Eagle Electronics SeaCharter 480DF, FishElite 480 User Manual

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www.eaglesonar.com

Pub. 988-0143-731



FishElite 480 and



SeaCharter 480DF

Fish-finding Sonars & Mapping GPS

Installation and Operation

Instructions

Eagle

is a registered trademark of Eagle Electronics

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 480DF shown. Other models covered in the manual are similar.

For free owner's manuals and other information,

visit our web site:

www.eaglesonar.com

Eagle Electronics

P.O. Box 669

Catoosa, OK USA 74015

Printed in USA.

Table of Contents

Sec. 1: Read Me First! ...............................................................1

Capabilities and Specifications .................................................... 3

How Eagle Sonar Works............................................................... 5

How Eagle GPS Works ................................................................. 6

Introduction to GPS and WAAS................................................... 8

How to Use this Manual: Typographical Conventions.............. 10

Sec. 2: Installation & Accessories ........................................ 13

Preparations................................................................................ 13

Transducer Installation.............................................................. 13

Recommended Tools and Supplies ......................................... 14

Selecting a Transducer Location............................................ 14

How Low Should You Go?....................................................... 16

Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 16

Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 17

Trolling Motor Bracket Installation (Single-frequency only) 23

Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 24

Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation................................................. 24

Hulls with Floatation Materials............................................. 24

Testing Determines Best Location......................................... 25

Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ................................................. 27

Speed/Temperature Sensors....................................................... 28

FishElite 480 Sensor Chart .................................................... 29

SeaCharter 480DF Sensor Chart ........................................... 30

Optional Speed Sensor Installation ....................................... 30

GPS Antenna/Receiver Module .................................................. 32

Power Connections...................................................................... 33

NMEA/DGPS Cable Connections (SeaCharter 480DF only) .... 34

NMEA/DGPS Wiring (SeaCharter 480DF only).................... 35

Mounting the Unit: Bracket, in-Dash or Portable .................... 37

MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation ............................ 40

Other Accessories........................................................................ 41

Sec. 3: Basic Sonar Operation............................................... 43

Keyboard .....................................................................................43

Power/Lights (Turn Unit On and Off) ....................................... 44

Main Menu .................................................................................. 44

Pages ........................................................................................... 46

Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 46

Navigation Page...................................................................... 47

Map Page................................................................................. 47

Sonar Page .............................................................................. 48

Basic Sonar Quick Reference ............................................... 51

Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 52

Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 54

Other Free Training Aids ....................................................... 55

Sec. 4: Sonar Options & Other Features ............................57

ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ......................................... 57

Alarms ......................................................................................... 58

Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 58

Zone Alarm .............................................................................. 59

Fish Alarm............................................................................... 60

Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 60

Chart Speed................................................................................. 61

Depth Cursor............................................................................... 62

Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 62

Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 63

Turn Auto Depth Range on Again.......................................... 63

FasTrack .................................................................................. 63

Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 64

FishTrack ................................................................................. 66

FishReveal ............................................................................... 66

Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency) .............................68

Grayline



..................................................................................... 69

HyperScroll .............................................................................. 71

Log Sonar Chart Data ................................................................ 71

Noise Rejection............................................................................ 71

Overlay Data ............................................................................... 72

Select Data for Display: .......................................................... 72

Turn Off Displayed Data: ....................................................... 72

Change Displayed Data Font Size: ........................................ 73

Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 74

Reset Options .............................................................................. 75

Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 76

Set Keel Offset ............................................................................76

Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 77

Sonar Color Mode........................................................................ 79

Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 79

Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 79

Split Zoom Sonar Chart.......................................................... 80

Split Frequency Sonar Chart (SeaCharter 480DF only)....... 81

Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 82

Customizing the Digital Data/Chart Screen...................... 82

Map with Sonar Split Screen ................................................. 83

Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 84

Stop Chart ................................................................................... 86

Surface Clarity............................................................................ 87

Zoom & Zoom Bar ....................................................................... 88

Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 88

Sec. 5: Sonar Troubleshooting..............................................89

Sec. 6: Basic GPS Operations................................................ 93

Keyboard ..................................................................................... 93

Power/Lights (Turn Unit On and Off) ....................................... 94

Main Menu .................................................................................. 94

Pages ........................................................................................... 96

Sonar Page .............................................................................. 96

Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 96

Navigation Page...................................................................... 98

Map Page............................................................................... 100

Background Map vs. MapCreate Map Content ............... 102

Basic GPS Quick Reference ................................................ 105

Find your Current Position ...................................................... 106

Moving around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys............ 106

Selecting any Map Item with the Cursor ................................ 107

Searching................................................................................... 107

Set a Waypoint.......................................................................... 109

Create Waypoint at Current Position .................................. 110

Create Waypoint on Map...................................................... 111

Create Waypoint by Entering a Position ............................. 111

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................................................. 114

