Humminbird 581I HD DI, 581I DI User Manual

581i DI Combo and 581i HD DI

Combo Operations Manual

531966-2EN_A

Thank You!

Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, the #1 name in fishfinders. Humminbird® has built its reputation by designing and manufacturing top-quality, thoroughly reliable marine equipment. Your Humminbird® is designed for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine environment. In the unlikely event that your Humminbird® does require repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Policy - free of charge during the first year after purchase, and available at a reasonable rate after the one-year period. For complete details, see the separate warranty card included with your unit. We encourage you to read this operations manual carefully in order to get full benefit from all the features and applications of your Humminbird® product.

To contact our Customer Resource Center, call 1-800-633-1468 or visit our Web site at humminbird.com.

WARNING! This device should not be used as a navigational aid to prevent collision, grounding, boat damage, or personal injury. When the boat is moving, water depth may change too quickly to allow time for you to react. Always operate the boat at very slow speeds if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.

WARNING! The electronic chart in your Humminbird® unit is an aid to navigation designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to replace them. Only official government charts and notices to mariners contain all of the current information needed for the safety of navigation, and the captain is responsible for their prudent use.

WARNING! Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by authorized service personnel. Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair the original equipment or accessories by unauthorized individuals will void the warranty.

WARNING! This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm.

WARNING! Do not travel at high speed with the unit cover installed. Remove the unit cover before traveling at speeds above 20 mph.

WARNING! Humminbird® is not responsible for the loss of data files (waypoints, routes, tracks, groups, recordings, etc.) that may occur due to direct or indirect damage to the unit’s hardware or software. It is important to back up your control head’s data files periodically. Data files should also be saved to your PC before restoring the unit’s defaults or updating the software. See the following sections of your Humminbird® manual: SD Card Slot. Also, contact our Customer Resource Center with any questions.

NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some features are only available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly identify those features. Please read the manual carefully in order to understand the full capabilities of your model.

NOTE: To purchase accessories for your control head, visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact our Customer Resource Center at 1-800-633-1468.

NOTE: The procedures and features described in this manual are subject to change

without notice. This manual was written in English and may have been translated to another language. Humminbird® is not responsible for incorrect translations or discrepancies between documents.

NOTE: The illustrations in this manual may not look the same as your product, but your unit will function in the same way.

ROHS STATEMENT: Product designed and intended as a fixed installation or part of a system in a vessel may be considered beyond the scope of Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: Products sold in the U.S. are not intended for use in the international market. Humminbird® international units provide international features and are designed to meet country and regional regulations. Languages,maps,time zones, units of measurement, and warranty are examples of features that are customized for Humminbird® international units purchased through our authorized international distributors.

To obtain a list of authorized international distributors, please visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact our Customer Resource Center at (334) 687-6613.

500 Series™, Down Imaging™, Fish ID+™, Humminbird®, HumminbirdPC™, RTS™, RTS Window™, Structure ID®, SwitchFire™, WhiteLine™, UniMap™, and X-Press™ Menu are trademarked by or registered trademarks of Humminbird®.

Baekmuk Batang, Baekmuk Dotum, Baekmuk Gulim, and Baekmuk Headline are registered trademarks owned by Kim Jeong-Hwan.

Navionics® Gold, HotMaps®, and HotMaps® Premium are registered trademarks of Navionics®.

Table of Contents

Power On 1

How Sonar Works 2

Down Imaging™ Sonar............................................................................................ 4

How GPS Works 5

What’s on the Sonar Display 6

Understanding the Sonar Display .......................................................................... 8

Real Time Sonar (RTS™) Window .......................................................................... 8

SwitchFire™ ............................................................................................................ 9

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor.............................................................................. 9

Instant Image Update.............................................................................................. 9

Sonar Returns and Bottom View .......................................................................... 10

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display 12

Understanding the Down Imaging™ Display ...................................................... 14

Interpreting the Display ........................................................................................ 14

Down Imaging™ Sensitivity.................................................................................. 15

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor............................................................................ 15

Sonar View ............................................................................................................ 18

Sonar Zoom View .................................................................................................. 19

Split Sonar View .................................................................................................... 20

