Northstar 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual This manual is for using the 491 sounder with the Northstar 957, 958, 961 and 962 navigators. For the Northstar 6000i, information in Section 6 of its manual can be used instead. Revision A Part Number GM494 Northstar 30 Sudbury Road Acton, Massachusetts 01720 a unit of Brunswick New Technologies Marine Electronics www.NorthstarNav.com Service: 978/897-6600 Sales: 800/628-4487 Contents 1 Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Welcome to the Northstar 491 Using this manual . . . . . . . . . . Technical support . . . . . . . . . . How echo sounding works . . . Powering the 491 on and off . Setting up the 491 . . . . . . . . . 2 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ .... .... .... .... .... .... .... 2 2 4 5 7 7 Quick Start: Using the Echo Sounder . . . . . . . . . 11 Displaying the echo sounder's picture . Using demo mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introducing the displayed information Using automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the frequency of echoes . . . Zooming in and out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setup functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 14 15 16 17 19 22 28 28 29 30 31 32 36 36 36 37 38 42 42 43 44 3 Adjusting the Echo Sounder Picture . . . . . . . . . 27 The picture menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the gain (strong echoes) . . . . . . . . Adjusting the clutter (weak echoes) . . . . . . . Adjusting the signal level (weak echoes) . . . Suppressing interference (the noise limiter) . Selecting the color bar (hue) and white level 4 Understanding Depth Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Viewing the seabed depth . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing the depth marker . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the depth settings . . . . . . . . . . Setting the picture's shift (starting depth) Setting the picture's range . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. 5 Other Functions: Using the MORE key . . . . . . . 41 Using the MORE key . . . . . . . . Changing the advance speed . Displaying the A-scope . . . . . . Setting the ECHO screen data ........... ........... ........... ........... Introducing snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Setting up the video image overlay . . . . . . . 49 6 Reviewing past echoes using SoundTrac . . . . . 51 Viewing past echoes using SoundTrac . . . . . 52 Marking fish as waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Navigating to a past echo position . . . . . . . . 53 7 Setting the Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Understanding the alarms . . . Setting the fish alarm . . . . . . . Setting the bottom alarm . . . . Setting the temperature alarm 8 ........... ........... ........... ........... 56 56 58 60 Troubleshooting 491 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Troubleshooting the echo sounder . . . . . . . 64 Checking the transducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 1We lcome Welcome to the Northstar 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Using this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Technical support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 How echo sounding works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 Powering the 491 on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 Setting up the 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 This chapter introduces the Northstar 491 Operations Manual, explains how to contact Northstar for technical support and service, and describes the 491's basic set-up and power on/off procedures. 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 1 Welcome to the Northstar 491 Congratulations on your purchase of the Northstar 491 Echo Sounder. The 491 connects with a Northstar navigator and a third-party transducer to add echo sounding capability to the Northstar 957, 958, 961, and 962 navigators. See the Northstar 491 Installation Manual (part number GM495) for recommended transducers. You may be adding the 491 to your existing Northstar navigator for echo sounding, or you may have purchased your navigator complete with echo sounding. In either case, the 491 should be installed and configured by a qualified marine technician. To get started right away, Section 2, "Quick Start: Using the Echo Sounder," starting on page 2-11. CAUTION! Proper installation and configuration of your Northstar 491 is of utmost importance for accurate and effective performance under a variety of conditions. To get the best performance from your 491, Northstar strongly recommends installation and set-up by a qualified marine technician. For installation procedures, see the Northstar 491 Echo Sounder Installation Manual (Part Number GM495). Using this manual Organization Chapter 1 introduces you to the 491 echo sounder and to this operations manual. Chapter 2 gives you a quick-start introduction to get you started with echo sounding as soon as the 491 has been installed and configured. Chapter 3 tells how to adjust the echo sounder's display--the gain, clutter, colors, etc. Page 2 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Chapter 4 describes how to adjust the depth settings to choose what portion of the water under the vessel you'll display. Chapter 5 explains other functions--the A-Scope, etc. Chapter 6 describes Northstar's exclusive SoundTracTM feature, for accessing past echoes and navigating back to their locations. Chapter 7 tells how to use the echo sounder's alarms: the fish alarm, bottom alarm, and temperature alarm. At the back of the manual are a glossary and an appendix outlining the 491's specifications. Conventions Specific conventions are used to provide a consistent way to recognize certain information, as follows: · is the universal symbol used for caution and warning information that pertains to your personal safety or prevents damage to the 491. The CAUTION and WARNING boxes contain critical information--please read them! · NOTE is the type style used for titles of reader notes. These notes contain valuable information purposely highlighted so that you don't miss it while reading the main text. · · · · KEY is the type style used to refer to the menu keys on the display screen. DISPLAY TEXT is the type style representing text on the display screens. A bulleted list contains a series of related items or topics. A numbered list contains a series of steps in a procedure. 