Creating and Saving a Trail..................................................... 114

Displaying a Saved Trail .......................................................... 116

Navigating Trails...................................................................... 117

Visual Trailing ...................................................................... 117

Navigate a Trail (Forward)................................................... 117

Navigate a Back Trail (Backtrack, or Reverse) ................... 119

Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ........................... 120

Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 122

Sec. 7: Advanced GPS Operations .....................................123

Find Distance from Current Position to Another Location .... 123

Find Distance from Point to Point ........................................... 123

Icons........................................................................................... 124

Create Icon on Map............................................................... 124

Create Icon at Current Position ........................................... 124

Delete an Icon ....................................................................... 124

Navigate to an Icon............................................................... 125

iii

Routes........................................................................................ 125

Create and Save a Route ......................................................126

PC-Created Routes............................................................ 126

Routes Created in the Unit............................................... 126

Delete a Route ....................................................................... 128

Edit a Route Name................................................................ 129

Edit Route Waypoints........................................................... 129

Navigate a Route................................................................... 130

Navigate a Route in Reverse ................................................ 130

Trails ......................................................................................... 131

Delete a Trail ........................................................................ 131

Edit a Trail Name ................................................................. 131

Edit a Trail Color .................................................................. 132

Edit a Trail Pattern .............................................................. 132

Utilities...................................................................................... 133

Alarm Clock........................................................................... 133

Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator.......................................... 133

Trip Calculator...................................................................... 133

Trip Down Timer................................................................... 133

Trip Up Timer ....................................................................... 133

Waypoints.................................................................................. 133

Delete a Waypoint................................................................. 133

Edit a Waypoint (Name, Symbol and Position) ................... 133

Selecting a Waypoint ............................................................ 134

Set a Waypoint by Average Position .................................... 134

Set a Waypoint by Projecting a Position.............................. 135

Sec. 8: System & GPS Setup Options................................. 137

Alarms ....................................................................................... 137

Auto Satellite Search................................................................ 138

Check MMC Files and Storage Space...................................... 139

Communications Port Configuration ....................................... 139

Configure DGPS........................................................................ 140

Configure NMEA ...................................................................... 141

Coordinate System Selection.................................................... 141

Setup Loran TD:.................................................................... 143

Map Fix ..................................................................................... 143

Customize Page Displays ......................................................... 144

Customize Satellite Status Page .......................................... 144

Customize Navigation Page ................................................. 145

Customize Map Page ............................................................ 145

DGPS Status ............................................................................. 145

GPS Simulator .......................................................................... 145

Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ................................. 146

Hide GPS Features ................................................................... 146

Initialize GPS............................................................................ 147

Map Auto Zoom......................................................................... 147

Map Data................................................................................... 147

Show Map Data..................................................................... 148

Pop-Up Map Information...................................................... 148

Map Boundaries .................................................................... 148

Fill Water with White........................................................... 148

Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ...................... 148

Map Datum Selection ............................................................... 149

Map Detail Category Selection................................................. 150

Map Orientation ....................................................................... 150

Navionics



Charts..................................................................... 152

Display a Navionics Chart:................................................... 152

Port Information ...................................................................153

Tidal Current Information ................................................... 154

Tide Information ................................................................... 155

Pop-Up Help.............................................................................. 157

Position Pinning........................................................................ 157

Reset Options ............................................................................ 158

Require DGPS (SeaCharter 480DF only) ................................ 158

Screen Contrast and Brightness .............................................. 159

Set Language ............................................................................ 160

Set Local Time .......................................................................... 160

Show WAAS Alarm................................................................... 161

Software Version Information.................................................. 161

Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.............................................. 162

Track Smoothing....................................................................... 162

Trail Options ............................................................................. 163

Delete All Trails .................................................................... 163

Flash Trails on Screen Option.............................................. 163

Update Trail Option.............................................................. 163

Update Trail Criteria (Auto, Time, Distance).................. 164

Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance)................................. 164

Delete Trail ........................................................................... 165

New Trail............................................................................... 165

Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 165

Units of Measure....................................................................... 165

Sec. 9: Searching....................................................................167

Find Addresses.......................................................................... 167

Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor .................................. 170

Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 171

Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ...........................173

Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 175

Find Waypoints......................................................................... 179

Sec. 10: Supplemental Material..........................................181

Index......................................................................................... 187

A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION.

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.

WARNING!

CAUTION

WARNING!

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, wide-screen, combination fish finder and mapping GPS receiver.

First, we want to thank you for buying an 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 Eagle sonar and 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 run this sonar unit, right out of the box. This section features a onepage Sonar Quick Reference. (If you've already jumped ahead and

figured out how to install the unit yourself, and you just can't wait any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 51 and head for the water with your sonar 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 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 105.

