4: Sonar Options & Other Features ...................... 53
ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ..................................... 53
Alarms ......................................................................................... 54
Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 54
Zone Alarm .............................................................................. 55
500C and SeaCharter 500CDF ................................. 3
i
Fish Alarm............................................................................... 56
Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 57
Chart Speed................................................................................. 58
ColorLine.................................................................................. 59
Customize Page Displays ........................................................... 60
Depth Cursor............................................................................... 61
Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 62
Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 63
FasTrack .................................................................................. 63
Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 64
FishTrack ................................................................................. 65
Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency) .............................66
HyperScroll .............................................................................. 67
Log Sonar Chart Data ................................................................ 67
Noise Rejection............................................................................ 68
Overlay Data ............................................................................... 68
Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 72
Reset Options .............................................................................. 73
Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 74
Set Keel Offset ............................................................................74
Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 75
To turn Auto Sensitivity back on: ..........................................76
Sonar Chart Mode (change chart color scheme)........................ 77
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 77
Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 77
Split Zoom Sonar Chart.......................................................... 78
Digital Data............................................................................. 79
Map With Sonar Split Screen................................................. 81
Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 81
Stop Chart ................................................................................... 83
Surface Clarity............................................................................ 84
Zoom & Zoom Bar ....................................................................... 85
Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 86
Section 5: Sonar Troubleshooting .......................................87
Section 6: Basic GPS Operations ......................................... 91
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 91
Power/lights (Turn Unit On and Off)......................................... 92
Main Menu .................................................................................. 92
Pages ........................................................................................... 94
Sonar Page .............................................................................. 94
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 94
Navigation Page...................................................................... 96
Map Page................................................................................. 98
ii
Background map vs. MapCreate map content ................ 100
Resize Window command ..................................................... 102
Basic GPS Quick Reference ................................................ 104
Find Your Current Position...................................................... 105
Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ........... 105
Selecting Any Map Item With the Cursor ............................... 106
Searching................................................................................... 106
Set a Waypoint.......................................................................... 109
Create Waypoint at Current Position .............................. 109
Create Waypoint on Map .................................................. 110
Create Waypoint by Entering a Position ......................... 110
Navigate To a Waypoint ........................................................... 111
Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint...................................... 112
Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint ............................................ 112
Navigate to Cursor Position on Map........................................ 113
Navigate to a Point of Interest................................................. 115
Creating and Saving a Trail..................................................... 115
Displaying a Saved Trail .......................................................... 117
Navigating Trails...................................................................... 117
Visual Trailing ...................................................................... 118
Navigate a Trail (forward).................................................... 118
Navigate a Back Trail (backtrack, or reverse)..................... 120
Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ........................... 121
Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 123
Section 7: Advanced GPS Operations ............................... 125
Find Distance From Current Position To Another Location .. 125
Find Distance From Point to Point .......................................... 125
Icons........................................................................................... 126
Create Icon on Map............................................................... 126
Create Icon at Current Position ........................................... 126
Delete an Icon ....................................................................... 127
Navigate to an Icon............................................................... 127
Routes........................................................................................ 128
Create and Save a Route ......................................................128
Delete a Route ....................................................................... 131
Edit a Route Name................................................................ 131
Edit Route Waypoints........................................................... 131
Navigate a Route................................................................... 132
Navigate a Route in Reverse ................................................ 133
Trails ......................................................................................... 134
Delete a Trail ........................................................................ 134
Edit a Trail Name ................................................................. 134
Edit a Trail Color .................................................................. 135
iii
Edit a Trail Pattern .............................................................. 135
Utilities...................................................................................... 136
Alarm Clock........................................................................... 136
Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator.......................................... 136
Trip Calculator...................................................................... 136
Trip Down Timer................................................................... 136
Trip Up Timer ....................................................................... 136
Waypoints.................................................................................. 136
Delete a Waypoint................................................................. 136
Edit a Waypoint (Name, Symbol, Position) ......................... 137
Selecting a Waypoint ............................................................ 137
Set a Waypoint by Average Position .................................... 138
Set a Waypoint by Projecting a Position.............................. 138
Section 8: System & GPS Setup Options .......................... 139
Alarms ....................................................................................... 139
Check MMC Files and Storage Space...................................... 140
Communications Port Configuration ....................................... 140
Configure NMEA ...................................................................... 141
Coordinate System Selection.................................................... 142
To setup Loran TD: ............................................................... 143
Map Fix ..................................................................................... 144
Customize Page Displays ......................................................... 145
GPS Simulator .......................................................................... 145
Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ................................. 146
Hide GPS Features ................................................................... 147
Initialize GPS............................................................................ 147
Map Auto Zoom......................................................................... 147
Map Data................................................................................... 148
Show Map Data..................................................................... 148
Pop-up Map Information ...................................................... 148
Map Boundaries .................................................................... 149
Fill Water With White .......................................................... 149
Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ...................... 149
Map Datum Selection ............................................................... 150
Map Detail Category Selection................................................. 150
Map Orientation ....................................................................... 151
Navionics
Charts..................................................................... 152
Display a Navionics chart:.................................................... 152
Port Information ...................................................................153
Tidal Current Information ................................................... 154
Tide Information ................................................................... 156
Pop-up Help............................................................................... 158
Reset Options ............................................................................ 158
iv
Require WAAS .......................................................................... 159
Screen Contrast and Brightness .............................................. 159
Set Language ............................................................................ 160
Set Local Time .......................................................................... 161
Show WAAS Alarm................................................................... 161
Software Version Information.................................................. 162
Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.............................................. 162
Track Smoothing....................................................................... 163
Trail Options ............................................................................. 164
Delete All Trails .................................................................... 164
Update Trail Options ............................................................ 164
Delete Trail ........................................................................... 166
New Trail............................................................................... 166
Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 166
Transparency ............................................................................ 166
Units of Measure....................................................................... 167
Section 9: Searching .............................................................169
Find Addresses.......................................................................... 170
Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor .................................. 173
Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 173
Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ...........................176
Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 178
Find Waypoints......................................................................... 182
Section 10: Supplemental Material ...................................185
v
A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD
TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION.
WARNING!
When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show
the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the
waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not
only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a waypoint, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint
is always available.
When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators
must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or flying conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage
to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a
GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and
vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion.
CAUTION
WARNING!
vi
Section 1: Read Me First!
How this manual can get you out on the road, fast!
Welcome to the exciting world of digital sonar and GPS! We know
you're anxious to begin navigating and finding fish, but we have a favor
to ask. Before you grab the unit and begin installing it, please give us a
moment or two to explain how our manual can help you get the best
performance from your compact, color display, combination fish finder
and mapping GPS receiver.
First, we want to thank you for buying a Eagle sonar/GPS unit.
Whether you're a first time user or a professional fisherman, you'll discover that your unit is easy to use, yet capable of handling demanding
navigation and sonar tasks. When you team your unit with our custom
mapping software MapCreate 6, you have an incredible combination.
You won't find another combination GPS and sonar unit with this much
power and this many features for this price!
Our goal for this book is to get you on the water fast, with a minimum
of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time boating or fishing and
less time reading the manual!
So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing
from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of
each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a
concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to
skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look
up any tips you may need from time to time. Here's how:
The manual is organized into 10 sections. This first section is an introduction to the FishElite
GPS. It tells you the basics you need to know before you can make the
unit look around and tell you where you are, or look below the surface
to find some fish.
Section 2 will help you install your unit, the transducer and the GPS
antenna module. We'll show you how to get the MultiMedia Card
(MMC) correctly installed inside the unit. We'll also tell you about some
of the available accessories.
Section 3 covers Basic Sonar Operation. It will show you how easy it is
to run your unit, right out of the box. This section features a one-page
Sonar Quick Reference. (If you've already jumped ahead and fig-
ured out how to install the unit yourself, and you just can't wait
any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 49 and head
500C or SeaCharter 500CDF, sonar and
1
for the water with your unit!)
After you've gained some experience with your sonar, you'll want to
check out Section 4, which discusses more advanced Sonar Options and
Other Features.
When you come to a sonar menu command on the unit's screen, you can
look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents, just flipping through Section 3 or scanning through the sonar options in Section 4.
If you're having difficulty with your sonar, you can find an answer to
the most common problems in Section 5, Sonar Troubleshooting.
The manual switches from sonar to navigation in Section 6, which introduces you to Basic GPS Operations. This section features a one-
page GPS Quick Reference on page 104.
Section 6 contains short, easy-to-scan GPS lessons that follow one another in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to find your
way on the water quickly.
After you've learned the basics (or if you already have some GPS experience), you may want to try out some of the unit's many advanced
navigation features. That brings us to Section 7, Advanced GPS Opera-
tions. This section contains the rest of the unit's GPS command functions, organized in alphabetical order.
When you come to a GPS menu command on the screen, you can look it
up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents, just flipping
through Section 6 or scanning through the command portion of Section 7.
This unit is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and
customize it's operation with dozens of options. Since sonar is the unit's
key feature, we put the main sonar options in Section 4. Some options,
such as screen brightness settings, affect both sonar and GPS operations. We describe how to use those common options along with GPS
options in Section 8, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. Section 8 is
organized in alphabetical order.
In Section 9, we go into more detail on one of the unit's most remarkable
GPS capabilities — Searching. We'll introduce a search example in the Basic GPS Operation section, but there are so many map items you can
search for, we had to give this function it's own section in the manual! For
example, did you know this unit can look up business phone numbers,
functioning as a virtual Yellow Pages? We’ll show you how in Section 9.
Finally, in Section 10, we offer Supplemental Material, including a list
2
of the GPS datums used, warranties and customer service information.
Now, if you're into the fine details, glance over the next segment on
specifications to see just how much sonar and GPS power your unit contains. It's important to us (and our power users), but, if you don't care
how many watts of power the unit has, or how many waypoints it can
store, skip ahead to important information on how the sonar works, on
page 5. (Background on GPS begins on page 6.)
Capabilities and Specifications: FishElite 500C and SeaCharter 500CDF
General
Display:............................ 5.0" (12.7 cm) diagonal color TFT LCD; pro-
grammable to viewing preference.
Resolution:...................... 320 pixel x 240 pixel resolution; 76,800 total
pixels.
Backlighting:.................. Backlit screen and keypad with multiple
lighting levels for night use.
Input power:................... 10 to 15 volts DC.
Case size:......................... 5.4" H x 6.9" W x 3.4" D (13.8 x 17.6 x 8.6
cm); sealed and waterproof; suitable for
saltwater use.
Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar records for
decades.
Languages:...................... 10; menu languages selectable by user.
Sonar
Frequency:...................... 50/200 kHz for SeaCharter 500CDF; 200 kHz
for FishElite 500C.
Transducers: .................. A dual-frequency Skimmer
transducer with
built-in temperature sensor is packed with
the SeaCharter 500CDF. It has 35°/12° cone
angles. A single-frequency Skimmer transducer with built-in temperature sensor is
packed with the FishElite 500C. It has a 20°
cone angle. Transducers operate at speeds up
to 70 mph (61 kts)
Watts: ............................... 1,500 watts peak-to-peak/188 watt RMS.
Sonar sounding
depth capability: ........... SeaCharter 500CDF: 1,500 feet (450 me-
ters). FishElite 500C: 800 feet (244 meters).
Actual capability depends on transducer con-
3
figuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar units
typically read deeper in fresh water than in
salt water.
Depth display:................ Continuous display .
Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish/zone.
Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates.
Auto bottom track:........ Yes.
Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes.
Split-screen zoom:......... Yes.
Surface water temp: ..... Yes.
Speed/distance log:...... Optional (requires optional speed sensor).
GPS
MMC slots: ...................... One with waterproof door (SD card
compatible).
Recording:........................ MMC & SD cards for recording GPS trip de-
tails and displaying charts or custom maps.
GPS
Receiver/antenna: ......... External; EGC-12w 12 parallel channel
GPS/WAAS.
Background map:.......... Built-in custom, detailed Eagle map. Con-
tains: enhanced detail of continental U.S.
and Hawaii. Includes more than 60,000 nav
aids and 10,000 wrecks/obstructions in
coastal and Great Lakes waters. Metro
areas, selected major streets/highways and
interstate exit services details included.
Custom mapping: .......... MapCreate
6 software optional; optional
plug and play LEI FreedomMaps offer the
same high-detail without the computer work
of MapCreate. Other plug and play mapping
options include IMS Fishing Hot Spots
LEI NauticPaths charts and Navionics
charts.
Mapping memory: ......... Up to 1 gigabyte on one MMC (or SD) card.
Position updates: .......... Every second.
Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons.
,
4
Audible alarms: ............. Arrival/off-course/anchor.
Graphic symbols for
waypoints or event
marker icons: ................. 42.
Routes:............................. 100, up to 100 waypoints per route.
Plot Trails: ...................... 10 savable; up to 10,000 points per trail.
Zoom range:.................... 40 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles.
NOTE:
The above memory capacities refer only to the unit’s on-board memory. The amount of GPS data you can record and save for recall later
is limited only by the number of MMC cards you have.
NOTICE!
The storage temperature range for your FishElite 500C and SeaCharter
500CDF is from -4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to
+75 degrees Celsius). Extended storage in temperatures higher or lower
than specified will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This
type of damage is not covered by the warranty. For more information,
contact the factory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers are
listed on the last page of this manual.
How Eagle Sonar Works
Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it
works, skip down to read about the relatively new technology of GPS.
But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you
the under water basics.
Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NA
ogy developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. Eagle developed the world's first transistorized sportfishing sonar in 1957.)
A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display. In
simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish:
The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer converts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency
can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object
(fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which
converts the sound back into an electrical signal.
The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the
display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar
chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the
transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the
vigation and Ranging, a technol-
5
object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second.
Your unit can record a log of the sonar signals that scroll across the
screen and save them to the MMC memory card. (These recordings are
also called sonar charts or sonar graphs.) You can replay this sonar log
in the unit using the Sonar Simulator function, or play it back on a personal computer using our free Sonar Viewer or product emulator. The
viewer and emulator are available for download from the Eagle web
site, www.eaglesonar.com.