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 3 Technical support After you follow the instructions in this manual, if you need technical support or if you have any other questions, you can contact Northstar by email, fax, phone, or U.S. mail as follows: Table 1: Contacting Northstar Email: Service: service@northstarnav.com Sales: sales@northstarnav.com Fax: Service: 978/897-1595 Sales: 978/897-7241 Telephone: 978/897-6600 or 800/628-4487 U.S. mail: 30 Sudbury Road Acton, MA 01720 Web site: www.northstarnav.com (you can send email to Northstar directly from this site) Hearing from you Your feedback is important and helps ensure that this manual is a valuable resource for all 491 users. Send your questions, comments, or suggestions about this manual to: docs@northstarnav.com Service and repair In case of an operating problem with your Northstar 491, you may contact your dealer or return the unit to the Northstar factory for diagnosis and repair. When describing an operating problem, be as complete and accurate as possible. Be sure to have the serial number available whenever contacting or corresponding with either your dealer or the Northstar factory. The 491's serial number is located at the top of the unit. If you need help, feel free to call the Northstar Service Department at 978-897-6600 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays, excluding major holidays. 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 4 To prevent delays, it is critical that you first obtain a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number before returning your unit to the factory. If you purchased your 491 through a dealer, to get an RMA number, call the dealer with the serial number. The 491's serial number is located at the top of the unit. The 491 should be shipped in a properly designed carton with packing material. Please reference the RMA number on the outside of the carton. Shipments to Northstar should be made to the following address: Northstar Technologies 30 Sudbury Road Acton, MA 01720 If you have overnight or second-day shipping requirements, please call the Northstar factory for turnaround time and freight costs before shipping your 491. How echo sounding works An echo sounder produces high-voltage electrical pulses that the transducer converts into sound waves (called "pings"). The sound waves are sent downward through the water. When a sound wave hits and reflects off an object, such as fish, debris, seaweed, or the seabed, the reflected sound wave (an "echo") returns back to the transducer along an imaginary vertical line called a "water column." The transducer converts this echo into a tiny electrical pulse. The 491 digitizes these pulses and sends them to the navigator, so that echo sounding pictures of the water and seabed can be displayed and analyzed on the echo sounder screen. In essence, this system lets you see a real-time cross section of what's happening underneath your vessel. Figure 1, "957/958 echo sounder system components," below, and Figure 2, "961/962 echo sounder system components," below, show how the 491 connects to these navigators to enable echo sounding functions. 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 5 GPS antenna 33-foot cable (part of transducer) 491 module 957/958/6000i Navigator 10-foot cable (Northstar-supplied) Ship's Power Transducer 10-foot cable (Northstar-supplied) Figure 1: 957/958 echo sounder system components GPS antenna Control Head 33-foot cable (part of transducer) 491 module 961/962 Processor 10-foot cable (Northstar-supplied) Ship's Power Transducer 10-foot cable (Northstar-supplied) Figure 2: 961/962 echo sounder system components Page 6 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Powering the 491 on and off As part of its power-up sequence, the navigator automatically activates the 491. The 491 is automatically shut off by the navigator when you press and hold PWR until the screen goes dark. Setting up the 491 Your 491 should be installed by a qualified marine technician. Your satisfaction with the system's performance will be greatly influenced by the practical knowledge and experience of the installer. Unlike GPS or other marine electronics systems, echo sounder installation is as much an art as a science. The installation procedure includes setting up the following options: · · · · · the transducer's depth the speed and temperature the calibration for the speed sensor the calibration for the temperature sensor the gain calibration for the transducer You may wish to change the following options from time to time to match your personal preferences: · · · · depth units (feet, meters, or fathoms) on the screen temperature units (Celsius or Fahrenheit) on the screen temperature scale (lowest and highest) on the screen (961/962 only) automatic saving of *FISH##* or *THERM##* waypoints when the 491 detects the presence of fish or a certain water temperature that you've set Using 491 with the 961/962 Before starting, you should double-check that the 961/962's Port 3 is set to the 490 option: 1. Press STAR until you reach the SERVICE MENU screen. 2. Press PORT SETUP. 3. Press PORT 3. 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 7 4. Check that the FORMAT option is set to "490." If not, set it now. Using the 491 with the 957/958 Before starting, you should double-check that the navigator's AUX port is set to the Sounder option: 1. Press STAR until you reach the OPTIONS/SERVICE INFO screen. 2. Press the PORT SETUP OPTIONS key. 3. Check that the AUX PORT option is set to "Sounder." If not, set it now. Page 8 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Figure 3: STAR key ECHO SCREEN Auto Picture Frequency Zoom Depth More Depth settings More settings Picture settings Alarms Advance Speed Snapshot A-Scope Data Return Shift Range Bottom box Return Gain Clutter Noise Limiter Hue Signal level Return Data on-screen Bottom box Temp box Temp graph Speed Snapshot Display Rename Alarm settings Fish alarm Bottom alarm Temp alarm Return Archive Erase Return Return Figure 4: 961/962 echo sounder menu structure 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual Page 9 STAR key ECHO SCREEN Auto Picture Frequency Zoom Depth More Depth settings More settings Picture settings Alarms Advance Speed Video A-Scope Data Return Shift Range Bottom box Return Gain Clutter Noise Limiter Hue Signal level Return Data on-screen Temp box Temp graph Bottom box Speed Video setup Video on Alarm settings Fish alarm Bottom alarm Temp alarm Return Return Return Figure 5: 957/958 echo sounder menu structure Page 10 491 Echo Sounder Operations Manual 2Qui c ...