Humminbird RF20 User Manual

Thank You!

Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, America's #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 six months after purchase, and available at a reasonable rate
after the six month period. For complete details, see the warranty information at the end of this manual. We encourage you
to read this operations manual carefully in order to get the full benefit from all the features and applications of your
Humminbird

®

product.

The RF20 SmartCast product should have:

• One Remote Sonar Sensor - RSS

TM

- Channel A

• One Rod Mounted Display with installed 2450 CR battery

• One extra 2450 CR battery

• Three different Mounting Sleeves: A, B and C

• This RF20 SmartCast Operations Manual.

If any of these components are missing, please contact our Customer Resource Center at either 1-334-687-0503 or visit
our website at www.humminbird.com.

NOTE: The RF20 also comes in an International version that is CE-compliant.

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. Handling and/or
opening this unit may result in exposure to lead, in the form of solder.

WARNING! This product contains lead, a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive
harm.

WARNING! The bottom of the RSS should not be handled during sonar operation, as this may cause physical discomfort and may result in
personal injury in the form of tissue damage. Handle the RSS only by the antenna tower when it has been in the water.

WARNING! The RSS (Remote Sonar Sensor) is not intended for use by children younger than 6 years old without adult supervision as the
RSS may represent a choking hazard to small children.

Using the SmartCast

The SmartCast is a first-of-its-kind wireless fishfinder that is incredibly easy to use.
Simply attach the Rod Mounted Display to your rod, then attach the Remote Sonar
Sensor (RSS) to the end of your fishing line and cast it into the water as you would a nor­mal float or lure. Then power on the SmartCast RF20 and you are ready to fish. The
SmartCast system uses sonar technology to send sound waves from the RSS into the
water. The returned “echoes” are transmitted with wireless technology to the RF20 and
plotted on the display. New information appears on the right. As this information moves
to the left a very accurate picture of the underwater world is created, including objects
such as the bottom, fish, and structures, as well as the depth of the bottom.

NOTE: The RF20 display is designed to be used with polarized sunglasses only when the user is looking straight at the screen. You may
not be able to read the display from other angles when wearing polarized sunglasses.

To scan an area, cast and
then reel in at a slow, steady
rate with your rod tip up.

WARNING! The electronic parts in the Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS) are made to withstand use when casting into water. Because shock from
abrupt contact with rocks can damage your RSS, we do NOT recommend using your RSS in water that is less than one foot (0.3 m) deep.

Operational Modes

The RSS can be used in two distinct ways:

Sonar Graph: The RSS can be used to create a sonar graph of the bottom. Cast the RSS into the water beyond an area of
interest, then reel in the RSS at a slow and steady rate The digital display will provide precise information for bottom con­tour, depth and structure below the RSS. Fish and bait fish will be displayed when detected.

Stationary Float: The RSS can be used as a float in a stationary location to monitor the area below, giving you a live
update as fish approach your bait.

Activating the Rod Mounted Display Battery

When you first use the RF20 SmartCast Rod Mounted Display you will
need to activate the display battery. Use a coin to remove the battery
door on the back of the Rod Mounted Display, then remove the plastic
strip located in the battery compartment.

Make sure that the O-ring in the battery compartment is present, positioned correctly in the grooves, and free of debris
before re-installing the battery door.

NOTE: Replace the Rod Mounted Display battery only with a 2450 CR-type battery.These batteries can be purchased from most electronics
retailers.

NOTE: Under normal use you should expect the life of the display battery to last up to 40 hours of operation. Operation in cold weather will
significantly reduce the life of the battery.

Attaching the Rod Mount Display

1. Determine which of the three Sleeves will fit onto your rod. Each
Sleeve will fit a variety of rod sizes, but Sleeve A fits rods closest to

¹₂

" diameter, B fits rods closest to

⁷₁₆

" diameter, while C fits rods

closest to

³₈

" diameter.

2. Once you have selected a specific Sleeve, attach it to the Rod Mounted Display, then slip the assembled unit onto
your rod and tighten the straps. Make sure that the letter on the Sleeve is visible once the unit is mounted on the
rod, so that the Rod Mounted Display and the Sleeve are both on the top side of the rod when you are fishing.

NOTE: You should remove the RF20 from your rod and store it when you are not actively using it. See Maintenance for important storage
information.