You can save several different sonar log files, erase 'em and record new
ones, over and over again. The size of your sonar recordings is only
limited by the free space available on your MMC.
How GPS Works
You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how the unit scans
the sky to tell you where you are on the earth – and, where you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS receivers
and the GPS navigation system, skip on ahead to Section 2, Installation
& Accessories on page 15. If you're new to GPS, read on. You can later
impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.)
First, think of your unit as a small but powerful computer. (But don't
worry — we made it easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The unit includes a keypad and a screen with
menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets the unit show
your location on a moving map, as well as point the way to your destination.
This gimbal-mounted unit uses an external antenna/receiver module,
which makes the whole system work something like your car radio. But
instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in to a couple of
dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. (It will also listen in to the
WAAS satellites in orbit, but more about that in the upcoming segment
introducing you to GPS and WAAS.)
Your unit listens to signals from as many satellites as it can "see" above
the horizon, eliminates the weakest signals, then computes its location
in relation to those satellites. Once the unit figures its latitude and longitude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen.
The whole process takes place several times a second!
The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory
of each unit is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in
here at the factory — you can't change or erase this map.
The background map is suitable for many navigation chores, but for
maximum accuracy and much more detail, you need our optional map-
6
making software, MapCreate 6. Some unit features — such as
searching for businesses and addresses — won't work without a custom
MapCreate map. There is so much detail in our background map (and
even more in MapCreate) that we'll describe their contents and differences in Section 3, Basic GPS Operations, on page 100.
Another portion of the SeaCharter 500CDF’s onboard memory is devoted
to recording GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event
marker icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came.
Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or a
tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS data
files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. Like any computer file, these GPS Data Files (file format *.usr) can be shared between Eagle GPS or sonar/GPS units or even personal computers.
This unit has one more thing in common with a personal computer. Just
as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging files,
the unit has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD card (Secure
Digital card) flash memory card. These solid-state memory devices are
about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data ranging from 8 MB
to 1 GB in size. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB capacity!) This
unit uses all that MMC space for two key GPS purposes.
First, you can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to
the MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette
tape), you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer
equipped with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of
MMCs, if you don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software
can save, edit or create its own GPS Data Files, which can be copied to the
MMC and then loaded from the MMC into the unit's memory. (NOTE: No
matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be loaded from the
MMC into memory before the unit can use them.)
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, custom maps, which you can produce on your computer with our MapCreate software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater detail than the basic background map. These Custom Map Files (file
format *.lcm) can also be shared between Eagle GPS or sonar/GPS
units and personal computers.
This unit automatically reads Custom Map Files directly from the
MMC or SD card. To use a custom map, all you need to do is slide an
MMC containing a map into the unit.
7
Introduction to GPS and WAAS
Well, now you know the basics of how the unit does its work. You might
be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories, on page
15, so you can mount your unit and plug in the power. Or you might
want to see how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials easy to
skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual" on page
11. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new companion
WAAS work together to get you where you're going.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by
the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all weather global navigation system for
the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also available at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled
the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA).
GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal government discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed
other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy
for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the
present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.)
Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth, passing
overhead twice daily. a series of ground stations (with precisely surveyed
locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact locations in the
sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identifies the satellite and its position above the earth. Three of these satellites are spares,
unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times.
A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix.
8
The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to
determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to
determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level —
also called altitude). This is called a 3D fix.
Remember, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to
receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at
very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees,
buildings, an automobile roof, even your body.
Like most GPS receivers, this unit doesn’t have a compass or any other
navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the satellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance
are all calculated from position information. Therefore, in order for unit
to determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the faster, the
better. This is not to say that it won’t work at walking or trolling
speeds — it will. There will simply be more "wandering" of the data
shown on the display.
GPS is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has special needs for aircraft traffic control that go
beyond basic GPS. The FAA has a plan under way to boost GPS performance even further with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or
WAAS. This GPS add-on will include a time control element that will
help airliners fly closer together while avoiding collisions. In addition to
carefully spacing airplanes along travel corridors, WAAS will eventually make instrument landings and takeoffs more accurate as it replaces existing aviation navigation systems.
Non-aviators can use WAAS signals to make their GPS navigation even
more accurate. Your unit receives both GPS and WAAS signals. However, WAAS has some limits you should know about.
First, the U.S. government has not completed construction of the WAAS
system, so it is not yet fully operational. The ground stations are in
place, but only a few of the needed WAAS satellites have been launched.
WAAS can boost the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is
designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the
Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground
in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consistently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large man-made
structures frequently block the WAAS signal from ground receivers.
You'll find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly
accurate. It’s easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation
9
available to the general public today. Remember, however, that this
receiver is only a tool. Always have another method of navigation available, such as a map or chart and a compass.
Also remember that this unit will always show navigation information
in the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless
of terrain! It only calculates position, it can’t know what’s between you
and your destination, for example. It’s up to you to safely navigate
around obstacles, no matter how you’re using this product.
Free Training Aids Available
Now that you know something about the technology that makes this
unit possible, you're ready to start learning how to use that technology!
This manual will guide you through the process of setting up and running your unit, but that's only one of many resources available.
If you or a friend has Internet access, visit our web site! Find us at
www.eaglesonar.com. The site is packed with additional information on
using our products. For instance, you can learn more about interpreting
what you see on your sonar screen with our free Sonar Tutorial. The
tutorial includes animated illustrations and more pictures of actual sonar returns, all described in detail. There's even a "printer friendly"
version of the tutorial available on our web …it makes a great supplement to this operation manual.
Sonar Viewer
You can also download a free copy of our Sonar Viewer software. This
PC-based software application plays back any sonar chart log recorded
with a Eagle sonar product. Features include:
• Adjustable range, zoom, sensitivity, ColorLine, noise rejection,
surface clarity, etc. of the recorded file.
• Color interpretation of sonar signals can be user defined.
• Operates like a Windows Multimedia Player with forward, re-
verse, pause, fast forward, fast reverse, and scroll buttons.
• Adjustments update the entire record displayed.
• Can print in full color.
• Window can dynamically be sized on your monitor.
• Mouse cursor shows GPS position, depth and sounding number
anywhere on the visible record.
Emulator
For the ultimate training aid, be sure to download the free emulator
software for your unit. Aside from being just plain fun, this program
10
can help you learn both basic and advanced operations without burning
boat fuel! Eagle is the first sonar manufacturer to provide this type of
training tool for customers.
This PC application simulates the actual sonar/GPS unit on your computer. You can run it from your computer keyboard or use your mouse
to press the virtual keys. Easy download and installation instructions
are available on our web site.
Free training emulator is available for your unit on our web site.
The emulator works exactly like your real sonar/GPS unit. Using the
Sonar Simulator and GPS Simulator features, it allows you to play
back sonar logs, run GPS routes and trails, even create real waypoints
you can use in the field! You can even take snapshots of the Sonar
Chart and print them or e-mail them to friends.
And that's just some of the material available on our web site. To find
out all we have available, go to
For now, though, we'll get back to how to use this particular unit. And,
first, how to use the manual.
www.eaglesonar.com and look around.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or
just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what
menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The fol-
11
lowing paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for
those commands and other instructions:
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys control the movement of dotted cross-hair lines on your
mapping screen called the cursor. The arrow keys also control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen. The arrow keys help you
move around the menus so you can execute different commands. They
are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow
key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: ↓ ↑ ← →.
Keyboard
The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a
key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the
"Enter/Icons" key is shown as
ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU.
Menu Commands
A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in
a bold sans serif type like this:
ROUTE PLANNING. These indicate that you are
to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some
kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names
you need to select are show in italic type, such as trail name.
Instructions = Menu Sequences
Most functions you perform with the unit are described as a sequence of
key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a
condensed manner for quick and easy reading.
For example, instructions for navigating a trail would look like this:
1. From the Map Page, press
2. Press ↓ to Trail 1|
ENT|→ to NAVIGATE|ENT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to MY TRAILS|ENT.
3. You are asked to wait while it converts the trail into a route.
4. The wait message disappears and the unit begins showing
navigation information along the trail. Now, begin moving and
follow your unit's directions.
Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on
the Map Page. Press the Menu key twice. Next, repeatedly press (or
press and hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select
(highlight) the My Trails menu command. Finally, press the Enter key."
12
Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key repeatedly to scroll to
the trail named Trail 1, and press Enter. Next, press the right arrow
key to highlight the Navigate command, then press Enter."
13
Notes
14
Section 2: Installation & Accessories
Preparations
You can install the sonar system in some other order if you prefer, but
we recommend this installation sequence:
Caution:
You should read over this entire installation section before drilling any holes in your vessel!
1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can
plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power.
This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration.
2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable
route.
3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection,
along with the power cable route.
4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar
unit.
5. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate
power source and connect it there.
6. Connect the transducer/power cable to the unit and mount the sonar
unit on the bracket.
Transducer Installation
These instructions will help you install your Skimmer
transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. These instructions cover
both single- and dual-frequency Skimmer transducers. Please read all
instructions before proceeding with any installation.
Your Skimmer transducer typically comes packaged with a one-piece
stainless steel bracket for mounting it to the transom of your boat. The
optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an
adjustable strap. These are "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help
prevent damage if the transducer strikes an object while the boat is
moving. If the transducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be
pushed back into place without tools.
Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation.
Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat.
15
transducer on a
Remember, the transducer location and installation is the most
critical part of a sonar installation.
Recommended Tools and Supplies
If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you
will need a 5/8" drill bit. (If you intend to install an additional speed or
temp sensor and route its cable through the same hole in the transom,
you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit to accommodate all the cables.)
NOTE:
The following installation types also call for these recommended
tools and required supplies that you must provide (supplies listed
here are not included):
Single-frequency transom installations
Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: none.
Dual-frequency transom installations
Tools: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #20 (0.161") drill bit, flat-head
screwdriver. Supplies: four, 1" long, #12 stainless steel slotted wood
screws.
Single-frequency trolling motor installations
Tools: two adjustable wrenches, flat-head screwdriver. Supplies: plastic
cable ties.
Shoot-through hull installations
Tools: these will vary depending on your hull's composition. Consult
your boat dealer or manufacturer. Other tools are a wooden craft stick
or similar tool for stirring and applying epoxy, and a paper plate or
piece of cardboard to mix the epoxy on. Supplies: rubbing alcohol, 100
grit sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI
(see ordering information on the inside portion of the back cover). A
sandwich hull also requires polyester resin.
Selecting a Transducer Location
1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds.
2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of
water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of
water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the
sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is
moving.
NOTE:
Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the
hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats
16
typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat
m
at speeds faster than 35 mph. Typically, a good transom location on
aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine.
3. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight
down, if possible. For shoot-thru applications: Many popular fishing
boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good mounting surface. On
vee hulls, try to place the transducer where the deadrise is 10° or less.
Deadrise less than 10°
Pad
Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. A pod style transducer is shown
here, but the principle is the same for Skimmers inside a hull.
Strakes
4. If the transducer is mounted on the transom, make sure it doesn't
interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it
closer than approximately one foot from the engine's lower unit. This
will prevent cavitation (bubble) interference with propeller operation.
5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the
boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can
be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near
the transducer. This will help
prevent the transducer fro
entering the boat if it is
knocked off at high speed.
Good
location
Poor angle
Good and poor transducer locations.
Poor location
Good location
Good location
How low should you go?
For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so
that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will
usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps.
17
Transom
Transom
Transducer
centerline
Hull bottom
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom. A dual frequency trans-
ducer is shown at left and a single frequency transducer at right.
Hull bottom
However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer
slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you
to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes.
Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this.
If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer
may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you wish, you may
move the transducer a little higher for more protection.
There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the
mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the
bottom – the face – of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull.
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting
In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside
of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal actually passes through
the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called simply "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the
hull and a specially designed transducer is mounted through the hull
with a threaded shaft and nut. This puts the transducer in direct contact with the water.
Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of
transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transommounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be
knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer.
However, the shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks.
First, some loss of sensitivity does occur, even on the best hulls. This
varies from hull to hull, even from different installations on the same
18
hull. This is caused by differences in hull lay-up and construction.
Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches
on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.)
Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that
sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds.
Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls.
Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation.
Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will
only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp.
Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation
section at the end of this instruction booklet to determine if you can
satisfactorily shoot through the hull.
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting
The best way to install these transducers is to loosely assemble all of
the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and
see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground.
The following instructions sometimes vary depending on the mounting
bracket that came with your transducer. Single frequency Skimmers
come with a one-piece stainless steel bracket, while dual frequency
Skimmers come with a two-piece plastic mounting bracket. Use the set
of instructions that fits your model.
1. Assembling the bracket.
A. One-piece bracket: Press the two small plastic ratchets into the sides
of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice there are
letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the bracket with
the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal bracket. This
position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14° transom.
Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle.
Dot
Align plastic ratchets in bracket.
B. Two-piece bracket: Locate the four plastic ratchets in the transducer's hardware package. Press two ratchets into the sides of the plastic
19
bracket and two on either side of the transducer as shown in the following illustrations. Notice there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place
the ratchets into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the alignment mark molded into the bracket. Place the ratchets onto the transducer with the letter "A" aligned with the 12 o'clock position on the
transducer stem. These positions set the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms
have a 14° angle.
Alignment letters
Alignment
positions
Transducer
bracket
Transducer bracket
Insert and align ratchets.
Transducer
Ratchet
Add ratchets to bracket and transducer.
Transducer
Ratchet
2. Aligning the transducer on the transom.
A. One-piece bracket: Slide the transducer between the two ratch-
ets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer assembly and
hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer from the side,
check to see if it will adjust so that its face is parallel to the ground.
If it does, then the "A" position is correct for your hull.
If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove the
transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Place the ratchets into the
holes in the bracket with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped
20
in the bracket.
Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the
transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3A. If it doesn't, repeat
step 2A, but use a different alignment letter until you can place the
transducer on the transom correctly.
Ratchets
Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom.
