Lowrance STRUCTURESCAN HD Operating Manual

TM

StructureScan HD

Sonar Imaging

Operation Manual

Copyright © 2012 Navico

All Right Reserved.

No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distrib­uted for any purpose, without prior written consent of Navico.

StructureScan™ is a trademark and Lowrance ® and Navico ® are registered trademarks of
Navico, Inc.

Navico may nd it necessary to change or end our policies, regulations and
special oers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice. All
features and specications subject to change without notice.

For user manuals and the most current information on this product, its operation
and accessories, visit our web site:

www.lowrance.com

Disclaimer

As Navico is continuously improving this product, we retain the right to make
changes to the product at any time which may not be reected in this version
of the manual. Please contact your nearest distributor if you require any further
assistance.

It is the owner’s sole responsibility to install and use the instrument and transduc­ers in a manner that will not cause accidents, personal injury or property damage.
The user of this product is solely responsible for observing safe boating practices.

NAVICO HOLDING AS. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, BRANCHES AND AFFILIATES DIS­CLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT IN A WAY THAT MAY CAUSE
ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR THAT MAY VIOLATE THE LAW.

Governing Language: This statement, any instruction manuals, user guides and
other information relating to the product (Documentation) may be translated to,
or has been translated from, another language (Translation). In the event of any
conict between any Translation of the Documentation, the English language
version of the Documentation will be the ocial version of the Documentation.

This manual represents the product as at the time of printing. Navico Holding AS.
and its subsidiaries, branches and aliates reserve the right to make changes to
specications without notice.

Copyright © 2012 Navico Holding AS.

Contents

StructureScan ........................................................................ 3

Sidescan ......................................................................................................3

Downscan ....................................................................................................4

Displaying Sidescan and Downscan ............................................6

Screen Congurations ................................................................... 6

Overlay Downscan ......................................................................................7

Overlay Transparency .................................................................................8

StructureScan Menu.......................................................................9

Contrast .......................................................................................................9

Range ..........................................................................................................9

View ...........................................................................................................10

Structure Options ......................................................................... 11

Structure Surface Clarity ........................................................................... 11

Structure Noise Rejection ......................................................................... 11

Stop Sonar.................................................................................................13

Log sonar...................................................................................................13

Viewing Structure History ............................................................14

Save Waypoints .........................................................................................15

StructureMap ................................................................................16

Turning on Structure overlay .....................................................................17

Selecting Structure Source .........................................................17

Live mode ..................................................................................................17

Saved mode ..............................................................................................18

Recording Structure data...........................................................................19

Scanning Fishing areas ...............................................................20

Sharing les ...............................................................................................20

Structure options .......................................................................................22

2

Softkeys

Instructions in this manual are based on HDS unit menus, not
softkeys. If you have an HDS-8 or HDS-10, you can get the same
results using the softkeys.

To use softkeys:

1. Touch the desired softkey to change settings, view a softkey menu
or adjustment scrollbar.

2. Use the keypad to select menu items and make adjustments to
scrollbars. Press EXIT to close softkey menus.

NOTE: After making adjustments to options or settings, use the EXIT

key to resume normal operation.

StructureScan

Consists of two powerful sonar views: Sidescan and Downscan. Used in
conjunction with the built-in broadband sounder, StructureScan gives you an
underwater panoramic view.

Sidescan

Sidescan

Broadcasts a sonar beam to each side of your boat allowing you to view structure,
and terrain without having to drive your boat over the top of it.

3

You can use Sidescan to:

• Save waypoints at objects/locations off to side of the boat

• Review history

• Measure the size of underwater objects and the distance from one

object/location to another object/location using live Sidescan returns
or Sidescan history

• Create sonar logs

Downscan

Uses the same technology as sidescan, but broadcasts the beam downward, giv­ing you the same high resolution in a familiar right to left display.

