Humminbird 300TX Fish Finder User Manual
Contents
1. On outboard or inboard outboard boats it is best to stay at least 15 40cm to the side of the propeller s If possible viewing the transom of the boat while the boat is moving will provide the best means of locating turbulence free water If maximum high speed operation is a high priority this is the recommended method If this is not possible select a location on the transom where the hull forward of this location is smooth flat and free of protrusions or ribs The transducer when mounted should point straight down The design of the transducer will accommodate a wide range of deadrises and remain ported straight down Figure 2 Transom Mounting Location Stepped Hull On boats with stepped hulls it may be possible to mount the transducer on the step Never mount the transducer on the transom behind a step as this area of the transom will not be in contact with the water at high speed Figure 3 INSTALLATION TRANSOM INSTALLATION If the propeller s is are forward of the transom it may be impossible to find an area clear from turbulence and a different mounting technique or transducer type should be considered Step Two Drill the Mounting Holes f 2 Remove the mounting template from the front of the Operations Manual Hold the template on the transom of the boat in the location where the transducer will be installed Figure 4 Align the template vertically ensuring the lower edge of the tra2. leave the menu set to Tri beam When using a dual beam and Wide Side transducer together with a switch manually select the correct transducer in the menu each time the switch is changed Bottom Glack View Bottom Black There are two selections available Off and On The factory setting is Off With this setting the 300TX displays the bottom using Structure ID This allows you to determine the texture and relative hardness of the bottom Selecting Bottom Black ON causes the unit to blacken in the display below the bottom This gives the user easiest recognition of the bottom location even from a great distance The 300TX remembers the Bottom Black setting when powered off Diagnostic Two options are available Hide and Show The factory setting is Hide Selecting Show brings up the Diagnostic screen See the Using Diagnostic section for more information Reset With the many User Options available to customize the 300TX it is easy to configure the unit in such a way that it is detrimental to a particular use By using the Reset function all variable or user controlled features of the 300TX are returned to the factory settings The reset function is an important first step in troubleshooting problems to ensure that a user selected setting is not the cause for the perceived problem Using the Diagnostic Feature The 300TX contains a powerful diagnostic tool that can aid in determining the cause of a problem DIAGNO
3. then fully tighten the two mounting screws Figure e Ha 11 Snap the pivot back down k if Confirm the pivot angle has not changed a hada Note A third screw location is provided for the mounting bracket Drill this hole and install the screw after final testing and adjustments have been completed INSTALLATION TRANSOM INSTALLATION Step Six Route the Cable There are several ways to route the transducer cable to the to the area where the control head will be installed The most common procedure routes the cable through the transom into the boat Inside the boat there is often a channel or conduit used for other wiring that the cable can be routed along Do not cut or shorten the transducer cable and try not to damage the cable insulation Route the Cable Route the cable as far as practical from the VHF radio antenna n A cables or tachometer cable to reduce the possibility of 2 interference amp Cable set ote If the cable is too short extension cables are available to extend EAN the transducer cable up to a total of 50 15 m Call Humminbird Customer Support for more information ps CR Follow these steps to route the cable through the transom Qs 1 Drill a 5 8 16mm hole above the water line Route the cable through the hole 2 Fill the hole with silicone sealant 3 Place the escutcheon plate over the hole and attach with the two 8 x 5 8 16mm screws 4 Secure the cable by at
4. Use either a flat head screwdriver a 5 16 8mm hex driver or a 5 16 8mm socket to mount the assembly Using the two 10 1 l 25mm long slotted hex head screws mount the transducer f assembly to the transom as shown Do not fully tighten the mounting screws in order to vertically adjust the transducer RE Snap the pivot down into place j Step Five Adjust the Running Position of the Transducer The bracket allows height and tilt adjustment the pivot screws allow angular adjustment Initially adjust the transducer as described in the following paragraphs Further adjustment may be necessary to refine the instillation after high speed testing Running Position 1 First adjust the pivot angle of the transducer body so its See length is parallel with the length of hull of the boat Then pivot the transducer down so the rear is about 1 4 inch 6mm lower than the front Figure 9 2 Fully tighten the two pivot screws using the Allen wrenches ie It may be necessary to retighten the pivot screws after the Wane initial use as the plastics may still be seating to the lock washers 3 Adjust the height of the assembly so the face of the transducer is 3 16 4 5mm beneath the lower edge of the transom Figure 10 Mark the position of the mounting bracket on the transom with a pencil 4 Force the pivot to the up position to gain access to the ZN mounting screws Assure the transducer location has not j changed