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 unit's 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 its 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. Sec. 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 its 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 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 our sonar works, on page 5. (Background on GPS begins on page 6.)

Capabilities and Specifications: FishElite 480 and SeaCharter 480DF

General

Display:............................ 5.0" (12.7 cm) diagonal high contrast Film

SuperTwist LCD; programmable to viewing preference.

Resolution:...................... 480 pixel x 480 pixel resolution; 230,400 total

pixels.

Backlighting:.................. Incandescent backlit screen with multiple

lighting levels; backlit keypad.

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.

MMC slots: ...................... One with waterproof door (SD card compati-

ble).

Recording:........................ GPS uses MMC & SD cards for recording trip

details and displaying charts or custom maps. Sonar uses them to record and save sonar chart logs.

Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar records and

GPS data for decades. User settings are stored when unit is turned off.

Languages:...................... 10; menu languages selectable by user.

Sonar

Frequency:...................... SeaCharter 480DF: 50/200 kHz.

FishElite 480: 200 kHz.

Transducers: .................. A dual-frequency Skimmer

built-in temperature is packed with the SeaCharter 480DF. It has 35°/12° cone angles. A single-frequency Skimmer transducer



transducer with

with built-in temperature sensor is packed with the FishElite 480. It has a 20º cone angle. Transducers operate at speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts).

Transmitter: ................... 1,500 watts peak-to-peak/188 watts RMS.

Sonar sounding

depth capability: ........... SeaCharter 480DF: 1,500 feet (457 meters).

FishElite 480: 800 feet (244 meters).

Actual capability depends on transducer configuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar units typically read deeper in fresh water than in salt water.

Depth display:................ Continuous display.

Sonar graph recording:..Up to 256 MB on one MMC (or SD) card.

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, built into transducer.

Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor (sensor in-

cluded with SeaCharter 480DF).

GPS

Receiver/antenna: ......... External; EGC-12w 12 parallel channel

GPS/WAAS; DGPS beacon receiver optional for SeaCharter 480DF only.

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

LEI FreedomMaps offer the same highdetail without the work of MapCreate; Navi-



onics

charts on MMC cards optional.

Mapping memory: ......... Up to 256 MB on one MMC (or SD) card.

Position updates: .......... Every second.

Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons.

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:.................... 39 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 or sonar data you can record and save for recall later is only limited by the number of MMC cards you have.

NOTICE!

The storage temperature range for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended stor-

age 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.

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. 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

vigation and Ranging, a technol-

chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the 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. The viewer is 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 Eagle 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 13. If you're new to GPS, read on, and 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 either our optional map-making software, MapCreate 6 or a predefined FreedomMap from LEI (no PC necessary!). Some unit features — such as searching for businesses and addresses — won't work without a custom MapCreate map or FreedomMap. There is so much detail in our background map (and even more in MapCreate and FreedomMaps) that we'll describe their contents and differences in Sec. 6, Basic GPS Operations, on page 102.

Another portion of the unit'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 more than 256 MB 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. (The MMC is also used to record sonar logs…see page 6.)

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.

You make your own Custom Map Files with our MapCreate software, but you don't have to. We also sell ready-to-use FreedomMaps. These custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!).

This unit automatically reads Custom Map Files or FreedomMaps 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.

Introduction to GPS and WAAS

Well, now you know the basics of how your unit does its work. You might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories, on page 13, so you can install the unit. 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 10. 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.

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, your 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 the 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 alone is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go beyond basic GPS. So, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS. The FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003.

WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically and horizontally, but it consistently delivers accuracies within 1-2 meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, according to the FAA. It does this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals.

However, there are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued WAAS development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years to come.

WAAS boosts 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 can sometimes 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 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.

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 following 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

MENU.

ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as

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 this 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.

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."

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 and then the down arrow key to highlight the Navigate command, then press Enter."

Notes

Section 2:

Installation & Accessories

Preparations

You can install the sonar and GPS systems 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 vehicle or vessel!

1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar/GPS unit, so you can plan how and where to route the cables for the antenna, 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 approximate location for the GPS antenna module and its cable route.

4. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection, along with the power cable route.

5. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar/GPS unit.

6. Install the GPS antenna and route the antenna cable to the sonar/GPS unit.

7. Install the power cable and route it to the sonar/GPS unit.

8. Mount the sonar/GPS unit to 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.

The smaller single-frequency Skimmers typically use a one-piece, stainless steel mounting bracket. The larger dual-frequency Skimmers typically use a two-piece, plastic mounting bracket. The trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap.

These are all "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.

transducer on a

Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation. Determine which of the mounting positions is right for your boat. Re-

member, the transducer 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 either a 1" drill bit or a 5/8" drill bit depending on the type of cable connector (see page 22).