Downscan

You can use Downscan to:

• See different view of objects/locations selected with cursor on
Sidescan panel

• Save waypoints

• Review history and create sonar logs

• Overlay Downscan imaging on the sonar page

4

Underwater

terrain

with the bottom

Transmit Burst

Transducer

sidescan signal

makes contact

Water column

between boat

and where

Trees

Sidescan

Trees

Built-in Broadband sounder

5

Downscan

Displaying Sidescan and Downscan

Sidescan and Downscan can be shown on the display individually or together in
dierent split screen congurations.

To display Sidescan:

1. Press the PAGES key.

2. Use the keypad to rotate the
carousel menu until Structure is
selected.

3. Press ENTER.

To display Downscan:

1. From the Sidescan onscreen display, press MENU.

2. Select Structure Options and press ENTER.

3. Highlight View and press ENTER.

4. Select Down and press ENTER.

NOTE: To access the StructureScan menu, press MENU from a

StructureScan page or from an active StructureScan panel.

Pages screen for HDS-8 /10 units.

Screen Congurations

StructureScan can be shown with other pages in various screen congurations
including: splitscreen, tri-screen and quad screen (HDS-8/10 only).

Selecting Structure + Sonar from the Structure menu displays a tri-screen
with two StructureScan panels and a sonar panel.

6

To display a split, tri or quad screen:

1. Press the PAGES key.

2. Press the keypad left/right to rotate the carousel menu until Structure
is selected.

3. Press the keypad up/down to select the desired combination of
panels and press ENTER.

Structure + Structure Splitscreen

Structure + Structure + Sonar + Chart

Quadscreen (HDS -8/10 only).

NOTE: To switch the active panel on a multi-screen display, hold down

the Pages key until the orange border switches to the next panel. Repeat

this step to rotate active status to the next panel.

Overlay Downscan

Places downscan data on top of sonar data,
making it easier to separate sh from structure.

To turn on Downscan Overlay:

1. Press MENU twice.

2. Select Sonar and press ENTER.

3. Highlight Overlay Downscan and press
ENTER.

7

Downscan overlay set to 0%.

Overlay Transparency

Controls the transparency of Downscan overlay on the sonar page, allowing you
to select an overlay level best suited for current water conditions.

To make adjustments to Overlay:

1. Make sure the sonar panel is the active panel.
Press MENU.

2. Select Adjust and press ENTER.

3. Use the keypad to highlight Overlay.

4. Press the keypad left/right to decrease/increase
overlay transparency.

StructureScan Options Softkey

If you have an HDS-8 or HDS-10, you will notice the
Stop Sonar softkey is replaced with the Structure
Options softkey when Overlay Downscan is turned
on.

That gives you one-touch access to StructureScan
display options and settings, including the Overlay
adjustment scrollbar.

Downscan overlay set to 85%

8

StructureScan Menu

Provides access to StructureScan features, settings and the
Structure Options menu.

To access the StructureScan menu, press MENU from the
StructureScan page.

Contrast

Controls the level of contrast used on the display.
To make adjustments, highlight Contrast on the StructureScan menu and press

the keypad left/right to decrease/increase the contrast level.

Range

Used to adjust the width of a sidescan image and controls
the section of the water column shown when downscan is
the selected view.

To select Range:

1. Select Range from the Structure menu and press
ENTER.

2. Use the keypad to select the desired range and
press ENTER.

Structure menu

9

View

Controls the view your unit will use when displaying
StructureScan data. In a multi-panel display, you can select
dierent views for each StructureScan panel.

To select a View:

View menu

1. Select View from the StructureScan menu and press ENTER.

2. Highlight the desired option and press ENTER.

Left Only

Left and Right selected on View menu.

Right Only

Palette

Gives you control of the overall look and feel of the display by allowing you to
select a palette with color and brightness levels geared toward your viewing
preferences.

Palette No. 1 Palette No. 2

To select a Palette:

1. Select Palette from the StructureScan menu and press ENTER.

2. Use the keypad to select the desired palette and press ENTER.

10

Structure Options

To make adjustments to StructureScan display
settings, highlight Structure Options on the
StructureScan menu and press ENTER.

Structure Options menu

Structure Surface Clarity

Adjusts sensitivity near the surface of the water to reduce or eliminate onscreen
clutter caused by wave action, boat wakes, temperature inversion, etc.

Structure Surface Clarity turned off.

To adjust Surface Clarity:

1. Select Structure Surface Clarity from the Structure Options menu
and press ENTER.

2. Use the keypad to select the desired setting and press ENTER.

Structure Noise Rejection

Reduces onscreen clutter caused by bilge pumps, engine vibration, air bubbles or
other transducers on your boat.

To turn Structure Noise Rejection On/O, high­light Structure Noise Rejection on the Struc­ture Options menu and press ENTER.

Flip Left/Right

Controls the orientation of the sidescan/downscan onscreen display.
If the transducer is installed with the cabled end pointing away from the back of

your boat (Direct Step Mount) or pointing away from the front of your trolling
motor, you must turn on Flip Left/Right.

Structure Surface Clarity on High.

11

That will ensure that what is on the left or right

Cabled end of transducer

side of your boat underwater, will be shown on the
corresponding side of the screen on your display unit.

To turn on/o Flip Left/Right, highlight Flip Left/Right
on the Structure Options menu and press ENTER.

Back of the boat

Range Lines

Onscreen lines that make it easier to estimate
depth of sonar targets (Downscan) or
distance from sonar targets (Sidescan).

To turn on/o Range Lines, select Range
Lines on the Structure Options menu and
press ENTER.

Range Lines shown in Sidescan

Measure Distance

view.

Measures the size of underwater objects and the distance from one object/loca­tion to another object/location.

The
selected
locations
are 40.5
feet apart.

To Measure Distance:

1. Press MENU from a StructureScan page.

2. Highlight Measure Distance and press ENTER.

3. Use the keypad to move the cursor into the desired position.

4. To measure the distance from the selected location to another object
or location press ENTER and move the cursor.

5. Press EXIT to return to normal operation.

12

Stop Sonar

Stops Sidescan and Downscan sonar from the scrolling, allowing you to get a
closer look at onscreen objects or locations.

To pause/restart the chart, highlight Stop Sonar on the Structure menu and press
ENTER.

Log sonar

Records sonar logs, allowing you to review
StructureScan and broadband sonar data later
via an MMC or SD card.

To access the Log Sonar menu, select Log
Sonar Data from the Structure menu and press
ENTER.

Log Sonar Menu

Filename

Save to

Bytes

Input the desired name for the sonar log le
Selects location where sonar log will be saved/stored; to

save data to MMC/SD card, select Memory Card
Controls number of bytes per sounding. More bytes yields

better resolution/shorter logging time; conversely, fewer
bytes produces longer sonar logs/lower resolution

Logs StructureScan data and conventional sonar data

Log All Channels

Time Remaining

To input a lename:

1. Highlight the Filename text box and
press ENTER. A keyboard will appear
on the screen.

2. Use the keypad to input the desired

lename.

3. Select OK and press ENTER.

simultaneously. When logging all channels, logs are saved
in.Sl2 format instead of .slg format. The .Sl2 le format is

not compatible with non-HDS units.

Recording time left until memory storage runs out

13

To adjust Save to or Bytes per Sounding:

1. Highlight Save to or Bytes per Sounding from the Sounder Logging
menu and press ENTER.

2. Use the keypad to select the desired option and press ENTER.

To turn on/off Log All Channels:

1. Highlight Log All Channels on the Log Sonar menu.

2. Press ENTER.

Record

To record a sonar log, highlight the Re­cord button and press ENTER.

To stop logging:

1. Select Stop from the Sounder
Logging menu and press
ENTER.

2. Highlight the Stop Logging
button and press ENTER.

Red circle indicates sonar log is being recorded;

Source

All Channels are being logged in this example

Selects the transducer data that will be shown by a your display unit when there
is more than one StructureScan transducer connected to an ethernet network.

To select a source:

1. Select Source from the Structure menu and press ENTER.

2. Highlight the desired option and press ENTER.

Settings

Opens the Sonar Settings menu.

Viewing Structure History

You can view Sidescan or Downscan history individually — by displaying them
full screen — or simultaneously by adding them to a multi-panel screen.

14

Blue history tracking bars

To view history:

1. From a StructureScan page, press the keypad down (Sidescan)
or to the left (Downscan). The blue history tracking bar will appear
helping you keep tabs on where you are in the history log.

2. To return to normal operation, press EXIT.

Save Waypoints

You can save waypoints using both Sidescan and Downscan views, allowing you
to mark a desired object/location so you can revisit it later.

To save a waypoint:

1. Press the keypad to activate the
cursor.

2. Move the cursor over the desired
object/location and press MENU.

3. Select New Waypoint at Cursor
and press ENTER.

NOTE: You can save a waypoint by moving the cursor into the desired
position and pressing Enter or the Wpt key from the StructureScan or

Sonar pages.

15

StructureMap

StructureMap is a tool that allows you to overlay SideScan sonar returns on
top of the chart, giving you a birds-eye view of underwater structure below
and beside your boat. StructureMap makes it easier for you to visualize the
underwater environment in relation to your position and aids the user in
interpreting sidescan sonar images.

Same structure shown in each panel

StructureMap

SideScan

Viewing StructureMap data

You can view StructureMap data by turning on Structure overlay from the
Chart menu, or by using the Overlay softkey (HDS-8/10). StructureMap data
will start to appear on the Chart screen as soon as Structure overlay is en­abled. The Structure Source setting determines whether the StructureMap
information you want to view is live or previously recorded.

16

Turning on Structure overlay

Selecting Structure Source

StructureMap can be used in Live mode or
Saved mode. Live mode allows you to view
real-time StructureMap data on the screen.
Saved mode is used to display StructureMap
data previously saved to a SD card or the unit’s
internal memory.

Live mode

Displays the last few minutes of the Side Imaging history as a trail behind the
vessel icon. The length of this trail will vary depending on the Side Imaging
and Down Imaging range settings. The higher the range settings the longer

Vessel icon

Structure

17

History trail

the history length that will show up behind the vessel icon. Typically it will
display the last 4-5 minutes of recording. Live mode allows the user to quick­ly identify interesting areas of the lake and how they relate to vessel position.
It also allows the user to scroll back and zoom in on a recently scanned areas
of the lake to look at additional details of what was scanned. Live mode does
not save any data. If the unit is turned o, all recent sonar history is lost. You
must have Structurescan installed on your boat to use Live mode.

Saved mode

Displays StructureMap (.smf) les that have been created from structure
sonar log (.sl2) les. Saved mode is used to view a map of the underwater
environment that can be reviewed and examined either on or o of the

Navigating a StructureMap in saved mode

water. It can be used when revisiting an area that has already been scanned
in order to assist the user in positioning the vessel or locating specic points
of interest.

NOTE: If there is more than one StructureMap of the same area on
the same SD card, the maps will overlap on your screen. If you want to
have more than one map of the same area, you should put the maps
on separate SD cards.

18

Accessing StructureMap les on SD card

All StructureMap les on your SD card or in the unit’s internal memory will
automatically appear on the screen when Saved mode is selected.

Recording Structure data

To record structure data, steer your boat
over an area and select Log Sonar data from
the Structure Options menu. Refer to your
operation manual for more information about
sonar log options.

NOTE: For best results, we recommend turning o Auto Range when

recording a structure sonar log (.sl2).

Converting les

To create a StructureMap le you must convert a structure sonar log (.sl2)
le to StructureMap format (.smf). This can be done automatically from
the Sonar Log menu, or manually by converting logs from the Files menu.
We recommend using an SD card for recording when possible, due to the

Converts sonar log
les to structure­map format

Automatic conversion

Manual conversion

NOTE: Keep the size of your sonar logs to 100MB or less to allow for

faster le conversion. Current le size is occasionally ashed on the
screen during the recording process. You will not be able to use any of
the unit’s other functions while a le is being converted.

limited size of the HDS internal memory. To have structure sonar log (.sl2)
les automatically converted to StructureMap le format (.smf), turn on
Convert to map when complete on the Sonar Log menu. The (.sl2) le will be
converted to a (.smf) le when recording is stopped.

19

Sharing les

After structure sonar log (.sl2) les are converted to StructureMap (.smf)
les, they can be saved to a SD card and used on other GPS capable HDS
Gen 2 units without the need for the StructureScan module.

Scanning Fishing areas

With the Structure Source set to the default Live mode, steer the boat over
the desired location to scan the area. When conducting a side-by-side scan
of an area, you will get a cleaner scan if you do not overlap history trails and
you turn o auto ranging on the sidescan.

Side-by-side scan

Scanning tips

• To get a picture of taller structure (a wreck, etc) — don’t drive over
it. Steer the boat so the structure will be on the left or right side
of your boat.

• Set your structure range to a signicantly greater level (two-to-

three times) than the water depth to ensure a complete scan and
to maximize conversion accuracy.

NOTE: Optimal speed for viewing or logging StructureMap data is
between 2-8 mph (3-12 kmh). Live mode is disabled for speeds great­er than 10 mph.

20

Using StructureMaps with mapping cards

StructureMap allows you to maintain full chart capability and can be used
with embedded cartography as well as Navionics, Insight and other third­party charting cards compatible with HDS units. To view StructureMap data
with other mapping card data on an HDS-8 or HDS-10, place the mapping
card in one card slot and the SD card with the StructureMap le in the other
slot.
If you have an HDS-5 or HDS-7, copy the StructureMap (.smf ) les to the
units internal memory to view StructureMap data with data from another
mapping card. We recommend only adding StructureMap (.smf) les of one
lake at a time to the internal memory due to limited space. You should keep
copies of StructureMap (.smf ) les on an external SD card.

Copying StructureMap (.smf) les from SD to internal memory

Access les Copy StructureMap

(.smf ) le from card

Place le into sonar logs

Refer to your operation manual for more information about copying les.

Show StructureMap (.smf) les

You can view StructureMap (.smf) les from the Files menu, which allows you
to quickly see what area each StructureMap le covers.

Viewing StructureMap (.smf) les

Select StructureMap

(.smf) le

Select Show StructureMap appears

on the screen

21

Accessing Structure Options

Structure options:

• Range — Adjusts the width of the sidescan history trail. The greater

the range setting, the wider the StructureMap history trail; Lower
range settings reduce the width of the history trail.

• Transparency — Increases/decreases the visibility of Structure
overlay on top of the map. This is helpful when using marine map­ping cards.

•

Minimum Transparency Maximum Transparency

As you increase Structure overlay Transparency, you will be able to

see more marine card map data through the Structure overlay.

• Palette — Used to select a color scheme that allows the Structure­map detail to appear more clearly on the underlying chart.

• Contrast — Adjusts the brightness ratio between light and dark areas

on the screen, making it easier to distinguish suspended objects from
the background.

• Noise Rejection — Monitors the eects noise (boat pumps, water

conditions, engine ignition systems, etc.) has on your display, and
then lters out undesired signals.

• Source — Selects StructureMap Source, Live mode or Saved mode

22

23

24

Accessory Ordering Information

store.navico.com/lowrance is the accessory source for sonar and GPS products
manufactured by Lowrance Electronics. To order Lowrance accessories, please contact:

1) Your local marine dealer or consumer electronics store. To locate a Lowrance dealer,
visit the web site, www.lowrance.com, and look for the Dealer Locator. To locate an Eagle
dealer, visit the web site, www.eaglesonar.com, and look for the Dealer Locator. Or, consult
your telephone directory for listings.

2) U.S. customers visit store.navico.com/lowrance.

3) Canadian customers: Lowrance/Eagle Canada, 919 Matheson Blvd. E. Mississauga, On-

tario L4W2R7 or fax [phone].
Call toll free in Canada, 800-661-3983, or dial 905 629-1614 (not toll free), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time, M-F.

*988-10289-001*

© Copyright 2012

All Rights Reserved
Navico Holding AS