User manual LOWRANCE X52 - Operation Instruction

Pub. 988-0151-211 www.lowrance.com X52 and X59DF Fish-Finding & Depth-Sounding Sonars Installation and Operation Instructions Copyright © 2004 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Lowrance® is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Lowrance. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. 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. For free owner's manuals and the most current information on this product, its operation and accessories, visit our web site: www.lowrance.com Lowrance Electronics Inc. 12000 E. Skelly Dr. Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486 Printed in USA. Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................... i Capabilities and Specifications: X52 and X59DF.............................. 1 Installation & Accessories............................................................. 3 Preparations........................................................................................ 3 Transducer Installation...................................................................... 3 Recommended Tools and supplies.................................................. 4 Selecting a Transducer Location .................................................... 4 How low should you go? .................................................................. 5 Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ....................................... 6 Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ............................. 7 Trolling Motor Bracket Installation................................................. 13 Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .................................... 14 Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation ....................................................... 15 Testing Determines Best Location ............................................... 16 Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ....................................................... 17 Speed/Temperature Sensors............................................................. 19 Optional Temperature Sensor...................................................... 19 Optional Speed Sensor Installation ............................................. 19 Power Connections............................................................................ 20 Powering a NMEA 2000 Buss (NMEA 2000 Power cable).......... 21 Powering Your Unit ...................................................................... 21 NMEA 2000 Cable Connections ....................................................... 24 NMEA 0183 Cable Connections ....................................................... 24 Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable .......................... 25 Other Accessories.............................................................................. 29 Basic Sonar Operation ................................................................. 31 KEYBOARD BASICS ....................................................................... 31 Memory.............................................................................................. 32 Menus ................................................................................................ 32 Main Menu .................................................................................... 32 Sonar Menu ................................................................................... 34 Pages ................................................................................................. 35 Basic Sonar Quick Reference ........................................................... 38 Sonar Operations .............................................................................. 39 Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart .............................................. 41 Other Free Training Aids ............................................................. 42 Advanced Sonar Options & Other Features............................ 43 ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ............................................... 43 Alarms ............................................................................................... 44 Depth Alarms ................................................................................ 44 Fish Alarm..................................................................................... 45 i Backlight Level ................................................................................. 46 Calibrate Speed................................................................................. 46 Chart Speed....................................................................................... 46 Grayline ........................................................................................... 47 Contrast............................................................................................. 48 Depth Cursor..................................................................................... 49 Depth Range - Automatic ................................................................. 50 Depth Range - Manual ..................................................................... 50 Depth Range - Upper and Lower Limits ......................................... 51 To change the upper and lower limits:......................................... 51 To turn off upper and lower limits: .............................................. 52 FasTrack ........................................................................................ 52 Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths) ............................................... 52 FishTrack ....................................................................................... 53 Overlay Data ..................................................................................... 