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: high quality, marine grade above- or belowwaterline sealant/adhesive compound.

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, high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant/adhesive compound.

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 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:

prevent the transducer from

location

Deadrise less than 10

Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat 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.

Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. A pod style transducer is shown

Pad

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

entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed.

Good

Poor angle

Good and poor transducer locations.

Good location

Poor location

Good location

How low should you go?

Transom

centerline

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.

Transducer

Hull bottom

Align transducer centerline with 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 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 lesson 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 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

Transducer bracket

Transducer

Insert and align ratchets.

bracket

Transducer

Ratchet

Add ratchets to bracket and 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 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.

Flat washer

Bolt

Flat washer

Assemble transducer and bracket.

Lock washer

Nut

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

Rubber washers

Assemble transducer and bracket.

washer

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

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. A. One-piece bracket: Remove the transducer from the bracket and

re-assemble 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 sealant.

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.

Flat-bottom hull

Bottom

hull

Deep-"vee" hull

Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach transducer to

transom. Rear view of dual-frequency Skimmer shown.

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 entering 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 depend on the connector on the end of your transducer's cable. If the transducer has a manual locking collar connector, you will need to drill a 1" hole. If it has a push-on self-sealing connector, you will need to drill a 5/8" hole.

Manual locking collar connector Push-on self-sealing connector

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

requires a 1" hole. requires a 5/8" hole.

hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline seal-

Flat washer

ant 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.)

TMB-S bracket

Bolt

Internal tooth washer

Nut

Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer.

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.

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

Proper transducer angle

Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches.

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.

SHOOT-THRU-HULL PREPARATION Hulls With Floatation 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 polyester 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.

Transducer location

(high speed)

Transducer location

(trolling speed)

Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for

high speed or trolling speed operation.

To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these

Second bottom

True bottom

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.

Manual range setting

Example of a second bottom signal. Unit is in 30 feet of water, with

range set at 80 feet and sensitivity set at 87 percent.

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 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 24.

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

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.

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

These units can accept additional temperature sensors which can be used to monitor the temperature of surface water, a live well or some other location. The SeaCharter 480DF can accept as many as three temperature sensors, and the FishElite 480 can accept as many as two. These units can also accept an optional speed sensor for showing speed and distance traveled.

However, the FishElite 480 can only use one accessory at a time, so 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:

These units are packed with a transducer containing a built-in temp sensor. The SeaCharter 480DF package also includes a speed sensor. If you have a FishElite 480 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 for the FishElite and the model TS-2X for the SeaCharter. These sensors have a fixed electronic "address" which designate them as the second of two temp sensors. See the following wiring diagrams for temperature and speed sensor combinations by unit.

FishElite 480 Sensor Chart

FishElite 480 rear view

TS-2U temperature sensor

Power/transducer cable

Temperature sensor built into transducer

FishElite 480 with secondary external temperature sensor. Primary

temp sensor is built into the transducer.

FishElite 480 rear view

Combo speed/temp sensor or SP-U speed-only sensor

Power/transducer cable

Temperature sensor built into transducer

FishElite 480 with external speed sensor or combo speed/temp sensor.

The primary temperature sensor is built into the transducer.

SeaCharter 480DF Sensor Chart

(optional)

Transducer

connector

SeaCharter 480DF rear view

SPY-X Speed Sensor with second connector

Single-temperature sensor installation

Temperature

sensor built into MY-4X Cable

Two-temperature sensor installation

transducer

TS-2X temperature sensor (optional)

Three-temperature sensor installation

TS-3X temperature sensor

Optional Speed Sensor Installation

All the units in this family can display speed and distance traveled, but only the SeaCharter 480DF 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" or 7/8" 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 sealant. Some equipment depends on your sensor model. See page 32 for details.

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 interfere 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 sealant 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.

Transom

Bottom of hull

Speed sensor mounting configuration:

side view (left) and rear view (right.)

Bottom of hull

If the base of the transom has a radius, fill the gap between the transom and the sensor with the sealant. This will help ensure a smooth water flow.

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 will depend on the connector on the end of your sensor's cable. If the sensor has a manual locking collar connector, you will need to drill a 7/8" hole. If it has a push-on self-sealing connector, you will need to drill a 5/8" hole.

Manual locking collar connector Push-on self-sealing connector

requires a 7/8" hole. requires a 5/8" hole.

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 in-line connector on the MY-4X adapter cable or to the accessory plug on the back of the unit. If you have any questions concerning the installation of the sensor, please contact your local boat dealer.

GPS Antenna/Receiver Module

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 available 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 988-0148-37, 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 home. If dashboard reception is poor, simply relocate the antenna module elsewhere on the vehicle for a clearer view of the sky.

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.

