Interphase Advantage User Manual

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ADVANTAGE



PERATION

ANUAL

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To Our Customer:

Thank you for choosing the Interphase Advantage Dual Frequency Sonar. Throughout the development of this fine product, we have been primarily concerned with creating a unit that offers the best possible value for your money. Selection of features, ease of use, superior performance and outstanding reliability were the benchmarks upon which all important design decisions were made. We feel proud of the Advantage and your satisfaction is very important to us. To this end, we welcome any comments or suggestions that you might have in regard to this equipment.

It is very important that you complete and return the WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD within 15 days of purchase so that your unit may be protected under the warranty.

Sincerely,

INTERPHASE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Interphase Advantage™ is a trademark of Interphase Technologies, Inc.

Publication # = Advantage 4.3

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Table Of Contents

Important Notice 5 Principle of Operation 6 Display Unit Installation 8 Transducer Installation 10 Basic Operation 18 Getting Started 22 Set-Up View 24 Demo Program 24 Units of Measure 24 Language Selection 25 Display Contrast 25 Plot (Track Plot) View 26 Range 26 Mark 26 Center 27 Reset 27 Transmit Power Adjustment 28 Frequency Selection 29 Chart View 30 Range Adjustment 30 Sensitivity Adjustment 30 Bottom Hardness 32 Alarm Adjustment 32 Zoom & Bottom Track 33 Fish Symbol ID & Scrolling Speed 34 Data View 35 Range Adjustment 35 Log Reset 35 Speed Calibration 35 Sensitivity Adjustment 35 Alarm Adjustment 36 Chart/Plot View 37 Range 37 Mark 37 Center 38 Reset 38 NMEA 0183 Interface 39 Interpreting the Advantage’s Display 40 Maintenance 42 Troubleshooting Guide 43 Interference Problems 44 Specifications 45 How To Obtain Service 46 Warranty 47

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General Information

hank you for your selection of the Interphase Advantage

High Power Dual Frequency Sonar. The Advantage’s ruggedly built, compact design makes it ideal for installation on nearly any boat. It will display water depth, bottom conditions and submerged objects such as fish, on its high resolution display. The Advantage is available with either a combination transom or a bronze thru-hull depth/speed/ temperature transducer.

The Advantage has an unprecedented number of advanced features, to make your boating safer and your fishing more productive. Its high resolution SuperTwist Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) provides split screen views of 4X magnification zoom and bottom lock, large digital display, speed and temperature history graphs (with the speed/ temperature transducer). You will appreciate the very useful features of fish and depth alarms, manual or automatic gain control, bottom hardness indicator and fish symbol identification.

The Advantage allows operation in your choice of nine languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, or Greek. Power-off memory saves language, depth range, gain and contrast settings, screen advance speed and location in screen menu. Due to its unique multi-tasking operation, the Advantage provides instant full screen updates when switching between modes (no data loss).

If you have your Advantage interfaced with a Loran-C or GPS unit, you can take advantage of the included track plot displays. The Loran-C, DECCA, and GPS track plot displays on the Advantage give a whole new dimension, by enabling you to not only see the depths beneath your boat, but also to see a graphic display of your boat’s position and progress over time. The track plot display makes it easy to find and return to the same fishing spot, or to troll back over the same productive areas.

To ensure that you receive the maximum benefits available from the outstanding features of the Interphase Advantage, please carefully follow the steps outlined in this manual. An instructive demonstration simulator has been designed into the Advantage and we highly recommend that you spend some time using the demo mode prior to actual use of the unit. We also recommend that you read this entire manual before attempting to either install or operate your Advantage.

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Warranty Information

Interphase provides a limited warranty on the Advantage

Dual Frequency Sonar. We strongly urge you to read this warranty (reprinted at the back of this manual) and closely follow its terms and conditions should your Advantage require repair. It is highly recommended that you save all packing materials so that if you should need to send in the unit for repair, it can be fully protected. If you wrap your display unit in the original plastic bag and ship it in the box with cardboard inserts, this will protect your unit from scratches and shock during shipment. You do not need to include the mounting knobs or mounting bracket, however, try to include the transducer whenever possible. Do not send the power cable with the unit unless you need it tested for continuity or correct polarity (Pin #1 to Red Wire).

Should you experience a problem with your Advantage, first refer to the Troubleshooting section (Page 43) of this manual. Most common problems and their solutions are described here. If problems persist, call Interphase Technical Service at (831) 477-4944. We will be happy to try to assist you, and if required, we will give you instructions on how to quickly get your set repaired.

The enclosed warranty registration card must be completed and returned to Interphase within 15 days of purchase so that your unit may be protected under the warranty. Failure to return the warranty card may cause unnecessary delays in processing your unit for warranty repair.

WARNING

Navigation based solely on one method or one instrument should never be practiced. While the Advantage can be quite useful in showing underwater structure and changing bottom conditions below your vessel, there are many situations and conditions which can cause erroneous or distorted readings.

In addition, there are many situations that can cause “blind spots” in the Advantage’s field of view including the presence of temperature inversion layers (thermoclines), water turbulence, and high concentrations of suspended particles in the water.

While the Advantage may be considered as a useful aid to navigation, it should never be the only means of navigation.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

As sonar technology advances, there is a strong possibility that we will develop many new and exciting features in the future. We would like to make sure we can send you information about these new features and enhancements.

Please fill out and return the Warranty Registration Card immediately. This is our only method to keep in contact with you and we may want to advise you of future enhancements to your Advantage.

If future changes or improvements are made, software upgrades will be available for a nominal charge.

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Principle of Operation

The Advantage Dual Frequency Sonar uses a proprietary acoustic technology to develop short high energy underwater acoustic signals that can detect submerged objects and changing bottom conditions far below your boat. Because of it’s extremely high pulse power and outstanding receiver sensitivity, the Advantage can probe the water beneath your boat to depths of 2,000 feet.

The Advantage Sonar system consists of an LCD display module and a multi-featured dual frequency transducer. The transducer contains a single specially designed piezoelectric ceramic element that can operate at both 200 and 50 kilohertz.

When operating, the Advantage Display module converts a small amount of electrical current from your battery into short bursts of high energy electrical pulses. These high energy pulses are fed to the transducer where they excite the dual frequency ceramic element. When excited by these electrical bursts, the ceramic element converts them into a strong underwater acoustic signal. These acoustic signals travel out from the transducer in a cone shaped pattern, called the cone angle.

When the ceramic element in the transducer is excited with a 200 kHz electrical signal, the resulting acoustic cone angle is approximately 15 degrees and increases to about 45 degrees with a 50 kHz signal. When the acoustic pulse strikes an underwater object, it is reflected back (echo return), received by the same ceramic element in the transducer, and converted back into small electrical impulses. These impulses are amplified, then displayed as an image on the LCD screen after processing by the display module’s microprocessor.

The strength of the echo, the depth of the object, and the angle of the transducer’s beam all affect how the image appears on the display. Other factors which affect the image include boat speed relative to the movement and position of the underwater target and the number of objects reflecting pulses back to the Advantage.

The Advantage’s transducer also includes a sensor for measuring the boat’s speed through the water and the water’s temperature at the transducer.

Because the Advantage can operate at either 200 or 50 kHz, it offers several advantages over single frequency depth sounders. This is because acoustic signals at different frequencies behave quite differently and each has it’s own

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benefit, and drawbacks. For example:

1) 50 kHz signals can penetrate to much deeper depths than 200 kHz signals. Even with high power, 200 kHz signals usually can not reliably penetrate beyond 1,200 feet while 50 kHz signals can easily reach depths beyond 2,000 feet.

2) 200 kHz signals typically give much better resolution and definition to bottom structure in the shallower depths. If you see a return echo from the 200 kHz signal, you can be pretty sure the object which caused the echo is almost directly beneath your boat.

3) 50 kHz signals cover a much wider area (cone or beam angle) than 200 kHz signals. This can be very useful when searching for bait, bottom structure or even when monitoring the depths or tracking downrigger weights.

4) 200 kHz and 50 kHz signals react differently when they strike underwater schools of bait and encounter temperature inversion layers. With experience, you can use the two different frequencies to better understand and interpret underwater signals.

The Advantage allows you to view the water beneath your boat with either a full screen 200 kHz view, a full screen 50 kHz view or a split screen dual frequency view. In the split screen dual frequency view the Advantage alternately pulses the transducer with each frequency and then displays the returning echoes.

The Advantage’s unique variable output power system allows you to manually adjust for optimum power transmission in either shallow or deep conditions. In shallower water you can reduce the output power to help reduce screen clutter from unwanted objects, while in deeper water the power can be adjusted upwards to achieve outstanding depth penetration and fish detection.