54 Ping Speed & HyperScroll............................................................. 56 To change Ping Speed: .................................................................. 57 To adjust Sensitivity: .................................................................... 57 To turn off HyperScroll:................................................................ 57 Pop-up Help....................................................................................... 58 Reset Options .................................................................................... 58 Reset Water Distance ....................................................................... 59 Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.......................................................... 59 To turn Auto Sensitivity back on: ................................................ 61 Set Keel Offset .................................................................................. 61 Set Language .................................................................................... 62 Software Version Information.......................................................... 62 Sonar Chart Mode............................................................................. 63 Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ................................... 63 Full Sonar Chart ........................................................................... 63 Split Zoom Sonar Chart ................................................................ 64 Digital Data/Chart ........................................................................ 65 Flasher........................................................................................... 66 Sonar Simulator................................................................................ 66 Stop Chart ......................................................................................... 66 Surface Clarity .................................................................................. 67 Units of Measure............................................................................... 68 Zoom Pan........................................................................................... 70 Troubleshooting ............................................................................ 71 Index................................................................................................. 75 ii Introduction Thank you for buying a Lowrance sonar! Your unit is a high-quality sonar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Lowrance sonars have an automatic mode that finds and displays the bottom, fish, underwater structure and more ­ right out of the box. All you have to do is press the on (PWR) key. However, if you want to fine-tune your unit, press the MENU key. The X52 and X59DF have several powerful features you can control by scrolling through easy-to-use menus with the arrow and menu keys. To get started with your Lowrance sonar, first read the installation section. It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit, the transducer and any optional accessories, such as a speed sensor. Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum performance of your Lowrance sonar. Improper installation can cause problems down the road, especially if the transducer is badly mounted. After you've read the installation instructions, install the unit and accessories. Then, read the rest of the manual. The more you know about your sonar, the better it will work for you. Take advantage of the Simulator feature. It allows you to practice operating your sonar before you get it in the water. And when you finally head for your favorite fishing hole, take this manual along for reference. Capabilities and Specifications: X52 and X59DF General Case size:......................... 5.2" H x 5.4" W x 2.6" D (13.2 cm H x 13.6 cm W x 6.6 cm D) sealed, waterproof; suitable for saltwater use. Display:............................ High-contrast Film SuperTwist LCD; 4.0" (10.2 cm) diagonal viewing area. Resolution:...................... 240 pixels (vert.) x 160 pixel (horiz.) resolution; 38,400 total pixels Backlighting:.................. White LED backlit screen and keypad for night use. Input power:................... 10 to 17 volts DC. Current drain: ............... 300 ma lights off; 400 ma lights on. Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar settings when unit is turned off. 1 Sonar Frequency:...................... 200 kHz (or 50/200 kHz ­ X59DF only). Transducers: .................. A dual-frequency Skimmer transducer comes packed with the X59DF. It has 35°/12° cone angles. Single frequency models for X52 with a 20° cone angle are sold separately. Both models offer a wide fish detection area of up to 60º with high sensitivity settings. Transmitter: ................... 1500 watts peak-to-peak power (typical); 188 watts RMS power (typical). Sonar sounding depth capability: ........... 800 feet (244 meters) at 200 kHz; 1500 feet (450 meters) at 50 kHz (X59DF only). 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 digital readout. Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish. Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates. Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes. Split-screen zoom:......... Yes. Surface water temp: ..... Yes, with optional external temperature sensor, combo speed/temp sensor or transducer with built-in temp. Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor or combo speed/temp sensor. NOTICE! The storage temperature 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 inside the manual's back cover. 2 Installation & Accessories Preparations You can install the sonar system 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 vehicle or vessel! 1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power. This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration. 2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable route. 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. 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 to the unit and mount the sonar 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. Please read all instructions before proceeding with any installation. Your Skimmer transducer typically comes packaged with a one-piece stainless steel bracket for mounting it to the transom of your boat. The optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap. These are "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help prevent damage if the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the transducer 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. Remember, the transducer location and installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation. 3 Recommended Tools and supplies If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you will need a 5/8" drill bit. (If you intend to install an additional speed or temp sensor and route its cable through the same hole in the transom, you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit to accommodate all the cables.) NOTE: The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies that you must provide (supplies listed here are not included): Single-frequency transom installations Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: none. 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. 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 page 20). 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 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. 4 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 Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. 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 Poor angle Good location Good and poor transducer locations. 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. 5 Transom Transom Transducer centerline Hull bottom Hull bottom Align transducer centerline with hull bottom. A dual frequency transducer is shown at left and a single frequency transducer at right. 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 wish, 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 actually passes through the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called simply "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 direct 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 knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer. However, 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. 6 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 at the end 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. 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 7 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 sterndrive transoms have a 14° angle. Alignment letters Alignment positions Transducer Transducer bracket Insert and align ratchets. Transducer bracket Transducer Ratchet Ratchet Add ratchets to bracket and transducer. 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 8 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. 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. 9 Lock washer Bolt Nut Flat washer Flat washer Assemble transducer and bracket. 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 Metal washer Bolt 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. 10 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). Transom Transom Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes. Side view shown at left and seen from above at 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 at left and seen from above at 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 11 bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the sealant/adhesive 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. 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 depend on the connector on the end of your transducer's cable. If the transducer has a manual locking collar connector, you will need to drill a 1" hole. If it has a push-on selfsealing connector, you will need to drill a 5/8" hole. 12 Manual locking collar connector requires a 1" hole. Push-on self-sealing connector requires a 5/8" hole. 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/adhesive 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 1. Attach the 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.) Internal tooth washer Bolt 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. 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. 13 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. 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. 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 14 the arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised. 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 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. 15 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. 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. (The transducer face is shown in the 16 figure on the following page.) Notice how the signal strength decreases. The second bottom signal will probably disappear and the bottom signal intensity will likely decrease. 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 flotation material sandwiched within the hull, refer to the subsection "Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation," beginning on page 15. 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. 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. 17 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. 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. 18 Speed/Temperature Sensors Optional Temperature Sensor All the units in this series can display water temperature from a single analog sensor. Your unit comes packed with a transducer with a temp sensor built into it. If you wish to purchase an optional additional sensor for your unit, refer to the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. However, please note that the Sonar socket on your unit is designed to read only one temp sensor. Since your transducer contains a built-in temp sensor, attaching the optional temp sensor to your unit's Sonar socket will override the temperature information provided by the transducer's temp sensor. Your unit will only display the temperature provided by the optional sensor. Optional Speed Sensor Installation All the units in this series can display speed and distance traveled, but only the X59DF comes packed with a speed sensor. If you wish 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. 19 Good location Stern view showing good location for mounting sensor on transom. 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. 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 cable label says "RS-232 COMM". The end with three wires (red, black and shield) is a power cable that supports a NMEA 2000 buss; the cable label says "NMEA 20 2000 Power". The thicker three-wire cable (red, black and white) is the Power Supply for your unit (and optional external speaker connection for some units); it has no label on the cable. To unit Power Supply wires: red, black and white Blue connector NMEA 2000 Power wires: red, black and shield Data Cable wires: blue, yellow, orange and shield The Power/Data cable for this unit. Depending on your configuration, you may not use all of these wires. (For example, many units cannot operate an optional external speaker, so the white wire on the Power Supply cable isn't functional.) The following segments include instructions for installing all the wires that you will use with this unit. Powering a NMEA 2000 Buss (NMEA 2000 Power cable) A NMEA 2000 buss must be connected to a 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 do need to power your NMEA 2000 buss, attach the NMEA 2000 Power cable to your boat's battery just as indicated in the following segment for connecting your unit's Power Supply cable. The NMEA 2000 Power cable's red wire should be attached (with provided 3-amp fuse) to the boat battery's positive terminal, and the NMEA 2000 Power cable's black and shield wires should both be attached to the battery's negative terminal. Powering Your Unit (Power Supply cable ­ red and black wires) The unit works from a 12-volt battery system. For the best results, attach the power cable directly to the battery. You can attach the power cable to an accessory or power buss, however you may have problems 21 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 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 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. This unit does not use a speaker, so to prevent an electrical short, we recommend capping the exposed speaker wire end with a wire nut or electrical tape) Make sure to attach the inline 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. 22 Blue connector White external speaker wire (not used by this unit) To unit Black wire Red wire with 3 amp fuse To power a NMEA 2000 buss, also connect NMEA 2000 Power cable to the boat's battery. Optional power off switch for saltwater installations 12 volt battery NMEA 0183 Data Cable NMEA 2000 Power Cable Power connections for the units in this series. NOTES: If you're powering a NMEA 2000 buss, you will attach both the NMEA 2000 Power cable and the unit's Power Supply cable to the boat's battery. To attach the NMEA 2000 Power cable, connect the red wire to battery's + and black and shield wires to battery's ­. If you are not powering a NMEA 2000 buss, we recommend capping all unused, exposed wire ends with wire nuts or electrical tape and tucking the excess cable out of the way. This will prevent an electrical short. 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 cable! Failure to use a 3-amp fuse will void your warranty. 23 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. An optional 8-foot, CA-4 external power cable with a cigarette lighter adapter is available from Lowrance. 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 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 as soon as it becomes available. 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. Simply 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 shown in the following image. To NMEA 2000 network port To sonar unit's Network socket Lowrance unit direct connection to NMEA 2000 buss. As soon as the unit is connected to the network, it will begin receiving shared information. Please note that the buss must be powered to operate. (For more on powering a NMEA 2000 buss, see the instructions earlier in this section.) NMEA 0183 Cable Connections NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic equipment. Your sonar unit cannot currently communicate with a NMEA 0183 network, so the Data cable wires will not be used. To prevent an electrical short, we recommend capping all unused, exposed wire ends with wire nuts or electrical tape and tucking the excess cable out of the way. 24 Sonar unit, rear view Sonar/sensor socket (blue socket nut) Power/Data socket (blue socket nut) Network socket (blue socket nut) All blue connectors Optional temp sensor NMEA 0183 data cable (unused) NMEA 2000 buss adapter cable Blue connector NMEA 2000 power cable Main power supply cable Optional speed sensor Skimmer transducer with built-in temp sensor To NMEA 2000 buss (network) Cable connections for this unit. Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable You can install the unit on the top of a dash with the supplied gimbal bracket. It can also be installed in the dash or mounted on a portable power supply. 25 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, which can be used on the dash or overhead mounting positions. Optional R-A-M mounting system. Bracket Installation Mount the unit in any convenient location, provided there is clearance behind the unit when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. You should also make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the power, transducer and data cables. (A drawing on the next page shows the dimensions of a gimbal-mounted unit.) 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. Orient the bracket so the arms slope toward the front of your unit. 26 Drill a 1-inch (25.4 mm) hole in the dash for the power, transducer and data 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, however, prefer to mount the bracket to the side of the cable hole -- it's a matter of personal preference. After drilling the hole, pass the transducer connector up through the hole from under the dash. Pass the power cable's bare-wire end down though the hole from the top. If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cables with a good marine caulking compound. (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. 136 [5.35] 61.3 [2.42] 23.8 [0.94] 132 [5.20] 147.4 [5.80] 66 [2.60] Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of X52 and X59DF sonar unit when mounted on gimbal bracket. Millimeter [Inch] 27 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, thus 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. In-Dash Installation You can mount the unit in the dash with an optional FM-4 In-Dash Adapter Kit. The kit includes mounting hardware, a template for cutting the hole and an instruction sheet, part 988-0147-44. 121 [4.76] Top 47 [1.85] In-Dash Template Millimeters [Inches] 112 [4.40] Hole diameter 3.5 [0.14] Cut on line ALWAYS VERIFY DIMENSIONS R 6.35 [0.25] 119 [4.68] In-dash mounting template for X52 and X59DF sonars, showing dimensions. NOTE: The figure above is not printed to scale. A scaled template is available for free download from our web site, www.lowrance.com. Portable Installation Like many Lowrance products, this sonar unit is capable of portable operation by using an optional portable power pack. The power pack and an optional portable transducer expand the uses for your sonar unit. The power pack makes it easy to use the unit on your boat or take 28 it to the dock, on a float tube, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second sonar in a friend's boat. Look inside the back cover of this manual for accessory ordering information. Other Accessories Two switch boxes are available for this unit. The SB-9BL transducer switch box switches two transducers to one sonar unit. The SB-10BL transducer switch box switches two sonar units to one transducer. If these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual. Visit our web site for a complete listing of all the available accessories for your unit. 29 Notes 30 Basic Sonar Operation KEYBOARD BASICS The unit sounds a tone when you press any key. This tells you the unit has accepted a command. Numbers in the photo correspond to key explanations below: 4 2 3 1 Lowrance X59DF Sonar, front view, showing screen and keyboard. 1. MENU/PWR (menu and power) This key appears in the manual text simply as MENU. Press this key to turn the unit on and off. While the unit is on, you can use this key to open the two major menus that access the many features that control the unit's operation. Press MENU once to access the Sonar Menu, or twice to access the Main Menu. NOTE: You must hold the MENU key down for a countdown of five in order to turn the unit off. 2. ENT/PAGES (enter and pages) This key appears in the manual text simply as ENT. When viewing a menu or adjusting a feature, use this key to select a highlighted option. When no menus are on the screen, pressing this key will make the unit cycle through the four Sonar Chart Display Options. 31 3. EXIT Press this key to clear menus from the screen and return to the Sonar Chart display. You will also use EXIT to cancel alarms, and to clear any information windows that may appear on the screen. 4. UP and DOWN ARROWS These keys appear in the manual text as or . Use these keys to move through the menu options and to adjust virtually every feature and function on the sonar unit. Memory This unit has permanent memory that saves all user settings, even when power is removed. It does not require, nor does it use an internal backup battery, so you never have to worry about replacement batteries. Menus Your sonar unit will work fine right out of the box with the factory default settings. You only need to learn a few basic functions to enhance your viewing. We'll discuss them briefly here, then talk about them and all the other commands in more detail in the next section, which begins on page 39. Your unit has two primary menus that control its operation. They are the Main Menu and the Sonar Menu. Main Menu The Main Menu contains some basic function commands and some setup option commands. You access the Main Menu by pressing MENU|MENU. You run a command by using or to highlight the command and then pressing ENT. To clear the Main 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 page 4, Instructions = Menu Sequences.) 32 Main Menu. Main Menu Commands There are four "basic" Main Menu commands that you'll really want to read more about. They are: · Screen commands (CONTRAST and BACKLIGHT LEVEL): change the appearance of the display screen. Use these commands to adjust how the screen looks under various lighting conditions. · Volume command: controls sound levels for key strokes and alarms. If you don't like to hear a beep each time you press a key, you can turn all sounds off by setting the volume to zero. Sound is especially useful when used with the Fish I.D. fish symbol feature and fish alarm feature. · Sonar Alarms command: turns alarms on or off and changes alarm thresholds. The fish alarm, used with Fish I.D., is the most popular use. It tells you when the sonar sees a fish. You can also set deep or shallow depth alarms. · Popup Help command: turns the pop-up help boxes on or off. When you select a menu command, these information boxes appear to tell you what the command does or how to use the command. The default setting is on, which is really handy while you're learning. The remaining Main Menu commands are for more advanced functions, mostly setting various sonar options. (They're all detailed in the Advanced Section.) · Units of Measure command: selects the units of measure used for showing speed/distance, depth and temperature. 33 · Set Keel Offset command: calibrates the unit to show depth under the keel or actual depth from the surface. · Calibrate Water Speed command: adjusts how a speed sensor measures water speed. · Reset Water Distance command: resets water distance log to zero. · Sonar Simulator command: turns the simulator feature on and off. Useful for learning how to operate the unit and all its functions. · Reset Options command: returns all options and auto functions to their original factory settings. It's a great safety net while you're learning and experimenting with various settings. · Set Language command: your unit has menus in 10 different languages. This command switches from one language to another. · Software Information command: tells you which version of the operating software is loaded in your unit. Sonar Menu The Sonar Menu contains commands for the major sonar features and options. You access the Sonar Menu by pressing the MENU key one time. You run a command by using the or to highlight the command and then pressing ENT. To clear the menu screen and return to the Page display, press EXIT. Sonar Page Menu. Most of these functions are discussed in the Advanced Section. Sonar Menu Commands The Sonar Menu contains commands for the major sonar features and options. Most of them are only described in detail in the Advanced 34 Section, but Sensitivity and Auto Sensitivity are important basic functions that are discussed both here and in the Advanced Section. The other Sonar Menu commands include: · Grayline command: separates fish and structure near the bottom from the actual bottom, and defines bottom composition/hardness. · Depth Range command: manually sets the depth range shown on the sonar chart. · Auto Depth Range command: automatically sets the depth range shown on the sonar chart to always keep the bottom in view. · Upper and Lower Limits command: sets the upper and lower depth limits of the sonar chart. Lets you zoom in on a specific portion of the water column. · Stop Chart command: stops the sonar chart from scrolling. Used when you want to "freeze" the image for closer study. · Chart Speed command: sets the scrolling speed of the sonar chart. · Depth Cursor command: displays a cursor line on the sonar chart which allows you to accurately measure the depth of a sonar target. · Overlay Data command: chooses what types of information (such as water temperature) to show overlaid on the sonar chart screen. · Sonar Features command: launches the Sonar Features menu which controls many functions and options, including screen chart mode, auto depth and sensitivity, surface clarity, noise rejection, Fish I.D. symbols, the zoom bar and zone bar. · Ping Speed command: sets the rate at which sonar pings are made. · Zoom command: controls the display size of sonar signal images. Pages This unit has four major display options. They are the Full Sonar Chart, Split Zoom Sonar Chart, Digital Data and Flasher. You access the various display modes by pressing the ENT/PAGES key. As you press this key, the unit cycles among the four page options. To return to a previous page, simply press ENT until the desired page appears again. The Full Sonar Chart is the main display option. This is a "crosssection" view of the water column beneath the boat. The chart moves across the screen, displaying sonar signal echoes that represent fish, structure and the bottom. 35 Digital data overlay (depth & temperature) Surface signal Surface clutter Depth scale In FasTrack, fish arches show as horizontal bars. Fish arches around school of bait fish Zoom bar Structure Bottom signal Sonar Page, showing full sonar chart mode. FasTrack bar graph Sonar chart display options (from left) full sonar chart and split zoom. 36 Sonar chart display options (from left) digital data and flasher. You can customize how the Sonar Page pictures and other data are displayed in many ways. We'll discuss all of those features and options in the Advanced Section, but to show you how easy the sonar unit is to operate, the following page contains a simplified, 10-step quick reference that will cover most fish finding situations. The quick reference describes how your unit will operate with all the sonar features in their automatic modes, which are set at the factory. 37 Basic Sonar Quick Reference 1. Mount the transducer and unit. Connect the unit to electric power and the transducer. 2. Launch your boat. 3. To turn on the unit, press and release MENU key. 4. Head for your fishing grounds. Your unit automatically displays digital depth and surface water temperature in the corner of the screen. The auto settings will track the bottom, displaying it in the lower portion of the screen. The full sonar chart will scroll from right to left, showing you what's under the boat as you cruise across the water. 5. As you're watching the sonar returns, you can change the display by: Zoom in to enlarge the chart for more detail, or... Zoom out to return to full chart mode. Press MENU||ENT to select which Zoom Mode you want to use. 6. If necessary, adjust sensitivity to improve chart readability. Press MENU|ENT and the Sensitivity Menu will appear on the left of your screen. Use and to change the setting. Boosting sensitivity will show more information on your screen, which may cause clutter. Reducing sensitivity will filter out some information, but could omit important images. We recommend adjusting sensitivity until the background is lightly "peppered" -- that is, scattered dots appear, but individual objects (like fish arches or bottom structure) can be easily picked out of the background. 7. Watch the display for the appearance of fish arches. When you see arches, you've found fish! Stop the boat and get your lure or bait into the water at the depth indicated on the sonar chart. 8. Gauge the fish depth by visually comparing the fish arches with the depth scale on the right side of the screen, or get a more accurate measure with the Depth Cursor. Press MENU| to DEPTH CURSOR|ENT. Press (or ) to align the cursor line with the fish arch. The exact depth appears in a box at the right end of the cursor line. To clear the cursor, press EXIT. 9. If you are drifting at a very low speed or anchored, you are not moving fast enough for a fish to return the tell-tale fish arch signal. As you drift over a fish, or as a fish swims through the transducer's signal cone, the fish echo will appear as a straight line suspended between the surface and the bottom. 10. To turn off the unit, press and hold MENU key for three seconds. 38 Sonar Operations As you can see from the quick reference on the previous page, basic operation is pretty easy, right out of the box. If you are a sonar novice, try operating the unit with the factory defaults until you get a feel for how it's working. As you're learning the basics, there is one setting you might want to tinker with from time to time -- Sensitivity. Sensitivity controls the unit's ability to pick up echoes. If you want to see more detail, try increasing the sensitivity, a little at a time. There are situations when too much clutter appears on the screen. Decreasing the sensitivity can reduce the clutter and show the strongest fish echoes, if fish are present. As you change the sensitivity setting, you can see the difference on the chart as it scrolls. Fig. 1 Bait school Thermocline with fish Fish arches Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 These figures show results of different sensitivity levels on the same location. Fig. 1: Sensitivity set at 87 percent. Typical of full auto mode. Fig. 2: Sensitivity set at 50 percent. Fig. 3: Sensitivity set at 20 percent. Fig. 4: Sensitivity set at 100 percent. 39 You can change the sensitivity level whether you are in Auto Sensitivity mode or Manual Sensitivity mode. The adjustment method works the same in both modes, but it gives you slightly different results. Adjusting sensitivity in Auto Sensitivity Mode is similar to manually adjusting a car's speed with the accelerator pedal while cruise control is on. You can tell the car to run faster, but when you let off the gas the cruise control automatically keeps you from running slower than the minimum speed setting. In the sonar unit, auto mode will let you increase sensitivity to 100 percent, but the unit will limit your minimum setting. This prevents you from turning sensitivity down too low to allow automatic bottom tracking. When you change the setting with auto turned on, the unit will continue to track the bottom and make minor adjustments to the sensitivity level, with a bias toward the setting you selected. Adjusting sensitivity in Manual Sensitivity Mode is similar to driving a car without cruise control -- you have complete manual control of the car's speed. In the sonar unit, manual mode allows you to set sensitivity at 100 percent (maximum) or zero percent (minimum.) Depending on water conditions, the bottom signal may completely disappear from the screen when you reduce sensitivity to about 50 percent or less! Try adjusting sensitivity in both auto and manual modes to see how they work. To adjust sensitivity: 1. Press MENU|ENT. 2. The Sensitivity Control Bar appears. Press to decrease sensitivity; press to increase sensitivity. When it's set at the desired level, press EXIT. (When you reach the maximum or minimum limit, a tone sounds.) The Sensitivity Control Bar. 40 NOTE: If you want to change the sensitivity in Manual Mode, first turn off Auto Sensitivity: from the Sonar Page, press MENU| to AUTO SENSITIVITY|ENT| to SENSITIVITY|ENT. Press or to pick a different sensitivity setting. When it's set at the desired level, press EXIT. Important Tip: While you are experimenting and learning, it's possible to scramble the settings so that the sonar picture disappears from your screen. If that happens, remember that it's easy to switch back to full automatic operation by simply restoring the factory auto settings. Here's how: To Restore Factory Settings 1. Press MENU|MENU| to RESET OPTIONS|ENT. 2. The unit asks if you want to reset all the options. Press or to YES|ENT. All options are reset, and the unit reverts back to the original settings. Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart You may have noticed in the quick reference that we used fish arches in full sonar chart mode for our example, and not the popular Fish I.D. fish symbol feature. Here's why. Fish I.D. is an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it. However, locating fish by symbol only has some limitations. Your sonar unit's microprocessor is remarkably powerful, but it can be fooled. Some of the echoes calculated to be fish could be tree limbs or turtles! To see what's under your boat in maximum detail, we recommend you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches. Fish I.D. is most handy when you're in another part of the boat or performing some task that prevents you from watching the sonar screen. Then, you can turn on Fish I.D. and the audible fish alarm. When that lunker swims under your boat, you'll hear it! Fish I.D. can also be useful when you want to screen out some of the sonar detail gathered by your unit. For example, in one case fishermen in San Francisco Bay saw clouds of clutter in the water but no fish arches. When a down rigger was pulled up, it brought up several small jellyfish. The fishermen switched their Lowrance sonar to Fish I.D., which screened out the schools of jellyfish and clearly showed the game fish there as fish symbols. 41 Other Free Training Aids The following section discusses Fish I.D., fish alarms and other features in greater detail. If you or a friend has Internet access, you can also learn more about interpreting what you see on your sonar screen. Visit our web site, WWW.LOWRANCE.COM. Be sure to check out the free Sonar Tutorial, which 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 site...it makes a great supplement to this operation manual! 42 Advanced Sonar Options & Other Features Material in this section is arranged in alphabetical order. ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) The ASP feature is a noise rejection system built into the sonar unit that constantly evaluates the effects of boat speed, water conditions and interference. This automatic feature gives you the best display possible under most conditions. The ASP feature is an effective tool in combating noise. In sonar terms, noise is any undesired signal. It is caused by electrical and mechanical sources such as bilge pumps, engine ignition systems and wiring, air bubbles passing over the face of the transducer, even vibration from the engine. In all cases, noise can produce unwanted marks on the display. The ASP feature has four settings -- Off, Low, Medium and High. If you have high noise levels, try using the "High" ASP setting. However, if you are having trouble with noise, we suggest that you take steps to find the interference source and fix it, rather than continually using the unit with the high ASP setting. There are times when you may want to turn the ASP feature off. This allows you to view all incoming echoes before they are processed by the ASP feature. In the Sonar Features menu, Noise Rejection is selected with ASP in the default low setting. To change the ASP level: 1. From the Sonar Page, press MENU| to SONAR FEATURES|ENT. 2. Press to NOISE REJECTION|ENT. 3. Press or to select a setting, then press ENT. 4. To return to the previous page, press EXIT|EXIT. 43 Alarms This unit has two different types of sonar alarms. The first is a Fish Alarm. It sounds when the Fish I.D. feature determines that an echo is a fish. The other alarm is the Depth Alarm, which has both a Shallow and a Deep setting. Only the bottom signal will trigger this alarm. This is useful as an anchor watch, a shallow water alert or for navigation. Depth Alarms The depth alarms sound a tone when the bottom signal goes shallower than the shallow alarm's setting or deeper than the deep alarm's setting. For example, if you set the shallow alarm to 10 feet, the alarm will sound a tone if the bottom signal is less than 10 feet. It will continue to sound until the bottom goes deeper than 10 feet. The deep alarm works just the opposite. It sounds a warning tone if the bottom depth goes deeper than the alarm's setting. Both depth alarms work only off the digital bottom depth signals. No other targets will trip these alarms. These alarms can be used at the same time or individually. The Sonar Alarms menu. To adjust and turn on the shallow alarm: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 2. Press to SHALLOW ALARM DEPTH|ENT. 3. Press or until the depth is correct, then press ENT. 4. Press to SHALLOW ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT. 5. To turn off the alarm, press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS| ENT|ENT|EXIT. 44 To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions in step 3 above. To adjust and turn on the deep alarm: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 2. Press to DEEP ALARM DEPTH|ENT. 3. Press or until the depth is correct, then press ENT. 4. Press to DEEP ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT. 5. To turn off the alarm, press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT| to DEEP ALARM ENABLED|ENT|EXIT. To switch to a different depth setting, open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions in step 3 above. Fish Alarm Use the fish alarm for a distinctive audible alarm when fish or other suspended objects are detected by the Fish I.D. feature (Fish I.D. must be turned on for the Fish Alarm to work). A different tone sounds for each fish symbol size shown on the display. Sonar Alarms menu with Fish Alarm selected. The check box to the left is checked, indicating the alarm is turned on. To turn the fish alarm on: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT. 2. Press to FISH ALARM|ENT|EXIT. 3. To turn off the alarm, press MENU|MENU| to SONAR ALARMS|ENT| to FISH ALARM|ENT|EXIT. 45 Backlight Level The unit defaults to the maximum backlight level. To adjust the display's backlight level: Press MENU|MENU| to BACKLIGHT LEVEL|ENT. The BACKLIGHT LEVEL slider bar appears. Press or to move the bar. At The lower end of the scale backlighting is turned off; the upper end is maximum backlight level. The Backlight Level control bar appears automatically whenever you turn on the unit. Calibrate Speed The speed sensor can be calibrated to compensate for inaccuracies. Before you change the setting, first calculate the percentage that the speed is off. You will enter this percentage in a moment. For example, if you figure the sensor is reading 10 percent faster than actual speed, you will enter ­ 10 in the calibration window. If the sensor is reading 5 percent slower than true speed, you will enter + 5 in the window. Perform your test in relatively calm water free of current, if possible. (Unless, of course, you are taking the current speed into consideration when making your calculation.) After you have a correction figure, here's how to enter it: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to CALIBRATE WATER SPEED|ENT. 2. Enter the number you calculated earlier: press or to change the displayed number. Continue until the percentage is correct, then press EXIT. Chart Speed The rate that echoes scroll across the screen is called the chart speed. The default is maximum; we recommend that you leave the speed set there for virtually all fishing conditions. 46