5. Wide Side Transducer is a specialized side looking 20 ae transducer that is extremely useful for bank fishing or looking J for bait fish in open water The Wide Side transducer uses three different sonar elements that transmit signals to the left right and straight down from your boat The downward beam is 200 KHz with a 24 degree area of coverage This beam maintains a continuous digital depth readout from the bottom directly beneath your boat The side beams are 455 KHz with a 16 degree area of coverage The side looking element can be 3 used independently or together to locate targets near the yt surface of the water on either side of your boat SA r Ee io prd MRJ G pe The Wide Side transducer can be connected directly to the 300TX or used in conjunction with the standard transducer through a transducer switch When used with a switch in conjunction with the Tri Beam transducer the 300TX recognizes which transducer is connected whenever the switch position is changed When a Wide Side transducer is connected the screen display aL h changes to display the information from the side looking aae N elements The Wide Side transducer has four views available Left Right Down and Both These views are controlled by the View Menu which is only present when operating in Wide Side mode The default view is both in which information from both the left and right elements are display in screen The digital 7 depth of the w
6. of the transducer Periodically clean the face of the transducer with liquid detergent Pivoting the transducer up the bracket may allow better access for inspection or cleaning If your boat remains out of water for a long period of time it may take some time to wet the transducer when returned to the water Small air bubbles can cling to the surface of the transducer and interfere with proper operation These bubbles dissipate with time or you can wipe the face of the transducer with your fingers after the transducer is in the water Never leave the 300TX in a closed car or trunk the extremely high temperatures generated in hot weather can damage the electronics
7. pre selected options when powered off What You See On Screen Your 300TX uses a 128 x 64 matrix FSTN LCD display This display provides outstanding viewability in all light conditions over a wide range of temperatures At initial power up the 300TX uses settings that were set in the factory After initial use the 300TX will remember the settings you enter ee i tee There are several elements on screen that are common to all F Goeh modes of operation Temperature Speed The initial screen layout takes one of two basic forms depending on whether the optional Temp Speed accessory is installed Figure B shows the default view when the Temp Speed accessory is not installed Depth The digital depth number shows the water depth directly beneath the transducer location Depth Range The depth range is shown to the right of the screen The upper number is 0 indicating the surface of the water The lower number is one of the nine depth ranges available that best match the depth of the water As the depth of the water changes the range changes as necessary in order to retain a bottom representation on screen EERE When in Auto mode the horizontal line at the top of the screen is the zero line representing the surface of the water Occasionally there is a gap in this line This gap indicates the unit is updating the display even if the bottom is not visible on screen or if the bottom information is not changing New sonar
8. 300TATR BEAM Operations Manual INSTALLATION PREPARATION PARTS SUPPLIED PARTS SUPPLIED Before installing your new Humminbird fishfinder please ensure the following parts are included in the box Fishfinder Transducer with 20 6m of cable and mounting hardware kit Mounting system and mounting hardware kit 6 2m power cable Publications kit It any of these items is missing call our Customer Support Hotline ACCESSORIES Humminbird offers a wide assortment of accessories that complement and expand the capability of your new fishfinder These accessories are designed with the same high standards and are backed by the same one year warranty The Humminbird Accessory catalog included with your unit contains descriptions of the many accessories available and ordering information All Humminbird accessories are available through your full service Humminbird dealer or factory direct through our number listed in the Customer Support section INSTALLATION OVERVIEW Your Humminbird fishfinder consists of two primary components to install the control head and the transducer The control head contains the sonar transmit and receive circuitry as well as the user controls and display It should be installed in a location that provides access to the controls and visibility while in use The control head mounts on a quick disconnect mounting system that swivels and tilts providing flexibility for viewing from almost anywhere on t
9. 50 0 480 and 0 600 are available In the metric version ranges of 0 5 0 10 0 20 0 40 0 60 0 80 0 110 0 150 and 0 185 meters are available The range that positions the bottom depiction closest to the bottom of the screen will best utilize the availability display resolution The 300TX automatically adjusts the depth range depending on the depth of the water The unit tries to maintain the bottom depiction about 2 3 down the total range for example in 20 6m of water the 0 30 0 10m range would be selected This provides the best display resolution and therefore the best target separation possible The Depth Range can be adjusted manually Press MENU O repeatedly until the Depth Range menu is visible Two options nr 39 are available Auto and Manual lt BD e The manual setting enables you to adjust the current depth range setting The unit no longer adjusts the Depth Range to the most appropriate range for bottom display Often the bottom may not be visible on screen The digital depth readout k 20 always determines the depth of the bottom even of it is not on 93 68 Ga screen 5 FG Depth Range Using manual Depth Range control you can view sonar information from the area near the surface in great detail To return to automatic Depth Range control press the MENU button until the Depth Range menu appears on screen and use the UP ARROW to select AUTO Zoom Zoom is similar to Depth Rang
