Humminbird TFX320 Operation Manual

Operations Manual

Thank you for choosing Teleflex Sonar, manufactured by Techsonic
Industries, for your sonar fishfinder and depthsounder. Techsonic has built
its reputation by designing and manufacturing top-quality, thoroughly
reliable marine equipment. Techsonic has designed your Teleflex Sonar
unit to be trouble free even in the harshest marine environments.

In the unlikely event that your Teleflex Sonar product does require repairs,
Techsonic offers an exclusive Service Guarantee - free of charge during
the first year after purchase, and available at a reasonable rate after the
one-year period. Complete details are included at the end of this manual.

We encourage you to read this operations manual carefully in order to
get full benefit from all the features and uses of your Teleflex Sonar
product. Also, to register your purchase and help us learn more about
you, please fill out the included warranty registration card

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.

THANK YOU

WARNING:

Dis-assembly 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 and birth defects and other reproductive harm.

Section 1: USING THE

320

SERIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Simulator and Feature Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Control Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Knobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Real Time Sonar Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chart Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Automatic Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Bottom Lock Zoom Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Control Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Section 2: MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Service Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rev 10424E

2

USING THE 320 SERIES

PERFORMANCE

USING THE 320 SERIES

P

ERFORMANCE

The 320 Series represents a new way of thinking about fishing electronics.
Combining state of the art electronics and paper chart recorder sonar
performance, it offers the best of the present and the past. Minimal, easy to
understand knob controls provide access to the most important features. The
320 eliminates confusion created by too many buttons and menus. High
technology, high performance, with "back to basics" operation makes the 320
the ideal choice of the serious angler.

The 320 uses sonar to locate and define underwater objects. Sonar technology
is based on sound waves sent into the water in a controlled "beam" from the
transducer. Objects within this beam reflect the sonar signal back. The 320 very
accurately measures the distance to these objects based on the time it takes for
the sonar to return. Each object (bottom, fish or structure) reflects the sonar
uniquely, providing information about its makeup. The 320 draws this returned
information on the display.

The 320 features a sophisticated Dual Beam sonar
system using two beams at the same time for
optimum performance. The combination of a wide
beam for greater area of coverage and a narrow
beam for precise detail presents true fish arches and
a detailed bottom.

The 320 uses an extremely fast microprocessor to relay sonar information from
the transducer, enabling the unit to send and receive up to 30 sonar returns
per second to provide Real Time Sonar information. These sonar signals are
sent through a dual beam sonar system. The dual beam system combines a
wide area of bottom coverage with great bottom detail to define structure,
subtle bottom contours and suspended objects such as fish.

The 320 operates in a wide variety of water conditions, from 2’ to 600’. Actual
depth capability depends on many factors such as bottom hardness, water
conditions, and transducer installation. All sonar units typically read to deeper
depths in fresh water than saltwater.

3

POWERING UP THE 320

After installation, turn the 320 on by momentarily pressing the G

AIN

knob. An
audible chirp sounds as the unit turns on. If the unit detects that the transducer
is connected and is in water, the 320 begins to show sonar information on the
display. If the transducer is not detected, the unit starts up in simulator mode.

To power the unit off at any time, press and hold the G

AIN

knob for several

seconds until the 320 turns off.

SIMULATOR AND FEATURE MEMORY

The 320 contains a simulator that allows you to use the unit as though you are
on the water. The Simulator is an invaluable aid to learning the features and
functions of the 320. All controls are operational and settings can be changed
to experiment with various features. When operating in Simulator an indicator
appears at the bottom left of the display.

There are two ways to start the simulator. The method to use depends on whether a
transducer is connected:

If the 320 is powered on with no transducer connected, it starts up in simulator
mode. No other steps are needed. In this mode the 320 does not remember
any setting changes that are made.

If the 320 is powered on with the transducer connected, the Simulator must
be manually turned on.

To manually turn the simulator on:

1. Press the Control Panel knob to display the list

of options.

2. Rotate the Control Panel knob to scroll through

the list until Simulator is visible and is highlighted on the display.

3. Turn the Range knob to turn Simulator from

OFF to ON.

4. Press the Control Panel knob to clear the screen.

USING THE 320 SERIES

POWERING UP THE 320/SIMULATOR

4

USING THE 320 SERIES

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

When operating with the Simulator on and the transducer connected changes
made to Chart Speed, RTS Window, Surface Clutter, White Line, Contrast, and
the Units Control Panels are permanently remembered. When a transducer is
not connected, no changes are remembered.

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Four knobs on the 320 control all user settings: M

ODE

, G

AIN

,

C

ONTROLPANEL

and R

ANGE

.

MODE KNOB

The M

ODE

knob selects how the 320 locates the bottom
and graphs the information on the display. Turn the knob
until the pointer aligns with the desired mode of operation.
See Modes of Operation for more information.

G

AIN KNOB

The G

AIN

knob controls the gain (sometimes called

sensitivity) of the sonar receiver. G

AIN

also powers the unit

on or off. When the 320 is off, press G

AIN

to turn the unit

on. Press and hold G

AIN

to turn the unit off.

Increasing the gain shows faint sonar returns from
small bait fish and suspended debris in the water,
however the display may become too cluttered in
some water conditions. Increased gain is also
beneficial at deeper depths to maintain a good
bottom image and adequately show sonar returns
from deep objects. Decreasing the Gain eliminates
the clutter from the display, however if adjusted
too low may not show many faint sonar returns
that could be fish.

Turn the G

AIN

knob clockwise to increase the gain;
turn counterclockwise to decrease the gain. As you
turn the knob, only new sonar information being
graphed shows the affect of the gain change.

