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
NMEA 2000
is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
®
is a registered trademark of the National Marine Elec-
tronics Association.
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.
For free owner's manuals and the most current information on
this product, its operation and accessories,
visit our web site:
www.lowrance.com
Lowrance Electronics Inc.
12000 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486
Printed in USA.
Table of Contents
Warnings and Cautions .......................................................... iii
Use this radar at your own risk. This radar was designed for
use as a navigation aid. It should not be used for purposes that
require precise measurements of direction, distance, topography
or location. Always compare the navigation information received
from your radar with data from other navigation aids and
sources. When a conflict arises between the navigation data from
your radar and data from other navigation aids, make sure you
resolve the conflict before proceeding with navigation. A CARE-
FUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE
METHOD TO OBTAIN NAVIGATION INFORMATION.
Caution:
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea mandate that when radar is on a vessel, the radar must be used at
all times, regardless of weather conditions or visibility. Numerous court decisions have not only ruled the radar must be used,
but that the radar operator must be knowledgeable in all operational aspects of radar performance or otherwise face a greater
risk of liability if an accident occurs.
Caution:
If you purchased an open array radar antenna, make sure it is
installed in an area free of hardware obstructions and free of potential obstructions like sails, lines or other vessel components
that could intermittently intrude or be caught up in the array
antenna's rotation path.
WARNING: High Voltage Hazard
Dangerously high voltages are present within the radar
scanner unit. The unit contains no user-serviceable
parts. The cover should be removed only by a qualified
radar service technician. Technicians must exercise extreme care when working inside the unit. ALWAYS remove power before removing the cover. Some capacitors
may take several minutes to discharge, even after
switching off the radar. Before touching the magnetron
or any high voltage components, ground them with a
clip lead. There are no internal connections or adjustments necessary for installation or operation.
iii
WARNING: Microwave Radiation Hazard
The microwave energy radiated by a radar antenna is
harmful to humans, especially to the eyes. NEVER look
directly into an open waveguide or into the path of radiation from an enclosed antenna. Radar and other radio frequency radiation can upset cardiac pacemakers.
If someone with a cardiac pacemaker suspects abnormal
operation, immediately turn off the radar equipment
and move the person away from the antenna. Turn off
the radar whenever it is necessary to work on the antenna unit or other equipment in the beam of the radar.
WARNING: Turn Off Radar When Docked
The radar beam can be harmful to humans in close proximity (within 20 yards, or 18.3 meters). When docked, be
considerate of other boats and pedestrians nearby and
remember to turn off your radar. If your boat is in a covered marina and the radar is on, a metal roof can act as
a reflector, bouncing microwave energy back at your
boat and passengers.
iv
Section 1: Introduction
Thank you for buying a Lowrance Radar with the RIM 200 radar interface module. Your radar consists of three main components: the radar
scanner unit (antenna), your display unit (sold separately) and the RIM
200 radar interface module which connects the scanner and display units.
WARNING:
Radar radiation can be harmful to you and bystanders.
Radar misuse or misunderstanding radar operation
could lead to a collision, which could result in property
damage, personal injury or death.
You must be familiar with the procedures and all warnings and cautions described in the installation and operation manuals in order to operate your radar safely
and effectively.
We know you’re eager to begin using your radar, but first, we want you to
take note of the three instruction manuals you need to read to get started.
First is the Read Me! Insert for Radar Display Unit Software Update
(part number 988-0161-023). It tells you how use the memory card in
your package to update your display unit software to make it radarready. (For your convenience, this information is also repeated below.)
Second is the Radar and RIM 200 Installation Manual (part number
988-0161-041). It tells you how to install your radar's hardware.
Third is this Radar Operation Manual (part number 988-0161-012).
After installing the radar scanner unit, the RIM 200 and the new display software, you need to read this manual to learn how your display
unit and radar antenna work together.
To get the highest level of performance from your radar, it is a good
idea to keep this manual and your display unit's sonar or GPS instruction manual handy for reference.
Models Covered
This manual covers the following radar-compatible display units: LCX25c, LCX-26c HD, LCX-27c, LCX-28c HD, LCX-37c, LCX-38c HD, LCX110c, LCX-111c HD, LCX-112c, LCX-113c HD, LMS-520c, LMS-522c
iGPS, LMS-525c DF, LMS-527c DF iGPS sonar/GPS combos; X510c,
X515c DF sonars; and GlobalMap
GlobalMap
Note for GlobalMap users: Menus and function commands in your
units are identical to those shown in this manual, except your display
will not have sonar page options, sonar alarm options or sonar simulator options.
This manual covers the following radar units: LRA-1000, LRA-1500,
LRA-2000 radomes; and LRA-4000, LRA-5000 open array radars.
Update Display Unit Software (2006 Units only)
If you are using a 2006-model display unit (LCX-25C, LCX-26C HD,
LCX-110
GlobalMap
C, LCX-111C HD sonar/GPS combos; GlobalMap
®
6600C HD, GlobalMap® 7500C, GlobalMap® 7600C HD
GPS units) you need to access your unit's software information screen
to make sure its software version is 1.7.0 or greater. If your software
version is less than 1.7.0, you need to install the software update that
was included on the MMC or SD card that packed with your RIM 200;
otherwise your display unit will NOT work with the RIM 200. If your
display unit has software version 1.7.0 or greater, you do not need to
install the software update.
You can also acquire the software version 1.7.0 update from Lowrance
customer service or download it from our web site, www.lowrance.com.
Checking Software Version
1. With the display unit turned on, press
keys to highlight
2. Use the arrow keys to select
SYSTEM SETUP and press ENTER.
SOFTWARE INFORMATION and press ENTER.
MENU twice, use the arrow
The software information screen will appear. If the version of software
listed on the software information screen is less than 1.7 you will need
to install the software update that came with your RIM 200.
Installing Software Update
1. With the display unit turned off, install the MMC card that contains
the radar software update.
2. Turn on the unit and the update will install automatically.
3. When the update is finished, the unit will power up normally. After
the updated is complete, remove the update MMC from card slot.
Lowrance continues to regularly develop display enhancements and
new radar features. We strongly recommend that you periodically check our web site for the latest free radar software updates.
If you or a friend has Internet access, log-on to
www.lowrance.com,
browse to our Software page and look for the Product Updates link. If
you lack Internet access, call your dealer or Lowrance Customer Service. Complete contact information is on the last page of this manual.
®
6500C,
2
We've made it easy for you to keep up with our latest updates — just
subscribe to our free e-mail software release notices. Look for the link
at the bottom of our Product Software Upgrades web page.
What is radar?
The word "radar" is an acronym for "RAdio Detecting And Ranging." In
simple terms, this is how it works:
A radio transmitter sends out a quick microwave pulse. A receiver listens
for that signal's echo when it bounces back from something in its path.
When the echo returns, it is processed by a computer to determine relative distance, position and bearing of the object that reflected the signal. This information is displayed on the display unit's screen. Other
boats or ships, navigational markers, landmasses and the like are referred to as targets.
By knowing how long it takes for a signal to return, the distance to a target can be determined. As the radar antenna scans through a 360 degree
rotation, it can show where the target is relative to your position. By repeated scans, you can see which direction another vessel is moving.
The following two pages show the basic components of your radar display screen, which is commonly referred to as the PPI, an old term from
the early days of radar.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type, so you can easily skim the instructions and pick out what menu command to use.
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 also help
you move around the menus so you can execute different commands.
They are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow, up arrow, left arrow and 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. For example, the "Enter/Icons"
key is shown as
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
ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU.
3
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 this 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 accessing the My Trails menu would look
like this:
1. From the Map Page, press
MENU|MENU|↓↑to MY TRAILS|ENT.
In clearer terms, step 1 (above) means: "From the Map Page, press the
Menu key twice. Use the arrow keys to select (highlight) My Trails menu
and press Enter."
4
A
A
V
V
Range
Display
mode
Radar
Cursor Boxes
Electronic
Bearing
Lines
Basic Radar Display Components
Range Ring Interval
nti-Sea
Clutter
nti-Rain
Clutter
Echo Trail
status
Gain level
Range
Markers
Interference
Rejection
status
Radar Echo
Expansion
status
ariable
Your unit has three electronic bearing
lines and three variable range markers.
Electronic Bearing Line position
for EBLs 1, 2 and 3. Highlighted
in white, EBL 2 is the active bearing line.
An enlarged example of EBLs and
VRMs is on the next page.
ariable Range Marker position
for VRMs 1, 2 and 3. Highlighted
in white, VRM 2 is the active
range marker.
5
Basic Radar Display Components
PPI (radar screen's 360º
overhead view of the area)
Heading line (in green)
EBL2
EBL3
EBL1
VRM1
Bearings, in degrees
(in Heading Up mode,
relative to bow)
VRMs and EBLs allow you to track the distance and bearing
of multiple radar targets.
VRM2
VRM3
NOTE:
This manual is printed in black and white, but a free color version
(in Acrobat
®
PDF format) is available for display or download from
the Lowrance web site. The color manual is particularly useful for
understanding Sec. 5, Radar Interpretation.
6
Section 2: Radar Setup
This section will teach you how to prepare your radar for operation. Before you begin radar setup, the radar scanning unit, RIM 200 module
and display unit all must be installed and their cables connected.
WARNING:
Do NOT attempt to execute Radar Setup, while the vessel is moving. Some motion from wind and wave action is
acceptable, but these setup instructions are NOT intended for vessels moving across the water.
Caution:
If you are unsure or do not understand the following instructions, it is strongly recommended that an experienced radar
technician handles radar setup and the installation of radar
hardware.
Getting Started
1. After turning on the unit, press MENU|MENU, then use ↑↓ to SYSTEM
SETUP and press ENT.
Radar selected from Communication Ports menu (left). Radar Notice
(right) prompting users to leave radar in Standby Mode for 30 minutes
when activating radar for the first time.
2. From the System Setup menu, highlight COMMUNICATIONS PORT and
ENT.
press
3. Press ↓ to
checkbox. The Baud Rate automatically will switch to 230400 and a
Radar Notice will appear.
RADAR and press ENT, which will place an X in the radar
7
Caution:
Leave the radar in Standby Mode for 30 minutes when activating it the first time. This will help maximize the life of the magnetron. After the radar has been activated the first time, ignore
the Radar Notice.
4. Press
5. Press ↓ to select
PAGES, then use ← → to select the radar tab.
RADAR ONLY then press EXIT.
Radar only highlighted on Radar Pages menu (left). Radar menu with
Radar Power selected (right).
6. Press MENU, then use ↑ ↓ to select RADAR POWER from the radar menu
and press
YES and press ENT. A warm-up countdown will commence that will vary
ENT. A confirmation message will appear. Press ← to select
depending on the model of radar you have.
7. After the countdown is finished, the unit will enter STANDBY mode.
8. Access the Radar Setup menu to make sure your radar display is set
to Heading Up and is set to a Full Color scheme. Press
RADAR SETUP and press ENT.
MENU, select
Radar Setup selected from Radar menu (left). Radar Setup menu with
Full Color on Black highlighted (right).
8
9. To set the radar to Heading Up, highlight
HEADING UP and press ENT.
10. To display the radar images in full color, press ↓ to select
COLOR SCHEME and press ENT.
RADAR
11. Use ↑ ↓ to highlight one of the three full color options and press
ENT. Press EXIT to return to the main page display.
Auto Power-On
When the Auto Power-on feature is turned on, the radar will start
warming up every time the display unit is turned on. Access the Communications Port menu to turn on or turn off the Auto Power-on feature.
Caution:
If you do not plan to use your radar every time the display unit
is turned on, you need to turn off the Auto Power-On feature.
Turning on/off Auto Power-On:
1. Press MENU twice, highlight COMMUNICATIONS PORT and press ENT.
2. Select
(turn off) the radar checkbox. Auto Power-On is active when there is an
"X" in the radar checkbox. When the "X" is removed, Auto Power-On is
turned off.
3. Press
RADAR and press ENT, which will check (turn on) or uncheck
EXIT repeatedly to return to the main display.
Communications Port menu with Auto Power-On feature turned on.
Radar Setup
The Radar Setup menu allows you to set up and adjust radar settings,
like Transmit Off Zone and Antenna Park. Most of the settings in the
Radar Setup menu will only have to be set once, but we recommend you
check the settings periodically for general maintenance.
9
NOTE:
Before starting radar setup, take your vessel out on open water
with fairly calm seas, like an open bay.
The three setup features we want to modify are Adjust Trigger Delay,
Adjust Main Bang Suppression and Adjust Heading Line.
We will set them up in that order, but before making any adjustments,
make sure the display is set to a range of 0.125 nautical miles and that
Gain, Anti-Sea Clutter (STC), Anti-Rain Clutter (FTC), Main Bang
Suppression and Trigger Delay all have been set to zero percent.
Trigger Delay Preparation
Range
1. To reset range to 0.125 nm, make sure you are on the Radar Only
page and press
MENU.
2. Use ↑ ↓ to select
Radar Range list. Press ↑ to select 0.125 nm and press
can set the range to 0.125 nm from the radar screen by using the
and
ZOUT keys.
Gain
RADAR RANGE and press ENT, which will call up the
ENT. You also
ZIN
1. To set Gain to zero, press MENU, select GAIN and press ENT.
2. That will launch the Gain vertical scrollbar. Press ↓ until the Gain is
set to zero percent. Press
EXIT. (Notice the corresponding value in the
upper right-hand corner of the screen.)
NOTE:
When adjusting Gain back to a useable level, increase the level until you see a light peppering on the display. Also remember, you will
have to adjust gain every time you change ranges.
Anti-Sea Clutter
1. To set Anti-Sea Clutter to zero, press MENU, select ANTI-SEA CLUTTER
(STC) and press ENT.
2. That will launch the Anti-Sea Clutter vertical scrollbar. Press ↓ until
the Anti-Sea Clutter is set to zero percent. Press
EXIT. (Notice the cor-
responding value in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.)
Anti-Rain Clutter
1. To set Anti-Rain Clutter to zero, press MENU, select ANTI-RAIN CLUTTER
(FTC) and press ENT.
10
2. That will launch the Anti-Rain Clutter vertical scrollbar. Press ↓ until the Anti-Rain Clutter is set to zero percent. Press
EXIT. (Notice the
corresponding value in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.)
Main Bang Suppression
1. To set Main Bang Suppression to zero, press MENU, select RADAR
SETUP and press ENT.
2. Press →|↓to
ADJUST MAIN BANG SUPPRESSION and pressENT. That will
call up the Main Bang Suppression vertical scrollbar.
3. Press ↓ until Main Bang Suppression is set to zero percent. Press
EXIT.
Trigger Delay
1. To set Trigger Delay to zero, press MENU, select RADAR SETUP and
press
ENT.
2. Press →|↓to
ADJUSTTRIGGER DELAY and pressENT. That will call up
the Adjust Trigger Delay vertical scrollbar.
3. Press ↓ until Trigger Delay is set to zero percent. Press
EXIT.
Adjust Trigger Delay
This feature eliminates the time lag between real radar returns and the
time it takes data to be processed by the radar software, a common issue with all radars.
Caution:
If you have any doubt about your understanding of the Trigger
Delay feature, you should have it set up by a qualified radar
technician.
1. The radar should already be in STANDBY mode, so press
PWR for 2
seconds to switch the radar into transmission mode. A confirmation
message will appear, press ← to select
YES.
2. Press
MENU, select GAIN and press ENT, which will call up the Gain
vertical control bar. Press ↑ to increase the Gain level to around 15%.
One or two red rings with blue borders should be visible on the screen,
depending on the wattage of your radar antenna.
3. Now from the Radar Setup menu, press →|↓ to
then press
ENT. The Adjust Trigger Delay vertical scrollbar will appear.
ADJUST TRIGGER DELAY,
The 2 kW models, the LRA-1000 and LRA-1500, will have only one ring
on the display. The 4 kW radars — LRA-2000, LRA-4000 and LRA-5000
— will have two rings on the display. See the following figures.
11
Before adjusting the Trigger Delay for 4 kW radars, two rings will be
shown on the screen (left). As Trigger Delay is increased, the larger
ring will start to get smaller. The small ring will disappear (right).
You may have to increase gain in the previous step if the rings are not
visible. Increase gain until you have solid red rings shown on the
screen, like in the preceding example. Increasing Gain too much can
cause the rings to be distorted.
4. Press ↑ to increase the level of Trigger Delay, which will decrease the
size of the ring. If you have a 4 kW radar, as the large ring decreases in
size, the smaller ring in the center of the screen will disappear, leaving
only one ring.
Increase Trigger Delay to diminish the size of the red ring (left). To set
Trigger Delay correctly, reduce the ring to as small a size as possible,
while keeping a black circle in the middle (enlarged view, right).
In either case, continue to increase the Trigger Delay level until the
ring is as small as possible, while keeping a black circle in the middle.
Every radar is different, but typically, a setting between 35 and 42 percent will get the job done.
If you over apply the Trigger Delay, the black circle will disappear. Decrease the Trigger Delay level and it will reappear.
3. Press
EXIT to return to the main page display.
12
Adjust Main Bang Suppression
Main Bang Suppression is only for 4kW units — LRA 2000, LRA 4000 and
LRA 5000.
This feature filters out electronic noise close to your vessel. It
gives you control of radar sensitivity in the area surrounding your vessel, approximately 180 feet in all directions.
Before making any adjustments to Main Bang Suppression, take your
vessel out on open water with fairly calm seas, like an open bay.
Caution:
If you have any doubt about your understanding of the Main
Bang Suppression feature, you should have it set up by a qualified radar technician.
1. Press
2. Press →|↓ to
MENU, highlight RADAR SETUP and press ENT.
ADJUST MAIN BANG SUPPRESSION and press ENT. That will
launch the Main Bang Suppression vertical scrollbar.
3. The small red ring we adjusted during Trigger Delay setup will still
be on the display.
4. Press ↑ slowly — Main Bang Suppression can be sensitive — to increase the Main Bang Suppression level so the red ring becomes as thin
as possible.
5. Press ↓ to slowly decrease the level until you have returned the red
ring back to its thinnest point. Every radar is different, but typically, a
setting between 2 and 8 percent will be satisfactory.
NOTE:
In many cases, depending on the radar unit you have, over applying
Main Bang Suppression can make the ring disappear, start to make
it wider or the ring can get to a point where it is as small as it will
get. At this point, increasing the main bang level will not change
the red ring.
If the red ring does not does not decrease in size when increasing
the suppression level, reduce the level until you see a slight increase in the size of the ring, then leave it at that setting.
13
Main Bang Suppression begins with the same red ring we resized during Trigger Delay setup (left). Slowly increase Main Bang Suppression
to make the ring as thin as possible (enlarged view, right).
6. Press EXIT to clear the scrollbar from the screen. Now reset Gain,
Anti-Sea Clutter and Anti-Rain Clutter back to a desired level.
Adjust Heading Line
The Heading Line command is used to make sure the green heading
line (zero point) on your display is lined up with the bow of your vessel.
(Before heading line adjustment) (After heading line adjustment)
The bow of the ship is lined up with the tip of the peninsula (left), but the
green heading line is not. Adjusting the heading line will allow you to align
the direction of the heading line with the direction of the bow (right).
1. Line up the bow of your vessel with a point of reference, like a peninsula, lighthouse or other stationary target.
2. Press
ADJUST HEADING LINE and press ENT. That will place an arrow on each side
MENU, highlight RADAR SETUP and press ENT. Press → to select
of the green Heading Line.
14
3. Use ← → to adjust the position of the green heading line, so its line
f
to the reference point's radar image matches your bow's actual line to
the reference point.
4. Press
EXIT to remove the heading line arrows from the display.
Adjust Transmit Off Zone
The Transmit Off Zone is a feature that allows you to select an area in
the radar's 360° transmission path where the radar beam will not be
transmitted.
WARNING:
ALL targets inside the Transmit Off Zone will NOT be
displayed on the screen. This will create a blind spot
within the off zone!
Transmit
Zone
Transmit Of
Zone
Transmit Off Zone is shown in bright red; the remaining area of the
PPI is considered the Transmit Zone. Color is exaggerated here for
clarity; on-screen, the off zone actually appears in a dimmer shade so
as not to distract from target images in the transmit zone. Dialog box
values at upper right are in degrees, relative to the heading line.
Caution:
Preventing the main beam or lobe from transmitting through the
Transmit Off Zone will diminish the amount of radiation
broadcast in that area, but it WILL NOT protect you from radiation transmitted by the side lobes of the radar antenna.
To avoid radiation exposure, be sure to follow the installation
instructions, which require the radar to be installed at least 1
foot above all persons.
15
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