NOTE: Keep the unused Sleeves in case you get a rod of a different size. If you need a replacement Sleeve, you may order it from our
website, www.humminbird.com, or from participating retailers and dealers.

Sleeve Mount

Assembled

Rod Mounted Display

Attaching the RSS

The line coming from your reel can be tied off to the front hole in the
Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS). If you also wish to use the RSS as a con­ventional float, use the second hole to attach your hook using a lighter
weight line. A snag will break the lighter line if you have to break free.
Slip line techniques are not recommended because of the higher risk
of losing the RSS. If you do use the slip line method, use a lighter
weight line after the lower stop, enabling retrieval of the RSS if the
lower line with hook breaks away.

CAUTION: You will increase the possibility of breaking your line if you use light test pound line on your reel. The RSS is positively buoyant (is
buoyant under its own weight plus 0.2 ounces or 5.7 g of bait and lead weight.) The maximum amount of weight for any attachment to the
RSS is approximately

¹

²₆₄

to

¹³₆₄

ounces (5.3 g to 5.8 g), and includes the combined weight of any hook, line, weight, swivel/snap swivel and

bait that is attached to the RSS. The RSS itself weighs 1 ounce (28 g), and therefore light test line might break.

NOTE: Store the RSS in a dry, non-metallic container, such as a tackle box, in a separate compartment, and isolated from any metallic
devices.

RSS Power

The Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS) has a separate, non-replaceable lithium battery that has a shelf life of three years and
will last for approximately 400 hours of in-water use. Discard the used RSS in compliance with local laws as you would
any electronic component or battery.

The RSS will turn on its Sonar Transmitter/Receiver automatically when it is immersed in the water. Once immersed, the
RSS will begin transmitting the sonar information via radio frequency (RF) to the Rod Mounted Display. The RSS auto­matically stops using power a few seconds after being pulled out of the water.

WARNING! Do not place the RSS in a wet area when not in use as this will turn on the RSS and shorten its usable life. Store the RSS in a
dry area when not in use to conserve power. Never place the RSS in a wet area of a boat or on a metal surface that could accidentally power
it on.

NOTE: If the RSS was used in salt water, rinse it with fresh water before storing it.

What’s On the Display

The SmartCast displays under-water information in an easy to understand format. The top
of the display corresponds to the water surface, and the bottom of the display corresponds
to the selected Depth Range (see Depth Range). The display varies as the area under the
RSS changes.

Underwater conditions vary greatly, so some experience and interpretation is needed to
realize all the benefits of the SmartCast – use the diagram as a guide to the most com­mon conditions and practice using the SmartCast over known bottom types.

Present

Depth

Bottom

Fish
Icon

Depth
Range

Use a heavy test line, standard
knots, and tackle such as a
swivel.

Handle the RSS by the antenna tower when it
has been in water.

The second leader hole is for using the RSS as a float. Connect a lighter weight
hook line to this hole. Do not over-weight the hook line as this will submerge the
RSS, causing signal loss.

Powering the Display ON and OFF

To turn on the display, press and hold the POWER-MENU button until you hear the beep,
then release. To power off the display, press and hold the POWER-MENU button until the
display shuts down, then release.

CAUTION! The Rod Mounted Display DOES NOT have an automatic shut off function. It will continue to
draw current unless you shut it down manually by pressing and holding the POWER-MENU button.

Start-Up in Fishing Mode

After pressing the POWER-MENU button to turn on the Rod Mounted Display, you will see the
Start-Up screen. The Start-Up screen will disappear automatically after two seconds have
passed, without further action from you. In Fishing mode, the screen will either display sonar
information or the RF20 SmartCast screen will appear, indicating that no sonar information is
currently available.

When you have powered on the Rod Mounted Display and have cast the RSS into the water,
returned sonar data will start to be displayed. A vertical line will appear first, followed by a bot­tom depiction and possible fish locations if fish are sensed.

Startup in Simulator Mode

To enter Simulator mode, press the POWER-MENU button to turn on the RF20, wait until you
see the Start-up screen, then quickly press the RIGHT Cursor Button. Once you are in
Simulator mode, the display will show the word Simulate, and then, after two seconds, will
show simulated data. To exit Simulator mode, you must power down the RF20.