3 amp fuse

SeaCharter 480DF

Optional power off switch for saltwater installations

To FishElite 480

Black wire

12 volt

battery

Red wire with

12 volt

battery

Black wire

Power connections for the FishElite 480 (shown left) and

SeaCharter 480DF (shown right) sonar/GPS units.

WARNING:

This product must be independently fused with the enclosed 3-amp fuse (or equivalent), even if you connect to a fused accessory or power buss.

If a malfunction happens inside the unit, extensive damage can occur if the enclosed fuse is not used. As with all electrical devices, this unit could be damaged to a point that it is unrepairable and could even cause harm to the user when not properly fused.

CAUTION:

Failure to use the enclosed 3-amp fuse will void your warranty! For a replacement, use a type 3AG 3-amp fuse.

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.

NMEA/DGPS Cable Connections (SeaCharter 480DF only)

NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic equipment. For example, an autopilot can connect to the NMEA interface on the SeaCharter 480DF and receive positioning information. The SeaCharter 480DF can exchange information with any device that transmits or receives NMEA 0183 data.

DGPS is an acronym for the Differential Global Positioning System. DGPS supplements and boosts the accuracy of basic GPS. DGPS was developed by the U.S. Coast Guard, which is responsible for the sys-

tem's operation in the United States. Since it's creation, DGPS has be-

Yellow (Transmit)

come the international maritime standard for marine navigation.

The most popular DGPS system relies on a grid of ground-based transmitters that send correction signals to DGPS receivers. These in turn, connect to the GPS receiver (such as the SeaCharter 480DF). Eagle offers an optional DGPS receiver for your unit.

See the diagrams on the following page for general wiring connections. Read your other product’s owner’s manual for more wiring information.

NMEA/DGPS Wiring (SeaCharter 480DF only)

To exchange NMEA or DGPS data, the SeaCharter 480DF has one NMEA 0183 version 2.0 communication port. Com port one (Com-1) can be used to receive NMEA format GPS data or DGPS data. The com port can also transmit NMEA format GPS data to another device.

The three wires for the com port are combined with the two power wires to form the power/data cable (see the drawing on the following page). Com-1 uses the yellow wire to transmit, the orange wire to receive and the shield wire for signal ground.

NMEA Receive

Com-1 to SeaCharter 480DF

Orange (Receive) Shield (Ground)

Com-1 wiring to receive DGPS position information

from a DGPS receiver.

Orange (Receive)

Shield (Ground)

Com-1 wiring to receive NMEA position information

from some other GPS receiver.

Shield (Ground)

Com-1 wiring to transmit NMEA position information

to another NMEA-compatible device.

Transmit Ground

NMEA Transmit

Ground

NMEA Receive Ground

GPS Receiver

To DGPS Receiver

To Other

Device

SeaCharter 480DF,

socket

rear view

GPS socket

Sonar socket

Com port

data wires

(three)

FishElite 480, rear view

Power wires

(two)

GPS antenna

module

SeaCharter 480DF cable connections.

Sonar/Power

Power/Data socket

Transducer

GPS socket

Accessory socket

Power wires

Transducer

GPS

antenna

module

FishElite 480 cable connections.

Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable

You can install the 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 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, transducer and GPS antenna/receiver module cables. (A drawing on the next page shows the dimensions of a gimbal-mounted 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.



bracket mounting system. This converts the unit's gimbal

Optional R-A-M mounting system.

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, transducer and antenna 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.

72.9 [2.87]

23.4

173.9 [6.85]

[0.92]

137.9 [5.43]

Millimeter

[Inch]

Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of this so-

nar/GPS unit when mounted on gimbal bracket.

157.9 [6.22]

56.9 [2.24]

After drilling the hole, pass the transducer connector up through the hole from under the dash, followed by the antenna connector. 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 sealant. (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.

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.

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 this sonar/GPS 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 unit is capable of portable operation by using the optional portable power pack (PPP-13 for FishElite 480, PPP11 for SeaCharter 480DF). The power pack, the magnet-equipped antenna module and an optional portable transducer expand the uses for your sonar/GPS unit. The portable power pack makes it easy to transfer your unit from a boat to a car, recreational vehicle, airplane or other vehicle without drilling and mounting a second bracket. You can use your unit in your own car or boat, then take it along when riding in a friend's vehicle that's not equipped with sonar or GPS. (Or use it as a second sonar, one for each fisherman!)

The 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 (PPP-11: part 988-0147-46; PPP-13: part 988-0147-601).

"D" cell battery

Install batteries in power pack battery adapter.

MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation

Your sonar/GPS 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 or SDC) 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.

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 up. We have successfully tested SD cards up to 512 MB.

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.

If these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual.

MapCreate™ 6 CD-ROM, left; MMC card reader for USB ports, right.