B. Two-piece bracket: Assemble the transducer and bracket as
shown in the following figure. Temporarily slide the bolt though the
transducer assembly but don't tighten the nut at this time. Hold the
assembled transducer and bracket against the transom. Looking at the
transducer from the side, check to see if it will adjust so that its face is
parallel to the ground. If it does, then the "A" positions are correct for
your hull.
If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove and
disassemble the transducer and ratchets. Place the ratchets into the
bracket holes with the letter "B" aligned with the bracket alignment
mark. Place them on the transducer aligned with the 12 o'clock position on the transducer stem.
Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the
transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's
parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3B. If it doesn't,
repeat step 2B, but use a different alignment letter until you can
place the transducer on the transom correctly.
Bolt
Flat washer
Assemble transducer and bracket.
Lock washer
Nut
Flat washer
21
3. Assembling the transducer.
A. One-piece bracket: Once you determine the correct position for the
ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following figure.
Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
Metal
Nut
washer
Rubber
washers
Assemble transducer and bracket.
Metal washer
Bolt
B. Two-piece bracket: Once you determine the correct position for the
ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the figure in step 2B.
Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
4. Drilling mounting holes.
Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. The
transducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The transducer's centerline should be in line with the bottom of the hull. Don't
let the bracket extend below the hull!
Mark the center of each slot for the mounting screw pilot holes. You
will drill one hole in the center of each slot.
Drill the holes. For the one-piece bracket, use the #29 bit (for the #10
screws). For the two-piece bracket, use the #20 bit (for the #12
screws).
Transom
Transom
Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes.
Side view shown at left and seen from above at right.
5. Attaching transducer to transom.
22
A. One-piece bracket: Remove the transducer from the bracket and reassemble it with the cable passing through the bracket over the bolt as
shown in the following figures.
For single-frequency Skimmer, route cable over bolt and through
bracket. Side view shown at left and seen from above at right.
Both bracket types: Attach the transducer to the transom. Slide the
transducer up or down until it's aligned properly with the bottom of the
hull as shown in the preceding and following figures. Tighten the
bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the caulking compound.
Adjust the transducer so that it's parallel to the ground and tighten the
nut until it touches the outer washer, then add 1/4 turn. Don't over
tighten the lock nut! If you do, the transducer won't "kick-up" if it
strikes an object in the water.
Bottom
of
hull
Flat-bottom hull
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach transducer to
transom. Rear view of dual-frequency Skimmer shown.
Deep-"vee" hull
6. Route the transducer cable through or over the transom to the sonar
unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the transducer. If
possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat.
Electrical noise from the engine's wiring, bilge pumps, VHF radio wires
and cables, and aerators can be picked up by the sonar. Use caution
when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
WARNING:
Clamp the transducer cable to the transom close to the
transducer. This can prevent the transducer from enter-
23
ing the boat if it is knocked off at high speed.
If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through,
the required hole size will be 5/8".
Caution:
If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the
hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant used for the mounting screws.
7. Make a test run to determine the results. If the bottom is lost at
high speed, or if noise appears on the display, try sliding the transducer
bracket down. This puts the transducer deeper into the water, hopefully below the turbulence causing the noise. Don't allow the transducer
bracket to go below the bottom of the hull!
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation
(single-frequency only)
1. Attach the optional TMB-S bracket to the transducer as shown in the
following figure, using the hardware supplied with the transducer.
(Note: The internal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB-S.)
Bolt
Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer.
Internal tooth washer
Nut
Flat washer
TMB-S bracket
2. Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB-S through the slot
in the transducer bracket and wrap it around the trolling motor. Position the transducer to aim straight down when the motor is in the water. Tighten the strap securely.
3. Route the transducer cable alongside the trolling motor shaft. Use
plastic ties (not included) to attach the transducer cable to the trolling
motor shaft. Make sure there is enough slack in the cable for the motor
to turn freely. Route the cable to the sonar unit and the transducer is
ready for use.
24
Transducer mounted on trolling motor, side view.
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches
If you do not get good fish arches on your display, it could be because
the transducer is not parallel with the ground when the boat is at rest
in the water or at slow trolling speeds.
Partial fish arches
Transducer aimed
too far back
Full fish arch
Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches.
Proper transducer angle
Transducer aimed
too far forward
If the arch slopes up – but not back down – then the front of the transducer is too high and needs to be lowered. If only the back half of the
arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down
and needs to be raised.
NOTE:
Periodically wash the transducer's face with soap and water to remove any oil film. Oil and dirt on the face will reduce the sensitivity
or may even prevent operation.
25
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation
Hulls With Flotation Materials
The transducer installation inside a fiberglass hull must be in an area
that does not have air bubbles in the resin or separated fiberglass layers. The sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. A successful
transducer installation can be made on hulls with flotation materials
(such as plywood, balsa wood or foam) between layers of fiberglass if
the material is removed from the chosen area. See the figure below.
WARNING:
Do not remove any material from your inner hull unless
you know the hull's composition. Careless grinding or
cutting on your hull can result in damage that could sink
your boat. Contact your boat dealer or manufacturer to
confirm your hull specifications.
Fill with resin
Fill with resin
Flotation material
Inner hull
Epoxy to hull first
Epoxy the transducer to a solid portion of the hull.
Outer hull
For example, some (but not all) manufacturers use a layer of fiberglass,
then a core of balsa wood, finishing with an outer layer of fiberglass.
Removing the inner layer of fiberglass and the balsa wood core exposes
the outer layer of fiberglass. The transducer can then be epoxied directly
to the outer layer of fiberglass. After the epoxy cures for 24 hours, fill the
remaining space with polyester resin. When the job is finished, the hull
is watertight and structurally sound. Remember, the sonar signal must
pass through solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglass or the
epoxy will reduce or eliminate the sonar signals.
Testing Determines Best Location
Ideally, the shoot-thru transducer should be installed as close to the
transom as possible, close to the centerline. This will give you the best
performance during high speed maneuvers.
26
Transducer location
(high speed)
Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for
high speed or trolling speed operation.
Transducer location
(trolling speed)
To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these
testing procedures: (You may need a helper to complete these steps.)
1. Anchor the boat in about 30 feet of water. Add a little water to the
sump of the boat. Plug the transducer into the sonar unit, turn it on, then
hold the transducer over the side of the boat in the water. Adjust the sensitivity and range controls until a second bottom echo is seen on the display. (You'll need to turn off Auto Sensitivity, Auto Depth Range and
ASP. Try a range setting that is two to three times the water depth. The
harder (more rocky) the bottom, the easier it will be to get a second bottom signal.) Don't touch the controls once they've been set.
2. Next, take the transducer out of the water and place it in the water
in the sump of the boat, face down. (The transducer face is shown in the
figure on the following page.) Notice how the signal strength decreases.
The second bottom signal will probably disappear and the bottom signal
intensity will likely decrease.
3. Now move the transducer around to find the best location with the
strongest possible bottom signal. If you find a spot with an acceptable
bottom signal, mark the location and move on to step 4.
If you can't get an acceptable bottom signal, try turning up the sensitivity
by three or five keystrokes and then move the transducer around once
more. If you find a spot that works, mark it and move on to step 4.
If you have to turn up sensitivity by more than five keystrokes to get a
good signal, the transducer should be mounted on the outside of the
hull. This is especially true if you have to turn sensitivity all the way
up to get a decent bottom signal.
4. Most people can get good results by following steps 1 through 3, so this
step is optional. If you want to make an extra effort to be absolutely sure
that your selected location will work under all conditions, make a test run
27
with the boat on plane and observe the bottom signal. You'll need to figure
some way to prop the transducer into position while you make your test
run. (A brick or two might be sufficient to hold it in place.)
5. When you're satisfied with a location, mark it and proceed with the
installation.
Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation
If you are installing the transducer on a hull with floatation material
sandwiched within the hull, refer to the text "Hulls With Flotation Materials" beginning on page 26.
1. Make sure the area is clean, dry and free of oil or grease, then sand
both the inside surface of the hull and the face of the transducer with
100 grit sandpaper. The sanded hull area should be about 1-1/2 times
the diameter of the transducer. The surface of the hull must be flat so
the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull prior to bonding.
After sanding, clean the hull and transducer with rubbing alcohol to
remove any sanding debris.
Spread epoxy here
Sand this surface
(unit's face)
Orient the Skimmer
with the nose facing
the bow of the boat.
To bow
Epoxy transducer to hull.
WARNING:
Use only the epoxy available from LEI. It has been for-
mulated to work with these installation procedures.
Other epoxy types may be too thin or may not cure to the
right consistency for optimum transducer performance.
2. The epoxy consists of the epoxy itself and a hardener. Remove the
two compounds from the package and place them on the paper plate.
28
Thoroughly stir the two compounds together until the mixture has a
uniform color and consistency. Do not mix too fast or bubbles will form
in the epoxy. After mixing, you have 20 minutes to complete the installation before the epoxy becomes unworkable.
Spread a thin layer of epoxy (about 1/16" or 1.5 mm thick) on the face of
the transducer as shown in the previous figure. Make sure there are no
air pockets in the epoxy layer! Then, apply the remaining epoxy to the
sanded area on the hull.
3. Press the transducer into the epoxy, twisting and turning it to force
any air bubbles out from under the transducer face. Stop pressing when
you bottom out on the hull. When you're finished, the face of the transducer should be parallel with the hull, with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer.
4. Apply a weight, such as a brick, to hold the transducer in place while
the epoxy cures. Be careful not to bump the transducer while the epoxy
is wet. Leave the weight in place for a minimum of three hours. Allow
the epoxy to cure for 24 hours before moving the boat.
5. After the epoxy has cured, route the cable to the sonar unit and it's
ready to use.
Speed/Temperature Sensors
This unit can accept as many as two temperature sensors, which can be
used to monitor the temperature of surface water, a live well or some
other location. These units can also accept an optional speed sensor for
showing speed and distance traveled. However, you can only use one accessory at a time. If you would like to use a speed sensor and a second
temperature sensor at the same time, you will need a combination device.
NOTE:
This unit is packed with a transducer containing a built-in temp sensor.
The SeaCharter package also includes a speed sensor. If you have a
FishElite 500C and want a speed sensor or additional temp sensor, see
the Accessory Ordering Information in the back of this manual.
If a second temp sensor is used, it must be the model TS-2U. This
model has a fixed electronic "address" which designates it as the second
of two temp sensors. Dual temperatures are only displayed on the Full
Chart page. The Large Digital page will only display the primary temperature sensor. See the following wiring diagram for temperature and
speed sensor combinations.
29
Sonar unit rear view
Accessory
socket
GPS antenna socket
Temp
sensor
GPS
module
Speed or combo
speed/temp sensor.
Sonar unit with external temp sensor, external speed sensor, or combo
speed/temp sensor. The primary temperature sensor is built
into the transducer.
Power/transducer socket
Power/transducer
cable
Temp sensor built
into transducer.
3-amp fuse
12-volt
battery
Optional Speed Sensor Installation
All the units in this series can display speed and distance traveled, but
only the SeaCharter 500CDF comes packed with a speed sensor. If you
wish to purchase an optional additional sensor for your unit, refer to
the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. The following instructions describe how to install the speed sensor.
Recommended tools for this job include: drill, 5/8" drill bit, 1/8" drill bit for
pilot holes, screwdriver. Required supplies for this job include: four #8
stainless steel wood screws (3/4" long), high quality, marine grade above-
or below-waterline caulking compound.
First find a location on the boat's transom where the water flow is smoothest. Don't mount the sensor behind strakes or ribs. These will disturb the
water flow to the speed sensor. Make sure the sensor will remain in the
water when the boat is on plane. Also make sure the location doesn't inter-
30
fere with the boat's trailer. Typically, the sensor is mounted about one foot
to the side of the transom's centerline.
Once you've determined the proper location for the unit, place the sensor on the transom. The bottom of the bracket should be flush with the
hull's bottom. Using the sensor as a template, mark the hull for the
screws' pilot holes. Drill four 1/8" holes, one in each end of the slots.
Mount the sensor to the hull using #8 stainless steel wood screws (not
included). Use a high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline
caulking compound to seal the screws. Make sure the sensor is flush
with the bottom of the hull and tighten the screws.
Good location
Stern view showing good location for mounting sensor on transom.
If the base of the transom has a radius, fill the gap between the transom and the sensor with the caulking compound. This will help ensure
a smooth water flow.
Transom
Bottom of hull
Speed sensor mounting configuration:
side view (left) and rear view (right.)
Bottom of hull
Route the sensor's cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit.
If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through,
the required hole size is 5/8".
Caution:
If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the
hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant used for the screws.
The sensor is now ready for use. Connect the sensor to the accessory
socket on the back of your unit. If you have any questions concerning
the installation of the sensor, please contact your local boat dealer.
31
Power Connections
The unit works from a 12-volt battery system. For the best results, attach the power cable directly to the battery. You can attach the power
cable to an accessory or power buss, however you may have problems
with electrical interference. Therefore, it's safer to go ahead and attach
the power cable directly to the battery.
Caution:
When using the unit in a saltwater environment, we strongly recommend that you shut off the power supply to the power cable when
the unit is not in use. When the unit is turned off but still connected
to a power supply, electrolysis can occur in the power cable plug.
This may result in corrosion of the plug body along with the electrical contacts in the cable and the unit's power socket.
In saltwater environments we recommend you connect the power
cable to the auxiliary power switch included in most boat designs.
If that results in electrical interference, or if such a switch is not
available, we recommend connecting direct to the battery and installing an inline switch. This will let you shut off power to the
power cable when the unit is not in use. When you are not using
the unit, you should always shut off power to the power cable, especially when the power cable is disconnected from the unit.
If possible, keep the power cable away from other boat wiring, especially the engine's wires. This will provide the best isolation from electrical noise. If the cable is not long enough, splice #18 gauge wire onto
it. The power cable has two wires, red and black. Red is the positive
lead, black is negative or ground. Make sure to attach the in-line fuse
holder to the red lead as close to the power source as possible.