Down Imaging™ View .......................................................................................... 21

Down/Sonar Combo View ......................................................................................22

Big Digits View ...................................................................................................... 23

Bird’s Eye View ...................................................................................................... 24

Chart View.............................................................................................................. 25

Combo View .......................................................................................................... 27

Chart/Down Combo View...................................................................................... 28

View Orientation .................................................................................................... 29

Viewing Cartography.............................................................................................. 30

Table of Contents

Introduction to Navigation 32

Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks ............................................................................ 32

Open the Waypoint Management Dialog Box .................................................... 34

What’s on the Waypoint Management Dialog Box ............................................ 35

Save, Create, or Delete a Waypoint...................................................................... 37

Navigate to a Waypoint or Position...................................................................... 38

Add a Waypoint Target or Trolling Grid ................................................................ 39

Routes .................................................................................................................... 40

Tracks...................................................................................................................... 42

Edit your Waypoints, Routes, Tracks, and Groups .............................................. 43

What’s on the 500 Series™ Control Head 45

Key Functions 46

POWER/LIGHT Key ................................................................................................ 46

VIEW Key................................................................................................................ 47

INFO Key ................................................................................................................ 47

MENU Key.............................................................................................................. 47

4-WAY Cursor Control Key .................................................................................... 48

MARK Key.............................................................................................................. 48

GOTO Key................................................................................................................ 49

ZOOM (+/-) Key...................................................................................................... 49

EXIT Key.................................................................................................................. 49

SD Memory Card Slot 50

Add Maps to Your Fishfinder ................................................................................ 51

Import Navigation Data ........................................................................................ 51

Export Navigation Data.......................................................................................... 52

The Menu System 54

Start-Up Options Menu 55

Normal.................................................................................................................... 55

Simulator................................................................................................................ 56

Table of Contents

System Status ........................................................................................................ 56

Self Test .................................................................................................................. 57

Accessory Test........................................................................................................ 57

GPS Diagnostic View ............................................................................................ 58

X-Press™ Menu 59

Main Menu 60

Quick Tips for the Main Menu

Note for all Menu Settings .......................................................................................... 61

User Mode (Normal or Advanced) .............................................................................. 62

.................................................................................. 61

Sonar X-Press™ Menu

Cancel Navigation (only when navigating) ................................................................ 65

Sensitivity .............................................................................................................. 65

Upper Range

Lower Range .......................................................................................................... 66

Chart Speed............................................................................................................ 67

Bottom View .......................................................................................................... 67

Bottom Lock Bottom Range

(Advanced: Sonar and Big Digits Views only) .......................................... 66

(Sonar Zoom View only) ........................................................................ 67

(Sonar Zoom View only when Bottom Lock is On) ................................ 68

Down Imaging™ X-Press™ Menu

Cancel Navigation (only when navigating) ................................................................ 70

Imaging Sensitivity ................................................................................................ 70

DI Enhance ............................................................................................................ 70

Upper Range

Lower Range .......................................................................................................... 72

Chart Speed............................................................................................................ 72

Imaging Palette ...................................................................................................... 72

(Advanced) ........................................................................................ 71

Navigation X-Press™ Menu

Cancel Navigation (only when Navigating)................................................................ 74

Skip Next Waypoint Waypoint [Name]

(Sonar Views only)

(Down Imaging™ Views only)

(Navigation Views only)

(only when Navigating) ............................................................ 74

(Only with an active cursor on a waypoint) .................................... 74

iii

Table of Contents

Cursor To Waypoint (Chart or Combo View only) ...................................................... 75

Chart Declutter ...................................................................................................... 75

Save Current Track ................................................................................................ 75

Clear Current Track ................................................................................................ 75

Save Current Route Sonar Window Reset XTE

(only when Navigating) ............................................................................ 76

Remove Target Remove Grid Waypoint [Name]

Alarms Menu Tab 78

Depth Alarm .......................................................................................................... 79

Fish ID Alarm.......................................................................................................... 79

Low Battery Alarm ................................................................................................ 79

Temp. Alarm .......................................................................................................... 80

Off Course Alarm .................................................................................................. 80

Arrival Alarm.......................................................................................................... 81