Now that you have your unit installed, move on to Sec. 3, Basic Sonar 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.)

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 51.

Keyboard

MMC slot access door

SeaCharter 480DF sonar/GPS unit, front view, showing map with so-

nar split screen, keyboard and access door for the MMC slot.

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 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 &

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 pages 10 and 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.

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.

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 then using → or ← to select a Page. (Clear the Pages Menu by pressing

EXIT.)

PAGES key,

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.

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 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-

also offers four 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.

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 split frequency.

At left, digital data sonar chart display options. At right, Sonar Page

Menu. Most of these functions are discussed in Sec. 4.

Digital data overlay (depth & temperature)

Fish arches

Structure

Surface signal

Bottom signal

Sonar Page, showing full sonar chart mode.

Surface clutter

Depth scale

In FasTrack, fish arches show as horizontal bars.

Zoom bar

FasTrack

bar graph

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.

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 13.)

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.

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.

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.

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 OP-

TIONS

|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.

Other Free Training Aids

The sonar options section discusses Fish I.D., fish alarms and other features in greater detail. If you or a friend has Internet access, you can also learn more about interpreting what you see on your sonar screen. Visit our web site,

WWW.EAGLESONAR.COM. Be sure to check out the

free Sonar Tutorial, which 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 site…it makes a great supplement to this operation manual!

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 an Eagle sonar product. Features include:

• Adjustable range, zoom, sensitivity, color line, 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.

For the ultimate training aid, be sure to download the free emulator software for your unit. Aside from being just plain fun, this program can help you learn both basic and advanced operations without burning boat fuel! Eagle is one of the first sonar manufacturers 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.

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.

3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select a setting, then press

4. To return to the previous page, press

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

ENT.

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.

To adjust and turn on the shallow alarm:

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

SHALLOW ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.

5. To turn off the alarm, press

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:

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

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:

2. Press ↓ to

ZONE ALARM ENABLED|→ to ADJUST ZONE|ENT.

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

echo — fish, bottom, structure — within the zone alarm's depth range will trigger the zone alarm.

6. To turn off the alarm, press

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.

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:

2. Press ↓ to

3. To turn off the alarm, press

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.

MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to CALIBRATE WATER

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

EXIT.

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.

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.

At left, Sonar Page menu with Depth Cursor command selected. At

right, sonar chart with the depth cursor active. The line indicates the

large fish is 34.64 feet deep.

The cursor can be moved to any location on the screen, letting you pinpoint the depth of a target.

Cursor line

Depth box

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.

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 black bar highlights the selected range. Range numbers in gray 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 pears.

3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select a different depth range. A horizontal black bar highlights the selected range.

4. When the new range is selected, press

To turn Auto Depth Range on again:

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.

DEPTH RANGE|ENT and the Depth Range Control Scale ap-

EXIT to clear the menu.

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 conditions 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

Structure

Grayline



Fish arches

In FasTrack, fish arches show as horizontal bars.

Bottom signal

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 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 on.

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.

Fig. 1 A

Many fish

arches visible

symbols visible

Fig. 1 B

Fewer fish

Fig. 2 A

Fish arches

above structure

At left, figures 1A and 2A show Sonar Page in normal chart mode. At

right, figures 1B and 2B show the same underwater scene with Fish I.D.

turned on. Note how arches are replaced with symbols.

Fig. 2 B

No fish shown

FasTrack graph

confirms fish

To turn the Fish I.D. feature on:

FishTrack depths

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 the instructions in step 2.

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 →|then press ↓ to

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

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.

Symbols with

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.

FishReveal

When displaying actual sonar returns, the FishReveal feature uses 10 levels of gray tones to show fish targets hidden by surface clutter, thermoclines, weed beds and other cover.

The normal mode of operation (with FishReveal turned off) shows the weakest echoes as black and the strongest echoes in light gray. Since all weak echoes are black, fish arches show boldly against the white background. The drawback is that all weak echoes – such as thermo-

clines – are also emphasized. This can make it hard to distinguish fish signals inside thermoclines or other cover.

In FishReveal mode, the weakest echoes are white and the strongest echoes are black. Echoes in between vary in gray in proportion to their signal strength. The Grayline control determines the range for black to white. Also note that when using FishReveal, we recommend that you turn off Auto Sensitivity and turn up Sensitivity to near maximum.

Sonar Color Mode command with FishReveal selected

(at left, dual-frequency menu; at right, single-frequency menu).

To turn FishReveal on:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

2. Press →|then press ↓ to

3. Press

EXIT|↑ to AUTO SENSITIVITY|ENT|↑ to SENSITIVITY|ENT.

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

SONAR CHART MODE|ENT|↓ to FISHREVEAL|ENT.