For example, if you have to extend the power cable to the battery or
power buss, attach one end of the fuse holder directly to the battery or
power buss. This will protect both the unit and the power cable in the
event of a short. It uses a 3-amp fuse.
32
p
To unit
Optional power off switch for
saltwater installations
Black wire
12 volt
battery
Power connections for the sonar unit.
Red wire with
3 am
fuse
CAUTION:
Do not use this product without a 3-amp fuse wired into the power
cable! Failure to use a 3-amp fuse will void your warranty.
This unit has reverse polarity protection. No damage will occur if the
power wires are reversed. However, the unit will not work until the
wires are attached correctly.
An optional 8-foot, CA-4 external power cable with a cigarette lighter
adapter is available from Eagle.
Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable
You can install the sonar unit on the top of a dash with the supplied
gimbal bracket. It can also be installed in the dash or mounted on a
portable power supply.
If you use the supplied bracket, you may be interested in the optional
R-A-M
bracket mounting system. This converts the unit's gimbal
bracket to a swivel mount, which can be used on the dash or overhead
mounting positions. Installation instructions are supplied with the
R-A-M mounting kits.
Bracket Installation
Mount the unit in any convenient location, provided there is clearance
behind the unit when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. You should
also make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the
power and transducer cables. (A drawing on the next page shows the
dimensions of a gimbal-mounted sonar unit.)
Holes in the bracket's base allow wood screw or through-bolt mounting.
You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of thin fiberglass panels to reinforce the panel and secure the mounting hardware.
33
Front
Install the gimbal bracket. Orient the bracket so the arms slope toward
the front of your unit.
Drill a 1-inch (25.4 mm) hole in the dash for the power and transducer
cables. The best location for this hole is immediately under the gimbal
bracket location. This way, the bracket can be installed so that it covers
the hole, holds the cables in position and results in a neat installation.
Some customers, however, prefer to mount the bracket to the side of the
cable hole — it's a matter of personal preference.
After drilling the hole, pass the transducer connector up through the
hole from under the dash. Pass the power cable's bare-wire end down
though the hole from the top.
If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cables with a good marine caulking compound. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers
to conceal the opening.) No matter what type of installation you prefer,
be sure to leave enough slack in the cables to allow tilting or swiveling
the unit. If you choose to fill in the hole, be sure to position the cables
against the rear edge of the hole as you apply the fill material.
34
173.9
[6.85]
72.9
[2.87]
23.4
[0.92]
137.9
[5.43]
Millimeter
[Inch]
Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the
sonar unit when mounted on gimbal bracket.
157.9
[6.22]
56.9
[2.24]
Before positioning the bracket, be sure to hold the cables against the
rear edge of the hole. Then, slide the bracket over the hole and butt the
rear of the bracket base firmly against the cables, thus pinning them in
place against the side of the hole. Finally, fasten the bracket to the
dash. Attach the unit to the gimbal bracket using the supplied gimbal
knobs and washers.
In-Dash Installation
You can mount the unit in the dash with an optional FM-5 In-Dash
Adapter Kit. The kit includes mounting hardware, a template for cutting the hole and an instruction sheet, part 988-0147-43.
35
146.5
[5.76]
Top
R 7.9
[0.31]
In-Dash
Template
Millimeters
[Inches]
ALWAYS VERIFY DIMENSIONS
113.5
[4.46]
In-dash mounting template for the sonar unit, showing
dimensions. NOTE: The figure above is not printed to scale. A scaled
template (FM-5 In-Dash Adapter Kit instructions) is available for free
download from our web site, www.eaglesonar.com.
Portable Installation
Like many Eagle products, this sonar unit is capable of portable operation by using the optional PPP-13 portable power pack. The power pack
and an optional portable transducer expand the uses for your sonar
unit. The PPP-13 makes it easy to use the unit on your boat or take it
to the dock, on a float tube, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second
sonar in a friend's boat.
The PPP-13 Portable Power Pack can be used with eight "D" cell alkaline batteries or an optional sealed, rechargeable battery. For set-up
directions, refer to the pack's instruction sheet, part 988-0147-601.
36
"D" cell battery
Install batteries in power pack battery adapter.
GPS Antenna/Receiver Module Installation
This unit's package includes the EGC-12w GPS module. This device
contains the unit’s external antenna and receiver for GPS and WAAS
signals. The antenna/receiver module comes with a 25-foot extension
cable. This module can be mounted on a flat surface or pole, or a magnet is included for temporary mounting on any ferrous surface.
EGC-12w Module, bottom view (left) and top view (right).
You need to select an antenna installation location that has a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. After the module is installed, route the cable
to the unit, plug it in the center socket on the back and your system is
ready to use. See the module's instruction sheet, publication part number 988-0148-371, for complete installation directions.
In an automobile, you may achieve good results by simply placing the
external antenna on the top of the dash, at the base of the windshield. a
piece of the rubber non-skid shelf liner material available in recreational
vehicle supply stores will help hold the antenna in place. This may not
work well if you have a cab-over design pickup truck camper or motor
37
home. If dashboard reception is poor, simply relocate the antenna module elsewhere on the vehicle for a clearer view of the sky.
NMEA Cable Connections
NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic
equipment. For example, an autopilot can connect to the NMEA interface on the SeaCharter 500CDF and receive positioning information.
The SeaCharter 500CDF is capable of exchanging information with any
device that transmits or receives NMEA 0183 data. This feature requires an optional accessory cable.
NMEA Wiring
To exchange NMEA data, the unit has one NMEA 0183 version 2.0
communication port. Com port one (Com-1) can be used to receive
NMEA format GPS data. The com port can also transmit NMEA format
GPS data to another device.
The optional data cable will contain three wires. Com-1 uses the yellow
wire to transmit, the orange wire to receive and the shield wire for signal ground.
Orange (Receive) NMEA Transmit
Com-1 to
SeaCharter 500CDF
Com-1 wiring to receive NMEA position information
Shield (Ground)
from some other GPS receiver.
Ground
To Other
GPS Receiver
Com-1 to
SeaCharter 500CDF
Com-1 wiring to transmit NMEA position information
Yellow (Transmit)
Shield (Ground)
to another NMEA-compatible device.
NMEA Receive
Ground
To Other
Device
Read your other product’s owner’s manual for more wiring information.
MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation
Your unit uses a MultiMedia Card to store information, such as sonar
logs, custom maps, waypoints, trails and other GPS data. The unit can
also use Secure Digital Cards (SD card) to store data.
NOTE:
Throughout this manual, we will use the term MMC, but just remember that your unit can use an MMC or SD card to store data.
38
Both of these solid-state flash memory devices are about the size of a
postage stamp. An SD card is slightly thicker than an MMC. As this
manual went to press, MMCs were available in storage capacities of 8
MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB and 128 MB. SD cards were available in
capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB and 1 GB.
Additional MMC cards are available from LEI Extras; see ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. MMCs and SD cards
are also available at many camera and consumer electronics stores.
The MMC slot is located in a compartment on the front of the case. The
compartment door is located at the lower right corner. The following
figure shows a close-up with the door opened.
Thumb
screw
Memory card compartment with a 16 MB MMC card installed.
Insert card face up,
this way
To remove an MMC
1. Open the card compartment door by unscrewing the thumb screw.
The screw should only be finger tight. If it was over-tightened, use a
thumbnail, a coin or a screwdriver to open the door.
2. Just press a finger against the label of the MMC and drag it from the slot.
3. Close the compartment door and fasten the thumb screw finger tight.
To add an MMC or SD Card
1. Open the card compartment door.
2. Grasp the bottom of the MMC and push the top of the card into the
slot. Once the card is started, use your fingernails to slide it the rest of
the way to the left, until it is firmly seated in the slot.
3. Close the compartment door and fasten the thumb screw finger tight.
Other Accessories
Other accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and MapCreate™ 6 custom mapping software for your computer. MMC card readers
are available in USB and parallel port versions.
39
MapCreate™ 6 CD-ROM, left; MMC card reader for USB ports, right.
Switch Boxes
Two switch boxes are available for this unit. The SB-9BL transducer
switch box switches two transducers to one sonar unit. The SB-10BL
transducer switch box switches two sonar units to one transducer.
If any of these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the
accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual.
Visit our web site for a complete listing of all the available accessories
for your unit.
Now that you have your unit installed, move on to Section 3, Basic So-
nar Operations. There, we'll present a series of step-by-step tutorials to
teach you the basics of sonar operation.
NOTE:
When you first turn the unit on, the Map Page appears. If you'd
rather start learning about GPS operation first, turn over to Sec. 6,
Basic GPS Operations. (Remember, you don't need to read this
manual from cover-to-cover to get going. We designed it so you can
skip around to the section you want to read.)
40
Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation
This section addresses the unit's most basic sonar operations. The instructions presented in Sec. 3 follow a chronological order. Sec. 4, Sonar
Options & Other Features, will discuss other more advanced functions
and utilities. Material in Sec. 4 is arranged in alphabetical order.
Before you turn on the sonar unit, it's a good idea to learn about the
different keys, the Main Menu, the four Page screens and how they all
work together. BUT, if you just can't wait to get on the water, turn to
the one-page Quick Reference on page 49.
Keyboard
4
8
2
3
5
MMC slot access door
SeaCharter 500CDF sonar/GPS unit, front view, showing map with so-
nar chart screen display, keyboard and access door for the MMC slot.
9
7
6
1
1. PWR/LIGHT (Power & Light) – The PWR key turns the unit on and
off and activates the backlight.
2. PAGES – Pressing this and the ← → arrow keys switches the unit
between the four different page screens. (Satellite Status Page, Navigation Page, Map Page and Sonar Page.) Each page represents one of the
unit's major operation modes.
3. MENU – Press this key to show the menus and submenus, which
41
allow you to select a command or adjust a feature. This also accesses
search functions for streets, intersections, addresses and highway exits.
4. ARROW KEYS – These keys are used to navigate through the
menus, make menu selections, move the map and sonar chart cursors
and enter data.
5. ENT/ICONS (Enter & Icons) – This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. It is also used to create event
marker icons.
6. EXIT – The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear
data or erase a menu.
7. WPT – (Waypoint) The Waypoint key is used to save and recall waypoints, search for waypoints and access the waypoint list. It also
launches the Point-of-Interest (POI) search menus and is involved in
some navigation functions.
8. ZOUT – (Zoom Out) – This key lets you zoom the screen out. On the
Sonar Page, this key returns you to a full sonar chart display, showing
the entire water column from surface to bottom. On the Map Page, this
lets you see a larger geographic area on the map. Less detail is seen as
you zoom out.
9. ZIN – (Zoom In) – This key lets you zoom the screen in. On the Sonar
Page, this key enlarges fish signals and bottom detail. On the Map
Page, zooming in lets you see greater detail in a smaller geographic
area on the map.
Power/lights on and off
To turn on the unit, press PWR. As the unit powers up, the Map Page is
displayed first. To switch to the Sonar Page, press
To turn on the backlight, press
levels to select from. Repeatedly pressing
backlight settings and turn off the backlight.
Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the
PWR again. The unit has three backlight
PWR will cycle through the
PAGES|→|EXIT.
PWR key for 3 seconds.
Main Menu
The unit has a Main Menu, which contains some function commands
and some setup option commands. The instructions in this section will
deal only with sonar functions, the basic commands that make the unit
show sonar signals on your screen. This sonar unit will work fine right
out of the box with the factory default settings. But, if you want to
learn about the various sonar options, see Sec. 4, Sonar Options &
42
Other Features. (For general system setup and GPS options, see Sec. 8,
System Setup and GPS Setup Options.)
You can access the Main Menu from any of the four Page screens by
pressing
display, press
MENU|MENU. To clear the menu screen and return to the page
EXIT. (Remember, our text style for "MENU|MENU" means
"press the Menu key twice." See a full explanation of our instruction
text formatting on page 11, "How to use this manual…."
Main Menu.
The Main Menu commands and their functions are:
Screen command: changes the contrast or brightness of the display
screen.
Sounds command: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and
alarms and sets the alarm style.
Transparency command: adjust the level of transparency for menus.
Alarms command: turns sonar and GPS alarms on or off and changes
alarm thresholds.
Route Planning command: used to plan, view or navigate a route.
My Trails command: shows, creates and deletes plot trails. Also used
to navigate or backtrack a trail.
Cancel Navigation command: turns off the various navigation commands. Used to stop navigating after you have reached your destination waypoint, Point of Interest or map cursor location; or after you
reach the end of a route or trail.
Sonar Setup command: sets various sonar options.
GPS Setup command: sets various GPS receiver options.
43
System Setup command: sets general configuration options.
Sun/Moon Calculations command: finds the rising and setting time
of the sun and the moon.
Trip Calculator command: shows trip status and statistics.
Timers command: controls the up timer, down timer and alarm clock
settings.
Browse MMC Files command: this allows you to view the installed
MMC card and the files it contains.
Pages
The unit has four Page displays that represent the four major operating
modes. They are the Satellite Status Page, the Navigation Page, the Map
Page and Sonar Page. They are accessed by pressing the
using → or ← to select a Page. (Clear the Pages Menu by pressing
PAGES key, then
EXIT.)
Pages Menu, showing some Sonar display options.
Satellite Status Page
The Satellite Status Page provides detailed information on the status of
the unit's satellite lock-on and position acquisition. To get to the Satellite Status Page: Press the
(Clear the Pages Menu by pressing
PAGES key, then use → or ← to select STATUS.
EXIT.)
This page represents a GPS function, so it is discussed in much greater
detail in Sec. 6.
No matter what Page you are on, a flashing current position indicator/question mark symbol and flashing GPS data displays indicate that
satellite lock has been lost and there is no position confirmed.
44
WARNING:
Do not begin navigating with this unit until the numbers
have stopped flashing!
Satellite Status Page showing satellite lock-on with a 3D position
acquired (latitude, longitude and altitude), including WAAS reception.
Navigation Page
This screen has a compass rose that not only shows your direction of
travel, but also the direction to a recalled waypoint. To get to the Navigation Page: Press
PAGES| → or ← to NAVIGATION|EXIT.