10. STIC PASSED PRESS MENMU TO CONTINUE To use the Diagnostic feature select the Diagnostic feature on the start up menu on the initial screen Diagnostic can also be accessed through the Options menu Self Test Initially the 300TX will perform a self test This test confirms the operation of all internal circuitry At the conclusion of the test one of two messages will appear Passed indicates the internal test discovered no failures Failed indicates a significant internal problem was discovered and the unit requires factory service A code number appears that tells repair personnel where the problem is Transducer Connection The first connection tested is Transducer input If a transducer is detected the message connected appears If a series of dashed lines is shown no transducer is connected or there is a problem with the transducer or cable a OIAnGnOS TS g CONNECTED CONNECTED C TEMP INPUT CONNECTED 12 0 i rime O1G3hr PRESS MENU TO ENIT If you are using multiple transducers switch between transducers to confirm the connections for each Boat Speed Water Temperature Connection Other connections tested include the boat speed and surface water temperature sensors These accessory sensors can be purchased independently or together as a single sensor see the Humminbird Accessories catalog If the sensors are connected and working properly a connected message appears The s
11. and operation A powered hand drill and various drill bits Philips and flathead screwdrivers A ruler or measuring tape Pen or pencil 12 volt power source your boat s battery A 1 amp fuse A fuse holder if you are wiring directly to the boat s battery Silicone sealant for sealing drilled holes 2 part slow cure epoxy for inside the hull transducer installations INSTALLATION TRANSOM INSTALLATION Do not begin this transducer installation until you read the Installation Preparation in the Operation Guide This chapter contains information critical to the correct installation of your transducer Due to the wide variety of boat hulls only general instructions are presented in the installation guide Each boat hull represents a unique set of requirements that should be evaluated prior to installation TRANSOM INSTALLATION Step One Determine Where to Mount the Transducer Begin the transducer installation by determining where on the transom to install the transducer Consider the following to find the best location It is very important to locate the transducer in an area which is relatively free of turbulent water As a boat moves through the water turbulence is generated by the weight of the boat and the thrust of the propeller s This turbulent water is normally confined to areas immediately aft of ribs strakes or rows of rivets on the bottom of the boat and in the immediate area of the propeller s Figure 1
12. ansducers install through a hole drilled in the hull of the boat Larger boats or boats with inboard motors create turbulence that make transom mounting ineffective Also hulls that are very thick or are double layered or made from materials such as wood or metal which do not conduct sonar signals make inside the hull mounting inadvisable Thru hull mounting may require the use of a fairing block to level the transducer with the waterline Also since special tools and knowledge may be required to perform this type of installation it is best to refer to a qualified marine technician INSTALLATION PREPARATION TRANSDUCER EXCHANGE TRANSDUCER EXCHANGE Other transducers are available as replacements for the standard transducer You may exchange your new and unassembled transducer for another type by returning it to the address listed in Customer Support Some transducers may have additional cost Refer to the Accessory catalog or call Customer Support for information BEGINNING INSTALLATION Now that you have determined the transducer mounting method you can begin installation of your new Humminbird fishfinder The installation guide included on the next few pages provides detailed step by step instructions for installation of the control head and transducer For transom mount transducer installations you will need the mounting template included with your manual In addition to the parts included you need the following for installation
13. ar return While signal intensity is a good indicator of relative fish size the different species of fish have different sonar characteristics so it is not always possible to distinguish fish size between varying species The signal intensity is normalized for depth so that a small fish close to the boat does not appear as a large fish symbol ID adds an additional piece of information to help the user Fish in Left Beam fish in Right Beam oer oO locate fish On selected fish symbols the digital depth of the designated fish is drawn to help locate the fish vertically This is especially helpful in setting bait depths or for downrigger operations The specific fish symbol indicates the type of sonar beam the fish is detected in This gives you a reliable indicator of side to side location relative to boat movement Fish symbols which are hollow are detected in the outside two beams Hollow fish symbols facing to the left are detected in the left beam and thus the fish is to the left side of the 0 Fish Depth Fish in Center Beam boat Solid fish symbols represent fish in the single center beam and these fish are directly under the boat Control Functions The 300 TX uses a simple five button keypad for all user input Press any button and an audible chirp confirms the control input If a button has no function or is inappropriate for the situation and audible error is heard The unit sounds multiple chirps Pow
