User manual LOWRANCE LMS-334C IGPS - Operation Instruction

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. 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 i 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 ii 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 iii 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 iv 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 v 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. vi 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 figured 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!) 1 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 onepage 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 Operations. 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 con2 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 LMS339cDF iGPS General Display:............................ 5.0" (12.7 cm) diagonal; 256-color SolarMAXTM 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 compatible). 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 3 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 included with LMS-339cDF.) GPS Receiver/antenna:............Internal; 12 parallel channel NMEA 2000ready 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. 4 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 storage 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 NAvigation and Ranging, a technology developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. 5 (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 6 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 MapCre7 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. 8 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 9 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. 10 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, reverse, 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: 11 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." 12 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 trans13 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 sealant/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 14 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. Deadrise less than 10° Strakes Pad 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. 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 Poor location Good location Good location Poor angle Good and poor transducer locations. 15 Transom Transom Transducer centerline Hull bottom Hull bottom 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 16 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. 17 Dot 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. Alignment letters Alignment positions Transducer bracket Insert and align ratchets. Transducer bracket Transducer Transducer Ratchet Ratchet Add ratchets to bracket and transducer. 18 2. Aligning the transducer on the transom. A. One-piece bracket: Slide the transducer between the two ratchets. 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. Ratchets 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. Lock washer Nut Flat washer Flat washer Bolt Assemble transducer and bracket. 19 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. Nut Metal washer Rubber washers Bolt Metal washer 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). 20 Transom Transom 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. Bottom of hull Flat-bottom hull Deep-"vee" hull Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach transducer to transom. Rear view of dual-frequency Skimmer shown. 21 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.) Bolt Internal tooth washer Nut TMB-S bracket Flat washer 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. 22 3. Route the transducer cable alongside the trolling motor shaft. Use plastic ties (not included) to attach the transducer cable to the trolling motor shaft. Make sure there is enough slack in the cable for the motor to turn freely. Route the cable to the sonar unit and the transducer is ready for use. Transducer mounted on trolling motor, side view. Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches If you do not get good fish arches on your display, it could be because the transducer is not parallel with the ground when the boat is at rest in the water or at slow trolling speeds. If the arch slopes up ­ but not back down ­ then the front of the transducer is too high and needs to be lowered. If only the back half of the arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised. Partial fish arches Transducer aimed too far back Transducer aimed too far forward Full fish arch Proper transducer angle Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches. 23 NOTE: Periodically wash the transducer's face with soap and water to remove any oil film. Oil and dirt on the face will reduce the sensitivity or may even prevent operation. Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation Hulls With Flotation Materials The transducer installation inside a fiberglass hull must be in an area that does not have air bubbles in the resin or separated fiberglass layers. The sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. A successful transducer installation can be made on hulls with flotation materials (such as plywood, balsa wood or foam) between layers of fiberglass if the material is removed from the chosen area. See the figure below. WARNING: Do not remove any material from your inner hull unless you know the hull's composition. Careless grinding or cutting on your hull can result in damage that could sink your boat. Contact your boat dealer or manufacturer to confirm your hull specifications. Fill with resin Fill with resin Flotation material Inner hull Epoxy to hull first Outer hull Epoxy the transducer to a solid portion of the hull. For example, some (but not all) manufacturers use a layer of fiberglass, then a core of balsa wood, finishing with an outer layer of fiberglass. Removing the inner layer of fiberglass and the balsa wood core exposes the outer layer of fiberglass. The transducer can then be epoxied directly to the outer layer of fiberglass. After the epoxy cures for 24 hours, fill the remaining space with polyester resin. When the job is finished, the hull is watertight and structurally sound. Remember, the sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglass or the epoxy will reduce or eliminate the sonar signals. Testing Determines Best Location Ideally, the shoot-thru transducer should be installed as close to the transom as possible, close to the centerline. This will give you the best performance during high speed maneuvers. 24 Transducer location (high speed) Transducer location (trolling speed) Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for high speed or trolling speed operation. To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these testing procedures: (You may need a helper to complete these steps.) 1. Anchor the boat in about 30 feet of water. Add a little water to the sump of the boat. Plug the transducer into the sonar unit, turn it on, then hold the transducer over the side of the boat in the water. Adjust the sensitivity and range controls until a second bottom echo is seen on the display. (You'll need to turn off Auto Sensitivity, Auto Depth Range and ASP. Try a range setting that is two to three times the water depth. The harder (more rocky) the bottom, the easier it will be to get a second bottom signal.) Don't touch the controls once they've been set. True bottom Second bottom Manual range setting Example of a second bottom signal. Unit is in 30 feet of water with range set at 80 feet and sensitivity set at 87 percent. 2. Next, take the transducer out of the water and place it in the water in the sump of the boat, face down. Notice how the signal strength decreases. The second bottom signal will probably disappear and the bottom signal intensity will likely decrease. 25 3. Now move the transducer around to find the best location with the strongest possible bottom signal. If you find a spot with an acceptable bottom signal, mark the location and move on to step 4. If you can't get an acceptable bottom signal, try turning up the sensitivity by three or five keystrokes and then move the transducer around once more. If you find a spot that works, mark it and move on to step 4. If you have to turn up sensitivity by more than five keystrokes to get a good signal, the transducer should be mounted on the outside of the hull. This is especially true if you have to turn sensitivity all the way up to get a decent bottom signal. 4. Most people can get good results by following steps 1 through 3, so this step is optional. If you want to make an extra effort to be absolutely sure that your selected location will work under all conditions, make a test run with the boat on plane and observe the bottom signal. You'll need to figure some way to prop the transducer into position while you make your test run. (A brick or two might be sufficient to hold it in place.) 5. When you're satisfied with a location, mark it and proceed with the installation. Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation If you are installing the transducer on a hull with floatation material sandwiched within the hull, refer to the text "Hulls With Flotation Materials" beginning on page 24. 1. Make sure the area is clean, dry and free of oil or grease, then sand both the inside surface of the hull and the face of the transducer with 100 grit sandpaper. The sanded hull area should be about 1-1/2 times the diameter of the transducer. The surface of the hull must be flat so the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull prior to bonding. After sanding, clean the hull and transducer with rubbing alcohol to remove any sanding debris. 26 Spread epoxy here Sand this surface (unit's face) Orient the Skimmer with the nose facing the bow of the boat. To bow Epoxy transducer to hull. WARNING: Use only the epoxy available from LEI. It has been formulated to work with these installation procedures. Other epoxy types may be too thin or may not cure to the right consistency for optimum transducer performance. 2. The epoxy consists of the epoxy itself and a hardener. Remove the two compounds from the package and place them on the paper plate. Thoroughly stir the two compounds together until the mixture has a uniform color and consistency. Do not mix too fast or bubbles will form in the epoxy. After mixing, you have 20 minutes to complete the installation before the epoxy becomes unworkable. Spread a thin layer of epoxy (about 1/16" or 1.5 mm thick) on the face of the transducer as shown in the previous figure. Make sure there are no air pockets in the epoxy layer! Then, apply the remaining epoxy to the sanded area on the hull. 3. Press the transducer into the epoxy, twisting and turning it to force any air bubbles out from under the transducer face. Stop pressing when you bottom out on the hull. When you're finished, the face of the transducer should be parallel with the hull, with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer. 4. Apply a weight, such as a brick, to hold the transducer in place while the epoxy cures. Be careful not to bump the transducer while the epoxy is wet. Leave the weight in place for a minimum of three hours. Allow the epoxy to cure for 24 hours before moving the boat. 5. After the epoxy has cured, route the cable to the sonar unit and it's ready to use. 27 Speed/Temperature Sensors Optional Speed Sensor Installation All the units in this series can display speed and distance traveled, but only the LMS-339cDF iGPS comes packed with a speed sensor. If you want to purchase an optional additional sensor for your unit, refer to the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. The following instructions describe how to install the speed sensor. Recommended tools for this job include: drill, 7/8" drill bit, 1/8" drill bit for pilot holes, screwdriver. Required supplies for this job include: four #8 stainless steel wood screws (3/4" long), high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant. First find a location on the boat's transom where the water flow is smoothest. Don't mount the sensor behind strakes or ribs. These will disturb the water flow to the speed sensor. Make sure the sensor will remain in the water when the boat is on plane. Also make sure the location doesn't interfere with the boat's trailer. Typically, the sensor is mounted about one foot to the side of the transom's centerline. Once you've determined the proper location for the unit, place the sensor on the transom. The bottom of the bracket should be flush with the hull's bottom. Using the sensor as a template, mark the hull for the screws' pilot holes. Drill four 1/8" holes, one in each end of the slots. Mount the sensor to the hull using #8 stainless steel wood screws (not included). Use a high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant to seal the screws. Make sure the sensor is flush with the bottom of the hull and tighten the screws. Good location Stern view showing good location for mounting sensor on transom. 28 Transom Bottom of hull Speed sensor mounting configuration: side view (left) and rear view (right.) Bottom of hull If the base of the transom has a radius, fill the gap between the transom and the sensor with the sealant compound. This will help ensure a smooth water flow. Route the sensor's cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the required hole size is 7/8". 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 screws. The sensor is now ready for use. Connect the sensor to the sonar socket on the back of your unit and connect the transducer to the speed sensor's socket. If you have any questions concerning the installation of the sensor, please contact your local boat dealer. Power Connections Your unit comes with a power/data cable that splits into three ends, each with several exposed wires (shown in the following figure). The end with 4 wires (blue, yellow, orange and shield) is a Data cable that connects to a NMEA 0183 interface. The end with three wires (red, black and shield) is a power cable that connects to a NMEA 2000 buss. (For more detailed information on NMEA 2000 or LowranceNET networks, see the NMEA 2000 Networks General Information booklet packed with your unit.) The thicker three-wire cable (red, black and white) is the Power Supply for your unit (and optional external speaker connection for some units). Depending on your configuration, you may not use all of the wires. The following segments include instructions for installing all the unit's wires. 29 Power Supply wires: red, black and white To unit NMEA 2000 Power wires: red, black and shield Data Cable wires: blue, yellow, orange and shield The Power/Data cable for this unit. Caution All of the wires in the power/data cable have bare ends for easier installation. The bare ends on any unused wires could cause an electrical short if left exposed. To prevent this, you should cover the individual wire ends ­ either by capping them with wire nuts or wrapping them with electrical tape. (You should cut off the bare wire before taping off the ends.) Powering a NMEA 2000 Buss (NMEA 2000 Power cable) A NMEA 2000 buss must be connected to a 12-volt DC power source to operate. If you have a pre-existing NMEA 2000 installation, it may already be connected to another power source. If your NMEA 2000 buss is already powered, you can ignore the NMEA 2000 Power cable. Never attach two power sources to a single NMEA 2000 buss. If you need to power a NMEA 2000 buss, attach the NMEA 2000 Power cable to an accessory power switch. The cable's red wire should be attached (with the provided 3-amp fuse) to the positive terminal and the cable's black and shield wires should both be attached to the negative terminal. You can attach the NMEA 2000 power cable directly to the boat's battery, but you must use the fuse and install an on-off switch so you can shut off power to the network. If a NMEA 2000 power cable is connected directly to a battery, the NMEA 2000 network will continuously draw power and drain the battery, even though the boat, your unit and other NMEA 2000 devices are turned off. Caution: Never connect a NMEA 2000 power cable to an un-switched power supply. Failure to use a power switch will allow the NMEA 2000 network to drain the boat's battery when the system is not in use! When you are not using the network, you should always shut the power off. 30 Powering the Unit (Power Supply cable ­ red and black wires) The unit works from a 12-volt battery system. For the best results, attach the unit power cable directly to the battery. You can attach the power cable to an accessory or power buss, but you may have problems with electrical interference. Therefore, it's safer to go ahead and attach the power cable directly to the battery. CAUTION: When using the unit in a saltwater environment, we strongly recommend that you shut off the power supply to the unit power cable when the unit is not in use. When the unit is turned off but still connected to a power supply, electrolysis can occur in the power cable plug. This may result in corrosion of the plug body along with the electrical contacts in the cable and the unit's power socket. In saltwater environments we recommend you connect the unit power cable to the auxiliary power switch included in most boat designs. If that results in electrical interference, or if such a switch is not available, we recommend connecting direct to the battery and installing an inline switch. This will let you shut off power to the power cable when the unit is not in use. When you are not using the unit, you should always shut off power to the power cable, especially when the power cable is disconnected from the unit. If possible, keep the power cable away from other boat wiring, especially the engine's wires. This will provide the best isolation from electrical noise. If the cable is not long enough, splice #18 gauge wire onto it. The power cable has two wires, red and black. Red is the positive lead, black is negative or ground. (There is also a white wire to power an optional external speaker for some units.) Make sure to attach the in-line fuse holder to the red lead as close to the power source as possible. For example, if you have to extend the power cable to the battery or power buss, attach one end of the fuse holder directly to the battery or power buss. This will protect both the unit and the power cable in the event of a short. It uses a 3-amp fuse. 31 To unit Mandatory network power-off switch External speaker wire (not used by this unit) Black wire Red wire with 3 amp fuse To power a NMEA 2000 buss, also connect NMEA 2000 Power cable to a switched power source. Optional power-off switch for saltwater installations 12 volt battery Data Cable NMEA 2000 Power Cable Power connections for LMS-334c iGPS and LMS-339cDF iGPS units. NOTE: If you are powering a NMEA 2000 buss, you will attach both the NMEA 2000 Power cable and the unit's Power Supply cable to an electric power source. WARNING: This product must be independently fused with the enclosed 3-amp fuse (or equivalent), even if you connect to a fused accessory or power buss. If a malfunction happens inside the unit, extensive damage can occur if the enclosed fuse is not used. As with all electrical devices, this unit could be damaged to a point that it is unrepairable and could even cause harm to the user when not properly fused. CAUTION: Do not use this product without a 3-amp fuse wired into the power cables! Failure to use a 3-amp fuse will void your warranty. This unit has reverse polarity protection. No damage will occur if the power wires are reversed. However, the unit will not work until the wires are attached correctly. GPS Internal Antenna The unit has a built-in 12-parallel channel GPS + WAAS antenna. NMEA 2000 Cable Connections NMEA 2000 is a new buss network specifically designed for boats. This is a very young industry standard and, at the time of printing, few boats being built now have a NMEA 2000 buss installed. Over the next few 32 years, however, NMEA 2000 will become much more common. To help you get the most out of this technology, your Lowrance unit is designed to work with a NMEA 2000 network. You can install a network yourself using LowranceNET components and devices. To NMEA 2000 network port To unit's Network socket Lowrance unit direct connection to NMEA 2000 buss. Connecting to a NMEA 2000 Network Your unit can be connected to a NMEA 2000 buss, receiving sensor information from any Lowrance units attached to the buss. Contact LEI Extras (look inside back cover for accessory ordering information) for a NMEA 2000 buss adapter cable if you would like to do this. You can connect the unit directly to a network port. To do so, attach the adapter cable's manual locking collar connector to the Network port on the back of the sonar unit and attach the other end to an available port on the NMEA 2000 buss. As soon as the unit is connected to the network, it will begin receiving shared information. Please note the buss must be powered to operate. (See instructions in this section on powering a NMEA 2000 buss.) IMPORTANT NOTE: The data from your internal GPS receiver will not be transmitted across the LowranceNET NMEA 2000 network. You must have an LGC-2000 GPS antenna module in the network for that to happen. Installation instructions for the LGC2000 and other electronic probe sensors, like the EP-10 Fuel Flow and EP-15 Fluid Level sensor are available in the document "Instructions for Using LowranceNET NMEA 2000 Devices with LMS-334, LMS-339 and GlobalMap 3600." If the document is missing, contact customer service or download it free at www.lowrance.com. NMEA 0183 Wiring (Data cable) To exchange NMEA 0183 data, this unit has one NMEA 0183 version 2.0 communication port. Com port one (Com-1) can be used to receive NMEA 0183 format GPS data. The com port can also transmit NMEA 0183 format GPS data to another device. The four wires for the com port are combined with the Power Supply cable and NMEA 2000 Power cable to form the power/data cable (shown earlier). Com-1 uses the yellow wire to transmit, the orange wire to receive and the shield wire for signal ground. Your unit does not use the blue wire. 33 Orange (Receive) Com-1 To unit Shield (Ground) NMEA Transmit Ground To Other GPS Receiver Com-1 wiring to receive NMEA position information from some other GPS receiver. Yellow (Transmit) Com-1 To unit Shield (Ground) NMEA Receive Ground To Other Device Com-1 wiring to transmit NMEA position information to another NMEA-compatible device. 34 Sonar socket Power/Data socket Network socket NMEA 0183 Data cable (four wires) Optional speed sensor NMEA 2000 Power cable Power Supply cable Transducer LMS-334c iGPS and LMS-339cDF iGPS cable connections. Mounting the Unit: Bracket or Portable You can install the sonar unit on the top of a dash with the supplied gimbal bracket. It can also be mounted on a portable power supply. If you use the supplied bracket, you may be interested in the optional R-A-M bracket mounting system. This converts the unit's gimbal bracket to a swivel mount. 35 Optional R-A-M mounting system. Bracket Installation Mount the unit in a convenient location, provided there is clearance behind the unit when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. This must be a location with a clear view of the sky, so the internal GPS antenna can lock-on to satellite signals. Make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the power and transducer cables. Holes in the bracket's base allow wood screw or through-bolt mounting. You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of thin fiberglass panels to reinforce the panel and secure the mounting hardware. Front Install the gimbal bracket. Position the bracket so the arms slope toward the front of your unit. 36 Drill a 1-inch (25.4 mm) hole in the dash for the power and transducer cables. The best location for this hole is immediately under the gimbal bracket location. This way, the bracket can be installed so that it covers the hole, holds the cables in position and results in a neat installation. Some customers prefer to mount the bracket to the side of the cable hole. It's a matter of personal preference. 72.9 [2.87] 23.4 [0.92] 173.9 [6.85] 137.9 [5.43] 157.9 [6.22] Millimeter [Inch] 56.9 [2.24] Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the unit when mounted on gimbal bracket. Pass the power cable's bare-wire end down though the hole from the top. If you want, you can fill in the hole around the cables with a good marine sealant. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening.) No matter what type of installation you prefer, be sure to leave enough slack in the cables to allow tilting or swiveling the unit. If you choose to fill in the hole, be sure to position the cables against the rear edge of the hole as you apply the fill material. Before positioning the bracket, be sure to hold the cables against the rear edge of the hole. Then, slide the bracket over the hole and butt the rear of the bracket base firmly against the cables, pinning them in place against the side of the hole. Finally, fasten the bracket to the dash. Attach the unit to the gimbal bracket using the supplied gimbal knobs and washers. 37 Portable Installation Like many Lowrance products, this unit is capable of portable operation by using an optional portable power pack (PPP). The power pack and an optional portable transducer expand the uses for your sonar unit. The PPP makes it easy to use the unit on your boat or take it to the dock, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second sonar in a friend's boat. Most LEI portable power packs can be used with eight "D" cell alkaline batteries. Some use an optional sealed, rechargeable battery. For information on the PPP for your unit, see the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. "D" cell battery Install batteries in typical portable power pack. MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation Your unit uses a MultiMedia Card to store information, such as sonar logs, custom maps, waypoints, trails and other GPS data. The unit can also use Secure Digital cards (SD card) to store data. NOTE: Throughout this manual, we will use the term MMC, but just remember your unit can use an MMC or SD card to store data. Both of these solid-state flash memory devices are about the size of a postage stamp. An SD card is slightly thicker than an MMC. As this manual went to press, MMCs were available in storage capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB and 128 MB. SD cards were available in capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB and 2 GB. Additional MMC cards are available from LEI Extras. See ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. MMCs and SD cards are also available at many camera and consumer electronics stores. 38 The MMC slot is located in a compartment on the front of the case. The compartment door is located at the lower right corner. The following figure shows a close-up with the door opened. Thumb screw Insert card face up, this way Memory card compartment with a 16 MB MMC card installed. To remove an MMC 1. Open the card compartment door by unscrewing the thumb screw. The screw should only be finger tight. If it was over-tightened, use a thumbnail, a coin or a screwdriver to open the door. 2. Just press a finger against the label of the MMC and drag it from the slot. 3. Close the compartment door and fasten the thumb screw finger tight. To add an MMC or SD Card 1. Open the card compartment door. 2. Grasp the bottom of the MMC and push the top of the card into the slot. Once the card is started, use your fingernails to slide it the rest of the way to the left, until it is firmly seated in the slot. 3. Close the compartment door and fasten the thumb screw finger tight. Other Accessories Other accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and MapCreateTM 6 custom mapping software for your computer. LEI offers several specialty plug-&-play map cards, including lake contour maps and marine coastal charts. A variety of LowranceNET NMEA 2000 electronic probe sensors and digital gauges are also available. 39 MapCreateTM 6 CD-ROM (left). MMC card reader for USB ports (right). Face Cover A white protective cover that snaps on and off the front of the unit is available. This cover is intended for use when the vehicle is idle. WARNING: When the unit is mounted in an unprotected area, such as an open boat cockpit, the protective face cover must be removed when the vehicle is moving at high speed. This includes towing a boat on a trailer at highway speeds. Otherwise, wind blast can pop off the cover. NOTE: When you first turn on the unit, the Map Page appears. If you would rather start learning about GPS operation, jump to Sec. 6, Basic GPS Operations. Remember: you don't need to read this manual from cover-to-cover to get going. We designed it so you can skip around to the section you want to read. 40 Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation This section addresses the unit's basic sonar operations. The instructions in Sec. 3 are in chronological order. Sec. 4, Sonar Options & Other Features, will discuss more advanced functions and utilities. Before you turn on the sonar unit, it is a good idea to learn about the different keys, the Main Menu, the four Page screens and how they all work together. BUT, if you just can't wait to get on the water, turn to the one-page Quick Reference on page 49. Keyboard 4 9 7 6 1 8 2 3 5 MMC slot access door LMS-339cDF iGPS sonar unit showing map with sonar split screen, keyboard and access door for the MMC slot. 1. PWR/LIGHT ­ The PWR key turns the unit on and off and activates the backlight. 2. PAGES ­ The Pages key helps switch the unit between four page screens: Satellite Status Page, Navigation Page, Map Page and Sonar Page. 3. MENU ­ The Menu key is used to show menus and submenus. It also gives access to search functions for streets, intersections, addresses and highway exits. 41 4. ARROW KEYS ­ The arrow keys are used to navigate through menus, make menu selections, enter data and move around the map. 5. ENT/ICONS ­ The Enter key allows you to save data, accept values, execute menu commands and create event marker icons. 6. EXIT ­ The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear data or close a menu. 7. WPT ­ The Waypoint key is used to access, save and search for waypoints. It also launches the Point-of-Interest (POI) search menus and is involved in some navigation functions. 8. ZOUT ­ The Zoom Out key lets you zoom out the screen. On the Sonar Page, it returns you to a full sonar chart display. On the Map Page, it lets you see a larger geographic area on the map, but with less detail. 9. ZIN ­ The Zoom In key lets you zoom in the screen. On the Sonar Page, it enlarges fish signals and bottom detail. On the Map Page, zooming in lets you see greater detail in a smaller geographic area on the map. Power/lights on and off To turn on the unit, press PWR. As the unit powers up, the Map Page is displayed first. To switch to the Sonar Page, press PAGES| to SONAR|EXIT. To turn on the backlight, press PWR again. The unit has three backlight levels. Repeatedly pressing PWR will cycle through the backlight settings and turn off the backlight. Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the PWR key for 3 seconds. Main Menu The unit has a Main Menu, which contains function and setup option commands. The instructions in this section will deal only with sonar functions, the basic commands that make the unit show sonar signals on your screen. This sonar unit will work fine right out of the box with the factory default settings. But, if you want to learn about the various sonar options, see Sec. 4, Sonar Options & Other Features. (For general system setup and GPS options, see Sec. 8, System Setup and GPS Setup Options.) You can access the Main Menu from any of the four Page screens by pressing MENU|MENU. To clear the menu screen and return to the page display, press EXIT. (Remember, our text style for "MENU|MENU" means "press the Menu key twice." See a full explanation of our instruction text formatting on pages 11, "How to use this manual." 42