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Overhead

Shelf/Table

Panel Flush Mount Installation

Optional flush mount bracket available Interphase part # 17-0054-008

Installation

Display Unit

The compact size of the Advantage display unit allows for easy installation in almost any vessel. To get maximum performance and life from your unit, the following guidelines should be considered when selecting a mounting location:

1) Select a location where the unit is protected from excessive temperatures. Heat is one of the worst enemies of electronic components, and will accelerate component aging, thereby reducing the trouble-free life of your

Advantage.

2) Mount the display in a location where it will be

convenient to route the power cord and transducer cable.

Power connection

Connect the two-pin plug on the end of the power supply cable to the power supply jack located at the rear of the main display unit. Connect the red wire to the positive terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal of your boat’s 12 DC battery.

To minimize electrical interference, carefully route the power cable so that it does not run parallel or close to the transducer cable, engine, refrigeration, bilge pump or any other critical wiring.

IMPORTANT: The Advantage’s 12 VDC power leads should go directly to the boat’s battery, distribution board, or breaker panel. Instability of the display may result if the unit has to share leads with other electrical systems aboard your boat.

Wiring for Power and Transducer Connectors

The correct pin-out wiring sequences for the power and transducer connectors are shown at right. DO NOT SHORTEN THE TRANSDUCER CABLE. If a transducer cable longer than the 30’ length supplied with your unit is needed, please contact your Interphase dealer. A 30-foot transducer extension cable is available. (P/N # 04-0009-008)

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DANGER: Removal of any connector, disassembly of transducer, shortening of any cable or use of any cable other than that supplied by Interphase will void your warranty (no exceptions).

Cable Connectors

(view from front of female plug)

9 Pin Spare:

(Not Used - reserved for future use)

8 Pin Transducer:

1 Speed Data 2 +5VDC 3 Depth element 4 Depth shield 5 Depth element 6 +Temp. Sensor 7 -Temp. Sensor 8 Shield/Ground

Power Connector: 1 +12 vdc 2 - (Ground)

NMEA Input: 1 Data 2 Return ( Ground) 3 N/C

Spare (9-pin)

Transducer: Depth / Speed / Temp. (8-pin)

Red Wire NMEA 0183

Input (3-pin)

12 VDC

12 Volt Battery

Power Cable (2-pin)

N/C = No Connection

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200 kHz

50 kHz

Dual Frequency (Two Cone Angles)

Transom Mounted Transducer

Thru-Hull Transducer

Front

Transducer Installation

The Advantage comes standard with either a transom mount or thru-hull style transducer. The transducer includes both a speed and temperature sensor which allows the Advantage to display current boat speed, surface water temperature and elapsed distance in addition to the depth below the boat.

IMPORTANT: If for any reason you prefer another type of transducer available through Interphase, we will exchange your unused transducer for one of your choice. In some cases an additional cost may apply. Contact

Interphase’s Accessory Sales Department (831) 4774944, extension 14 for additional information.

The Advantage’s transducer contains a single ceramic element which will operate on both the 200 kHz and 50 kHz frequency. The Advantage has an amazing amount of capabilities, but it can not perform magic. It can not see through objects such as your boat’s hull. Therefore, it is important to position the transducer so that it has as clear a view as possible of the water below your boat, as indicated in the top left illustration.

The sketch at left shows the proper orientation for both the transom mount or the thru-hull transducer.

General Considerations

DO NOT CUT OR SPLICE YOUR TRANSDUCER CABLE OR REMOVE THE 8-PIN CONNECTOR . THIS ACTION WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

If you need a longer length cable than comes with the transducer (30’), then purchase the optional 30’ extension cable, Interphase Part # 04-0009-008.

In addition to the above, the following considerations should be observed:

1) Choose a location where there is the least amount of acoustic noise, air bubbles or turbulence caused by the boat’s movement. The transducer should not be located nearby or especially directly behind the propeller.

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2) Choose a location where the transducer can be

Twin Outboards

mounted so that it will be level to the water’s surface and will not be tilted to either side.

3) The transducer must always remain submerged, regardless of the speed of the boat and should not be mounted where it could be damaged by underwater obstacles or when loading on a trailer.

4) DO NOT locate the transducer in the extreme bow of the boat where it will be subject to intense turbulence as the boat pounds through the water.

5) DO NOT locate the transducer directly behind any hull protrusion which will cause the water to be turbulent when it reaches the transducer. For displacement-hull power and sail boats, the thru-hull installation is usually required.

DANGER: DO NOT allow any solvents, i.e. gasoline, acetone, to come in contact with the transducer or head unit as this may dissolve the plastic material.

Transom Transducer Installation

The transom transducer is attached to the boat with two stainless steel brackets. The brackets should be mounted to the ears on the top of the transducer using the hardware supplied. All metallic parts are stainless steel to resist corrosion. Good operation up to 40 - 50 MPH is usually possible. Obtaining operation at higher speeds is possible but may require considerable experimentation with transducer positioning.

Transom Mounting Location

On single drive installations, it is strongly recommended that the transducer brackets be mounted on the side of the boat where the propeller blade is rotating downwards which usually is the right (starboard) side. To reduce the possibility of disturbing the water flow to the propeller, the transducer should be located about 2” outside the swing of the prop. If possible, the transducer and bracket should not be mounted directly behind any strakes, ribs, intakes and outlets for live wells and/or engine cooling water, or any protrusion which may cause turbulence or cavitation. For dual engine installation, just off the center line is usually acceptable.

8-pin Male

30’ Extension Cable

Interphase Part #

04-0009-008

Transom Mount Locations

Transducer

18 - 24"

Cables

8-pin Female

Cable

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Attach Brackets to Transducer

Rear View

Side View

Bottom of Transducer 1/4” Below Bottom of

Hull

Boat’s Hull

1/4”

Attaching the Transducer to the Bracket

Assemble the mounting bracket to the transducer using the 4 screws, washers and lock nuts provided. The bracket arms must be mounted outside the plastic mounting ears of the transducer. Do not fully tighten the lock nuts at this time.

Mounting the Transducer to the Boat

1) Place transducer and bracket at the selected location on the boat’s transom. Align the bracket so that the bottom surface of the transducer is about 1/4” below the underside of the boat’s hull. (See figure at bottom left). Good results can be achieved on most boats when the bow of the transducer is about 1/4” below the hull. It is not recommended to place the transducer further down than necessary because it increases drag and spray, reduces boat top speed and increases water noise generated by the transducer.

2) Mark an outline of the slot locations on the hull. Mark the screw locations in each slot outline as shown in the sketch at the top left of the following page. Drill four holes, each 1/2” to 5/8” deep using a 9/64” drill. (Masking tape wrapped around the drill 5/8” back from the point is one method to prevent drilling too deep.) Also, in fiberglass hulls, chamfer the gelcoat to prevent surface cracks. Drilling first with a 1/4” drill about 1/8” deep is an easy way to prevent surface cracks.

3) Using the four panhead sheet metal screws provided, attach and tighten the bracket to the hull so that the transducer projects 1/4” below the underside of the hull. Align the fore/ aft angle of the transducer so that the rear is approx. 1/8” lower than the forward point. (See figure at right on following page). Tighten the four transducer bolts and the four sheet metal screws.

4) Route the cable to the Advantage display being careful not to tear the cable jacket when passing through bulkheads, etc. To reduce electrical interference, keep the transducer cable separated from ignition, tachometer, alternator or other electrical wiring. Secure the transducer cable in place with “tie-wraps” or lacing twine.

5) Do not remove the connector or cut or splice the cable to ease cable routing. Either cut holes large enough to pass the connector or choose a different route to the display.

Connector removal or cable splicing voids the transducer warranty. Flake out any excess cable and secure in place.

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Testing

After connecting the transducer to the Advantage display, a test of installation should be conducted. After becoming familiar with the Advantage’s performance at speeds of 5 to 6 knots, gradually increase your boat’s speed. As the boat speed increases, there will be a gradual degradation of the transducer’s performance because flow of water over the transducer generates acoustic noise. If you’re in the manual gain mode (not Auto Gain), you may have to increase the gain setting to get a clear bottom reading. When aeration of the transducer occurs, the degradation is usually not gradual, but sudden. If this occurs, note the boat’s speed and gain setting at the onset of the degradation. Remove the boat from the water and recheck the alignment of the transducer. If necessary, readjust the bracket to make sure the rear of the transducer is approx. 3 to 5 degrees (1/8”) below the front as shown in the sketch at bottom right. If the transducer alignment is correct, then lower the transducer 1/4” further below the hull and repeat the test. If still unsatisfactory, try a new location closer to the center keel where aeration is usually less pronounced. Remember to fill unused screw holes with sealant.