This page represents a GPS function, so it is discussed in much greater
detail in Sec. 6.
Navigation Page, recording a trail, traveling southwest.
Map Page
The Map Page screens show your course and track from a "bird's-eye"
view, on a moving map. By default, this unit shows the map with north
45
always at the top of the screen. The arrow in the center of the screen is
your present position. It points in the direction you're traveling.
Map Page, showing position on Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas. At left is
the full map option. At right, map with sonar option.
Map Page is also the default screen that appears when you turn on the
unit. To get to the Map Page from another page: Press
to
MAP|EXIT.
PAGES| → or ←
You can display a split screen showing both the Map and Sonar pages
at the same time. This feature is discussed in Sec. 4, Sonar Options &
Other Features.
The Map Page represents a GPS function, so it is discussed in much
greater detail in Sec. 6.
Sonar Page
The Sonar Page displays the sonar chart. This is a "cross-section" view
of the water column beneath the boat. The chart moves across the
screen, displaying sonar signal echoes that represent fish, structure
and the bottom.
To get to the Sonar Page: Press the
lect
SONAR. (Clear the Pages Menu by pressing EXIT.) The Pages Menu
PAGES key, then use → or ← to se-
offers three chart display options under the Sonar Page category. To access them, press
PAGES|← or→ to SONAR|↓ to Option Name|EXIT.
The Sonar Page also has its own menu, which is used for some advanced
functions and for setting various options. (Sonar Options and other features are discussed in Sec. 4.) To Access the Sonar Page menu, from the
Sonar Page press
MENU.
46
At left, Pages Menu, showing sonar chart display option commands.
At right, Sonar Page in full sonar chart display mode.
Sonar chart display options (from left) split zoom and digital data.
47
Sonar Page Menu. Most of these functions are discussed in Sec. 4.
Surface clutter
Depth scale
Zoom bar
FasTrack
bar graph
Fish arches
Structure
Digital data
overlay
(depth &
temperature)
Sonar Page, showing full sonar chart mode.
Surface signal
Bottom signal
You can customize how the Sonar Page displays its pictures and other
data in many ways. Your unit also includes several special sonar features
and options that can help you better interpret the underwater scene.
We'll discuss all of those features and options in Sec. 4, but to show you
how easy this unit is to operate, the following page contains a simplified, 10-step quick reference that will cover most fish finding situations.
The quick reference describes how your unit will operate with all the
sonar features in their automatic modes, which are set at the factory.
48
Basic Sonar Quick Reference
1. Mount the transducer, antenna and unit. Connect the unit to electric
power and the transducer. (If GPS operation is desired, connect GPS
antenna, too.) Make sure the MMC is in. (See complete installation details beginning on page 15.)
2. Launch your boat.
3. To turn on the unit, press and release
4. Opening screen displays Map Page. Rotate through the four main
Page screens (Map Page, Satellite Status Page, Navigation Page, Sonar
Page) by pressing
PAGES|← or → to select Page Name|EXIT. Switch
Pages to display Sonar Page.
5. If GPS data is desired, wait while unit locates satellites and calculates
current position. When the unit acquires position, a tone sounds and a position acquired message appears.
6. With position acquired (if desired), head for your fishing grounds.
Your unit will automatically display digital depth and surface water
temperature in the top left corner of the screen.
The auto settings will track the bottom, displaying it in the lower portion of the screen. The full sonar chart will scroll from right to left,
showing you what's under the boat as you cruise across the water. You
can change the display by:
Zoom in to enlarge the chart for more detail: press
Zoom out to return to full chart mode: press
7. Watch the display for the appearance of fish symbols (or arches, if
Fish I.D. is turned off). When you see fish symbols or arches, you've
found fish! Stop the boat and get your lure or bait into the water at the
depth indicated on the sonar chart.
8. Gauge the fish depth by visually comparing the fish symbols or
arches with the depth scale on the right side of the screen, or get a
more accurate measure with the Depth Cursor. Press
CURSOR|ENT. Press ↓ or ↑ to align the cursor line with the fish arch. The
exact depth appears in a box at the right end of the cursor line. To clear
the cursor, press
EXIT.
9. If you are drifting at a very low speed or anchored, you are not moving fast enough for a fish to return the tell-tale fish arch signal. As you
drift over a fish, or as a fish swims through the transducer's signal
cone, the fish echo will appear as a straight line suspended between the
surface and the bottom when Fish I.D. is turned off.
10. To turn off the unit, press and hold
PWR key.
ZIN.
ZOUT.
MENU|↓ to DEPTH
PWR key for three seconds.
49
Sonar Operations
As you can see from the quick reference on the previous page, basic operation
is pretty easy, right out of the box. If you are a sonar novice, try operating the
unit with the factory defaults until you get a feel for how it's working.
As you're learning the basics, there is one setting you might want to tinker
with from time to time — Sensitivity.
Sensitivity controls the unit's ability to pick up echoes. If you want to see
more detail, try increasing the sensitivity, a little at a time. There are situations when too much clutter appears on the screen. Decreasing the sensitivity
can reduce the clutter and show the strongest fish echoes, if fish are present.
As you change the sensitivity setting, you can see the difference on the chart
as it scrolls.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
These figures show results of different sensitivity levels on the same location. Fig. 1: Sensitivity at 88 percent, determined by Auto Sensitivity.
Typical of full auto mode. Fig. 2: Sensitivity set at 75 percent. Fig. 3: Sen-
sitivity set at 50 percent. Fig. 4: Sensitivity set at 100 percent.
50
You can change the sensitivity level whether you are in Auto Sensitivity
mode or Manual Sensitivity mode. The adjustment method works the
same in both modes, but it gives you slightly different results.
Adjusting sensitivity in Auto Sensitivity Mode is similar to manually adjusting a car's speed with the accelerator pedal while cruise control is on.
You can tell the car to run faster, but when you let off the gas the cruise
control automatically keeps you from running slower than the minimum
speed setting. In the unit, auto mode will let you increase sensitivity to 100
percent, but the unit will limit your minimum setting. This prevents you
from turning sensitivity down too low to allow automatic bottom tracking.
When you change the setting with auto turned on, the unit will continue to
track the bottom and make minor adjustments to the sensitivity level, with
a bias toward the setting you selected.
Adjusting sensitivity in Manual Sensitivity Mode is similar to driving a
car without cruise control — you have complete manual control of the
car's speed. In the unit, manual mode allows you to set sensitivity at
100 percent (maximum) or zero percent (minimum.) Depending on water conditions, the bottom signal may completely disappear from the
screen when you reduce sensitivity to about 50 percent or less!
Try adjusting sensitivity in both auto and manual modes to see how
they work.
To adjust sensitivity:
1. Press
MENU|ENT.
2. The Sensitivity Control Bar appears. Press ↓ to decrease sensitivity;
press ↑ to increase sensitivity. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT. (When you reach the maximum or minimum limit, a tone sounds.)
At left, Sonar Menu with Sensitivity command selected. At right, the
Sensitivity Control Bar.
51
NOTE:
If you want to change the sensitivity in Manual Mode, first turn off
Auto Sensitivity: from the Sonar Page, press
SENSITIVITY|ENT|↑ to SENSITIVITY|ENT. Press ↓ or ↑ to pick a different
sensitivity setting. When it's set at the desired level, press
MENU|↓ to AUTO
EXIT.
Important Tip:
While you are experimenting and learning, it's possible to scramble
the settings so that the sonar picture disappears from your screen. If
that happens, remember that it's easy to switch back to full automatic
operation by simply restoring the factory auto settings. Here's how:
To Restore Factory Settings
1. Press MENU|MENU|↓ to SYSTEM SETUP|ENT|↓ to RESET OPTIONS|ENT.
2. The unit asks if you want to reset all the options. Press ← to
YES|ENT. All options are reset, and the unit reverts back to the Map
Page at the 4000 mile zoom range. (Any recorded sonar logs or GPS
data will be unchanged.)
Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart
You may have noticed in the quick reference that we used fish arches in
full sonar chart mode for our example, and not the popular Fish I.D.
fish symbol feature. Here's why.
Fish I.D. is an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal
return when he sees it. However, locating fish by symbol only has some
limitations.
Your sonar unit's microprocessor is remarkably powerful, but it can be
fooled. Some of the echoes calculated to be fish could be tree limbs or turtles! To see what's under your boat in maximum detail, we recommend
you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches.
Fish I.D. is most handy when you're in another part of the boat or performing some task that prevents you from watching the sonar screen.
Then, you can turn on Fish I.D. and the audible fish alarm. When that
lunker swims under your boat, you'll hear it!
Fish I.D. can also be useful when you want to screen out some of the
sonar detail gathered by your unit. For example, in one case fisherman
in San Francisco Bay saw clouds of clutter in the water but no fish
arches. When a down rigger was pulled up, it brought up several small
jellyfish. The fisherman switched their sonar to Fish I.D., which
screened out the schools of jellyfish and clearly showed the game fish
there as fish symbols.
The sonar options section discusses Fish I.D., fish alarms and other
features in greater detail.
52
Section 4: Sonar Options & Other Features
Material in this section is arranged in alphabetical order.
ASP (Advanced Signal Processing)
The ASP feature is a noise rejection system built into the sonar unit
that constantly evaluates the effects of boat speed, water conditions
and interference. This automatic feature gives you the best display possible under most conditions.
The ASP feature is an effective tool in combating noise. In sonar terms,
noise is any undesired signal. It is caused by electrical and mechanical
sources such as bilge pumps, engine ignition systems and wiring, air
bubbles passing over the face of the transducer, even vibration from the
engine. In all cases, noise can produce unwanted marks on the display.
The ASP feature has four settings — Off, Low, Medium and High. If
you have high noise levels, try using the "High" ASP setting. However,
if you are having trouble with noise, we suggest that you take steps to
find the interference source and fix it, rather than continually using the
unit with the high ASP setting.
There are times when you may want to turn the ASP feature off. This
allows you to view all incoming echoes before they are processed by the
ASP feature.
At left, Sonar Menu with Sonar Features selected. In the Sonar
Features menu, Noise Rejection is selected with ASP in the default low
setting (center, dual-frequency menu; at right, single-frequency menu).
To change the ASP level:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
NOISE REJECTION|ENT.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
53
3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select a setting, then press
ENT.
4. To return to the previous page, press
EXIT|EXIT.
Alarms
This unit has three different types of sonar alarms. The first is the Fish
Alarm. It sounds when the Fish I.D. feature determines that an echo
is a fish.
Another alarm is the Zone Alarm, which consists of a bar on the side of
the screen. Any echo on the chart that appears inside this bar triggers
this alarm.
The last alarm is the Depth Alarm, which has both a Shallow and a
Deep setting. Only the bottom signal will trigger this alarm. This is
useful as an anchor watch, a shallow water alert or for navigation.
Depth Alarms
The depth alarms sound a tone when the bottom signal goes shallower
than the shallow alarm's setting or deeper than the deep alarm's setting. For example, if you set the shallow alarm to 10 feet, the alarm will
sound a tone if the bottom signal is less than 10 feet. It will continue to
sound until the bottom goes deeper than 10 feet.
The deep alarm works just the opposite. It sounds a warning tone if the
bottom depth goes deeper than the alarm's setting. Both depth alarms
work only off the digital bottom depth signals. No other targets will trip
these alarms. These alarms can be used at the same time or individually.
At left, Main Menu and Sonar Alarms command.
At right, the Sonar Alarms menu.
54
To adjust and turn on the shallow alarm:
1. Press MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to SONAR ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press → to
SHALLOW ALARM DEPTH|ENT.
3. Press ↑ or ↓ to change the first number, then press → to move the
cursor to the next number and repeat until the depth is correct, then
press
ENT.
4. Press ← to
5. To turn off the alarm, press
SONAR ALARMS|ENT|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
SHALLOW ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to
To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and
repeat the instructions in step 3 above.
To adjust and turn on the deep alarm:
1. Press MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to SONAR ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press ↓ to
DEEP ALARM ENABLED|→ to DEEP ALARM DEPTH|ENT.
3. Press ↑ or ↓ to change the first number, then press → to move the
cursor to the next number and repeat until the depth is correct, then
press
ENT.
4. Press ← to
5. To turn off the alarm, press
SONAR ALARMS|ENT|↓ to DEEP ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
DEEP ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to
To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and
repeat the instructions in step 3 above.
Zone Alarm
The zone alarm is triggered when any echo passes inside the zone
alarm bar, shown on the right side of the screen.
To adjust and turn on the zone alarm:
1. Press MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to SONAR ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press ↓ to
ZONE ALARM ENABLED|→ to ADJUST ZONE|ENT.
55
At left, Sonar Alarms menu, with Adjust Zone command selected.
At right, Adjust Zone Alarm selection box, with Upper selected.
3. To set the upper boundary for the Zone Alarm, use ← or→ to select
UPPER, then press ↑ or ↓ to move the top of the bar to the desired depth.
4. To set the lower boundary for the Zone Alarm, use ← or→ to select
LOWER, then press ↑ or ↓ to move the bottom of the bar to the desired depth.
5. Press
EXIT|← to ZONE ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT. Now, any
echo — fish, bottom, structure — within the zone alarm's depth range
will trigger the zone alarm.
6. To turn off the alarm, press
SONAR ALARMS|ENT|↓ to ZONE ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to
To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and
repeat the instructions in steps 3 and 4 above.
Fish Alarm
Use the fish alarm for a distinctive audible alarm when fish or other
suspended objects are detected by the Fish I.D. feature (Fish I.D.
must be turned on for the Fish Alarm to work). A different tone sounds
for each fish symbol size shown on the display.
56
Sonar Alarms menu with Fish Alarm selected. The check box to the left
is blank, indicating the alarm is turned off.
To turn the fish alarm on:
1. Press MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to SONAR ALARMS|ENT.
2. Press ↓ to
3. To turn off the alarm, press
SONAR ALARMS|ENT|↓ to FISH ALARM|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
FISH ALARM|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to ALARMS|ENT|↓ to
Calibrate Speed
The speed sensor can be calibrated to compensate for inaccuracies. Before you change the setting, first calculate the percentage that the
speed is off. You will enter this percentage in a moment.