Drift Alarm.............................................................................................................. 81

Alarm Tone ............................................................................................................ 81

Timer Setup............................................................................................................ 82

Start Timer.............................................................................................................. 82

Stop Timer

(only when Navigating) ............................................................ 75

(Combo View only) .......................................................................... 76

(only if Target is Active) .................................................................... 76

(only if Grid is Active)............................................................................ 76

(Most recently-created waypoint) .................................................. 77

(with the Timer running) .......................................................................... 82

Sonar Menu Tab 83

Beam Select .......................................................................................................... 84

Imaging Frequency

(Down Imaging™ Views only) .................................................... 85

Surface Clutter ...................................................................................................... 86

SwitchFire™ .......................................................................................................... 86

Fish ID+™ .............................................................................................................. 87

Fish ID Sensitivity .................................................................................................. 88

Real Time Sonar (RTS™) Window........................................................................ 88

Table of Contents

Zoom Width............................................................................................................ 88

455 kHz Sensitivity Depth Lines Noise Filter Max Depth Water Type Digital Depth Source DI Pings

(Advanced, Down Imaging™ View and Chart/Down Combo View only) ............ 91

Imaging Palette

Navigation Menu Tab 93

Current Track.......................................................................................................... 94

Waypoints, Routes, Tracks

Waypoint Settings.................................................................................................. 95

Saved Tracks Defaults............................................................................................ 95

Chart Orientation.................................................................................................... 96

Casting Rings

Lat/Lon Grid............................................................................................................ 96

Chart Select

North Reference .................................................................................................... 96

Waypoint Proximity Flags Waypoint Decluttering

Grid Rotation .......................................................................................................... 98

Trackpoint Interval.................................................................................................. 98

Track Min Distance Map Datum Set Simulation Position Set Map Offset Clear Map Offset

North-Up Indicator .............................................................................................. 100

Course Projection Line ........................................................................................ 100

Chart Detail Level ................................................................................................ 101

(Advanced, Down Imaging™ only) .............................................. 89

(Advanced) .......................................................................................... 89

(Advanced) ............................................................................................ 89

(Advanced) ............................................................................................ 90

(Advanced, optional-purchase transducers only) ........................ 91

(Down Imaging™ Views only) .......................................................... 92

(Waypoint Management Dialog Box) .............................. 94

(Advanced) ........................................................................................ 96

(SD card in slot) .................................................................................... 96

(Advanced) .................................................................... 97

(Advanced).......................................................................... 97

(Advanced) .............................................................................. 98

(Advanced) .......................................................................................... 99

(Advanced) ........................................................................ 99

(Advanced)...................................................................................... 99

(Advanced) ................................................................................ 100

Table of Contents

Map Borders........................................................................................................ 102

Spot Soundings.................................................................................................... 103

Auto Zoom Auto Range

Vessel Offset ........................................................................................................ 104

Offset Speed

Setup Menu Tab 105

Units - Depth........................................................................................................ 106

Units - Temp

Units - Distance .................................................................................................. 106

Units - Speed ...................................................................................................... 106

User Mode .......................................................................................................... 106

Language

Triplog Reset ........................................................................................................ 107

Restore Defaults .................................................................................................. 107

Format Nav Directories........................................................................................ 107

Select Readouts Depth Offset Temp. Offset Speed Calibration Local Time Zone Daylight Saving Time Position Format Time Format Date Format Digits Format NMEA 0183 Output

Sonar.................................................................................................................... 112

Demonstration...................................................................................................... 112

Sound Control ......................................................................................................112

(Advanced) .......................................................................................... 103

(Advanced) ........................................................................................ 103

(with Vessel Offset turned on) ............................................................ 104

(International only) ............................................................................ 106

(International only).................................................................................. 107

(Advanced, Sonar View and Down Imaging™ View only) ................ 108

(Advanced)........................................................................................ 109

(Advanced, with Temp/Speed only)...................................................... 109

(Advanced, with Temp/Speed only) ............................................ 109

(Advanced).................................................................................. 109

(Advanced).......................................................................... 110

(Advanced) .................................................................................. 110

(Advanced, International only) ............................................................ 110