4. Press ↑ until the Sensitivity Control Bar reads 100% (or close to it), then press

Fish

not

visible

Fish arch

EXIT. (If you reach the maximum limit, a tone sounds.)

Visible

fish

Fish

arches

Sonar chart in regular grayscale mode, left, and in FishReveal mode, right. Notice how shallow fish formerly hidden in the surface clutter

become visible in FishReveal mode.

NOTE:

Water conditions vary greatly, and that affects sonar performance. Under certain conditions, FishReveal will show you more fish than normal grayscale mode, but the reverse will be true in other circumstances. We suggest you become familiar with both modes so you can best match your sonar's performance to the current water conditions.

Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency) (SeaCharter 480DF only)

The SeaCharter 480DF 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 of thumb. 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.

Sonar Features menu with a frequency of 200 kHz selected.

To change the frequency setting to 50 kHz:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

2. Press →|then press ↓ to

3. Press

EXIT|EXIT to clear the menu.

50 KHZ|ENT.

To change the frequency setting to 200 kHz:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

2. Press →|then press ↓ to

3. Press

Grayline

EXIT|EXIT to clear the menu.



MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

200 KHZ|ENT.

Grayline lets you distinguish between strong and weak echoes. It "paints" gray 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 or no gray line. A hard bottom returns a strong signal which causes a wide gray line.

If you have two signals of equal size, one with gray and the other without, then the target with gray is the stronger signal. This helps distinguish weeds from trees on the bottom, or fish from structure.

Grayline is adjustable. Experiment with your unit to find the Grayline setting that's best for you.

At left, Sonar Page menu with Grayline command selected.

At right, the Grayline control bar.

To adjust the Grayline level:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

MENU|↓ to GRAYLINE|ENT.

2. The Grayline Control Bar appears. Press ↓ to decrease Grayline; press ↑ to increase Grayline.

3. When it's set at the desired level, press

Fig. 1A

EXIT.

Fig. 1B

Fig. 2A

Fig. 3A

Hard

structure

Hard

bottom

Fig. 2B

Muddy bottom

Fish near structure

Grayline

Muddy

bottom

Grayline

Fig. 3B

Hard

bottom

Grayline

This series of figures shows how different Grayline settings can reveal more information. The "A" figures to the left show locations with Grayline set at the factory level of 64 percent. At right, the "B" figures show the same locations with Grayline increased to 84 percent. In Figure 1B, no fish are near the left structure, but the right structure shows fish holding next to the structure. Notice in figures 2B and 3B how Grayline displays a hard, rocky bottom (the drop-offs) with a wider gray line. The muddier bottom below those drop-offs appears as a narrower gray line.

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.

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 5.42 MB of free space,

which will record the scrolling chart for 28 minutes and 44 seconds.

To record or log chart data:

1. Press

2. To record data using the default settings, press

MENU|↓ to LOG SONAR CHART DATA|ENT.

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

To change the digital data shown "floating" on top of the Sonar Page or the Map Page:

First, press

To select data for display:

1. From the Map or Sonar page, press MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.

2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select Data Type|

Overlay Data command on the Sonar Menu, at left. Overlay Data

Shown selection menu, right. In this example, we scrolled down the

When selected, the data type shifts to the top of the data list and a check mark appears beside the data type. (If you wish, you may now use ↓ or ↑ to select other Data Types for display.)

PAGES, use → or ← to select a Page Name, then press EXIT.

ENT.

data list to highlight "Ground Speed."

Data list showing "Ground Speed" selected to display on Sonar Page.

3. To return to the previous page, press EXIT|EXIT.

To turn off displayed data:

1. From the Map or Sonar page, press MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.

2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select Data Type|

ENT. The selected data type disappears

from the top of the list and reverts to its previous, unchecked position. (If you wish, you may now use ↓ or ↑ to select other Data Types to turn off.)

3. To return to the previous page, press

To change displayed data font size:

EXIT|EXIT.

1. From the Map or Sonar page, press MENU|↓ to OVERLAY DATA|ENT.

2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select Data Type|press → or ← to Data Size|

EXIT.

The selected data type will be displayed in the new size. (To change the font size for another Data Type, press

ENT and repeat these steps, be-

ginning with step two above.)

3. To return to the previous page, press

EXIT.

Tip:

If you wish, you can change the displayed data font size when you select a data type:

1. From the Map or Sonar page, press

DATA|ENT.

2. Press ↓ or ↑ to select Data Type|press → or ← to select Data Size|

ENT.

The data will be shown in the new font size. To return to the previous page, press

EXIT|EXIT.

MENU|↓ to OVERLAY

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 that the Steering Arrow always

points directly to the destination you are navigating toward. In this case, the boater is headed on a northwesterly course of 275º. Since the helmsman is on course, the Steering Arrow is pointing straight ahead.