To overcome the effect of surface roughness on aluminum boats, it may be necessary to move the transducer down so that it projects 1/2” to 3/4” below the transom. On a few hull types specifically designed to direct air under the hull, moving the transducer away from the keel can improve performance.

Attach Brackets To Stern Of Boat

Mark Hull Before Drilling

Bottom of Boat’s

Hull

Angle Rear of Transducer Slightly (3 to 5

degrees) Below Front.

Line of Hull

3 degrees

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Thru-Hull Transducer Installation

The thru-hull transducer is the recommended choice for larger boats with in-board engines. Thru-hull mounting is usually required on larger power and sail craft. The Advantage must have a clear view of the water below as it can not magically see through obstructions such as the vessel’s hull. Please read the following carefully before starting the thru-hull installation.

Normally, thru-hull installations are performed by a professional in a boat haul-out facility and you may want to seek professional assistance before attempting to mount this transducer.

Selecting the Best Location

The best location to mount the thru-hull transducer will vary with the type of boat. Try to find a location with the smallest dead rise angle to make installation easiest.

Consider that from time to time you will need to remove the speed/temperature plug (from within the vessel) in order to clean the speed paddle wheel. Make sure you choose a location that is easily accessible from inside the vessel!

a. On displacement hulls (sailboats, trawlers, etc.) locate the transducer about 1/3 aft along the waterline. Generally this provides the best compromise between obtaining aeration-free water and minimizing propeller noise. The Advantage’s transducer can not see through aerated water and water near the bow and near the keel can be quite aerated. Aeration of the transducer can be minimized by keeping the transducer mounted away from the keel and by not mounting too far forward.

b. On sailboats, the transducer should be mounted where the acoustic beam will not be shaded by the keel. Try to find an accessible spot with a minimum dead rise angle.

c. On planing powerboat hulls, the transducer should be mounted well aft and close to the keel to insure that the transducer is in contact with the water at higher speeds. On I/O’s, transducer mounting close to the engine usually yields good results.

On inboards always mount the transducer well ahead of the propeller(s). Turbulence from props can seriously degrade perform ance.

(Transducer in front of propeller.)

(Thru-hull installation is recommended.)

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d. Mount the transducer on the side of the hull where the propeller is moving downwards. The upward motion of the propeller generates pressure waves and pushes bubbles up against the hull which can then flow across the transducer’s face causing a loss of signal.

DO NOT install a bronze transducer housing directly into an aluminum or steel hull because electrolytic corrosion will occur.

IMPORTANT:

1) Make sure the water flow across the thru-hull transducer is bubble and turbulence free at all speeds if good performance is to be achieved.

2) Make sure the transducer has an unobstructed view of the water below the boat.

3) On displacement-hull power boats, the transducer should be mounted relatively close to the center line of the hull.

4) Mount the transducer in a place which has reasonable access from inside the vessel since the transducer’s speed/ temperature plug will need to be removed from time to time. Also, during installation, the bronze nut will require tightening from inside the hull.

The transducer must be mounted so that it’s bronze stem is as perpendicular to the water line as possible. If necessary, use a fairing block to properly position the transducer.

Use of a Thru-hull Fairing Bl

Nearly all vessels have some dead rise angle at the transducer mounting location. If the thru-hull transducer were mounted directly to the hull, the sound beam would be tilted off the vertical at the same angle as the dead-rise. Most thru-hull installations will require a fairing block to insure the transducer is mounted properly.

A fairing block is typically made of teak or mahogany wood or plastic and should be glued between the transducer and hull (both inside and outside) to insure that the transducer’s mounting shaft is perpendicular to the water’s surface. Make the fairing block as smooth as possible, and not bigger than the transducer’s face, to minimize possible turbulence (see next page).

ock

Suggested Thru-Hull

Transducer Locations

Fin Keel

Displacement Hull

Planing Hull

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Mount Transducer so it is Vertical

Waterline

Hull

Transducer

Hull

Hex Nut

Fairing Block

After cutting the fairing block, trial fit the block to the hull. It is very important that the flat top surface of the transducer be parallel to the water.

Installing the Thru-hull Transducer

1) Drill a 1/8” pilot hole from inside the hull to assure access to tighten the housing nut and clearance for the transducer cables. If there is any hull irregularity near the selected mounting location, it may be desirable to drill from the outside.

2) Use a 2” hole saw and drill the hole from the outside of the hull. Sand or clean the area around the hole, inside and outside to insure that the sealing compound will adhere properly to the hull. Select a marine grade bedding/caulking compound and use according to the instructions.

3) Remove the bronze hex nut from the housing and cable.

4) Uncoil the transducer cable and thread it through the hole into the inside of the hull.

DANGER: DO NOT apply tension to the transducer cables as this may sever internal connections. Apply a 1/8” thick layer of sealant on the upper flat surface of the bronze housing and fairing block (if used).

5) From the outside of the hull, push the cable and housing into the 2” hole. Twist the housing slightly to squeeze out excess sealant. Carefully confirm that the transducer is aligned so that the rounded end (the front) is pointed directly toward the front of the boat.

6) Install and tighten bronze hex nut (allow for swelling in wooden hulls). Do not overtighten nut - especially if a

wooden fairing block is used as it will expand in water.

7) Remove excess sealant from the outside to assure smooth water flow over the transducer.

DANGER: Wood hulls and fairing blocks will expand after the boat is put back into the water, so it is important that the transducer be only hand-tightened until the wood fully expands. Otherwise the wood fairing block may crack.

DANGER: Be sure to check for leaks when the boat is placed in the water. Allow at least 24 hours after installation for any leak to appear.

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DANGER: If the boat is kept in saltwater or in an area with excessive marine growth it is recommended that the transducer be coated with an anti-fouling paint. USE ONLY WATER

BASED ANTI-FOULING PAINT. DO NOT USE KETONE BASED PAINTS. Ketone based anti-fouling paint

will attack the plastic materials used in the transducer. See page 42 for a list of tested paints. This is not an exhaustive list. If you are using other paints, verify with the paint manufacturer that the paint does not react with urethane plastic.

Bronze Hex Nut

Wood or Plastic Fairing Block (Add sealing compound between fairing block & hull).

Boat’s Hull

Outer part of fairing block

Transducer

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Interphase Advantage

soft key

Power On/

Off

Short-cut

In this manual you will find instruction on how to change all adjustable settings by using the “soft keys”. However, any setting adjustment can be done (when the appropriate menu selection is made) by turning the control knob.

Settings which can be adjusted by using the control knob include:

Range Alarm Contrast Sensitivity Zoom Output Power Frequency Select

LCD screen contrast can be changed any time while in the Control Center simply by turning the control knob.

Basic Operation

The Advantage has been designed to be as easy to learn and operate as possible. The raised push-button keys provide a tactile feel to each operation and the Advantage responds with an audible beep each time a key is pressed. All keys necessary for operation of the unit are on the front panel. The Advantage uses a unique approach called “soft keys” along the bottom of the display. These five keys are labeled by the LCD display and are controlled by the unit’s software, thus the name “soft keys”.

In addition, a large front panel rotating knob eliminates the need for multiple button pushes while making gain, depth range, display contrast and many other adjustments. The knob provides easy and quick adjustments while giving the user a familiar style of operation.

The “soft key” buttons allow very easy operation as they almost guide you along, even though the Advantage possesses an amazing number of advanced sonar features. It would take a considerable number of additional buttons and greatly add to the unit’s operational complexity if each function had a dedicated button instead of using the “soft key” approach. In addition, the use of “soft keys”, coupled with the front panel adjustment knob, allow for easy future software upgrades which may include new important features. The use of fixed, permanently labeled buttons would severely limit any future upgrade ability.

User Interface

The Advantage is a very advanced product with many features never before found on marine instrumentation. In order to provide these sophisticated new features while continuing to keep user operation simple and easy to learn, several new design approaches were adopted. Some of the more significant approaches are described in the following.

Multi-Tasking Operation

The Advantage’s Multi-Tasking operation was developed to make sure your time would not be wasted whenever you change screen displays. When changing displays with other conventional systems, the microprocessor has to completely reassemble a new display picture which can take a considerable amount of time. These time delays can be very frustrating and are unnecessary if a Multi-Tasking operating system is used.

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Pre-Programmed Screen Displays

Rather than ask you to “build” different screen displays while operating the unit, the Advantage has seven of the most valuable LCD screen displays pre-programmed into its operating system memory. Thanks to the Multi-Tasking operating system, each of these pre-programmed displays (known as Views) are always being updated, regardless of which screen display is presently being used. This means, for example, that the two Track Plotter’s will continue to plot and update your vessel’s position - even while you’re looking at a Zoomed picture of the bottom! Similarly, even while viewing your vessel’s position on one of the Track Plot displays, the digital and graphic depth screens are simultaneously being updated in the background - ready for immediate access. And, thanks to the lithium battery memory backup, as described in the next section; ranges, gain, zoom and other settings are remembered as you go from View to View and are even remembered when you turn the unit off.

Internal System Memory

There is nothing so frustrating as having your depth sounder re-start when you start your boat’s engine and having to completely re-set the range, gain, contrast and all your other settings. Because the Advantage contains an internal lithium memory battery, it remembers all system settings with the power removed. When you turn your Advantage on, it will immediately start in the last View that you used, complete with the proper range, zoom, gain and other important settings. Instead of using a non-volatile RAM, a lithium battery was used to ensure a long error-free memory life. Most nonvolatile RAM’s exhibit increasing errors with time and can become a serious problem after only 100,000 operations.

Cold Cathode back light

The Advantage has the best LCD back light system available. It uses a Cold Cathode Fluorescent lamp (CFL) with exceptionally long life characteristics which greatly exceed the more common electro-luminescent and incandescent bulb back light. In addition to its exceptional reliability, the cold cathode lamp provides a much more visible display than other back light systems. Screen clarity and contrast are greatly enhanced. The typical half-life (when output brightness diminishes to 1/2 its original value) of the cold cathode back light is in excess of 20,000 hours. A typical electroluminescent panel, for comparison, has a half life of only 2,000 hours!

Interphase Advantage

Control Knob

Pre-Programmed Screen Displays

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Control Center Softkey Menu

Typical Sub-Menu

Common Soft Key Functions

The Advantage’s innovative Multi-Tasking operating system is controlled through the Control Center, where several different screen displays (views) can easily be selected by the push of a button. Each of these screens (views) reside in the Advantage’s internal memory and all are being updated in the background, regardless of which screen is currently being displayed. This allows the Advantage to provide instant full screen displays of different features with no data loss on other screens.

On many of the display screens you will note a recurrence of the left most soft key labeled “MENU”. When the MENU soft key is pressed, the Advantage will return to the Control Center display. Use of the MENU soft key is required in order to return to the Control Center where another mode of operation (i.e. normal depths, track plotting, etc.) can be chosen.

Power/back light Key

Press the "Power/back light" key located at the lower right of the unit to turn the Advantage on. The unit will respond with an audible beep when it turns on. Pressing this key again turns the back light on and off, each time accompanied by a beep. To turn the Advantage off, press this key and hold it down for several seconds until the unit goes off.

Simulator/Demo Mode

Your Advantage includes a built-in DEMO simulator program which makes it easy to practice with the unit and to get a feeling for its many features before actually using it in real situations on the water. We highly recommend you run through this section on operation of the Advantage with the DEMO mode activated to first learn basic feature controls. The DEMO mode can be started from the SETUP menu as described in the following section.

Split Screen Displays

The Advantage has several different split screen display capabilities such as Split Screen Zoom, Split Screen Chart and Data and Split Screen Chart and Track Plot, among others. It is important to realize that whatever is displayed on the right side of the display is the PRIMARY information. This means that when you are in split screen displays, the soft key menus will usually only relate to the right side of the display.

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For example, when you are in the split screen Chart/Track Plotter display, the Track Plot will appear on the right side of the display and the softkey menu will allow you to change the Track Plotter settings. In order to make changes to the down looking Chart display, you must go to a display where the Chart display is on the right side of the display (such as the Chart mode).

In addition to the fact that the softkey menu typically relates to only the right side of the split screen displays, other features such as Bottom Hardness and Fish Symbols will not appear in Zoomed, Bottom Track or Bottom Locked displays.

Frequency and Beam Width

The Advantage’s operates with a wide beam 50 khz frequency (45 degrees @ -3dB) and/or a narrow beam 200 khz frequency ( 15 degrees @ -3dB). The picture below shows the approximate bottom coverage at a depth of 100 feet. At 1,000 feet the coverage shown will be ten times larger.

The smaller 200 kHz beam angle results in outstanding resolution of bottom structure while the wider 50 kHz beam can be used to search wide areas and to track down riggers.

In Split Screen Views, the Softkey Menu

Relates to the Right Side of the Display

200 kHz 50 kHz

100 FT Deep

15 Degree Beam Angle

~26 Ft. Diameter Bottom Coverage

45 Degree Beam Angle

~82 Ft. Diameter

Bottom Coverage

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Display Unit

12 VDC

Power

Cable

Display

Mounting

Bracket

Transom Mounted Transducer

Thru-Hull Transducer

Mounting

Knobs

Getting Started

Check to see that all the components shown at left were included with your Advantage. If a part is missing, contact the Interphase Customer Service Department (831) 477-

4944 immediately.

WARNING: DO NOT operate the Advantage with parts

missing or with parts other than those obtained through Interphase; doing so could cause a malfunction in the unit. Any malfunctions to the Advantage resulting from unauthorized parts are not covered by warranty.

Turning the Advantage On

To turn the Advantage on, press the Power/back light Key located on the lower right corner of the unit one time. The unit should sound a beep and the display should be illuminated.

The Control Center

Seven of the most popular displays have been pre-programmed into the Advantage’s memory and can be instantly selected from the Control Center Menu. In the following sections, these different displays are called “Views”. They include:

♦

Pop-Up Power Adjustment Menu

♦

Full Screen Track Plot View

♦

Full Screen Chart View

♦

Pop-Up Frequency Select Menu

♦

Full Screen Set-Up View

♦

Split Screen View with Depth display on left and Track Plot display on right.

♦

Split Screen View with Large Digit Data on left and Depth display on right.

Each of these views can be easily selected by pressing the button below the desired menu selection. Where two selections are possible, press the button again until you see your desired view. When first turned on, the Advantage’s internal memory automatically sets the starting view to the last one you used before turning off the power.

The flow chart diagram on the facing page shows how to easily navigate between the Advantage’s instant Views.

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PLOT View (Track Plot)

POP-UP POWER ADJUST MENU

FREQUENCY SELECT

CHART/PLOT View

CHART View (Depth)

SET-UP View (Languages, etc.)

CHART/DATA View

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Set-Up View

The Advantage includes a SET-UP View where the DEMO program can be activated, the units of measure

and language can be selected and the display contrast can be adjusted. The Advantage's internal backup battery will remember all settings for future use.

From the Control Center press the button below the

SET-UP soft key twice to put the display into the SETUP View. Then press the button below the “GO” soft key

to use this view. The display should appear as on the left.

Demo Program

We highly recommend you initially operate the Advantage in the DEMO mode to familiarize yourself with the many advanced features of the Advantage. When using the SET-UP view, press the soft key below DEMO and hold for 3 seconds to activate the simulation program. The unit will automatically cycle through a simulated demonstration of its many features. At any time, you can press any key to gain control of the DEMO program to make your own selections and adjustments. If you do not press any button for about 45 seconds, the unit will automatically resume cycling through the different demo features on its own.

The pictures shown in the DEMO mode are representations of what you might see on your Advantage. In actual use the picture you will get can vary significantly depending on depth, bottom and water conditions, the speed of your boat and many other factors.

To exit the DEMO program either turn the Advantage off and back on again, or press the “DEMO” soft key again.

Select Units of Measure

The Advantage starts with the last units of measure selected. By pressing the button indicated on the display, you can use the large front panel knob labeled “BEAM” to choose between U.S., Nautical and Metric units. Rotate the front panel knob to select (highlight) the type of display units desired. Once selected, press any button to save your selection and exit. The current choice is displayed each time the “UNITS” soft key is pressed.

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The choices and their settings are as follows:

Feature U.S. Nautical Metric

Depth/Range Feet Fathoms Meters (Ft.) (Fa) (M) Water Temp. F F C (ºF) (ºF) (ºC) Boat Speed Mi./Hr. Knots Knots (MPH) (KT) (KT) Distance Log Miles Naut. Mi Naut.Mi (Mi) (NMi) (NMi) Nav. Track Plot Miles Naut. Mi Naut.Mi (Mi) (NMi) (NMi)

Select Menu Language

The Advantage allows the selection of 9 operating languages; English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Danish, Finnish, Swedish and Greek may be chosen. To select the operating language, press the button labeled LANGUAGE. A display window as shown at right will pop up on the screen showing the available languages and the one currently selected. Use the large front panel knob to change (highlight) the language selection. Once selected, press any key to save your selection and exit.

Display Contrast

The LCD contrast can be adjusted by either rotating the large front panel knob while in the Control Center Display, or by pressing the “DISPLAY” button in the SET-UP view and then either rotating the large knob for the desired contrast, or pressing the Display soft keys for a darker or lighter LCD contrast.

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Plot (Track Plot) View

If your separate Loran C, Decca or GPS receiver has the proper NMEA 0183 output capability, or if you own the

Interphase Star Pilot GPS, Pilot GPS or Interphase Pilot Loran, you can easily interface the unit to the Advantage to show both digital and graphic navigation

information. Possible information obtained from a navigation receiver can include track plotting, digital Lat/ Lon readings, course and distance to way points. The Advantage can also instantly mark positions with several different graphic symbols. These functions will not work unless you are able to successfully interface a navigational instrument such as a Loran C, Decca or GPS receiver to the Advantage.

From the Control Center select the "Plot” view and press the "GO" soft key to bring up the menu showing the features and adjustments for this view.

Range

The "RANGE" soft key calls up the sub-menu which lets you turn on and off an automatic plot ranging function by pressing the soft key labeled "TRACK". This feature will, for example, automatically increase the track plot range if your position goes off the screen. You can manually adjust the plotter range by using the "Range" up/down soft keys in this sub-menu.

The Track Plot square on the display shows the current plotter range (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128) in statute (U.S.) or nautical miles, depending on the units of measurement selected.

Mark

Pressing the "MARK" soft key allows you to mark your current position on the track plot screen with one of three graphic icons - an anchor, a fish or a flag. Each icon can be used up to ten times on a track plot for a total of 30 possible marks. When power is removed from the Advantage, the marks are erased. You may also press “Clear” in the mark menu to erase all marks.

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Center

By pressing the "CENTER" soft key, your current position will be moved to the center of the track plot display and the track line dots will be shifted accordingly.

Reset

The "RESET" soft key in the menu restarts your track plotting by placing your present position in the center of the track plot screen and erasing all track line dots.

Note: The Advantage has both a full screen and a split screen track plotter. Both of these Views are updated automatically, regardless of what display screen is in use. Although these two track plot views are similar, the user may select different ranges for each of these views. For example, the full screen track plotter can be set up for a 64 mile range, while the split screen track plotter can be set up for 1/4 mile! This allows you to get two different instantaneous views of your boat’s movement by selecting the two different track plot views. For example, you could select the range of 64 miles for the full screen to show far off way points, etc., but select a range of only 1/4 mile on the split screen track plotter to show more detail of your boat’s movement.

+ Starting Position

W Way point selected in navigation receiver

+ Center of plot screen

Track Plotter Symbols

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To Adjust Transmit Output Power:

1) Press “PWR” Softkey to bring up the Pop-Up Power Window (as shown above).

2) Use large front panel knob to adjust power to desired level. (In above example, output power is 70% = approx. 700 Watts RMS)

Transmit Power Adjustment

The Output power of the Advantage can be adjusted in 24 steps from low to high. Low power settings are suggested for shallow depths with higher power suggested for deeper depths. Each time the Advantage is turned on, the output power defaults to a 50% value which is approximately 500 watts RMS output (4,000 watts peak-to-peak).

Output Power Adjustment

The output power can be adjusted at any time by pressing the “PWR” softkey at the far left of the Control Center, as shown at left. After pressing the “PWR” softkey a PopUp Power Adjustment Window will temporarily appear.

Use the large front panel knob to adjust the power level to the desired setting. The graphic adjustment chart is calibrated to show the approximate percentage of full output power. Full Output power is 1,000 watts RMS, so 70% (as shown above) would be equal to 700 watts rms.

The output power adjustment will affect both the 200 kHz and the 50 kHz output regardless of which frequency is selected for viewing. For example, even though the 200 kHz frequency is selected, if the power output is reduced to 50%, then the 50 kHz output power is also set for 50%.

The output power actually changes as the knob is rotated. If the Chart (depth) view is behind the Pop-Up Power Adjustment Window, you can watch the effect of changing the output power. When the output power is at the desired level you can remove the Pop-Up Power Adjustment Window by either:

1) Not touching the adjustment knob for 10 seconds, or

2) Pressing the “PWR” softkey, or

3) Pressing any other softkey.

The output transmit power setting is automatically saved whenever the Pop-Up Power Menu disappears.

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Frequency Selection

The operating frequency of the Advantage can be selected for 200 kHz, 50 kHz or a combination of both at the same time. In general, the 200 kHz frequency will give better resolution for marking bottom structure, but the 50 kHz will cover a wider area and penetrate the water to much greater depths than the 200 kHz frequency.

Frequency Selection

To select or change the operating frequency of the Advantage, press the soft key labeled “FREQ” from the Control Center Main Menu, as shown at right.

When the “FREQ” softkey is pressed, a Pop-Up Frequency Selection Window will temporarily appear as shown at right. Use the large front panel knob to select the operating frequency mode desired. The frequency mode selected is shown in reverse video (white on black).

Notice that you can choose either;

1) Full Screen 200 kHz

2) Split Screen 50/200 kHz

3) Full Screen 50 kHz

4) Split Screen 200/50 kHz.

Notice that selection #2 and selection #4 above are reversed - in #2, the 200 kHz frequency will appear on the right side of the display and in #4, the 50 kHz frequency will appear in the right side. This is important because whichever frequency is on the right side of the display is the “PRIMARY” frequency. When you choose to show other split screen displays such as Zoom, Bottom Track, Track Plot, etc., the primary frequency will remain in view and the desired action (Zoom, Bottom Track, etc.) will use this frequency - the primary frequency.

When the output power is at the desired level you can remove the Pop-Up Power Adjustment Window by either:

1) Not touching the adjustment knob for 10 seconds, or

2) Pressing the “PWR” softkey, or

3) Pressing any other softkey.

The frequency setting is automatically saved whenever the Pop-Up Frequency Menu disappears.

Frequency Selection

1) Press “FREQ. ” Soft key to bring up the Pop-Up Frequency Display (as shown above).

2) Use large front panel knob to adjust frequency to desired setting. (In above example, frequency is set for split screen 50/200 operation with 50 kHz on left and 200 kHz on the right side of display. 200 kHz will be the primary frequency.)

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Full Screen Single Frequency Display

Single Frequency Sensitivity Adjustment

Chart View (Depth)

The Advantage’s Chart View provides views of the water beneath your boat. When in this mode, the Advantage offers a full range of sophisticated features such as your choice of operating frequency, split screen zoom, zoom bottom tracking, fish and depth alarms, bottom hardness (white-line), plus several other advanced features.

From the Command Center select the "CHART" View and press the "GO" soft key to bring up the menu showing the features and adjustments for this view. The display should be similar to that at top left if the Advantage is using a single frequency, or similar to the display at the top right if the dual frequency mode was selected..

Range Adjustment

Press the button labeled "RANGE" to bring up the Range Adjustment soft key menu. Press the button labeled "AUTO" if you would like the Advantage’s internal microprocessor to automatically select and adjust the depth range as bottom conditions change. To manually adjust the depth, press either the range button labeled "" or "" or use the large knob to make the adjustment. If you make a manual depth adjustment, the AUTO range mode is turned off and will remain off until the button labeled AUTO is again selected. Note: when in the AUTO mode, the soft key labeled "AUTO" will be shown in reverse video (white on black). To return to the Chart sub- menu, press the soft key labeled "LAST". (To return to the Control Center press the soft key labeled "MENU")

Sensitivity Adjustment

The Advantage allows you to adjust the receiver sensitivity for the frequency(s) which you have selected and which are presently being displayed. For example, if you have previously selected the single frequency 200 kHz mode, you can only adjust the receiver sensitivity for this frequency, but if you have selected the split frequency 50/200 kHz mode, you can adjust the receiver sensitivity for both frequencies. You can only adjust the receiver sensitivity for whatever frequency is presently being displayed.

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To manually adjust the sensitivity when the display is showing only one frequency (200 or 50 kHz), press the button labeled“Sens.+” or “- Sens” ( or simply rotate the large front panel knob) to increase or decrease the receiver gain. Note that the soft key shows a number which indicates the relative sensitivity being used (+1 to +32).

To manually adjust the sensitivity when the display is showing both frequencies (200 kHz and 50 kHz), notice which way the arrow within the Sensitivity softkey is pointed (see examples at right). If pointed to the right, the knob can be used to adjust the sensitivity of the right side of the display and if pointed to the left, you can use the knob to adjust the sensitivity of the frequency shown on the left of the display. Press the softkey under the right or left side of the sensitivity soft key to move the selection arrow from right to left.