(Advanced, International only).............................................................. 110

(Advanced) ...................................................................................... 111

(Advanced)............................................................................ 111

Table of Contents

Views Menu Tab 113

Maintenance 114

Troubleshooting 116

Fishfinder Doesn’t Power Up .............................................................................. 116

Fishfinder Defaults to Simulator with a Transducer Attached .......................... 116

Display Problems ................................................................................................ 117

Finding the Cause of Noise..................................................................................118

Specifications 119

Glossary 122

Contact Humminbird® 130

NOTE: Entries in this Table of Contents which list (International Only) are only available on products sold outside of the U.S. by our authorized international distributors. To obtain a list of authorized international distributors, please visit our Web site at humminbird.com or contact our Customer Resource Center at

(334) 687-6613.

NOTE: Entries in this Table of Contents which list (with Temp/Speed only) require

the purchase of separate accessories. You can visit our Web site at humminbird.com to order these accessories online or contact our Customer Resource Center at 1-800-633-1468.

vii

Power On

Follow the instructions below to power on your Humminbird® control head.

Title Screen

1. Press the POWER/LIGHT key.

2. When the Title screen is displayed, press the MENU key to access the Start-Up Options Menu.

3. If a functioning transducer is connected, Normal operation will be selected automatically, and your Fishfinder can be used on the water. See Start-Up Options Menu for more information.

• If a transducer is not connected and you wait too long to select a

Start-Up Option, the system will default to whichever menu is already highlighted.

• You can also select Simulator to learn how to use your control head and save settings in advance for later use.

4. Quick Setup: If this is the first time the unit has been powered on (after installation or after restoring defaults), the Quick Setup dialog box will display on the screen. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to set the Language, Water Type, and Max Depth. Press the EXIT key to close the dialog box.

NOTE: The Quick Setup settings can be changed at any time. See each menu option in The Menu System for details.

Power On

How Sonar Works

Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The 500 Series™ Fishfinder uses sonar to locate and define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as depth directly below the transducer.

Your 500 Series™ Fishfinder sends a sound wave signal and determines distance by measuring the time between the transmission of the sound wave and when the sound wave is reflected off of an object; it then uses the reflected signal to interpret location, size, and composition of an object.

Sonar is very fast. A sound wave can travel from the surface to a depth of 240 ft (70 m) and back again in less than 1/4 of a second. It is unlikely that your boat can “outrun“ this sonar signal.

SONAR is an acronym for SOund and NAvigation Ranging. Sonar uses precision sound pulses or “pings“ which are emitted into the water in a teardrop-shaped beam.

The sound pulses “echo“ back from objects in the water such as the bottom, fish, and other submerged objects. The returned echoes are displayed on the LCD screen. Each time a new echo is received, the old echoes are moved across the LCD, creating a scrolling effect.

How Sonar Works

When all the echoes are viewed side by side, an easy to interpret “graph“ of the bottom, fish, and structure appears.

The sound pulses are transmitted at various frequencies depending on the application. Very high frequencies (455 kHz) are used for greatest definition but the operating depth is limited. High frequencies (200 kHz) are commonly used on consumer sonar and provide a good balance between depth performance and resolution. Low frequencies (83 kHz) are typically used to achieve greater depth capability.

The power output is the amount of energy generated by the sonar transmitter. It is commonly measured using two methods:

• Root Mean Square (RMS) measures power output over the entire transmit cycle.

• Peak to Peak measures power output at the highest points.

The benefits of increased power output are the ability to detect smaller targets at greater distances, ability to overcome noise, better high speed performance and enhanced depth capability.

How Sonar Works

Down Imaging™ Sonar

75 Degree Total Coverage

16°

75°

25°

455kHz

200kHz

455kHz

45°

800kHz

Your Fishfinder uses Down Imaging™ technology. The Down Imaging™ transducer scans the water with razor-thin, highdefinition beams. The beams are wide (side to side) but very thin front to back.

The Down Imaging™ beams can be operated at two frequencies: 455 kHz (75°) or 800 kHz (45°). Select 455 kHz for the best overall image quality and depth. Select 800 kHz for the sharpest image. See Down Imaging™ X-Press™ Menu: Imaging Frequency for more information.

The transducer also uses conical beams to provide data in traditional 2D format (see What’s on the Sonar Display). Select 455 kHz for a narrowly focused 16° center beam, or select 200 kHz for a wider 25° beam (see Sonar Menu Tab: Beam Select).

Depth capability is affected by such factors as boat speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water conditions, and transducer installation.

How Sonar Works

How GPS Works

Your 500 Series™ Fishfinder also supports GPS (Global Positioning System) and chartplotting. It uses GPS and sonar to determine your position, display it on a grid, and provide detailed underwater information.

GPS uses a constellation of satellites that continually send radio signals to the earth. The GPS receiver on your boat receives signals from satellites that are visible to it. Based on time differences between each received signal, the GPS receiver determines its distance to each satellite. With distances known, the GPS receiver mathematically triangulates its own position. With 5 updates per second, the GPS receiver then calculates its velocity and bearing.

GPS was originally intended for military use; however, civilians may also take advantage of its highly accurate position capabilities, typically within +/- 10 meters, depending on conditions. This means that 95% of the time, the GPS receiver will read a location within 10 meters of your actual position. Your GPS Receiver also uses information from WAAS (the Wide Area Augmentation System), EGNOS (the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), and MSAS (the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System) satellites if they are available in your area.

The following GPS functionality is currently supported by the 500 Series™ Fishfinder when it is connected to the included GPS receiver:

• View current position

• View current track (breadcrumb trail)

• View precision speed and heading from your GPS receiver

• Save tracks, waypoints, and routes

• Travel a route and navigate from one waypoint to the next.

See Chart View and SD Memory Card Slot: Add Maps to Your Fishfinder for more information.

How GPS Works

What’s on the Sonar Display

The 500 Series™ Fishfinder can display a variety of useful information about

Depth - Water depth; can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow.

Speed - If a Temp/Speed accessory or GPS Receiver is attached, the Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat and can keep a Triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.

Temperature - Water surface temperature.

Timer - Elapsed time with Temp/Speed

Accessory or GPS Receiver.

Distance - Distance traveled with Temp/Speed Accessory or GPS Receiver.

Average Speed - Average speed reading with Temp/Speed Accessory or GPS Receiver.

Second Sonar Return - When the sonar signal bouncesbetween thebottom andthesurface ofthe water and back again. Use the appearance of the second return to determine bottom hardness. Hard bottomswill show a strongsecondreturn,whilesoft bottoms will show a very weak one or noneat all.

Cursor Dialog Box - Indicates cursor depth on the display and the depth of the bottom directly below the cursor. The Latitude and Longitude of the cursor position, the distance to travel to the cursor position, and the bearing to the cursor position are shown with a GPS receiver. A waypoint can be marked at the cursor position for later retrieval and use with a GPS receiver.

NOTE: Entries in this view that list (with Temp/Speed or GPS Receiver) are available if either the information from the GPS receiver will be displayed on the view.

What’s on the Sonar Display

the area under your boat, including the following items:

Bait Ball

Hollow Fish Symbol (See Fish ID+™)

Fish - The Fishfinder displays fish as arches

and/or fish icons, and can be set to alarm when a fish of a certain size is detected. When a target is detected, a Fish ID+™ symbol appears on the display with the depth displayed above it. The size of the symbol indicates the intensity of the sonar return. The unit will clearly show schools of Bait Fish as "clouds" of different shapes and sizes, depending on the number of fish and boat speed.

Thermoclines - Layers of water with different temperatures that appear at different depths and different times of the year. A thermocline typically appears as a continuous band of gray levels moving across the display at the same depth.

Cursor - Available in Freeze Frame and can be positioned in the Sonar View to provide depth of a sonarreturn andbottom depthbelow the cursor.

Shaded Fish Symbol (See Fish ID+™)

RTS (Real Time Sonar) Window™

Structure - Where fish may be hiding.

device is connected to the 500 Series™ Fishfinder. If both devices are connected, then only

What’s on the Sonar Display

Understanding the Sonar Display

It is important to understand the significance of the display. The display does not show a literal 3-dimensional representation of what is under the water. Each vertical band of data received by the control head and plotted on the display represents something that was detected by a sonar return at a particular time. As both the boat and the targets (fish) may be moving, the returns are only showing a particular segment of time when objects were detected, not exactly where those objects are in relation to other objects shown on the display.