High Gain

Medium Gain Low Gain

5

CONTROL PANEL KNOB

The Control Panel knob accesses features used to
adjust some

320

settings. Push the knob to display
the control panel list, then rotate the knob to select
a feature for adjustment. A light colored
background indicates the selected feature. Turn the
Range knob to adjust the selected feature. Remove
the control panel list from the display by pushing
the Control Panel knob. If no adjustments are made
after a few seconds, the control panel list is
removed automatically.

RANGE

KNOB

The Range±knob adjusts the depth ranges used on
the display. The Range knob has slightly different
capabilities in each mode of operation. See Modes
of Operation for specific information. In all cases
turning the knob clockwise increases the range,
while turning it counterclockwise decreases the
range. Turning the knob slowly increases the
adjustment in small increments, while turning it
quickly makes large changes to the adjustment.

THE 320 DISPLAY

The 320 uses a high resolution LCD display to show sonar information, digital
depth, temperature, speed and other readouts.

A digital depth readout ranging from 2 to 600 feet is always displayed in the
upper left corner of the LCD. When the speed/temp accessory is connected,
additional digital readouts are shown below the depth. A voltage readout
appears in the bottom left when the input voltage to the 320 is less than 11
volts or greater than 15 volts.

A depth range scale appears close to the right side of the LCD display.

USING THE 320 SERIES

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

This scale indicates the distance from the
surface of the water to a depth range
sufficient to show the bottom. For
example, in 18 feet of water a
20 foot depth range is selected. The
depth range scale can be controlled
automatically or manually depending on
the mode of operation. In automatic and
bottom lock mode, the 320 selects the
depth range. In manual mode the depth
range is selected by the user.

The sonar returns received by the 320 are
displayed along the depth range scale in a
Real Time Sonar (RTS) Window and Chart
Window. The RTS Window displays new
sonar information within the transducer
cone in an expanded easy to see format;
the Chart Window logs old RTS Window
information to show a contour view of
the bottom and structure.

R

EALTIMESONARWINDOW

The Real Time Sonar (RTS) window shows
instantaneous sonar returns from the
bottom, structure and fish that are within
the transducer beam. The RTS window
updates with new sonar information much
more quickly than the chart window - up to
30 times per second in shallow water. The
RTS window responds to quickly changing
depths similar to a flasher. Interpreting the
RTS information requires some skill; however
comparing the RTS presentation with the
information on the chart window makes it
easy to understand.

6

USING THE 320 SERIES

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Depth Range
Scale

Depth, Temp and
Speed readouts

Real TIme Sonar
Window

Chart
Window

Intense
returns

Less
intense
returns

Structure

Bottom

7

The RTS window plots the depth and intensity of a sonar return. Sonar intensity
is indicated by the length of the horizontal lines, while depth is indicated by the
vertical placement of the lines next to the depth range scale. The intensity of
the sonar return is divided into 16 levels of grayscale. The most intense returns
are shown in black; less intense sonar returns are shown
in progressively lighter shades of gray.

The combination of the length of the lines and the
grayscale level helps to identify the bottom composition
and structure. The bottom is the largest grouping of
black horizontal lines, typically having gray lines
underneath. A harder bottom shows less gray below; a
soft bottom shows more gray below. Structure appears
above the bottom as a cluster of lines with varying
lengths and gray shades.

Fish appear as smaller groupings of sonar returns
between the bottom and surface. Often, large fish
within structure will show as a strong return within a
grouping of smaller returns. When the boat is stationary
or drifting very slowly, the RTS window can show the
movement of the fish through the transducer beam.
Moving fish appear as smaller groups of lines
progressively become larger lines, or vice . A grouping of
lines moving vertically indicates a fish changing depth.

The width of the RTS window can be adjusted to your
preference. Selecting a wider RTS window shows
greater differences between the strength of the sonar
returns; however it reduces the amount of history on
the display. See Control Panels for details of adjusting
the RTS Window.

USING THE 320 SERIES

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Hard
Bottom

Fish

Soft
Bottom

8

USING THE 320 SERIES

CONTROL FUNCTIONS

THEC

HARTWINDOW

The C

HARTWINDOW

creates a historical log of
sonar returns from the RTS window. As the
boat moves, variations in the depth and
sonar return change and are charted to form
an image of the bottom contour. The most
recent sonar returns are charted on the right
side of the window; as new information is
received the older information is moved
across the display.

The chart window also indicates the
composition of the bottom. A hard bottom
such as compacted sediment or flat rock
appears as a dark, thin line across the display.
Soft bottoms such as mud or sand appear as a
thicker line having a transition from dark to
light grays. Bottoms made up of many rocks
have a broken, random appearance.

Bottoms having a large degree of slope also present a unique picture. These
generally have a thicker black band representing the bottom directly under the
boat. Equal areas of gray above and below the black band represent sonar
returns from around the boat.

A second sonar return may be visible if the
appropriate depth range is selected. This
appears as a depth contour below the
main bottom contour, at twice the depth.
The second return occurs when the sonar
signal bounces between the bottom and
surface of the water and back again. Some
anglers use the appearance of the second
return to determine bottom hardness.
With a lower gain setting the second
return will be more faint, except in areas
with hard bottom. The

320

has a unique
depth range feature which permits the
second return to be visible in any depth
range. See Modes of Operation for detail.

Hard
Bottom

Soft
Bottom

Rocky
Bottom

Chart Window

Thermocline

Slope

Second
Return