If the helmsman veered off course, the arrow would show which direc-

tion to steer to get back on course toward the destination. At right,

Sonar Page with Overlay Data turned on. This example shows Depth,

Ground Speed and the Track the boat is following.

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.

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 adjust Sensitivity:

1. From the Sonar Page, 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.)

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

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.

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

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 of water beneath the keel.

NOTE:

MENU|MENU|↓ to SET KEEL OFFSET|ENT.

EXIT. The depth indicators now accurately show the depth

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 wa-

ter 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

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 the water depth from surface to bottom.

MENU|MENU|↓ to SET KEEL OFFSET|ENT.

EXIT. The depth indicators now accurately show

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 Grayline 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 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 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 Color Mode

The default color scheme for the sonar chart is grayscale, but we offer other variations to suit your viewing preferences. You can select the chart to be displayed in reverse grayscale, bottom black or FishReveal mode. (For more information on FishReveal, see the entry on that topic elsewhere in this section.)

To change the chart mode color scheme:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

2. Press ↓ to

3. Press ↓ or ↑ to Mode Name|

4. Press

SONAR COLOR MODE|ENT.

ENT.

EXIT|EXIT to return to the Sonar Page.

Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options

The Pages Menu offers four chart display options for dual-frequency models and three options for single-frequency models. To access them, press

PAGES|← or→ 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 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 both set to the small text size.

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.

Split Zoom Sonar Chart. Image at left shows the left window zoomed to

2X. The right image shows the left window zoomed to 4X.

Split Frequency Sonar Chart (SeaCharter 480DF only)

This page shows sonar data from the 50 kHz transducer element on the left side of the screen and data from the 200 kHz transducer on the right side. All other functions and features are the same as the Full Chart page.

Split Frequency Sonar Chart page, with

50 kHz view at left and 200 kHz view at right.

You can adjust the sensitivity in each window.

To adjust sensitivity in auto mode:

1. Press

MENU|ENT.

2. The unit asks which you wish to adjust. Press ← or→ to select the one you want |

ENT.

3. 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.)

The Split Frequency Sonar Chart page allows you to adjust

sensitivity separately for each window.

Digital Data/Chart

This mode shows the chart on the right side of the screen. The left side has seven large digital data boxes or windows containing: Water Depth; Water Speed (from an optional speed sensor); Water Distance (distance traveled or log, it also requires a speed sensor); Surface Water Temperature; Temperature #2, Temperature #3 and Voltage. (Note: Temperature #2 and #3 require additional optional temperature sensors.)

Digital Data/Chart

Customizing the Digital Data/Chart Screen

The Digital Data/Chart 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

The Customize command on the Sonar Menu.

2. The Water Speed box title bar flashes, indicating the box contents can be changed. Press

ENT|↑ or ↓ to select data type|ENT|EXIT.

Options List for customizing Digital Data boxes. At left, the list first

appears with Water Speed selected. At right, Maximum Speed has been

picked to replace Water Speed in the top digital data box.

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 Enter, use the ↓ key to select another box to change. When the selected box title bar flashes, press data type| then press

ENT. Repeat these steps until you're finished customizing,

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.

ENT|↑ or ↓ to select

Map With Sonar split screen option. At far right, 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. When in simulator mode, you will see the chart file name in the Sonar Page title bar and a play symbol will flash on and off at the right end of the title bar. To use the simulator:

1. From the Sonar Page, press

SONAR SIMULATOR|ENT.

MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR SETUP|ENT|↓ to

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.

MENU|MENU|↓ to SONAR

Title bar with chart file name

"Play" symbol flashing

Sonar Page, playing a recorded sonar chart in Sonar Simulator mode.

Tip:

The Sonar Simulator can use sonar charts that you or a friend have recorded (logged) on an MMC card. (To see how, read the entry in 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.

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|

MENU|MENU|↓ to BROWSE MMC FILES|ENT|ENT.

ENT|↓ to PLAY|ENT|EXIT.

Menu sequence for playing a sonar chart log from the MMC File List.

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.

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.

Press

MENU|↓ to STOP CHART|ENT|EXIT.

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

Sonar Features menu with Surface Clarity selected (at left, dual-

frequency menu; at right, single-frequency menu).

2. Press ↓ to SURFACE CLARITY|ENT.

3. Press ↓ or ↑ to select clarity level|

MENU|↓ to SONAR FEATURES|ENT.

EXIT|EXIT|EXIT.

Surface clutter

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). The zoom bar on the far right side of the screen shows which echoes will be displayed on the screen when the

For example, pressing the

ZIN key is pressed.

ZIN key once will enable a 2X zoom which

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.

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 ↓

to pan up and

down the water column.

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.

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.

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.

Notes

Eagle Electronics SeaCharter 480DF, FishElite 480 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual