Lowrance LMS-334c iGPS, LMS-339cDF iGPS Installation And Operation Instructions Manual
Pub. 988-0152-111
www.lowrance.com
LMS-334c iGPS &
LMS-339cDF iGPS
Fish-finding Sonar & Mapping GPS
Installation and Operation
Instructions
Copyright © 2006 Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
All rights reserved.
No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or
distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Lowrance
Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is
strictly prohibited.
Lowrance
is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
MapCreate, FreedomMaps, IMS and NauticPaths are
trademarks of LEI. Fishing Hot Spots
is a registered trademark of
Fishing Hot Spots Inc. Navionics
is a registered trademark of
Navionics, Inc.
eXitSource Database, copyright 2001-2005 Zenrin Co.
Ltd. Exit Authority and eXitSource are trademarks of
Zenrin Co. Ltd.
Lowrance Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our
policies, regulations and special offers at any time. We reserve the right
to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change
without notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. On the cover:
LMS-339cDF iGPS shown.
For free owner's manuals and other information,
visit our web site:
www.lowrance.com
Lowrance Electronics Inc.
12000 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486
Printed in USA.
i
Table of Contents
Section 1: Read Me First!......................................................... 1
Capabilities and Specifications: .................................................... 3
How to use this manual: typographical conventions ................ 10
Arrow Keys.............................................................................. 12
Keyboard ................................................................................. 12
Menu Commands .................................................................... 12
Instructions = Menu Sequences ............................................. 12
Section 2: Installation & Accessories.................................. 13
Preparations................................................................................ 13
Transducer Installation.............................................................. 13
Recommended Tools and Supplies ......................................... 14
Single-frequency transom installations ............................. 14
Dual-frequency transom installations ............................... 14
Single-frequency trolling motor installations.................... 14
Shoot-through hull installations ........................................ 14
Selecting a Transducer Location............................................ 14
How low should you go?.......................................................... 16
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 16
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 17
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation (single-frequency only) 22
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 23
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation................................................. 24
Testing Determines Best Location......................................... 24
Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ................................................. 26
Speed/Temperature Sensors ................................................. 28
Optional Speed Sensor Installation ....................................... 28
Power Connections...................................................................... 29
Powering a NMEA 2000
®
Buss .................................................. 30
GPS Internal Antenna................................................................ 32
NMEA 2000 Cable Connections ................................................. 32
Connecting to a NMEA 2000 Network................................... 33
NMEA 0183 Wiring ................................................................ 33
Mounting the Unit: Bracket or Portable.................................... 35
MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation ............................ 38
Other Accessories........................................................................ 39
Face Cover................................................................................... 40
Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation ........................................ 41
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 41
Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 42
Main Menu .................................................................................. 42
Pages ........................................................................................... 43
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 44
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Navigation Page...................................................................... 45
Map Page................................................................................. 45
SonarPage ............................................................................... 46
Basic Sonar Quick Reference ............................................... 49
Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 50
Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 52
Other Free Training Aids ....................................................... 53
Section 4: Sonar Options & Features.................................. 55
ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ......................................... 55
Alarms ......................................................................................... 56
Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 56
Zone Alarm .............................................................................. 57
Fish Alarm............................................................................... 58
NMEA 2000 Alarm ..................................................................... 58
Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 59
Chart Speed................................................................................. 59
ColorLine.................................................................................. 60
Depth Cursor............................................................................... 61
Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 62
Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 63
Depth Range - Upper and Lower Limits ................................... 63
FasTrack .................................................................................. 65
Fish I.D. ................................................................................... 65
FishTrack ................................................................................. 66
Frequency (LMS-339cDF only) .................................................. 68
HyperScroll .............................................................................. 69
Log Sonar Chart Data ................................................................ 69
NMEA 2000................................................................................. 70
Noise Rejection............................................................................ 70
Overlay Data ............................................................................... 70
Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 74
Reset Options .............................................................................. 76
Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 76
Set Keel Offset ............................................................................ 76
Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 78
Sonar Chart Mode....................................................................... 79
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 79
Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 80
Split Zoom Sonar Chart.......................................................... 81
Split Frequency Sonar Chart (LMS-339cDF only) ................ 81
Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 82
Customize Page Displays........................................................ 82
Flasher..................................................................................... 83
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Map With Sonar Split Screen................................................. 84
Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 84
Stop Chart ................................................................................... 86
Surface Clarity............................................................................ 87
Transparency .............................................................................. 88
Upper and Lower Limits ............................................................ 89
Zoom & Zoom Bar ....................................................................... 89
Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 89
Section 5: Sonar Troubleshooting ....................................... 91
Section 6:Basic GPS Operations .......................................... 95
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 95
Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 96
Main Menu .................................................................................. 96
Pages ........................................................................................... 97
Sonar Page .............................................................................. 98
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 98
Navigation Page.................................................................... 100
Map Page............................................................................... 103
Background map vs. MapCreate map content .................... 104
Basic GPS Quick Reference ................................................ 108
Find Your Current Position...................................................... 109
Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ........... 109
Selecting Map Item With the Cursor....................................... 110
Searching................................................................................... 110
Set a Waypoint.......................................................................... 112
Navigate To a Waypoint ........................................................... 114
Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint...................................... 115
Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint ............................................ 115
Navigate to Cursor Position on Map........................................ 116
Navigate to a Point of Interest................................................. 117
Creating and Saving a Trail..................................................... 117
Displaying a Saved Trail .......................................................... 119
Navigating Trails...................................................................... 120
Visual Trailing ...................................................................... 120
Navigate a Trail .................................................................... 120
Navigate a Back Trail........................................................... 122
Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ....................... 123
Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 125
Section 7: Advanced GPS Operations ...............................127
Find Distance from Current Position ...................................... 127
Find Distance From Point to Point .......................................... 127
Icons........................................................................................... 127
Create Icon on Map............................................................... 128
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Create Icon at Current Position ........................................... 128
Delete an Icon ....................................................................... 128
Navigate to an Icon............................................................... 129
Routes........................................................................................ 129
Create and Save a Route ...................................................... 130
Delete a Route ....................................................................... 132
Edit a Route Name................................................................ 132
Edit Route Waypoints........................................................... 133
Navigate a Route................................................................... 133
Navigate a Route in Reverse ................................................ 134
Trails ......................................................................................... 135
Delete a Trail ........................................................................ 135
Edit a Trail Name ................................................................. 135
Edit a Trail Color .................................................................. 136
Edit a Trail Pattern .............................................................. 136
Utilities...................................................................................... 137
Alarm Clock........................................................................... 137
Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator.......................................... 137
Trip Calculator...................................................................... 137
Trip Down Timer................................................................... 137
Trip Up Timer ....................................................................... 137
Waypoints.................................................................................. 137
Delete a Waypoint................................................................. 137
Edit a Waypoint .................................................................... 138
Selecting a Waypoint ............................................................ 138
Set a Waypoint by Average Position .................................... 139
Set a Waypoint by Projecting a Position.............................. 139
Section 8: System & GPS Options ......................................141
Alarms ....................................................................................... 141
NMEA 2000 Alarm ................................................................... 142
Auto Satellite Search................................................................ 143
Check MMC Files and Storage Space...................................... 144
Communications Port Configuration ....................................... 144
Configure NMEA ...................................................................... 145
Coordinate System Selection.................................................... 145
Map Fix ..................................................................................... 147
Customize Page Displays ......................................................... 148
GPS Simulator .......................................................................... 149
Hide GPS Features ................................................................... 151
Initialize GPS............................................................................ 151
Map Auto Zoom......................................................................... 151
Map Data................................................................................... 151
Show Map Data..................................................................... 152
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Pop-up Map Information ...................................................... 152
Map Boundaries .................................................................... 152
Fill Water With White .......................................................... 152
Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ...................... 152
Map Datum Selection ............................................................... 153
Map Detail Category Selection................................................. 154
Map Orientation ....................................................................... 154
NauticPath USA Marine Charts........................................... 156
Nautical Chart Notes............................................................ 156
Port Information ................................................................... 157
Tidal Current Information ................................................... 158
Tide Information ................................................................... 160
Navionics
Charts..................................................................... 161
NMEA 2000............................................................................... 162
Overlay Data ............................................................................. 162
Pop-up Help............................................................................... 166
Reset Options ............................................................................ 166
Screen Contrast and Brightness .............................................. 167
Set Language ............................................................................ 167
Set Local Time .......................................................................... 168
Show WAAS Alarm................................................................... 168
Software Version Information.................................................. 169
Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.............................................. 169
Track Smoothing....................................................................... 170
Trail Options ............................................................................. 170
General Trail Options ....................................................... 170
Specific Trail Options........................................................ 171
Delete Trail ........................................................................... 171
New Trail............................................................................... 171
Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 172
Transparency ............................................................................ 172
Units of Measure....................................................................... 173
Section 9: Searching ............................................................. 175
Find Streets............................................................................... 175
Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor .................................. 176
Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 177
Find Map Places or Points of Interest ..................................... 178
Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 180
Find Waypoints......................................................................... 183
Section 10: Supplemental Material ...................................185
vi
WARNING!
A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD
TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION.
CAUTION
When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show
the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the
waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not
only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a waypoint, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint
is always available.
WARNING!
When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators
must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or flying conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage
to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a
GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and
vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion.
1
Section 1: Read Me First!
How this manual can get you out on the road, fast!
Welcome to the exciting world of digital sonar and GPS! We know
you're anxious to begin navigating and finding fish, but we have a favor
to ask. Before you grab the unit and begin installing it, please give us a
moment or two to explain how our manual can help you get the best
performance from your compact, wide-screen, combination fish finder
and mapping GPS receiver.
First, we want to thank you for buying a Lowrance sonar/GPS unit.
Whether you're a first time user or a professional fisherman, you'll discover that your unit is easy to use, yet capable of handling demanding
navigation and sonar tasks. When you team your unit with our custom
mapping software MapCreate 6, you have an incredible combination.
You won't find another combination GPS and sonar unit with this much
power and this many features for this price!
Our goal for this book is to get you on the water fast, with a minimum
of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time boating or fishing and
less time reading the manual!
So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing
from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of
each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a
concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to
skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look
up any tips you may need from time to time.
The manual is organized into 10 sections. This first section is an introduction to the LMS-334 iGPS and LMS-339cDF iGPS sonar and GPS. It
tells you the basics you need to know before you can make the unit look
around and tell you where you are, or look below the surface to find
some fish.
Section 2 will help you install your unit and the transducer. We'll show
you how to get the MultiMedia Card (MMC) correctly installed inside
the unit. We'll also tell you about some of the available accessories.
Section 3 covers Basic Sonar Operation. It will show you how easy it is
to run your sonar, right out of the box. This section features a one-page
Sonar Quick Reference. (If you've already jumped ahead and fig-
ured out how to install the unit yourself, and you just can't wait
any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 49 and head
for the water!)
2
After you've gained some experience with your sonar, you'll want to
check out Section 4, which discusses more advanced Sonar Options and
Other Features.
When you come to a sonar menu command on your unit’s screen, you can
look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents, just flipping through Section 3 or scanning through the sonar options in Section 4.
If you're having difficulty with your sonar, you can find an answer to
the most common problems in Section 5, Sonar Troubleshooting.
The manual switches from sonar to navigation in Section 6, which introduces you to Basic GPS Operations. This section features a one-
page GPS Quick Reference on page 108.
Section 6 contains short, easy-to-scan GPS lessons that follow one another in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to find your
way on the water quickly.
After you've learned the basics (or if you already have some GPS experience), you may want to try out some of the unit’s many advanced
navigation features. That brings us to Section 7, Advanced GPS Opera-
tions. This section contains the rest of your unit’s GPS command functions, organized in alphabetical order.
When you come to a GPS menu command on the screen, look it up in
the manual by skimming the table of contents, flipping through Section
6 or scanning through the command portion of Section 7.
Your unit is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and
customize it's operation with dozens of options. Since sonar is the unit's
key feature, we put the main sonar options in Section 4. Some options,
such as screen brightness settings, affect both sonar and GPS operations. We describe how to use those common options along with GPS
options in Section 8, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. Section 8 is
organized in alphabetical order.
In Section 9, we go into more detail on one of the unit’s most remarkable
GPS capabilities — Searching. We'll introduce a search example in the Basic GPS Operation section, but there are so many map items you can
search for, we had to give this function it's own section in the manual! For
example, did you know your unit can look up business phone numbers,
functioning as a virtual Yellow Pages? We’ll show you how in Section 9.
Finally, in Section 10, we offer Supplemental Material, including a list
of the GPS datums used, warranties and customer service information.
Now, if you're into the fine details, glance over the next segment on
specifications to see just how much sonar and GPS power your unit con-
3
tains. It's important to us (and our power users), but, if you don't care
how many watts of power the unit has, or how many waypoints the your
unit can store, skip ahead to important information on how the sonar
works, on page 5. (Background on GPS begins on page 6.)
Capabilities and Specifications: LMS-334c iGPS and LMS-
339cDF iGPS
General
Display:............................ 5.0" (12.7 cm) diagonal; 256-color Solar-
MAX™ TFT display; programmable to
viewing preference.
Resolution:...................... 480 pixel x 480 pixel resolution; 230,400 total
pixels.
Backlighting:.................. Backlit fluorescent/ cold cathode screen and
keypad with multiple lighting levels for night
use.
Input power:................... 10 to 15 volts DC.
Current drain: ............... Sonar only: 500 ma lights off; 600 ma lights
on. With GPS and lights on: 700 ma.
Case size:......................... 5.4" H x 6.9" W x 3.4" D (13.8 x 17.6 x 8.6
cm); sealed and waterproof; suitable for
saltwater use.
MMC slots: ...................... One with waterproof door (SD card compati-
ble).
Recording:........................ GPS uses MMC & SD cards for recording trip
details and displaying charts or custom maps.
Sonar uses them to record and save sonar
chart logs.
Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar records and
GPS data for decades. User settings are
stored when unit is turned off.
Languages:...................... 10; menu languages selectable by user.
Sonar
Frequency:...................... LMS-339cDF: 50/200 kHz.
LMS-334c: 200 kHz.
Transducers: .................... A dual-frequency Skimmer
transducer with
built-in temperature sensor is packed with the
4
LMS-339cDF. A single-frequency Skimmer
transducer with built-in temperature sensor is
packed with the LMS-334c. Transducers offer
up to 60° of fish detection coverage and operate at speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts).
Transmitter: ................... LMS-339cDF: 4,000 watts peak-to-peak/500
watts RMS. LMS-334c: 2,400 watts peak-topeak/300 watts RMS.
Sonar sounding
Depth capability:........... LMS-339cDF: 2,500 feet/762 meters.
LMS-334c: 900 feet/274 meters.
(Actual capability depends on transducer
configuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar
units typically read deeper in fresh water
than in salt water.)
Depth display:................ Continuous display.
Graph recording:........... Up to 2 GB on one MMC (or SD) card
Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish/zone.
Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates.
Auto bottom track:........ Yes
Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes.
Split-screen zoom:......... Yes.
Surface water temp: ..... Yes, built into transducer.
Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor (sensor in-
cluded with LMS-339cDF.)
GPS
Receiver/antenna:............Internal; 12 parallel channel NMEA 2000-
ready GPS/WAAS antenna.
Background map:.......... Built-in custom, detailed Lowrance map.
Contains: enhanced detail of continental U.S.
and Hawaii. Includes more than 60,000 nav
aids and 10,000 wrecks/obstructions in
coastal and Great Lakes waters. Metro areas, selected major streets/highways and interstate exit services details included.
5
Custom mapping: .......... MapCreate
6 software optional; optional
plug and play LEI FreedomMaps offer the
same high-detail without the computer work
of MapCreate. Other plug and play mapping
options include FreedomMaps, Fishing Hot
Spots
Elite, LEI NauticPath charts,
LakeMaster
ProMaps and Navionics
charts.
Mapping memory:............Up to 2 GB on one MMC (or SD) card.
Position updates: .......... Every second.
Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons.
Audible alarms: ............. Arrival/off-course/anchor.
Graphic symbols for
waypoints or event
marker icons: ................. 42.
Routes:............................. 100; up to 100 waypoints per route.
Plot Trails: ...................... 10 savable; up to 9,999 points per trail.
Zoom range:.................... 40 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles.
NOTE:
The above memory capacities refer only the unit’s on-board memory.
The amount of GPS or sonar data you can record and save for recall
later is only limited by the number of MMC cards you have.
NOTICE!
The storage temperature range for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167
degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended stor-
age in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not covered by
the warranty. For more information, contact the factory's Customer
Service Department; phone numbers are listed on the last page.
How Lowrance Sonar Works
Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it
works, skip down to read about the relatively new technology of GPS.
But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you
the under water basics.
Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NA
vigation and Ranging, a tech-
nology developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines.
6
(Lowrance developed the world's first transistorized sportfishing sonar
in 1957.) A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and
display. In simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish:
The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer converts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency
can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object
(fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which
converts the sound back into an electrical signal.
The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the
display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar
chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the
transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the
object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second.
Your unit can record a log of the sonar signals that scroll across the
screen and save them to the MMC memory card. (These recordings are
also called sonar charts or sonar graphs.) You can replay this sonar log
in the unit using the Sonar Simulator function, or play it back on a personal computer using our free Sonar Viewer. The viewer is available for
download from the Lowrance web site, www.lowrance.com.
You can save several different sonar log files, erase 'em and record new
ones, over and over again. The size of your sonar recordings is only
limited by the free space available on your MMC.
How Lowrance GPS Works
You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how your unit scans
the sky to tell you where you are on the earth — and, where you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS receivers
and the GPS navigation system, skip ahead to Section 2, Installation &
Accessories on page 13. If you're new to GPS, read on, and you can later
impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.)
First, think of your unit as a small but powerful computer. (But don't
worry — we made the unit easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) It includes a keypad and a screen with
menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets the unit show
your location on a moving map, as well as point the way to your destination.
This gimbal-mounted unit uses an internal antenna and receiver,
which makes the whole system work something like your car radio. But
instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in to a couple of
dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. Your unit listens to signals from
7
as many satellites as it can "see" above the horizon, eliminates the
weakest signals, then computes its location in relation to those satellites. Once the unit figures its latitude and longitude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen. The whole process takes
place several times a second!
The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory
of each unit is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in
here at the factory — you can't change or erase this map.
The background map is suitable for many navigation chores, but for
maximum accuracy and much more detail, you need our optional mapmaking software, MapCreate 6. Some unit features — such as
searching for businesses and addresses — won't work without a custom
MapCreate map. There is so much detail in our background map (and
even more in MapCreate) that we'll describe their contents and differences in Section 6, Basic GPS Operations, on page 95.
Another portion of the unit’s onboard memory is devoted to recording
GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event marker
icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came.
Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or
a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS
data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. These
GPS Data Files (file format *.usr) can be shared between, not only the
LMS-334c iGPS and LMS-339cDF iGPS, but other Lowrance GPS units
and even personal computers.
Your unit has one more thing in common with a personal computer.
Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging
files, the unit has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD card (Secure Digital card) flash memory card. These solid-state memory devices
are about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data ranging from 8
MB to 2 GB. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB capacity!) Your
unit uses all that MMC space for two key GPS purposes. (The MMC is
also used to record sonar logs.)
First, you can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to
the MMC. Since the MMC is MMCs, if you don't have a computer.) Our
MapCreate mapping software can save, edit or create its own GPS Data
Files, which can be copied to the MMC and then loaded from the MMC
into unit’s memory. (NOTE: No matter where they come from, GPS Data
Files must be loaded from the MMC into memory before your unit can
use them.)
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, custom maps, which you can produce on your computer with our MapCre-
8
ate software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater detail than the basic background map. These Custom Map Files (file
format *.lcm) not only may be shared between the LMS-334c iGPS and
339cDF iGPS, but also with other Lowrance GPS and sonar/GPS units
as well as personal computers. (For example, the exact same MMC,
custom map files and GPS data files can be used interchangeably between your gimbal-mounted unit and the hand-held iFINDER
GPS
receiver.)
Your unit automatically reads Custom removable (like a floppy disk or a
cassette tape), you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer equipped with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful
of Map Files directly from the MMC or SD card. To use a custom map,
all you need to do is slide an MMC containing a map into the unit.
Introduction to GPS and WAAS
Well, now you know the basics of how your unit does its work. You
might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories,
on page 13, so you can mount your unit and plug in the power. Or you
might want to see how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials
easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual"
on page 11. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite
navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new
companion WAAS work together to get you where you're going.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by
the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all weather global navigation system for
the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also available at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled
the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA.)
GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal government discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed
other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy
for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the
present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.)
Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth,
passing overhead twice daily. A series of ground stations (with precisely
surveyed locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact locations in the sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identifies the satellite and its position above the earth.
9
Three of these satellites are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times. The system requires signal reception from
three satellites in order to determine a position. This is called a 2D fix.
It takes four satellites to determine both position and elevation (your
height above sea level — also called altitude.) This is called a 3D fix.
A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix.
Remember, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to
receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at
very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees,
buildings, an automobile roof, even your body.
Like most GPS receivers, the unit doesn’t have a compass or any other
navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the satellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance
are all calculated from position information. Therefore, in order it to
determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the faster, the
better. This is not to say that it won’t work at walking or trolling
speeds — it will. There will be more "wandering" of the data shown on
the display.
GPS alone is accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go beyond basic GPS. So, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS
performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS. The
FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003.
WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically and horizontally, but it consistently delivers accuracies within 1-2
meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, according to the FAA. It does
10
this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit
automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals.
However, there are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of
Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued
WAAS development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years
to come.
WAAS boosts the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is
designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the
Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground
in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consistently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large manmade structures can sometimes block the WAAS signal from ground
receivers.
You'll find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly
accurate. It’s easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation
available to the general public today. Remember, however, that this
receiver is only a tool. Always have another method of navigation available, such as a map or chart and a compass.
Also remember that this unit will always show navigation information
in the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless
of terrain! It only calculates position, it can’t know what’s between you
and your destination, for example. It’s up to you to safely navigate
around obstacles, no matter how you’re using this product.
Free Training Aids Available
Now that you know something about the technology that makes this
unit possible, you are ready to start learning how to use that technology. This manual will guide you through the process of setting up and
running your unit, but that is only one of many resources available.
If you or a friend has Internet access, visit our web site. Find us at
WWW.LOWRANCE.COM. The site is packed with additional information
on using our products.
For instance, you can learn more about interpreting what you see on
your sonar screen with our free Sonar Tutorial. The tutorial includes
animated illustrations and more pictures of actual sonar returns, all
described in detail. There's even a printer friendly version of the tutorial available on our web. It makes a great supplement to this manual.
11
Sonar Viewer
You can also download a free copy of our Sonar Viewer software. This
PC-based software application plays back any sonar chart log recorded
with a Lowrance sonar product. Features include:
• Adjustable range, zoom, sensitivity, ColorLine, noise rejection,
surface clarity, etc.
• Color interpretation of sonar signals can be user defined.
• Operates like a Windows Multimedia Player with forward, re-
verse, pause, fast forward, fast reverse, and scroll buttons.
• Adjustments update the entire record displayed.
• Can print in full color.
• Window can dynamically be sized on your monitor.
• Mouse cursor shows GPS position, depth and sounding number
anywhere on the visible record.
Emulator
For the ultimate training aid, be sure to download the free emulator
software for your unit. This program can help you learn both basic and
advanced operations without burning boat fuel!
This PC application simulates the actual sonar/GPS unit on your computer. You can run it from your computer keyboard or use your mouse
to press the virtual keys. Easy download and installation instructions
are available on our web site.
The emulator works exactly like your real sonar/GPS unit. When using
the Sonar and GPS Simulators you can play back sonar logs, run GPS
routes and trails, even create real waypoints you can use in the field.
You can take snapshots of the Sonar Chart and print them or e-mail
them to friends.
And that is just some of the material available on our web site. To find
out what we have available, log on and look around. For now, we'll get
back to how to use this particular unit.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or
just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what
menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The following paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for
those commands and other instructions:
12
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys control the movement of dotted cross-hair lines on your
mapping screen called the cursor. The arrow keys also control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen. The arrow keys help you
move around the menus so you can execute different commands. They
are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow
key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: ↓ ↑, ← →.
Keyboard
The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a
key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the
"Enter/Icons" key is shown as
ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU.
Menu Commands
A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters,
in a bold sans serif type like this:
ROUTE PLANNING. These indicate that
you are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action
of some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file
names you need to select are show in italic type, such as trail name.
Instructions = Menu Sequences
Most functions you perform with your unit are described as a sequence
of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a
condensed manner for quick and easy reading.
For example, instructions for navigating a trail would look like this:
1. From the Map Page, press
MENU|MENU|↓ to MY TRAILS|ENT.
2. Press ↓ to Trail 1|
ENT|→|↓ to NAVIGATE|ENT.
3. You are asked to wait while it converts the trail into a route.
4. The wait message disappears and the unit begins showing
navigation information along the trail..
Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on
the Map Page. Press the Menu key twice. Next, repeatedly press (or
press and hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select
(highlight) the My Trails menu command. Finally, press the Enter
key."
Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key repeatedly to scroll to
the trail named Trail 1, and press Enter. Next, press the right arrow
key and then the down arrow key to highlight the Navigate command,
then press Enter."
13
Section 2: Installation
Preparations
You can install the unit in some other order if you prefer, but we recommend this installation sequence:
Caution:
You should read over this entire installation section before drilling any holes in your vessel!
1. Determine the approximate location for the unit, so you can plan how
and where to route the cables for the transducer, any sensor and power.
This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration.
NOTE:
The GPS antenna is inside the unit, so you must mount the unit in
a location with an unobstructed view of the sky.
2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer, any sensor
and their cable routes.
3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection,
along with the power cable route.
4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar
unit. Install the speed or temp sensor, if applicable, and route the cable
to the unit.
5. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate
power source and connect it there.
6. Connect the transducer/power cable (and any sensor cables) to the
unit and mount the unit on the bracket.
Transducer Installation
These instructions will help you install your Skimmer
transducer on a
transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. These instructions cover
both single- and dual-frequency Skimmer transducers. Please read all
instructions before proceeding with any installation.
The smaller single-frequency Skimmers typically use a one-piece,
stainless steel mounting bracket. The larger dual-frequency Skimmers
typically use a two-piece, plastic mounting bracket. The optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable
strap.
These are all "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help prevent damage if
the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the trans-
14
ducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be pushed back into place
without tools.
Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation.
Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat. Use
extreme care if mounting the transducer inside the hull, because once
the epoxy is applied and it is set into position, the transducer cannot be
removed. Remember, transducer location is the most critical part
of a sonar installation.
Recommended Tools and Supplies
If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you
will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit. A transom mount requires use of a
high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant/adhesive
compound.
NOTE:
The following installation types also call for these recommended
tools and required supplies (supplies are not included):
Single-frequency transom installations
Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or belowwaterline sealant/adhesive compound.
Dual-frequency transom installations
Tools: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #20 (0.161") drill bit, flat-head
screwdriver. Supplies: four, 1" long, #12 stainless steel slotted wood
screws, high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline seal-
ant/adhesive compound.
Single-frequency trolling motor installations
Tools: two adjustable wrenches, flat-head screwdriver. Supplies: plastic
cable ties.
Shoot-through hull installations
Tools: these will vary depending on your hull's composition. Consult
your boat dealer or manufacturer. Other tools are a wooden craft stick
or similar tool for stirring and applying epoxy, and a paper plate or
piece of cardboard to mix the epoxy on. Supplies: rubbing alcohol, 100
grit sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI
(see ordering information on the inside back cover). A sandwich hull
also requires polyester resin.
Selecting a Transducer Location
1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds.
2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of
water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of
15
water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the
sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is
moving.
NOTE:
Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the
hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats
typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat
at speeds faster than 35 mph. Typically, a good transom location on
aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine.
3. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight
down, if possible. For shoot-thru applications: Many popular fishing
boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good mounting surface. On
vee hulls, try to place the transducer where the deadrise is 10° or less.
Vee pad hull (left); Vee hull (right). A pod style transducer is shown
here, but the principle is the same for Skimmers inside a hull.
4. If the transducer is mounted on the transom, make sure it doesn't
interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it
closer than approximately one foot from the engine's lower unit. This
will prevent cavitation (bubble) interference with propeller operation.
5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the
boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can
be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
Good and poor transducer locations.
CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near
the transducer. This will help
prevent the transducer from
entering the boat if it is
knocked off at high speed.
Good location
Good location
Poor angle
Poor location
Good
location
Deadrise less than 10
°
Pad
Strakes
16
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom. A dual frequency
transducer (left) and a single frequency transducer (right).
How low should you go?
For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so
that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will
usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps.
However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer
slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you
to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes.
Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this.
If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer
may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you want, you may
move the transducer a little higher for more protection.
There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the
mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the
bottom – the face – of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull.
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting
In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside
of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal passes through the hull
and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often
called "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the hull and a specially
designed transducer is mounted through the hull with a threaded shaft
and nut. This puts the transducer in contact with the water.
Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of
transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transommounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be
Transom
Transom
Hull bottom
Hull bottom
Transducer
centerline
17
knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer.
The shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks. First, some
loss of sensitivity does occur, even on the best hulls. This varies from
hull to hull, even from different installations on the same hull. This is
caused by differences in hull lay-up and construction.
Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches
on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.)
Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that
sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds.
Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls.
Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation.
Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will
only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp.
Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation
section of this instruction booklet to determine if you can satisfactorily
shoot through the hull.
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting
The best way to install these transducers is to loosely assemble all of
the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and
see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground.
The following instructions sometimes vary depending on the mounting
bracket that came with your transducer. Single frequency Skimmers
come with a one-piece stainless steel bracket, while dual frequency
Skimmers come with a two-piece plastic mounting bracket. Use the set
of instructions that fits your model.
1. Assembling the bracket.
A. One-piece bracket: Press the two small plastic ratchets into the
sides of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice
there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the
bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal
bracket. This position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a
14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle.
18
Align plastic ratchets in bracket.
B. Two-piece bracket: Locate the four plastic ratchets in the transducer's hardware package. Press two ratchets into the sides of the
plastic bracket and two on either side of the transducer as shown in
the following illustrations. Notice there are letters molded into each
ratchet.
Place the ratchets into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the
alignment mark molded into the bracket. Place the ratchets onto the
transducer with the letter "A" aligned with the 12 o'clock position on
the transducer stem. These positions set the transducer's coarse angle
adjustment for a 14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle.
Insert and align ratchets.
Add ratchets to bracket and transducer.
Dot
Alignment letters
Alignment
positions
Transducer bracket
Transducer
Transducer
bracket
Ratchet
Ratchet
Transducer
19
2. Aligning the transducer on the transom.
A. One-piece bracket: Slide the transducer between the two ratch-
ets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer assembly and
hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer from the side,
check to see if it will adjust so that its face is parallel to the ground.
If it does, then the "A" position is correct for your hull.
If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove the
transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Place the ratchets into the
holes in the bracket with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped
in the bracket.
Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the
transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's
parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3A. If it doesn't,
repeat step 2A, but use a different alignment letter until you can
place the transducer on the transom correctly.
Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom.
B. Two-piece bracket: Assemble the transducer and bracket as
shown in the following figure. Temporarily slide the bolt though the
transducer assembly but don't tighten the nut at this time. Hold the
assembled transducer and bracket against the transom. Looking at the
transducer from the side, check to see if it will adjust so that its face is
parallel to the ground. If it does, then the "A" positions are correct for
your hull.
Assemble transducer and bracket.
Ratchets
Flat washer
Lock washer
Flat washer
Nut
Bolt
20
If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove and
disassemble the transducer and ratchets. Place the ratchets into the
bracket holes with the letter "B" aligned with the bracket alignment
mark. Place them on the transducer aligned with the 12 o'clock position on the transducer stem.
Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the
transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's
parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3B. If it doesn't,
repeat step 2B, but use a different alignment letter until you can
place the transducer on the transom correctly.
3. Assembling the transducer.
A. One-piece bracket: Once you determine the correct position for
the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following figure. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
Assemble transducer and bracket.
B. Two-piece bracket: Once you determine the correct position for
the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the figure in step
2B. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
4. Drilling mounting holes.
Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. The
transducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The transducer's centerline should be in line with the bottom of the hull. Don't
let the bracket extend below the hull!
Mark the center of each slot for the mounting screw pilot holes. You
will drill one hole in the center of each slot.
Drill the holes. For the one-piece bracket, use the #29 bit (for the #10
screws). For the two-piece bracket, use the #20 bit (for the #12
screws).
Nut
Metal
washer
Metal washer
Bolt
Rubber
washers
21
Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes.
Side view shown (left) and seen from above (right).
5. Attaching transducer to transom.
A. One-piece bracket: Remove the transducer from the bracket and
re-assemble it with the cable passing through the bracket over the
bolt as shown in the following figures.
For single-frequency Skimmer, route cable over bolt and through
bracket. Side view shown (left) and seen from above (right).
Both bracket types: Attach the transducer to the transom. Slide the
transducer up or down until it's aligned properly with the bottom of
the hull as shown in the preceding and following figures. Tighten the
bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the sealant compound.
Adjust the transducer so that it's parallel to the ground and tighten
the nut until it touches the outer washer, then add 1/4 turn. Don't
over tighten the lock nut! If you do, the transducer won't "kick-up" if
it strikes an object in the water.
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach transducer to
transom. Rear view of dual-frequency Skimmer shown.
Transom
Transom
Flat-bottom hull
Deep-"vee" hull
Bottom
of
hull
22
6. Route the transducer cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the transducer. If
possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat.
Electrical noise from the engine's wiring, bilge pumps, VHF radio wires
and cables, and aerators can be picked up by the sonar. Use caution
when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
WARNING:
Clamp the transducer cable to the transom close to the
transducer. This can prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed.
If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through,
the required hole size will be 5/8".
Caution:
If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the
hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant used for the mounting screws.
7. Make a test run to determine the results. If the bottom is lost at
high speed, or if noise appears on the display, try sliding the transducer
bracket down. This puts the transducer deeper into the water, hopefully below the turbulence causing the noise. Don't allow the transducer
bracket to go below the bottom of the hull!
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation
(single-frequency only)
1. Attach the optional TMB-S bracket to the transducer as shown in the
following figure, using the hardware supplied with the transducer.
(Note: The internal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB-S.)
Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer.
2. Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB-S through the slot
in the transducer bracket and wrap it around the trolling motor. Position the transducer to aim straight down when the motor is in the
water. Tighten the strap securely.
TMB-S bracket
Bolt
Internal tooth washer
Nut
Flat washer
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