POWER/MENU
Button

Display

RIGHT
Cursor
Button

LEFT Cursor
Button

Menu Features

A simple menu system accesses the adjustable features of the SmartCast RF20. To activate the menu system, press the
POWER-MENU button; the first time you do this after power up, the Sensitivity menu choice will appear. Once the RF20
has been powered on, pressing the POWER-MENU button will display the last menu choice viewed. Press the POWER­MENU button repeatedly to access other SmartCast menu choices, one at a time. When a menu choice is on the display,
use the RIGHT and LEFT Cursor buttons to adjust the menu settings. Menus are automatically removed from the display
after several seconds.

NOTE: Menu settings are not saved in memory. All settings return to factory defaults when the SmartCast is turned off.

Sensitivity

Press the POWER-MENU button until SENSITIVITY appears. Select a higher number to show weaker sonar returns on the
display, or a lower number to remove clutter from the display. Adjusting Sensitivity also affects how sonar returns are iden­tified as Fish ID Symbols - more fish will be detected at the highest setting of 5, fewer at the lowest setting of 1. (1, 2, 3,
4, 5, Default = 3)

Depth Range

Press the POWER-MENU button until DEPTH RANGE appears. Auto is the default setting. When in automatic, the lower
range will be adjusted by the unit to follow the bottom. Selecting a manual depth range locks it to the setting you select.
(Auto, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 or 100 feet [3, 5, 6, 9, 18, or 30 meters], Default = Auto)

NOTE: In manual operation, if the water depth is greater than the depth range setting, the bottom will not be visible on the display. Select
Auto to return to automatic operation.

Depth scale changes or signal loss will cause lines with missing detail and/or abrupt changes
in the graphed bottom. When the Depth Range is set to Auto, the depth is set to keep the bot­tom in the lower third of the screen. The screen image jump shown here is due to an automat­ic change in depth. New returns graphed at a different scale will not match up with the historic
data already graphed at a higher or lower scale. Vertical lines can also occur as the radio sig­nal from the RSS is lost and then regained in rough water conditions.

Fish Alarm

Press the POWER-MENU button until FISH ALARM appears. Select Off for no fish alarm, or On for fish alarm. Fish ID
must be set to On for Fish Alarm to work. (Off,On, Default = Off)

Fish ID

Press the POWER-MENU button until FISH ID appears. Select either Off to view “raw” sonar returns,
or On to view fish symbols. Fish ID uses advanced signal processing to interpret sonar returns and
will display a Fish Symbol when very selective requirements are met. Fish Alarm does not sound if
Fish ID is turned off. (On, Off, Default = On)

Fish ID

Raw Sonar

Channel

Press the POWER-MENU button until CHANNEL appears. Select either A or B to match your RSS. See Channel A and B
RSS Units. (A, B, Default = A)

Channel A and B RSS Units

There are two versions of the RSS that are available at your local tackle dealer, major outdoor retailers, or at the site
www.humminbird.com: Channel A and Channel B.

The Channel A RSS unit comes standard with the RF20. You also have the option to purchase additional Channel A or
Channel B RSS units. When using the A or B version of the RSS, make sure to select the appropriate channel using the
CHANNEL menu choice. This gives you the flexibility to use a different type of RSS than the one you are currently using if
another angler is using a SmartCast product within 100 feet (30 meters) of your Rod Mounted Display. If you have a Channel
B RSS, you will need to set the channel to B each time you power up the RF20. Two Channel A or two Channel B RSS units
in the water within 100 feet (30 meters) of the display will cause RF interference that prevents the product from functioning
properly, resulting in fluctuating depth readings and excessive clutter on the display. If you use a Channel B RSS while anoth­er angler is using a Channel A RSS or vice versa, the interference will be reduced but not completely eliminated.

NOTE: RSS units, regardless of Channel, either in close proximity to each other or to other sonar devices (closer than 40 feet or 12 meters)
can also experience or cause sonar interference, which may result in erratic depth readings.

Maintenance

Your SmartCast is designed to provide years of trouble-free operation with virtually no maintenance. Follow these simple
procedures to ensure your SmartCast continues to deliver top performance.

WARNING! Never leave the RF20 SmartCast product in a closed car or trunk - the extremely high temperatures generated in hot weather
can damage the electronics.

Rod Mounted Display Maintenance: If the Rod Mounted Display comes into contact with salt spray, wipe the affected
surfaces with a cloth dampened with fresh water. When cleaning the protective lens on the display, use a chamois and
non-abrasive, mild cleaner. Do not wipe while dirt or grease is on the lens. Be careful to avoid scratching the lens. Do not
use a chemical glass cleaner on the lens, as this may cause it to crack.

Do not store the Rod Mounted Display on your fishing rod, in direct sunlight, or in extreme temperatures. When you are
not fishing for extended periods, remove the rod mount from the rod and store it in a dry, cool place such as your tackle
box, away from extreme temperatures and ultraviolet light.

RSS Maintenance: After using the RSS in salt water, wipe the affected surfaces with a cloth dampened with fresh water.
The RSS Wet Switch

TM

pins must be rinsed with fresh water after exposure to salt water to prevent corrosion.

If your RSS remains out of the water for a long period of time, it may take some time to wet it when returned to the water.
Small air bubbles can cling to the surface of the RSS and interfere with proper operation. Wipe the face of the RSS with a
wet cloth to remove them.

If sonar performance becomes weak (i.e., there are bottom gaps or "0" depth readings) the bottom of
the RSS needs to be cleaned with a drop or two of a 5 to 10 percent solution of liquid dish-washing
detergent and water. Use approximately one tablespoon (15 ml) detergent to 8 ounces (237 ml) of water
to remove oils from the face of the RSS, then wipe with a damp cloth.

Troubleshooting

Do not attempt to repair the RF20 Rod Mounted Display or RSS yourself. There are no user serviceable parts inside, and
special tools and techniques are required for assembly to ensure the waterproof integrity of the housings. Repairs should
be performed only by authorized Humminbird technicians.

Many requests for repair received by Humminbird involve units that do not actually need repair. These units are returned
“no problem found.” If you have a problem with your SmartCast, use the following troubleshooting guide before calling
the Customer Resource Center or sending your unit in for repair.

1. The SmartCast loses signal.

If the SmartCast is not able to get an RF signal from the RSS, the display will stop updating
(the screen will freeze) and the RF20 SmartCast screen will be displayed after several seconds.
Whenever reception is lost or the RSS emerges from the water for more than a few seconds,
the RF20 SmartCast screen will be displayed until the RSS is placed back in the water and
reception is regained.

• The SmartCast system is a line-of-sight wireless product. If objects are placed between
the RSS and the Rod Mounted Display, the reception may be lost.

• The RF20 depth range is 2 to 100 feet (0.6 to 30 meters). Erratic readings may occur in water that is shallower than
2 feet (0.6 m). In addition, because of the nature of sonar, this product is not intended for use in swimming pools
or small enclosed bodies of water.

• Reeling the RSS too fast can cause loss of signal and the screen will freeze.

• Check the buoyant balance between the RSS and your tackle; over 0.2 ounce (5.7 grams) will submerge the RSS,
causing signal loss.

• The RF20 may not obtain its maximum RF distance of 100 feet (30 meters) unless the water is smooth. Waves or
chop may reduce the RF range significantly.

NOTE: Retrieving the RSS too rapidly, or the repetitive rocking motion of rough water, can result in loss or distortion of the bottom detail on
the display. For best bottom detail, perform a smooth and slow reel-in with constant speed and the rod tip up (holding the rod tip low or
using a heavy line may cause the RSS to submerge and momentarily lose radio contact). The RSS has a maximum transmit range of 100
feet (30 meters). If the unit is cast or drifts more than 100 feet (30 meters) away from the receiver, the signal may be inconsistent or lost.

2. Nothing happens when I turn the Rod Mounted Display on.

Check the battery position and make sure that the battery door is properly closed. Also, make sure that you have removed
the plastic strip that is in the battery compartment when it is new.

If this doesn’t help, replace the battery. After replacing the battery, if the unit still doesn’t power up, remove the battery door
again and re-install.

3. When in very shallow water, I get gaps in the bottom reading and inconsistent digital depth indication.

The SmartCast will work reliably in water 2 feet (0.6 meter) or deeper. The depth is measured from the RSS.