When you choose to manually adjust the sensitivity, the Advantage turns off the AUTO sensitivity mode and it will remain off until the AUTO soft key is again selected. Note: when AUTO mode is turned on, the word AUTO will be displayed in reverse video (white letters on a black background). To exit the sensitivity menu and save your adjustments, simply press the soft key labeled “LAST” to return to the chart main menu.

Split Screen Dual Frequency -

Sensitivity Adjustment

When arrow points to right (as above), use large knob to adjust sensitivity of frequency on right side of display

To adjust sensitivity of frequency shown on left side of display, press button beneath left side of the sensitivity soft key so arrow points to left as shown below.

Press soft key here to change arrow so it points to left. Then adjust sensitivity of frequency shown on left of display

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Hardness (White-Line)

If the soft key labeled “HARD” is pressed, the display will show the bottom as a thin line separated by a shaded area. This mode can also be used to find detail close to the bottom or to indicate the bottom composition. The thinner the shaded area the softer the bottom. A thick shaded area indicates a hard or rocky bottom.

Alarm Adjustment

The alarms may be set for targets which are shallower than, deeper than, or within a specific zone of adjustable depth settings.

To adjust or clear the alarm settings, press the soft key labeled “ALARM” to bring up the Alarm menu choices. Pressing the "Deep" or "Shal." soft keys brings up submenus to set, adjust or clear the Shallow, Deep and Zone Alarms. As either the “” or “” keys are pressed and held down, or the front panel knob is rotated, a vertical bar on the left side of the screen (just below the boat icon) shows the area covered by the depth alarm. Whenever a solidly displayed target appears at the same depth as that covered by the alarm bar, the alarm sounds to warn you of underwater targets or changing bottom conditions.

The S

hallow Alarm is often used to alert the user to shallowing bottom conditions and the presence of underwater targets such as fish. The Deep Alarm is often used in conjunction with the Shallow Alarm to define a depth range. If the depth becomes less or greater than the alarm settings, the audio alarm will sound as a warning. A Zone Alarm can be created by using both the Shallow and Deep Alarms. If the Shallow and the Deep alarm bars on the left side of the display are “overlapped” (that is, the Shallow Alarm bar overlaps the Deep Alarm bar) a new Zone Alarm will result and be displayed.

Pressing the “FISH” softkey activates the fish alarm. This alarm will activate when the unit detects suspended returns that it interprets as fish. Press FISH again to deavtivate the fish alarm. Note: The fish alarm is an independant alarm and will not be deactivated by pressing CLEAR as described below.

Press the "CLEAR" soft key to clear the alarm or alarms you previously set. Press "CLEAR" in the main alarm menu to clear all alarms simultaneously, or press "CLEAR" in the sub-menus to clear the selected Shallow or Deep Alarm.

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Other Features

Press the soft key labeled "OTHER" to bring up a submenu that will allow you to create a split screen zoom or bottom locked picture, have the Advantage interpret the display and show fish symbols or adjust the display scrolling speed.

Zoom & Bottom Track & Bottom Lock (Split Screen displays)

When using the Chart display (conventional down looking view), the Advantage can also display a split screen high resolution zoom of any 25% of the depth range, or can show a split screen Bottom Track or Bottom Lock display. The high resolution Zoom is very useful when looking for extra detail on the bottom or in areas above the bottom. Because the Advantage uses an Interphase unique 4X over-sampling technique, the zoom actually shows more data than the non-zoomed picture. Fishermen have long used the bottom locking features when fishing over a rocky bottom or when fishing in rough surface conditions. In the Bottom Track mode, a zoomed view of the bottom is shown on the left side of the split screen display. Regardless of changes in bottom depth, the left side tracks it and keeps the zoomed bottom picture in view. In the Bottom Lock mode, the bottom is forced to appear as a straight horizontal line across the bottom of the left side of the LCD while any targets close to the bottom are displayed above the bottom line. Over rough bottoms or in rough conditions, this feature is extremely useful to eliminate rapidly changing bottom depths from the display and to show only suspended targets close to the bottom.

Press the soft key labeled "ZOOM " to activate the split screen high resolution zoom function. The left side of the LCD screen now shows the zoomed area, while the right side continues to show the conventional depth display. Hold down the "ZOOM " soft key (or rotate the front panel knob) and notice the vertical bar moving downward in the center of the display which shows the depth area that is being “zoomed”. By using the "ZOOM " and "ZOOM " soft keys, you can zoom in on particular depth areas. The Zoom feature expands any 25% section of the current depth range on the left half of the screen, or effectively magnifies the section selected by the zoom bar by 400%.

Zoom Bar

Split Screen Zoom Display

Split Screen Bottom Tracking Display

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If you move the zoom bar all the way to the bottom of the display, the Bottom Track and the Bottom Lock features can be activated.. When the Bottom Track feature is activated, the Zoom Bar changes to a thin bar extending from the top to the bottom of the display. Pressing the “ZOOM ” button once more activates the Bottom Lock feature. When in Bottom Lock, the Zoom Bar changes to a thick vertical line extending from the top to the bottom of this display. Move the zoom bar up to return to the regular zoom operation and turn Bottom Lock off. Moving the zoom bar all the way to the top of the display turns the Zoom off and returns you to full screen bottom history.

Split Screen Bottom Lock Display

Zoomed Display with Fish Symbols ON

Screen Scroll Speed

NOTE: To return to a full screen and exit the split screen zoom or bottom track mode, you must carefully move the zoom bar to the top of the display until it disappears. This can sometimes be confusing because the Advantage remembers all settings and will remain in the split screen zoom or bottom track mode until you exit this mode as described above.

Fish Symbol (Turn on/off)

Pressing the soft key labeled "FISH" turns the fish symbol on or off. When turned on, the "FISH" soft key will be shown in reverse video and the Advantage’s microprocessor will scan the output of the receiver and looks for specific patterns which it has been programmed to recognize as fish. If it thinks it “sees” a fish, it creates a fish symbol in place of the normal blob or arch. Press the "FISH" soft key to turn this feature off.

Display Scrolling Speed Adjustment

The second soft key from the right can be used to adjust the speed of the display. The display “scrolls” the picture from right to left and this softkey can be used to choose a scroll speed of “FAST, SLOW, or STOP”. Faster scrolling rates are generally used when you want to see the maximum detail possible while slower speeds are used when you want to slow the display to show the maximum amount of bottom history.

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Data View

From the Control Center, press the soft key labeled "DATA" to see a split screen display with large digits on the left and a depth view on the right. The large numbers show the digital depth, the boat speed, surface water temperature, and distance traveled log.

Range Adjustment

Press the button labeled "RANGE" to bring up the Range Adjustment soft key menu. Press the button labeled "AUTO" if you would like the Advantage’s internal microprocessor to automatically select and adjust the depth range as bottom conditions change. To manually adjust the depth, press either the range buttons labeled "" or "" or rotate the front panel knob. If you make a manual depth adjustment, the AUTO range mode is turned off and will remain off until the button labeled AUTO is again selected. Note: when in the AUTO mode, the soft key labeled "AUTO" will be shown in reverse video (white on black). To return to the main forward looking menu, press the soft key labeled "LAST".

Log Res. (Distance log reset).

The Advantage will automatically keep a distance traveled log. You can reset this log to zero by pressing the "Log Res." soft key.

Note: The Advantage internal memory keeps the Advantage’s distance log data, even when power is removed. To zero out the distance log, press the softkey labeled “Log Res.”.

Speed Calibration (Log Adjustment)

The Advantage can display your boat’s speed through the water. Both the speed reading and the running distance traveled (log) are derived from the transducer’s speed impeller. You can adjust the calibration factor by up to +/- 40% from nominal.

To adjust the speed calibration, press and hold the softkey labeled “Log Res” for approx. 1 second to bring up the log/speed adjustment menu as shown at right. Use the front panel knob to adjust the calibration factor from up to 40% less (negative numbers) to 40% more (positive numbers)

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Sensitivity Adjustment

Press the soft key labeled "SENS." (for sensitivity) to bring up the choices available for adjusting the Advantage's receiver sensitivity. Press the button labeled "AUTO" so that the word AUTO is shown in reverse video (white letters on a black background) if you would like the Advantage to automatically adjust its sensitivity for changing conditions. To manually adjust the sensitivity press the button labeled “Sens.+” or “Sens” to increase or decrease the receiver gain. Note that the soft key shows a number which indicates the relative sensitivity being used. When you choose to manually adjust the sensitivity, the Advantage turns off the AUTO sensitivity mode and it will remain off until the “AUTO” soft key is again selected. Note: when AUTO mode is turned on the word AUTO will be displayed in reverse video (white letters on a black background). To exit the sensitivity menu and save your adjustments simply press the soft key labeled “LAST” to return to the main menu. (Press "MENU" to then return to the Control Center).

Alarm Adjustment

In the scanning display or view, an alarm may be set for targets which are closer than a present distance.

To adjust or clear the alarm settings, press the soft key labeled “ALARM” to bring up the alarm menu choices. As either the up or down keys are pressed and held down, or the large knob is rotated counterclockwise , a horizontal bar will move from the bottom of the display towards the top. A vertical bar will also move along the range scale. The horizontal and vertical bar indicate the alarm range. Any strong target between the boat (at the top of the display) and the alarm bar will cause the alarm to sound. (Note: the horizontal line will disappear a few seconds after the alarm is adjusted, but the vertical bar will remain to indicate the alarms setting.)

To deactivate the alarm either press the "CLEAR" soft key to clear the alarm, or rotate the control knob clockwise until the alarm bar disappears at the bottom of the display.

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Chart/Plot View

In this view, the Advantage shows a split screen display with a conventional down looking depth sounder picture on the left and a track plot display on the right. Pressing the "GO" soft key will bring up a sub-menu to allow adjustments to the track plotter display. Adjustments to the left side of the display (down looking depth display) are not possible in this view. To make adjustments to the depth ranges, alarms, etc., go to the CHART view.

From the Command Center select the PLOT/CHART view and press the "GO" soft key to bring up the menu showing the features and adjustments for this view.

(split screen)

Range

The Track Plot square on the display shows the current plotter range (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128) in statute (U.S.) or nautical miles depending on your units of measure selected.

Mark

Pressing the "MARK" soft key allows you to mark your current position on the track plot screen with one of three graphic icons - an anchor, a fish or a flag. You may use each icon up to ten times on a track plot for a total of up to 30 possible marks.

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Track Plotter Symbols

+ Starting Position

W Way point selected in navigation receiver

+ Center of plot screen

Center

position will be moved to the center of the track plot display and the track line dots will be shifted accordingly.

Reset

The "RESET" soft key in the menu restarts your track plotting by placing your present position in the center of the track plot screen and erasing all track line dots

Note: All other past information, including track line dots and marks, will be lost when you Reset the Track Plot.

y pressing the "CENTER" soft key, your current

Note: The Advantage has both a full screen and a split

screen track plotter. Both of these Views are updated automatically regardless of what display screen is in use. Although these two track plot views are similar, the user may select different ranges for each of these views. For example, the full screen track plotter can be set up for a 64 mile range, while the split screen track plotter can be set up for 1/4 mile! This allows you to get two different instant views of your boat’s movement by selecting the two different track plot views. For example, you could select the range of 64 miles for the full screen to show far off way points, etc.; but select a range of only 1/4 mile on the split screen track plotter to show more detail of your boat’s movement.

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NMEA 0183 Interface

The Advantage will accept navigation data from a separate Loran C, Decca, and GPS receiver in the NMEA 0183 data format. This interface has been tested and is verified to work with the Interphase Pilot GPS. It features a unique, fully dedicated microprocessor for the NMEA 0183 data port which provides maximum compatibility among Loran C, Decca and GPS receivers.

If your equipment conforms to the following NMEA #0183 interface protocols, the Advantage is probably compatible- BOD, GLL, IMA, WDR, BPI, BWR, BWC, BER, BEC, GXP, GDP, GOP, GLP, GGA, RMA, RMB, RMC. Consult your operation manuals or contact the manufacturer for further information on interfacing.

The Advantage needs to be interfaced via the three pin jack on the rear panel of the display unit. The pin connections are shown at right.

Interphase offers a 5-foot long interconnection cable and a 10-foot interconnect extension cable that will easily interconnect the Advantage to the Interphase Pilot GPS. When the Advantage is used with other manufacturer’s receivers you may need to change the connector on this cable, or provide a new cable of your own.

For reference, the internal circuitry for the Advantage’s NMEA input is shown below. This technical information may be helpful if you have difficulty with the NMEA connections.

View from front of the female plug

Data In (high) (pos)

5’ Interconnect Cable

Data Return

(low) (neg.)

No connection

OUTPUT

+5 V

10K

4N26

Rear Panel 3-Pin NMEA Jack

510

DATA+

DATA-

510

Advantage’s NMEA Input Circuit Showing

Protective Opto-Isolator (4N26)

Part Number 04-1038-000

10’ Interconnect Extension Cable

Part Number 04-0006-008

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Cable

Bottom

Hard Bottom

Softer Bottom

Display

Transducer Housing

Ceramic Element

Acoustic Beam

Echo Bottom

Fish

Interpreting the Advantage’s Display

The Advantage provides a display which shows acoustic echo returns from the underwater area below the vessel. It transmits a pulse of electrical energy to a ceramic element in the transducer which converts it into a sound (acoustic) pulse. The Advantage then waits a defined period of time (depending on the range selected) to receive any return echoes. As the energy from this acoustic beam strikes underwater objects or the bottom, a small portion of the energy is reflected as an echo back to the transducer. When the echo is received at the transducer, it’s converted into a small electrical signal and processed for display on the Advantage’s LCD.

The depth of the water, surface clutter, boat speed, bottom composition, water temperature and many other factors will contribute to the Advantage’s LCD picture quality. With use, you will become familiar with these various effects and understand how to adjust the Advantage’s output power, sensitivity and frequency to get the optimum underwater view.

Chart View (Depth)

The screen display at left is typical of the type of picture you will see when using your Advantage In the upper left corner of the display, the digital depth at 103 feet is indicated. In the upper right, the surface water temperature and boat speed are shown. In this picture, the Bottom Hardness feature is turned on (shaded area on bottom) and it indicates that the boat has just passed over an area of hard bottom and is now over a softer bottom. (The width of the shaded area indicates the relative hardness of the bottom - the wider the shaded area the harder the bottom).

Above the bottom there are several small isolated echoes from submerged objects - probably fish. At the far right of the picture, you can also see the thick vertical bar just below the boat icon. This indicates that the shallow alarm has been set at approximately 75 feet. If the bottom or any large target passes beneath the boat at a depth of less than 75 feet, the shallow alarm will sound.

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Sensitivity Adjustment

The screen display shown on the left page is typical when the AUTO sensitivity is used. In this mode, the Advantage finds the bottom and adjusts the receiver’s sensitivity to give a noise free picture from the bottom to the surface. As it is often difficult for the Advantage to separate small fish from noise signals, most experienced fishermen choose to adjust the receiver sensitivity manually in order to show more possible fish and bait targets. (see picture at right).

When adjusting the sensitivity manually, increase the gain (sensitivity) until the screen shows a significant amount of noise, then slowly turn down the sensitivity until only a small amount of noise remains. With practice you will quickly be able to adjust the sensitivity to your personal preference.

Transducer Ringing

On the shallow ranges, a dark band will show at the top of the display (at the surface). You may notice some noise or “ringing” at the top of the display just beneath the boat icon. Do not be concerned. This noise is caused by the transmitted ultrasonic signal sent by the Advantage’s transducer. This type of noise or ringing is inherent in all Sonars and is the ultimate limit of the shallow depth reading detectable by the instrument. The transducer “ring” is greater with the 50 kHz frequency and increases with large transmit power. For the shallower ranges, it is suggested that you use the 200 kHz frequency and lower transmit output power.

Surface Noise

In some situations there can be a significant amount of surface clutter caused by schools of bait, rough water or shallow temperature inversions. If large enough, these conditions can cause the Advantage’s automatic Range and automatic Gain circuits to think that the surface clutter is the bottom. When this happens, the Advantage will try to lock onto the surface clutter instead of the real bottom. In conditions of severe surface noise or clutter, it is recommended that you adjust the depth range and receiver sensitivity manually.

Manual Gain Increased to Show More

Suspended Targets

Ringing

Transducer Ringing. Note that surface ringing is more severe on 50 kHz frequency.

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Maintenance

The Advantage Dual Frequency Sonar has been designed to provide reliable, trouble-free performance for years. Follow the maintenance tips below to ensure that your Advantage remains problem free.

1) Keep your Advantage clean and dry. Occasionally wipe unit off with a damp cloth, but be careful not to scratch the lens covering the LCD screen. For stubborn dirt, use a mild soap and a damp cloth. NEVER USE SOLVENTS SUCH AS PAINT THINNER, ACETONE, OR GASOLINE TO CLEAN YOUR Advantage.

2) Occasionally clean the face of the depth transducer (sensing surface) and carefully remove any marine growth. Use a mild detergent, or 220 grit sandpaper, or crocus cloth to remove stubborn growth.

3) If the in-line fuse is blown, replace it with a 2 amp fuse. NEVER REPLACE WITH A HIGHER AMP RATING! If the fuse continues to blow, check the polarity of your 12 VDC power source. If the polarity is correct, check with the Technical Service Department at (831)477-4944.

4) In order to protect your transducer from water damage, paint it with one of the following brands: InterluxUltraCoat, Fiberglass Bottom Coat, Super Bottom Coat; Pettit-UniPoxy; Rule-Super KL, Gloss Dura Poxy. DO NOT use a solvent based paint.

5) DO NOT allow any solvents, i.e. gasoline, acetone, to come in contact with the transducer or head unit as these may dissolve the material.

Troubleshooting Guide

If you are experiencing trouble with your Advantage, please refer to the following checklist:

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Unit will not turn on. Check fuse, battery voltage and power connections. Also, check for continuity through the in-line fuse holder.

Unit beeps but no picture appears Check your connections to the battery. Check for on the screen. corrosion on the battery terminals or on the wiring connections on a fuse block or buss bar.

Unit blows fuses. Wiring is reversed or there is excessive current from the battery. The red wire should be “+” (positive) and have continuity with pin #1 on the female side of the power supply lead.

Loses picture at speed. Adjust the transducer angle or placement. Make sure that the transducer is installed in the area which has the least amount of water turbulence.

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LCD darkens in sunlight after Overexposed to sunlight - provide shading for display. prolonged use.

Screen is full of noise, or has dots Reduce your gain setting and review the section on running through it. interference.

Speed display is erratic. Check and clean the impeller wheel and the surrounding area - be sure the impeller wheel spins freely.

Digital water depth not working. Increase your gain, and check that you are in the proper depth range.

Factory Reset

READ THOROUGHLY BEFORE PROCEEDING

Start with the unit off.

1. Press soft keys #4 and #5 and hold (as labeled in diagram below).

2. Press the #6 key (power on/off). The unit will turn on and beep three times, then release the keys. The Advantage logo with the picture of a boat should appear in the display. This will reset the unit to its factory settings. Please refer to the Set-Up View on page 24. If changes were previously made to the Language or Units of Measure.

LCD Display

#4 #6 #5 #3 #2

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Interference Problems

Interference can come from several sources. The most common of these are:

1) Other nearby depth sounders operating at the same frequency.

2) Radiated interference from the boat’s electrical system (alternator, distributor and spark plugs) or from nearby

equipment that radiates electrical noise.

3) Conducted interference usually occurs when the Advantage shares a 12VDC power lead with other noisy equipment (i.e.; bilge pumps, motors, refrigeration systems, autopilots, etc.)

Interference caused by nearby depth sounders operating on or near the same frequency as the Advantage will typically appear as “rabbit tracks” that march up and down the screen. Reducing the gain will help minimize this problem.

Radiated interference caused by the boat’s engine can usually be identified by observing the Advantage with both the engine running and turned off. If the interference disappears when the engine is turned off, it is safe to assume that the engine is the source of the interference.

This type of interference can usually be eliminated by using the same techniques used in the automotive industry to eliminate interference to car radios, CB’s, etc. The following actions may be required:

1) Reduce the Gain setting to minimize interference.

2) Make sure your boat uses resistor type spark plugs and plug wiring.

3) Install a suppressor on the center lead of the distributor.

4) Install an alternator filter to smooth the alternator’s output signal.

Interference may also be caused by radiation from other nearby equipment and can be detected by turning off all other equipment and observing the Advantage display as each suspected source is turned back on. This type of interference can usually be eliminated by moving the Advantage away from the source and checking to ensure that the interfering source is properly grounded.

Interference causing the display to be unstable, to pulsate or periodically change size is usually caused when another piece of equipment shares the same 12 VDU power leads from the battery. This problem is especially severe when equipment requiring large current surges (i.e.; autopilots, refrigerators, or bilge pumps) share the same power leads. Minimize this type of interference by running the Advantage’s 12VDC power leads, or those of the interfering equipment, directly to the battery.

Alternately, you may find it helpful to install a separate dedicated power supply battery that is used only to run your electronic gear (e.g.; fish finders, VHF radios, radar units, etc.). If your unit shuts off during low voltage situations, such as when cranking your engine starter, you may want to install an isolator switch with an “A/B” type of battery system. An “A/B” system allows you to run your electronic gear on one battery, while the starter and alternator are hooked up to the other battery.

Your authorized marine electronics dealer is familiar with the methods of reducing electrical interference and is qualified to assist you should a problem persist.

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Specifications

Depth/Speed/Temp

Transom Transducer

Part # T1-2050-002

Display Type: 128 x 160 pixels; 20,480 total pixel Super Twist LCD Depth Ranges: 23 overlapping depth ranges, 0 - 20 to 0 - 2000 feet

Transmit Frequency: 200 kHz/50 kHz

Depth/Speed/Temp

Thru-Hull Transducer

Part # T1-2050-001

12 VDC Power

Supply Cable

Part # 04-0001-008

Zoom Ranges: Variable Zoom allows 25% of depth range to be displayed across the entire screen.

Pulse length and Sounding Rates: Automatically optimized for selected range.

Transmitter Power: Over 1000 watts RMS (8,000 watts peak to peak) Surface Water Temperature: Display continuously indicates surface water temperature in tenths

of a degree F from 32.0º to 99.9º F.

Power Requirements: 10.5 to 16 VDC, less than 0.5 Amp. Dimensions: 7.5”W x 5.5”H x 3.5”D Standard Equipment: Display unit, 12 VDC power cable with in-line fuse, mounting

bracket with knobs, operation manual and depth/speed/temperature transducer w/ 25’ cable.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

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How to Obtain Service

If you feel your set is not operating properly, first refer to the sections of this manual on Troubleshooting and Interference Problems. This information solves the most common problems. If problems persist, please call Interphase Technical Service at (831) 477-4944 or send your unit in with the information below filled out.

If you do need to return your set, send it to the following address:

Service Department

Interphase Technologies, Inc. 2880 Research Park Drive, Suite 140 Soquel, CA 95073

In addition, to speed your repair please fill out the following, tear this page out of the manual (or photocopy it), and tape it to your unit for our technicians to review. For fastest warranty service, include a copy of your purchase receipt to verify the purchase date.

RETURN TO:

(City) (State) (Zip)

(Your Name)

(Street Address - No P.O. Boxes Please)

Daytime Telephone: ( ) Evening Telephone: ( )

Model: Advantage Serial #:

Purchase Date / /

Type of transducer: Transom mount Thru-Hull Other

Please describe the problems you are having with the unit in as much detail as possible in the space below. Please use another sheet of paper if necessary.

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Interphase Technologies, Inc.

5 Year Limited Warranty

Any unit that fails during the first year of the warranty period will, at Interphase’ option, be repaired or replaced at no charge to the customer provided it is returned to Interphase, freight prepaid with proof of date of purchase and a description of the malfunction. Repair or replacement during the warranty period will not extend the basic warranty period.

From the second through the fifth year, Interphase will, at its option, repair or replace defective units for a fixed fee. This fee will be set at the beginning of each year. More information about the fixed rate repair fee is available by calling Interphase at (831) 477-4944 or visit our website at: www.interphase-tech.com.

This warranty does not apply to an Interphase product that has failed due to improper installation, misuse, or accident, nor does it apply to products which have been repaired or altered outside the Interphase factory.

Transducers, GPS antennas and Radar Antennas are subject to extreme conditions beyond control of the manufacturer and Interphase. Due to these conditions, the warranty on these components is limited to one year against defects in workmanship or materials. The fixed fee for years two through five of the warranty does not apply to these components. Any costs incurred with transducer or antenna replacement are specifically excluded from this warranty other than the cost of the components themselves.

This warranty does not include incidental or consequential damages and Interphase disclaims any liability for any such damages. All implied warranties, if any, are limited in duration to the above stated one year warranty period. Some states and provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, therefore, the above limitations may not apply to you.

The completion and return of the enclosed Warranty Registration Card is a condition precedent to the warranty coverage. Owner must provide proof of date of purchase in order for warranty to be valid.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights which may vary from state to state and province to province. This warranty is limited only to the original purchaser of the unit.

Interphase Advantage User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual