Pub. 988-0151-411 www.lowrance.com Fish-finding & Depth Sounding Sonars X86 DS & X86 TX 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. 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: X86 DS shown. 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 Section 1: Introduction....................................................................1 Specifications: X86 DS and X86 TX ....................................................1 How Sonar Works.................................................................................2 Preparations .........................................................................................3 Section 2: Installation & Accessories..........................................5 Recommended Tools and Supplies ..................................................5 Selecting a Transducer Location .....................................................5 How low should you go? ...................................................................6 Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting ..........................................7 Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..............................8 Trolling Motor Bracket Installation..............................................11 Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches.....................................12 Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation ........................................................13 Shoot-thru-hull Installation ..........................................................15 Power and Cable Connections .......................................................16 Mounting The Sonar Unit: In-Dash or Bracket ...........................18 Portable Installation ......................................................................21 Portable Transducer Assembly .....................................................22 Section 3: Operation.......................................................................25 Keyboard Basics .................................................................................25 Memory ...............................................................................................26 Menus..................................................................................................26 Display ................................................................................................26 FasTrack ..........................................................................................27 Pages ...................................................................................................28 Full Chart ...........................................................................................28 Depth Range .......................................................................................29 Zoom ....................................................................................................30 Sensitivity ...........................................................................................31 Grayline ..............................................................................................33 Chart Speed ........................................................................................34 Frequency ...........................................................................................34 Fish I.D. ...........................................................................................35 FishTrackTM ........................................................................................36 Alarms.................................................................................................37 Fish Alarm ..........................................................................................37 Depth Alarms .....................................................................................38 Shallow Alarm ....................................................................................38 Deep Alarm.........................................................................................39 Battery Alarm.....................................................................................39 Noise Rejection and ASP ................................................................40 i Depth Display.....................................................................................41 Temperature Display .........................................................................41 Voltage ................................................................................................42 Units....................................................................................................42 Backlight.............................................................................................43 Contrast ..............................................................................................43 Simulator ............................................................................................44 Set Language ......................................................................................44 Software Information.........................................................................44 Reset Options......................................................................................44 Troubleshooting..............................................................................45 ii Section 1: 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. 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. Capabilities and Specifications: X86 DS and X86 TX General Case size:........................... 5.4" H x 6.9" W x 3.4" D (13.8 cm H x 17.6 cm W x 8.6 cm D). Sealed and waterproof; suitable for saltwater use. Display: ............................4.5" (11.4 cm) Film SuperTwist LCD display, 4-level gray scale definition with GRAYLINE. Resolution: ......................240V x 240H pixel resolution; 57,600 total pixels. Backlighting: ..................Incandescent backlit screen and keypad for night use. Input power: ...................10 to 17 volts DC. Current drain: ................110 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on. Back-up memory:...........Built-in memory stores sonar settings when unit is turned off. Languages: ......................11 International languages. Sonar Frequency: ......................83/200 kHz Transducers:...................A compact Dual-Search Skimmer transducer with built-in temperature sensor is packed with the unit. Watts: ................................1,500 watts peak-to-peak; 188 watts RMS. 1 Depth capability: ...........To 1,000 feet (305 meters) with 83 kHz. 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. Audible alarms: ..............Deep/shallow/fish/battery. Automatic ranging: .......Yes. Auto bottom track: ........Yes. Zoom bottom track:.......Yes. Surface water temp: .....Yes. 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. How Sonar Works Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it works, skip ahead to the next segment on the typographical conventions used in this manual. But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you the underwater basics. Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technology developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. 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. 2 Dual Search Transducer Your unit is packed with a Dual Search Skimmer Transducer that can transmit at 83 kHz and 200 kHz. A new innovation, the 83 kHz frequency offers superior sonar performance at all depths from very shallow up to 1,000 ft and provides up to 120º of fish-finding coverage. 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 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. Install the power cable and route it to the sonar unit. 6. Mount the sonar unit. 3 Notes 4 Section 2: Installation & Accessories 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 installation 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 5/8" drill bit. The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies (supplies are not included): Transom installation Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or belowwaterline sealant compound. 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. Supplies: 100 grit sandpaper, good quality epoxy adhesive. Selecting a ...