The returned sonar echoes are displayed on the screen. As a new echo is received, the historical data scrolls across the screen.

Real Time Sonar (RTS™) Window

A Real Time Sonar (RTS™) Window appears on the right side of the display in the Sonar View only. The RTS Window™ updates at the fastest rate possible for depth conditions and shows only the returns from the bottom, structure, and fish that are within the transducer beam. The RTS Window™ plots the depth and intensity of a sonar return (see Sonar Menu Tab: RTS Window™).

The Narrow RTS Window™ indicates the sonar intensity through the use of grayscale. The grayscale used matches the Bottom View grayscale setting (Inverse, StructureID WhiteLine™, Bottom Black). The depth of the sonar return is indicated by the vertical placementof the returnon the display depth scale.

What’s on the Sonar Display

The Wide RTS Window™ indicates the sonar intensity through the use of a bar graph. The length of the

plotted return indicates whether the return is weak or strong. The depth of the sonar return is indicated by the vertical placement of the return on the display depth scale. The Wide RTS Window™ does not use grayscale.

SwitchFire™

SwitchFire™ controls how the sonar returns are displayed in the Sonar Views. SwitchFire™ settings are available in the Sonar Menu Tab.

To see the maximum sonar information available within the transducer beam so more fish arches and better jig tracking are shown, choose Max Mode.

To see less clutter and more fish size accuracy interpreted from the transducer beam, choose Clear Mode. See Sonar Menu Tab: SwitchFire™ for more information.

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor

Freeze Frame & Active Cursor - Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key, and the screen will freeze and a cursor will be displayed. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to move the cursor over a sonar return, and the depth of the sonar return will be displayed at the bottom of the screen in the cursor information box.

The RTS Window™ continues to update in Freeze Frame. To return to a scrolling display and exit Freeze Frame, press the EXIT key. Freeze Frame is available in the Sonar, Split Sonar, and Sonar Zoom Views.

Instant Image Update

Instant Image Update - You can change a variety of sonar menu settings (such as Sensitivity or Upper Range), and the adjustments will be shown instantly on the screen.

What’s on the Sonar Display

Sonar Colors: Original Palette

HIGH

Intensity Return

MEDIUM

Intensity Return

LOW

Intensity Return

Sonar Returns and Bottom View

As the boat moves, the unit charts the changes in depth on the display to create a profile of the Bottom Contour. The Sonar View displays the sonar return intensity using gray scale.

Strong returns often result from rocky or hard bottoms (compacted sediment, rocks, fallen trees), while weaker returns often result from soft bottoms (sand, mud), vegetation, and small fish.

The shades used to represent high, medium, to low intensity returns are determined by the setting you choose in the Bottom View menu option. See Sonar X-Press™ Menu to set the Bottom View.

Sonar History:

Historical Returns

scroll left across

the view.

Strong Returns (possibly rocks,

tree limbs, or

other structure)

What’s on the Sonar Display

Bottom View set to Inverse (default setting)

Sonar View:

Weak Returns (possibly vegetation or small fish)

RTS Window™

Strong Return (possibly compacted sediment or rocks)

Inverse is a method where weak returns are shown with dark pixels and strong returns with lighter pixels. This has the benefit of ensuring that weak signals will be clearly visible on the display.

Structure ID® represents weak returns as light pixels and strong returns as dark pixels. This has the benefit of ensuring that strong returns will be clearly visible on the display.

WhiteLine™ highlights the strongest sonar returns in white resulting in a distinctive outline. This has the benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display.

Black (Bottom Black) displays all pixels below the bottom contour as black, regardless of signal strength. This has the benefit of providing a high contrast between the bottom and other sonar returns on the display.

What’s on the Sonar Display

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display

Down Imaging™ uses its unique transducer and sonar technology to provide definition profiling beams produce the detailed sonar data that you see on the can interpret the structure and bottom contour, including the following items:

Depth - (water depth) can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow.

Temperature - Water surface temperature.

Topography Changes - The light part of the

display shows where the beam is hitting hard bottom or rising terrain. The dark part of the display indicates soft bottom (sand, mud) or descending terrain.

Speed- If a Temp/Speedaccessory is connected, the Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat and can keep a Triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.

NOTE: Entries in this view that list (with Temp/Speed) are available if the accessory is connected

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display

information about the area directly below your boat. The razor-thin, highdisplay. Down Imaging™ reveals a variety of recognizable features so that you

Upper Range

Structure

Clouded Area may indicate a bait ball and White Streaks may indicate fish.

Shadows - result from a lack of reflected

sonar from a particular area and can be as valuable for interpretation than the sonar reflected by the object itself. Use shadows to help you see the image in 3 dimensions, oriented in space. You can gain insight into the actual shape of an object, or the depth to which it has sunk into the bottom, through shadows on the display. Objects standing on the bottom cast a sonar shadow. The longer the shadow, the taller the object. Fish also cast shadows. You can use the shadow to interpret how close the fish is to the bottom.

to the 500 Series™ Fishfinder.

Bottom Return - Use the appearance of the bottom return to determine bottom hardness. Rock and gravel provide a clearer sonar return than mud and sand because hard objects reflect sonar better than soft objects.

Lower Range

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display

Understanding the Down Imaging™ Display

The images you see on the Down Imaging™ display are produced using sonar technology. Each time the unit pings, a strip of data representing all the echoes received by the transducer are put together on the display to form the image that you see. Like traditional 2D Sonar, the sonar history scrolls left across the screen.

Interpreting the Display

Down Imaging™ beams “illuminate” the bottom contour, structure, and fish. The beams are wide (side to side) but very thin front to back.

Use the light and dark parts of the display to interpret the objects under your boat as follows:

• Dark shades represent soft returns (mud, sand) or descending terrain.

• Light shades represent denser terrain (timber, rocks) or rising terrain. A very hard bottom may appear as white on the display.

• White Streaks or Clouds may represent fish on the display.

• Shadows are not caused by light but by the lack of a sonar return. Objects standing on the bottom cause a sonar shadow to appear on the display. The longer the shadow, the taller the object. Fish may also cast shadows. You can use the shadow to interpret where the fish or object is located in relation to the bottom.

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display

Down Imaging™ Sensitivity

Use Imaging Sensitivity to control how the sonar returns appear on the display. Increase the sensitivity to reveal weaker returns that may be of interest, especially in very clear water or greater depths. Decrease the Imaging Sensitivity to eliminate the clutter from the display that is sometimes present in murky or muddy water. See Down Imaging™ X-Press™ Menu: Imaging Sensitivity for more information.

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor

Freeze Frame and Active Cursor - Press any arrow on the 4-WAY Cursor Control key, and the screen will freeze and a cursor will be displayed. Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to move the cursor over a sonar return, and the depth of the sonar return will be displayed in the cursor dialog box.

What’s on the Down Imaging™ Display

Views

The sonar and navigation information from your Fishfinder is displayed on the screen in a variety of easy-to-read views. There are many views available on your Fishfinder.

• Default View: When you first power up the control head, Down Imaging™ View will be the default view.

• Cycle: When you press the VIEW key repeatedly, the display cycles through the available views on your screen. When you press the EXIT key, the display cycles through the available views in reverse order.

• Customize: You can display or hide any view to suit your fishing preferences. See the following pages for more information about each View.

NOTE: When you change any menu settings that affectthe sonar, the view will update immediately. You don't have to exit the menu to apply the change to the screen.

Views

To customize your view rotation:

You can choose which views are hidden or visible in your view rotation.

1. Press the MENU key twice to access the tabbed Main Menu, then press the RIGHT Cursor key until the Views tab is selected.

2. Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to select a View.

3. Press the LEFT or RIGHT Cursor keys to change the status of the view from Hidden to Visible or vice versa.

To change the Digital Readouts:

Each view displays digital readout information (such as speed or time), which varies with the view selected, the accessory attached, and whether or not you are navigating. The digital readouts on the Sonar View can be customized. See Setup Menu Tab: Select Readouts for more information.

1. Press the MENU key twice to access the tabbed Main Menu, then press the RIGHT Cursor key until the Setup tab is selected.

2. Press the DOWN key to highlight Select Readouts, and press the RIGHT Cursor key to access the Select Readouts submenu.

NOTE: If the Select Readouts option does not appearunder the Setup tab, change the User Mode to Advanced.

3. Press the UP or DOWN Cursor keys to select a Readout position, then press the RIGHT or LEFT Cursor keys to choose what will be displayed in that position. To hide the data window, select Off. (Course, Navigation, Off, Position, Speed, Temperature, Time+Date, Triplog, Voltage, Time)

Views

Sonar View

Sonar View presents a historical log of sonar returns. The most recent sonar returns are charted on the right side of the display. As new information is received, the historical information scrolls left across the display.

• Upper and Lower Depth Range numbers indicate the distance from the

surface of the water to a depth range sufficient to show the bottom.

• Depth is automatically selected to keep the bottom visible on the display,

although you can adjust it manually as well (see Sonar X-Press™ Menu).

• Digital Readouts shown on the display will change based on the Select Readouts settings or the optional-purchase accessories attached (see Setup Menu Tab: Select Readouts).

• Freeze Frame - Use the 4-WAY Cursor Control key to freeze the display and move the cursor over a sonar return. The depth of the sonar return will be displayed at the bottom of the screen in the cursor information box.

Sonar View

Depth

Speed

Upper Depth Range

Temperature

Triplog

Sonar History

Window

Cursor

Dialog Box

NOTE: If the Depth number is flashing, it means that the unit is having trouble locating the bottom. This usually happens if the water is too deep, the transducer is out of the water, the boat is moving too fast, or for any other reason that the unit can’t accurately receive continuous data.

Views

Cursor

RTS Window™

Lower Depth Range

Sonar Zoom View

Sonar Zoom View provides a magnified view of the bottom and structure. The Sonar Zoom View makes it easier to see separate sonar returns that would usually be displayed close together, such as those caused by fish suspended close to the bottom or within structure.

• The Zoom Level, or magnification, is displayed in the lower left corner of the display. Press the + or - ZOOM keys to increase or decrease the zoom level.

• The Zoomed View is displayed on the left side of the screen. As the depth changes, the zoomed view updates automatically.

• The Full Range View is displayed on the right side of the screen. The Full Range View includes the Zoom Preview Box, which shows where the zoomed view is in relation to the full range view.

• The Upper and Lower Depth Range numbers indicate the high and low range of the water which is being viewed.

• Freeze Frame - Use the 4-WAYCursor Control key to freeze the display and move the cursor over a sonar return. The depth of the sonar return will be displayed at the bottom of the screen in the cursor information box.

Sonar Zoom View

Depth

Zoomed View

Upper Depth Range, Full Range View

Upper Depth Range, Zoom View

Zoom Level

Digital depth is displayed in the upper left hand corner. The digital readouts in the Sonar Zoom View cannot be customized; therefore, information such as watertemperature and voltage are unavailable in the Sonar Zoom View.

Zoom Preview Box

Full Range View

Lower Depth Range, Zoom View

Lower Depth Range, Full Range View

Views

Split Sonar View

Split Sonar View displays sonar returns from each down beam frequency on separate sides of the screen. You can use the Split Sonar View to make side by side comparisons between the sonar returns from both beams.

• Down Imaging™ models display sonar returns from the 455 kHz narrow beam on the left side of the screen and sonar returns from the 200 kHz wide beam on the right side of the screen.

• Depth is displayed in the upper left hand corner.

• The Digital Readouts in the Split Sonar View cannot be customized;

therefore, information such as water temperature and voltage are unavailable in the Split Sonar View.

• Freeze Frame - Use the 4-WAYCursor Control key to freeze the display and move the cursor over a sonar return. The depth of the sonar return will be displayed at the bottom of the screen in the cursor information box.

455 kHz/200 kHz Split Sonar View

Upper Depth

Depth

Range

200 kHz Sonar History Window

History Window

Views

455 kHz Sonar

Lower Depth Range

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