For example, if you figure the sensor is reading 10 percent faster than
actual speed, you will enter – 10 in the calibration window. If the sensor is reading 5 percent slower than true speed, you will enter + 5 in
the window.
A good way to gauge your speed sensor's performance is to compare its
reading with the ground speed measured by your unit's GPS functions.
When you make a run to compare GPS ground speed to speed sensor
speed, perform your test in relatively calm water free of current, if possible. (Unless, of course, you are taking the current speed into consideration when making your calculation.) After you have a correction figure, here's how to enter it:
1. Press
SPEED|ENT.
2. Enter the number you calculated earlier: press ↑ or ↓ to change the
first character (+ or –), then press → to move the cursor to the next
number and repeat until the percentage is correct, then press
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to CALIBRATE WATER
EXIT.
57
Chart Speed
The rate that echoes scroll across the screen is called the chart speed.
The default is maximum; we recommend that you leave the speed set
there for virtually all fishing conditions.
However, you might consider experimenting with chart speed when you
are stationary or drifting very slowly. You may sometimes achieve better images as you slow down the chart speed to match how fast you are
moving across the bottom.
If you are at anchor, ice fishing or fishing from a dock, experiment with
a chart speed around 50 percent. If you are drifting slowly, try a chart
speed around 75 percent. When you are stationary and a fish swims
through the sonar signal cone, the image appears on the screen as a
long line instead of a fish arch. Reducing the chart speed may result in
a shorter line that more closely resembles a regular fish return.
At left, Sonar Page menu with Chart Speed command selected.
At right, Chart Speed Control Bar.
If you do experiment with chart speed, remember to reset it to maximum when you resume trolling or moving across the water at higher
speed. To change chart speed:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to CHART SPEED|ENT.
2. The Chart Speed Control Bar appears. Press ↓ to decrease chart
speed; press ↑ to increase chart speed.
3. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT.
58
ColorLine
ColorLine lets you distinguish between strong and weak echoes. It
"paints" a brighter color on targets that are stronger than a preset
value. This allows you to tell the difference between a hard and soft
bottom. For example, a soft, muddy or weedy bottom returns a weaker
signal which is shown with a narrow, colored line (dark blue tinged
with red or a little yellow.) Since fish are among the weakest echoes,
they show up mostly as blue arches. A hard bottom or other relatively
hard target returns a strong signal which causes a wider brightly colored line (reddish yellow to bright yellow.)
If you have two signals of equal size, one with red to yellow color and
the other without, then the target with brighter color (yellow) is the
stronger signal. This helps distinguish weeds from trees on the bottom,
or fish from structure.
ColorLine is adjustable. Experiment with your unit to find the ColorLine setting that's best for you.
At left, Sonar Page menu with ColorLine command selected.
At right, the ColorLine control bar.
To adjust the ColorLine level:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to COLORLINE|ENT.
2. The ColorLine Control Bar appears. Press ↓ to decrease ColorLine;
press ↑ to increase ColorLine.
3. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT.
59
Wider
ColorLine
Thin or no ColorLine
At left, little ColorLine indicates a soft bottom, probably sand or mud.
At right, the wider ColorLine indicates a harder, rocky bottom.
Customize Page Displays
Every Page display option except Full Map and Map With Sonar has
customizable data boxes to provide constant on-screen information.
The various data available from your unit are divided into categories in
the Data Viewer menu. These categories include GPS Data, Navigation,
Trip Calculator, Time, and Sonar Data. You can select items from any
of these categories for display in any data box — the category divisions
are only there to help you sort through the information.
To change the information displayed in a data box:
While on the Page display you wish to change, press
CUSTOMIZE|ENT. A data box name flashes, indicating it is selected. Press
ENT to change the box or hit ↑, ↓, → or ← to select another box, then
press
ENT. You'll see a list of categories with "+" or "–" symbols next to
each category name. A category with a "+" next to it is expandable,
meaning its contents are hidden.
MENU|↓ to
60
Left; Digital Data box containing Water Temp is highlighted. Right;
Data Viewer with GPS Data and Navigation categories expanded.
Selecting the category name and pressing ENT will show the category's
contents, so you can choose items within it. An expanded category (one
with a "–" next to its name) can be collapsed to hide its contents, and
make more room on your screen. Just select the category name and
press
ENT.
Expand any categories that might contain data you want to display.
Then press ↓ or ↑ to select a different data option. With the new option
highlighted, press
type, then press
you are finished with the settings, press
ENT to switch the contents of the box to the new data
EXIT. You can now select another box to change. When
EXIT again to end the Custom-
ize command, and the box name stops flashing.
A Page display can show a limited number of data boxes. You can not
turn them off or add more data boxes.
Depth Cursor
The depth cursor consists of a horizontal line with a digital depth box on
the right side. The numbers inside the box show the depth of the cursor.
61
Cursor line
Depth box
At left, Sonar Page menu with Depth Cursor command selected. At
right, sonar chart with the depth cursor active. The line indicates the
school of fish is 31.91 feet deep.
The cursor can be moved to any location on the screen, letting you pinpoint the depth of a target.
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to DEPTH CURSOR|ENT.
2. The depth cursor appears. Press ↓ to lower the cursor line; press ↑ to
raise the cursor line.
3. To clear the depth cursor, press
EXIT.
Depth Range - Automatic
When turned on for the first time, the bottom signal is automatically
placed in the lower half of the screen. This is called Auto Ranging and
is part of the automatic function. However, depending upon the bottom
depth and the current range, you can change the range to a different
depth. To do this:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to DEPTH RANGE|ENT.
62
At left, Sonar Page menu with Depth Range command selected. At
right, the Depth Range Control Scale.
2. The Depth Range Control Scale appears. Press ↑ or ↓ to select a different depth range. A blue bar highlights the selected range. Range
numbers in light blue cannot be selected.
3. When the new range is selected, press
EXIT to clear the menu.
Depth Range - Manual
You have complete control over the range when the unit is in the manual mode. There are 16 depth ranges, from 5 feet to 4,000 feet.
To switch to Manual Depth Range:
1. First, turn off automatic depth range. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to AUTO DEPTH RANGE|ENT.
2. Press ↑ to
DEPTH RANGE|ENT and the Depth Range Control Scale appears.
3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select a different depth range. A horizontal blue bar
highlights the selected range.
4. When the new range is selected, press
To turn Auto Depth Range on again:
EXIT to clear the menu.
From the Sonar Page, press MENU|↓ to AUTO DEPTH RANGE|ENT|EXIT.
NOTE:
The sonar's depth capability depends on the transducer installation, water and bottom conditions, and other factors.
FasTrack
This feature automatically converts all echoes to short horizontal lines
on the display's far right side. The graph on the rest of the screen continues to operate normally. FasTrack gives you a rapid update of condi-
63
tions directly under the boat. This makes it useful for ice fishing, or
when you're fishing at anchor. When the boat is not moving, fish signals are long, drawn out lines on a normal chart display. FasTrack converts the graph to a vertical bar graph that, with practice, makes a useful addition to fishing at a stationary location.
Surface clutter
Fish arches
Structure
In FasTrack, fish
arches show as
horizontal bars.
Bottom signal
ColorLine
Sonar Page showing FasTrack.
FasTrack
bar graph
Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths)
The Fish I.D. feature identifies targets that meet certain conditions as
fish. The microcomputer analyzes all echoes and eliminates surface
clutter, thermoclines, and other signals that are undesirable. In most
instances, remaining targets are fish. The Fish I.D. feature displays
fish symbols on the screen in place of the actual fish echoes.
There are several fish symbol sizes. These are used to designate the
relative size between targets. In other words, Fish I.D. displays a small
fish symbol when it thinks a target is a small fish, a medium fish symbol on a larger target and so on.
The sonar's microcomputer is sophisticated, but it can be fooled. It can't
distinguish between fish and other suspended objects such as trotlines,
turtles, submerged floats, air bubbles, etc. Individual tree limbs extending outwards from a group of limbs is the hardest object for the
Fish I.D. feature to distinguish from fish.
You may see fish symbols on the screen when actually, there are no
fish. The reverse is also true. The illustrations on the next page show
how Fish I.D. can actually miss fish that are present.
Does that mean Fish I.D. is broken? No — the feature is simply interpreting sonar returns in a specific way to help take some of the work
out of reading the screen. Remember: Fish I.D. is one of the many tools
we provide so you can analyze your sonar returns for maximum fish
64
finding information. This and other features can help you successfully
"see" beneath the boat under varied water and fishing conditions. So,
practice with the unit in both the Fish I.D. mode and without to become
more familiar with the feature. The default for Fish I.D. is off.
Sonar Features menu with Fish I.D. Symbols selected (at left, dual-
frequency menu; at right, single-frequency menu). When the check box
to the left is checked, the feature is on.
To turn the Fish I.D. feature on:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
FISH SYMBOLS|ENT|EXIT|EXIT.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
To turn off Fish I.D., repeat these instructions.
FishTrack
The FishTrack feature shows the depth of a fish symbol when it appears on the display. This lets you accurately gauge the depth of targets. This feature is available only when the Fish I.D. feature is on. The
default setting for FishTrack is off.
To turn on FishTrack:
(Note: These instructions will turn on FishTrack and Fish I.D. at the
same time.)
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
FISH DEPTHS|ENT|EXIT|EXIT.
To turn off FishTrack, repeat the instructions in step 1. Turning off
FishTrack in this manner will not turn off Fish I.D. symbols.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
65
Symbols with
FishTrack depths
Sonar Features menu with Fish I.D. Depths selected (at left, dual-
frequency menu; center, single-frequency menu). When the check box to
the left is checked, the feature is on. At right, Sonar Page showing Fish
I.D. symbols and FishTrack depths turned on.
Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency)
(SeaCharter 500CDF only)
The SeaCharter 500CDF transducer operates with both 200 kHz and 50
kHz. The 200 kHz frequency has a 12° cone angle and the 50 kHz frequency has a 35° cone angle.
The default frequency is 200 kHz, which is best for use in shallow water
(about 300 feet or less). This frequency is the best choice for about 80
percent of the fresh and salt water sport fishing applications. When you
get into very deep salt water, 300 to 500 feet or deeper, the 50 kHz frequency is the best choice.
The 200 kHz transducer will give you better detail and definition, but
less depth penetration. The 50 kHz transducer will give you greater
depth penetration, but a little less detail and less definition. (Remember,
all sonar units typically read deeper in fresh water than in salt water.)
There is a common exception to these rules. Some fishermen on freshwater lakes (or the ocean) using downriggers like to see them on the
sonar. In many of those cases, you'll see a 50 kHz transducer frequency
in use because the wider cone angle lets them watch the bait.
66
Sonar Features menu with a frequency of 200 kHz selected.
To change the frequency setting to 50 kHz:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
3. Press
FISH DEPTHS|→ to 50 KHZ|ENT.
EXIT|EXIT to clear the menu.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
To change the frequency setting to 200 kHz:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
3. Press
FISH SYMBOLS|→ to 200 KHZ|ENT.
EXIT|EXIT to clear the menu.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
HyperScroll
See the entry on Ping Speed, which controls the HyperScroll feature.
Log Sonar Chart Data
If you have an MMC installed in the unit, the sonar data shown on the
screen can be saved to the MMC. This can be played back at any time
(to play a recorded sonar chart log, see the entry in this section for Sonar Simulator). If you have a personal computer and Internet access,
visit our web site, www.eaglesonar.com, and download the free Sonar
Viewer and the emulator for your unit. These programs will allow you
to replay sonar logs on your personal computer.
67
At left, the Sonar Page menu with the Log Sonar Chart Data command
selected. At right, Sonar Chart Logging menu, with the Start Logging
command selected. The menu says the MMC has 34.2 MB of free space,
which will record the scrolling chart for 44 minutes and 59 seconds.
To record or log chart data:
1. Press
MENU|↓ to LOG SONAR CHART DATA|ENT.
2. To record data using the default settings, press
ENT. The menu clears
and the Sonar Page title bar shows the name of the file you are recording. Warning messages will appear as recording time begins to run out.
NOTE:
You can change any of the settings by using the cursor arrows to
highlight different commands. Select
change the name. Select
CHART QUALITY if you want to lower the file
FILE NAME if you want to
quality and record for a longer period of time. After you've changed
the settings, select
START LOGGING and press ENT.
Noise Rejection
See the entry on Advanced Signal Processing in this section.
Overlay Data
On any Page display except Satellite Status, you can "float" or overlay
additional GPS or navigation data on the screen with the Overlay Data
command. For example, if you left your watch at home, you could display the local time on top of the map. Or, if you wanted to see details
about your route and trip, you could show your bearing, course, average
speed and trip distance.
68
The various data available from your unit are divided into categories in
the Overlay Data menu. These categories include GPS Data, Navigation, Trip Calculator, Time and Sonar Data.
You can select items from any of these categories for display, in any
combination — the category divisions are there only to help you sort
through the information.
Overlay Data, with "Navigation," "Trip Calculator"
and "Time" categories expanded.
To overlay information on your screen:
1. While on the Navigation Page, a Map Page or a Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.
2. You'll see a list of the overlay data currently shown, if any. Select
(ENTER TO ADD) and press ENT. The data viewer shows information cate-
gories with "+" or "–" symbols next to each category name. A category
with a "+" next to it is expandable, meaning its contents are hidden.
Selecting the category name and pressing
ENT will show the category's
contents, so you can choose items within it. An expanded category (one
with a "–" next to its name) can be collapsed to hide its contents. Just
select the category name and press
ENT.
3. Expand any categories that might contain data you want to display.
Then press ↓ or ↑ to select a data option.
4. With the data option highlighted, press
ENT to check it (turn on) and
uncheck it (turn off). As you turn it on, the data will appear on top of
the screen. Every Page display has a maximum number of items you
can show using the Overlay Data command.
5. After the desired changes are made, press
EXIT|EXIT to return to the
page display.
69
From Overlay Data Shown (left) press ENT to see Data Viewer (center).
Select a category and press ENT. Next, select information to show on
screen and press ENT to check it and turn it on (right).
To remove overlaid data:
1. While on the Page that shows the item or items you want to remove,
press
MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.
2. You'll see a list of the overlay data currently displayed. Select the
item you want to remove from your display and press
ENT|ENT to re-
move the data. To remove another item, select the item and press
ENT|ENT.
3. When you have finished removing all the items you want from the
screen, press
EXIT to return to the page display.
Overlay Data Shown, with Date option selected (left). Press ENT to ac-
cess R
EMOVE option (center). Press ENT again to remove item and return
to Overlay Data Shown (right).
To move overlaid data:
You may find it useful to rearrange data that is floating in your display
window.
70
1. Press
MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.
2. You'll see a list of the overlay data currently displayed. Select the
item you want to move and press
ENT|→ to MOVE|ENT.
3. The data begins to flash on your screen. Use any combination of →,
←, ↑ and ↓ to move the data to a new location on the screen.
4. When satisfied, press
EXIT|EXIT.
NOTE:
The Customize command and the Overlay Data command both use
the same information categories. The difference between the two
commands is that Customize changes only the data boxes on a
screen, and Overlay Data changes only the information floating on
the screen without a box. See Customize Page Displays, on page
145, for information on customizing data boxes.
To change displayed data font size:
1. Press MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.
2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select Data Type|press → or ← to Data Size. The selected data type will be displayed in the new size.
To change the font size of another data type, repeat the instructions in
Step 2.
3. After the desired changes are made, end the command and return to
the previous page by pressing
EXIT.
Steering
arrow
At left, Map Page showing boat cruising Puget Sound, Washington,
with Overlay Data turned on. This example shows Depth, Ground
Speed and the Steering Arrow. Note the Steering Arrow always points
directly to the destination you are navigating toward. Right, the ex-
ample shows Depth, Ground Speed and the Track the boat is following.
71
NOTE:
Some data types can be displayed in only one font size. If that is the
case, the Data Size box will not be displayed for that data type.
Ping Speed & HyperScroll
Ping Speed controls the rate at which the transmitter and transducer
broadcast sonar sound waves — pings — into the water. The unit has a
default ping speed of 50 percent. At normal boating speeds, this automatically provides enough return echoes to refresh the screen and scroll
the chart at maximum chart speed.
However, when you are running at high speeds, or just want the fastest
possible screen update, you may want to use the HyperScroll feature.
When you change the Ping Speed to any setting greater than 50 percent, the unit automatically enters HyperScroll mode.
These faster ping rates allow you to maintain a high-detail picture on
the screen, and the screen refresh rate and chart scroll speed can keep
pace with the boat as it moves quickly over the bottom terrain.
When using HyperScroll, you may also need to manually decrease the
sensitivity for optimum performance. Depending on water depth and
other conditions, HyperScroll may cause a second bottom echo to return
to the transducer during the next ping cycle, or sounding. This can result
in a large amount of clutter appearing on the screen. If this occurs, just
decrease the sensitivity to a level that eliminates the clutter. When you
turn HyperScroll off, you can return to your original sensitivity level.
At left, Sonar Menu with Ping Speed command selected.
Ping Speed Control Bar, right, at default setting.
72
To change Ping Speed:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to PING SPEED|ENT.
2. The Ping Speed Control Bar appears. Press ↑ to increase ping speed;
press ↓ to decrease speed. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT.
To turn off HyperScroll:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to PING SPEED|ENT.
2. The Ping Speed Control Bar appears. Press↓ to decrease ping speed
to 50 percent. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT.
When you boost ping speed and switch into HyperScroll, the width of
the FasTrack bar graph display doubles in width at the right side of the
screen. This allows you to better see the virtually instantaneous sonar
returns, just as you would on a flasher sonar unit. For more information on FasTrack, see its entry in this section.
Reset Options
This command is used to reset all features, options and settings to their
original factory defaults. This is useful when you have changed several
settings and want to return the unit to basic automatic operation.
1. Press
2. Press ← to
MENU|MENU|↓ to SYSTEM SETUP|ENT|↓ to RESET OPTIONS|ENT.
YES|ENT.
3. All the menus are cleared and the unit reverts to the Map Page at
the 4000 mile zoom range, just as if you had turned it on for the first
time. All options have been returned to the factory settings.
At left, System Setup menu with Reset Options command selected. At
right, the Reset Options dialog box, with "Yes" selected.
73
NOTE:
Reset Options does not erase any waypoints, routes, plot trails, or
sonar logs.
Reset Water Distance
The sonar chart's Digital Data display option includes a box that shows
distance traveled, called Water Distance. This information is calculated
from an optional water speed sensor, not the GPS. The Water Distance
window can be reset to zero using the Reset Water Distance command.
Press
TANCE
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to RESET WATER DIS-
|ENT. The menus are cleared and the water distance is reset to 0.00.
Set Keel Offset
This unit measures water depth from the face of the transducer. Since
the transducer is installed below the water surface, the distance displayed by the digital depth, chart depth scale, chart cursor or fish symbols is not the exact water depth. If the transducer is 1 foot below the
surface, and the screen shows the water depth as 30 feet, then the actual depth is 31 feet.
On sailboats or other large vessels with deep drafts, the distance between the transducer installation and the keel or lower engine unit can
be several feet. In those cases, an inexact depth reading could result in
grounding or striking underwater structure. The Keel Offset feature
eliminates the need for the navigator to mentally calculate how much
water is under his keel.
Keel Offset lets you calibrate the digital depth, chart depth scale, chart
cursor depth and fish symbol depth displayed on the screen. To calibrate
the depth indicators, first measure the distance from the face of the
transducer to the lowest part of the boat. In this example, we will use 3.5
feet. This will entered as a negative 3.5 feet, which makes the depth indicators perform as if the transducer's lower in the water than it really is.
1. Press
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to SET KEEL OFFSET|ENT.
2. The Keel Offset dialog box appears. Press ↓ to change the plus (+)
sign to a minus (–) sign.
3. Press → to the first number, then press ↑ to change the number to 3
4. Press → to the second number, then press ↑ to change the number to
5, then press
EXIT. The depth indicators now accurately show the depth
of water beneath the keel.
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NOTE:
If knowing the exact depth of water beneath the keel is less important,
you can calibrate the depth indicators so that they show the actual water depth from surface to bottom. To do this, first measure the distance
from the face of the transducer up to the surface (the water line on the
boat). In this example, we will use 1.5 feet. This will be entered as a
positive 1.5 feet, which makes the depth indicators perform as if the
transducer's higher in the water than it really is.
1. Press
SET
|ENT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to SET KEEL OFF-
2. The Keel Offset dialog box appears with a plus (+) sign at the
front of the box.
3. Press → to the first number, then press ↑ to change the number to 1.
4. Press → to the second number, them press ↑ to change the number to 5, then press
EXIT. The depth indicators now accurately show
the water depth from surface to bottom.
Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity
The sensitivity controls the ability of the unit to pick up echoes. Sensitivity can be adjusted, because water conditions vary greatly. A low
sensitivity level (from zero to 50 percent) excludes much of the bottom
information, fish signals, and other target information.
High sensitivity levels let you see this detail, but it can also clutter the
screen with many undesired signals. Typically, the best sensitivity level
shows a good solid bottom signal with Colorline and some surface clutter.
Automatic Sensitivity
The default sensitivity mode is automatic. The unit bases the sensitivity level on water depth and conditions. When the unit is in the automatic mode, sensitivity is automatically adjusted to keep a solid bottom
signal displayed, plus a little more power. This gives it the capability to
show fish and other detail.
However, situations occur when it becomes necessary to increase or decrease the sensitivity. This typically happens when you wish to see
more detail, so an increase in sensitivity is indicated. Or, wave action
and boat wakes can create enough tiny air bubbles to clutter much of
the water column. In that case, a decrease in sensitivity is indicated to
reduce some of the clutter.
The control bar used to adjust sensitivity up or down is the same
whether the unit is in the automatic or manual mode. In automatic you
75
can adjust sensitivity up to 100 percent but the unit will limit your
minimum setting. In auto, the unit will continue to make small adjustments, allowing for the setting you selected.
In manual mode, you have complete control over sensitivity, with the
ability to set it anywhere from zero to 100 percent. Once you select a
level in manual, the unit will continue to use that exact sensitivity setting until you change it or revert to auto mode.
To adjust sensitivity in auto mode:
1. Press
MENU|ENT.
2. The Sensitivity Control Bar appears. Press ↓ to decrease sensitivity;
press ↑ to increase sensitivity. When it's set at the desired level, press
EXIT. (When you reach the maximum or minimum limit, a tone sounds.)
At left, Sonar Menu with Sensitivity command selected. At right, the
Sensitivity Control Bar.
To adjust sensitivity in manual mode:
1. First, turn off Auto Sensitivity: from the Sonar Page, press
to
AUTO SENSITIVITY|ENT.
2. Press ↑ to
SENSITIVITY|ENT and the Sensitivity Control Bar appears.
MENU|↓
Press ↓ or ↑ to pick a different sensitivity setting. When it's set at the
desired level, press
EXIT.
To turn Auto Sensitivity back on:
From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to AUTO SENSITIVITY|ENT|EXIT.
NOTE:
To return to the original factory setting for Auto Sensitivity, see the
entry in this section on Reset Options. If sensitivity is in manual
76
mode, the Reset Options command will switch back to Auto and reset the factory setting at the same time.
Tip:
For quicker sensitivity adjustments, try leaving the Sensitivity
Control Bar on the screen as the chart scrolls. You can see the
changes on the screen as you press the up or down arrows. This is
handy when there's a lot of clutter in the water, and you are
matching the sensitivity to rapidly changing water conditions.
Sonar Chart Mode
The default color scheme for the sonar chart is white background, but
we offer other variations to suit your viewing preferences. You can select the chart to be displayed in grayscale, reverse grayscale, blue background, or Nightview, IceView, or bottom color tracking.
To change the chart mode color scheme:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
2. Press ↓ to
SONAR COLOR MODE|ENT.
3. Press ↓ or ↑ to Mode Name|
4. Press
EXIT|EXIT to return to the Sonar Page.
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.
ENT.
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options
The Pages Menu offers three chart display options. To access them, press
PAGES|→ to SONAR|↓ to Option Name|EXIT.
Pages Menu, showing sonar chart display options.
Full Sonar Chart
This is the default mode used when the unit is turned on for the first
time or when it's reset to the factory defaults.
The bottom signal scrolls across the screen from right to left. Depth
77
scales on the right side of the screen aid in determining the depth of
targets. The line at the top of the screen represents the surface. The
bottom depth and surface temperature (if equipped with a temperature
sensor or a transducer with a temp sensor built in) show at the top left
corner of the screen.
The FasTrack™ display shows just to the right of the scale. This
changes all echoes into short horizontal bars, replicating a flasher sonar. The zoom bar on the far right shows the area that's zoomed when
the zoom is in use. (See the Zoom section for more information.)
Full Sonar Chart. The Overlay Data (depth and water temperature)
are set to different text sizes.
Split Zoom Sonar Chart
A split chart shows the underwater world from the surface to the bottom on the right side of the screen. The left side shows an enlarged version of the right side. The zoom range shows at the bottom left corner of
the screen.
78
Split Zoom Sonar Chart. Image at left shows the left window zoomed to
2X. Press ZIN and the left window zooms to 4X, shown at right.
Digital Data
This mode shows the chart on the right side of the screen. The left side
has five large digital data boxes containing (by default): Water Depth,
Water Temperature, Water Speed (from an optional speed sensor), Water Distance (distance traveled or log, it also requires a speed sensor)
and an air temperature sensor. The Depth box also shows settings for
the Shallow and Deep alarms.
Digital Data.
Customizing the Digital Data Screen
The Digital Data screen can be customized to show digital data different from the defaults first shown. To customize this screen:
1. From the Sonar Page (in Digital Data mode), press
CUSTOMIZE|ENT.
MENU|↓ to
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At left, the Sonar Page Menu showing the Customize command high-
lighted. At right, the label for the first customizable data box (Water
Temp) begins flashing to indicate it is selected.
2. The Water Temperature box title bar flashes, indicating the box contents can be changed. Press
then press
press
ENT. Press ↑ or ↓ to select a different type of data, then
ENT|EXIT|EXIT. (The top Depth box cannot be customized.)
ENT or press ↑ or ↓ to select a different box,
Data Viewer list for customizing Digital Data boxes. At left, the list first
appears with Water Temperature selected. At right, Maximum Speed
has been picked to replace Water Temperature. (Select a "+" category
and press ENT to expand the list, or select a "–" category and press ENT
to collapse the list.)
Tip:
You can customize other digital data boxes before returning to the
Sonar Page. After changing the first box by selecting the Data Type
and pressing
change. When the selected box title bar flashes, press
ENT|EXIT, use the ↑ or ↓ key to select another box to
ENT then ↑ or
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↓ to select data type|
ished customizing, then press
ENT|EXIT. Repeat these steps until you're fin-
EXIT to return to the Sonar Page.
Map With Sonar Split Screen
There is a page mode that splits the screen in half, with the map on the
left and the sonar on the right. This screen option can be found on the
Pages Menu under the Map Page category.
Map With Sonar split screen option. At far left, the full Map Page is
shown. The Pages Menu with the Map option list is shown in the
center. At right, the Map With Sonar split screen is shown.
When this screen is activated, you need to specify which side the Menu,
Zoom In and Zoom Out keys correspond to. To do this, press
PAGES|PAGES. The window with the black title bar at the top of the screen
is the active window. To switch back, just press
PAGES|PAGES again.
Sonar Simulator
This unit has a built-in simulator that lets you run it as if you were on
the water. All sonar features and functions are useable. To use the
simulator:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
SONAR SIMULATOR|ENT|EXIT. Repeat these steps to turn it off.
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to
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At left, Main Menu with Sonar Setup command selected. Center, sub-
menu with Sonar Simulator command selected. At right, Sonar Simu-
lator menu, with simulator turned off (check box is unchecked).
NOTE:
With Simulate Position checked, the simulator will also automatically
run the GPS simulator (if GPS data was recorded with the sonar log).
2. To use the default sonar chart log stored in the unit, press
ENT|EXIT.
The recorded chart begins scrolling across the screen, just as if you
were on the water.
3. Turn off Sonar Simulator by pressing
SETUP|ENT|↓ to SONAR SIMULATOR|ENT|ENT|EXIT.
Title bar with chart file name
Sonar Page, playing a recorded sonar chart in Sonar Simulator mode.
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR
Play symbol
flashing
Tip:
The Sonar Simulator can use sonar charts that you or a friend has
recorded (logged) on an MMC card. (To see how, read the entry in
82
this section on Log Sonar Chart Data.) To play back your own sonar
chart, make sure the MMC containing the chart is installed, then:
1. Press
2. Press ↓ to
3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select chart name|
ON|ENT|EXIT.
MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to SONAR SIMULATOR|ENT.
CHART USED|ENT.
ENT|↑ to SONAR SIMULATOR
While you're in the Sonar Simulator menu, don't forget to check
Simulate Position if you want to run the sonar and GPS simulators
simultaneously. As you review sonar logs, you can create waypoints
to mark sites you want to return to.
While the simulator is running, you can switch from one chart log
to another by opening the Sonar Simulator menu and using the instructions in step 2 to select a different chart.
Tip:
There's more than one way to play a recorded sonar chart. You can
also turn on the simulator from the MMC files list. Here's how:
1. Press
2. Press ↓ or ↑ to chart name|
NOTE:
For some great practice, try running the Sonar Simulator and the
GPS Simulator at the same time. This will really give you a feel for
how the unit will work in the field.
MENU|MENU|↓ to BROWSE MMC FILES|ENT|ENT.
ENT|↓ to PLAY|ENT|EXIT.
NOTE:
If you turn on your unit before attaching a transducer, it may enter a
demo mode. The words demo mode flash on the bottom of the screen
and a sonar chart plays much like the simulator. Unlike the simulator, the demo mode is for demonstration only, and will automatically
stop as soon as you turn on the unit with a transducer attached. The
simulator will continue to function normally.
Stop Chart
If you are running multiple units on a boat or using this unit in a car,
there are times when you may want to turn off the sonar. This command turns off the sonar and stops the chart from scrolling. Sonar restarts automatically each time you turn on your unit.
From the Sonar Page press
MENU|↓ to STOP CHART|ENT|EXIT.
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To turn on sonar and start the chart scrolling again, repeat the above step.
Sonar Menu with Stop Chart command selected. The box is unchecked,
indicating that the chart is scrolling across the screen.
Surface Clarity
The markings extending downward from the zero line on the chart are
called surface clutter. These markings are caused by wave action, boat
wakes, temperature inversion and more.
The surface clarity control reduces or eliminates surface clutter signals from the display. It does this by changing the sensitivity of the
receiver, decreasing it near the surface and gradually increasing it as
the depth increases.
There are three levels of surface clarity available: low, medium, or high.
It can also be turned off. The default level is off.
To adjust the Surface Clarity level:
1. From the Sonar Page, press
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT|ENT.
Sonar Features menu with Surface Clarity selected (at left, dual-
frequency menu; at right, single-frequency menu).
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2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select clarity level|
Surface clutter
EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.
In the illustration at left, Surface Clarity is turned off.
The right view shows Surface Clarity set at High.
Zoom & Zoom Bar
Zooming the display is a common, fast and easy method used to enlarge
small detail, fish signals and the bottom with its associated structure.
This unit lets you zoom the display quickly and easily by pressing the
Zoom In key,
ZIN.
Pressing
ZIN once doubles the size (2X) of all echoes on the screen.
Pressing it again quadruples the size of the echoes (4X). When turned
on, the zoom bar on the far right side of the screen shows which echoes
will be displayed on the screen when the
To turn on the zoom bar, press
to
ZOOM BAR|ENT|EXIT|EXIT. Repeat these steps to turn it off.
For example, pressing the
MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT. Press ↓
ZIN key once will enable a 2X zoom which
ZIN key is pressed.
will show all echoes that are between the top and bottom of the 2X
zoom bar. Pressing the key again will give a 4X zoom and only the echoes between the top and bottom of the 4X bar will show on the screen.
Press the Zoom Out key,
ZOUT, to return the display to the normal mode.
85
At left, Sonar Page, normal view. Center, same view zoomed to 2X.
Right, same view zoomed to 4X
Zoom Pan
Your unit has the handy ability to quickly zoom in on any portion of the
water column with just the touch of an arrow key. The Zoom Pan feature
lets you rapidly move the zoomed area up and down to different depths.
By "pointing" your zoom at different portions of the chart as it scrolls,
you can get a good, close-up look at structure or cover below you.
To use Zoom Pan, switch to a manual depth Range setting (see page 63)
and turn on 2X or 4X Zoom. Then, simply press ↑ or
down the water column.
↓ to pan up and
86
Section 5:
Sonar Troubleshooting
If your unit is not working, or if you need technical help, please use the
following troubleshooting section before contacting the factory customer
service department. It may save you the trouble of returning your unit
for repair. For contact information, refer to the last page, just inside the
back cover of this manual.
Unit won't turn on:
1. Check the power cable's connection at the unit. Also check the wiring.
2. Make sure the power cable is wired properly. The red wire connects
to the positive battery terminal, black to negative or ground.
3. Check the fuse.
4. Measure the battery voltage at the unit's power connector. It should
be at least 10 volts. If it isn't, the wiring to the unit is defective, the
battery terminals or wiring on the terminals are corroded, or the battery needs charging.
Unit freezes, locks up, or operates erratically:
1. Electrical noise from the boat's motor, trolling motor, or an accessory
may be interfering with the sonar unit. Rerouting the power and transducer cables away from other electrical wiring on the boat may help.
Route the sonar unit's power cable directly to the battery instead of
through a fuse block or ignition switch
2. Inspect the transducer cable for breaks, cuts, or pinched wires.
3. Check the transducer and power connector. Make sure it's securely
plugged in to the unit.
Weak bottom echo, digital readings erratic, or no fish signals:
1. Make sure the transducer is pointing straight down. Clean the face of
the transducer. Oil, dirt and fuel can cause a film to form on the transducer, reducing its effectiveness. If the transducer is mounted inside the
hull, be sure it is shooting through only one layer of fiberglass and that it
is securely bonded to the hull. When attaching a transducer to the inside
of a hull, ONLY use the epoxy available from LEI (order information is
inside the back cover). Do NOT use RTV silicone rubber adhesive or any
other type of epoxy. The LEI epoxy is specially formulated so that it will
cure properly for shoot-through applications.
2. Electrical noise from the boat's motor can interfere with the sonar.
This causes the sonar to automatically increase its discrimination or
noise rejection feature. This can cause the unit to eliminate weaker
signals such as fish or even structure from the display.
87
3. The water may be deeper than the sonar's ability to find the bottom.
If the sonar can't find the bottom signal while it's in the automatic
mode, the digital sonar display will flash continuously. It may change
the range to limits far greater than the water you are in. If this happens, place the unit in the manual mode, then change the range to a
realistic one, (for example, 0-100 feet) and increase the sensitivity. As
you move into shallower water, a bottom signal should appear.
4. Check the battery voltage. If the voltage drops, the unit's transmitter
power also drops, reducing its ability to find the bottom or targets.
Bottom echo disappears at high speeds or erratic digital reading or weak bottom echo while boat is moving:
1. The transducer may be in turbulent water. It must be mounted in a
smooth flow of water in order for the sonar to work at all boat speeds. Air
bubbles in the water disrupt the sonar signals, interfering with its ability
to find the bottom or other targets. The technical term for this is cavitation.
2. Electrical noise from the boat's motor can interfere with the sonar.
This causes the sonar to automatically increase its discrimination or
noise rejection feature. This can cause the unit to eliminate weaker
signals such as fish or even structure from the display. Try using resistor spark plugs or routing the sonar unit's power and transducer cables
away from other electrical wiring on the boat.
No fish arches when the Fish I.D. feature is off:
1. Make sure the transducer is pointing straight down. This is the most
common problem if a partial arch is displayed.
2. The sensitivity may not be high enough. In order for the unit to display a fish arch, it has to be able to receive the fish's echo from the time
it enters the cone until it leaves. If the sensitivity is not high enough,
the unit shows the fish only when it is in the center of the cone.
3. Use the Zoom feature. It is much easier to display fish arches when
zoomed in on a small range of water than a large one. For example, you
will have much better luck seeing fish arches with a 30 to 60 foot range
than a 0 to 60 foot range. This enlarges the targets, allowing the display to show much more detail.
4. The boat must be moving at a slow trolling speed to see fish arches.
If the boat is motionless, fish stay in the cone, showing on the screen as
straight horizontal lines.
NOISE
A major cause of sonar problems is electrical noise. This usually appears on the sonar's display as random patterns of dots or lines. In severe cases, it can completely cover the screen with black dots, or cause
the unit to operate erratically, or not at all.
88
To eliminate or minimize the effects of electrical noise, first try to determine the cause. With the boat at rest in the water, the first thing
you should do is turn all electrical equipment on the boat off. Make sure
the engine is also off. Turn your sonar on, then turn off Noise Reject
[also known as the ASP feature (Advanced Signal Processing)]. Sensitivity should be set at 90-95 percent. There should be a steady bottom
signal on the display. Now turn on each piece of electrical equipment on
the boat and view the effect on the sonar's display. For example, turn
on the bilge pump and view the sonar display for noise. If no noise is
present, turn the pump off, then turn on the VHF radio and transmit.
Keep doing this until all electrical equipment has been turned on, their
effect on the sonar display noted, then turned off.
If you find noise interference from an electrical instrument, trolling motor, pump, or radio, try to isolate the problem. You can usually reroute
the sonar unit's power cable and transducer cable away from the wiring
that is causing the interference. VHF radio antenna cables radiate
noise when transmitting, so be sure to keep the sonar's wires away
from it. You may need to route the sonar unit's power cable directly to
the battery to isolate it from other wiring on the boat.
If no noise displays on the sonar unit from electrical equipment, then
make sure everything except the sonar unit is turned off, then start the
engine. Increase the RPM with the gearshift in neutral. If noise appears on the display, the problem could be one of three things; spark
plugs, alternator, or tachometer wiring. Try using resistor spark plugs,
alternator filters, or routing the sonar unit's power cable away from
engine wiring. Again, routing the power cable directly to the battery
helps eliminate noise problems. Make sure to use the in-line fuse supplied with the unit when wiring the power cable to the battery.
When no noise appears on the sonar unit after all of the above tests,
then the noise source is probably cavitation. Many novices or persons
with limited experience make hasty sonar installations which function
perfectly in shallow water, or when the boat is at rest. In nearly all
cases, the cause of the malfunction will be the location and/or angle of
the transducer. The face of the transducer must be placed in a location
that has a smooth flow of water at all boat speeds. Read your transducer owner's manual or the Installation instructions (Sec. 2) in this
manual for the best mounting position.
89
Notes
90
Section 6:
Basic GPS Operations
This section addresses the unit's most basic GPS operations. The tutorials presented in Sec. 6 follow a chronological order. Sec. 7, Advanced
GPS Operations, will discuss other more advanced functions and utilities. Material in Sec. 7 is arranged in alphabetical order.
Before you turn on the unit and find where you are, it's a good idea to
learn about the different keys, the four Page screens and how they all
work together. BUT, if you just can't wait to get outside, turn to the
one-page Quick Reference on page 104.
Keyboard
4
8
2
3
5
MMC slot access door
SeaCharter 500CDF sonar/GPS unit, front view, showing map with so-
nar chart screen display, keyboard and access door for the MMC slot.
9
7
6
1
1. PWR/LIGHT (Power & Light) – The PWR key turns the unit on and
off and activates the backlight.
2. PAGES – Pressing this and the ← → arrow keys (4) switches the
unit between the four different page screens. (Satellite Status Page,
Navigation Page, Map Page and Sonar Page.) Each page represents one
of the unit's major operation modes.
91
3. MENU – Press this key to show the menus and submenus, which
allow you to select a command or adjust a feature. This also accesses
search functions for streets, intersections and highway exits.
4. ARROW KEYS – These keys are used to navigate through the
menus, make menu selections, move the map cursor and sonar chart
cursor and enter data.
5. ENT/ICONS (Enter & Icons) – This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. It is also used to create event
marker icons.
6. EXIT – The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear
data or erase a menu.
7. WPT – (Waypoint) The Waypoint key is used to save and recall waypoints, search for waypoints and access the waypoint list. It also
launches the Point-of-Interest (POI) search menus and is involved in
some navigation functions.
8. ZOUT – (Zoom Out) – This key lets you zoom the screen out. On the
Sonar Page, this key returns you to a full sonar chart display, showing
the entire water column from surface to bottom. On the Map Page, this
lets you see a larger geographic area on the map. Less detail is seen as
you zoom out.
9. ZIN – (Zoom In) – This key lets you zoom the screen in. On the Sonar
Page, this key enlarges fish signals and bottom detail. On the Map
Page, zooming in lets you see greater detail in a smaller geographic
area on the map.
Power/lights on and off
To turn on the unit, press PWR. As the unit powers up, the Map Page is
displayed first. (To switch to another page, press
Page Name|
To turn on the backlight, press PWR again. The unit has three backlight
levels to select from. Repeatedly pressing
backlight settings and turn off the backlight.
Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the
EXIT.)
PWR will cycle through the
PWR key for 3 seconds.
PAGES|← or → to
Main Menu
The unit has a Main Menu, which contains some function commands and
some setup option commands. The tutorial lessons in this section will
deal only with functions, the basic commands that make the unit do
something. The GPS will work fine for these lessons right out of the box
with the factory default settings. But, if you want to learn about the
various options, see Sec. 8, System Setup and GPS Setup Options.
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