14. at could be used for the graphics area Hence the small numerals options With small numerals selected a greater amount of the display area is available for the graphic view This effectively increase the display resolution of the unit Numeral size settings are remembered when powered off Transducer The Transducer Option controls the 300TX s ability to determine the transducer or wide side transducer no adjustment to this menu is needed unless the transducer develops a fault which is a rare occurrence The factory setting for the Transducer menu is Auto The Transducer menu selections will be remembered when the 300TX is turned off If a faulty transducer is connected the 300TX may not change the screen presentation to match the transducer In this instance you may need to manually select Tri beam for the tri beam transducer or Side for the WideSide transducer Often a transducer switch is used to connect two tri beams transducers or a tri beam and a wide side to the 300TX In Auto the 300TX identifies the transducer as the switch is changed Only if the transducer is faulty do you need to manually identify the transducer in the menu The 300TX can work with an older dual beam transducer model DHS W only however the fishfinder will not show left right fish location If this transducer is being used leave the menu set to tri beam When using a dual beam and tri beam transducer together with a switch
15. ate the 300TX over a variety of known conditions and experiment with user functions to best represent those conditions on screen Surface Clutter Surface clutter is the layer of water near the surface that is rich in algae and other growth and often is aerated by wind or wave action This area of water interferes with sonar transmission and often appears on screen as regular clusters of individual dots near the 0 line Thermoclines Thermoclines are sharp differences in water Thermochne Second Return temperature These are easily identified by the continuous nature of the return Second Returns When a sonar signal is reflected off the bottom back to the transducer there is often enough energy left in the signal to be reflected off the surface of the water Ve back to the bottom a second time Second returns appear as e an Sie Ey a slightly weaker bottom representation exactly twice the depth A wets 73 of the primary bottom return The second return is most likely L3 amp Given to occur in shallow water and in areas of relatively hard bottom Fish ID The 300TX uses advanced signal processing to further evaluate any sonar return between the surface and the bottom For Instance a small school of bait fish usually appears as a dense cluster of individual dots If the return meets certain additional criteria a fish symbol will be assigned There are three different size fish symbols used to indicate the intensity of the son
16. ater beneath you r boat is always present sae Viewing both left and right sides simultaneously gives you an es e Ta LSA excellent tool when searching for bait fish in open water or when following a creek bed However you will have a greater display resolution if you view only one side The down view is similar to the traditional view using the standard transducer however there is no Tri Beam information available such as fish location When operating in Wide Side mode the range must be adjusted manually since the bottom is often not visible on screen Ranges of 15 5m 30 10m 60 20m and 120 40 are available Also Zoom is not possible in Wide Side mode and the Zoom menu is not available Maintenance Your 300TX is designed to provide years of trouble free operation with virtually no maintenance Follow these simple procedures to ensure your 300TX continues to deliver top performance If the unit comes into contact with salt spray simply wipe the affected surfaces with a cloth dampened in fresh water Do not use a chemical glass cleaner on the lens Chemicals in the solution may cause cracking in the lens of the unit When cleaning the LCD protective lens use a chamois and non abrasive mild cleaner Do not wipe while dirt or grease is on the lens Be careful to avoid scratching the lens f your boat remains out of the water for a long period of time algae and other marine growth an reduce the effectiveness
17. ath fy a the mounting surface i M 3 Pass the cables through the grommet if the cable hole is U z a underneath the mounting bracket then press the grommet in place around the cables and into the 1 25mm hole 4 Pass the cables through the mounting base out the top of the mounting bracket 5 Place the mounting bracket on the mounting surface aligned with the drilled holes Insert the four flathead wood screws into the mounting holes and tighten fully Figure 23 Optional If the cables pass outside the mounting bracket install the hole cover over the hole and fasten in place using the two 8 x 7 8 22mm wood screws Figure 24 INSTALLATION CONTROL HEAD INSTALLATION Step Five Assembling the Connector Holder 1 Insert the cable connectors into the connector holder Sh ng E The cable connectors are labeled and there are Transducer Transducer corresponding labels on the connector holder Figure TROIN cal 26 The slots for the connectors are keyed to prevent reverse installation so do not force the connector into the holder 2 Carefully pull the excess cable from beneath the mounting surface so the connector holder aligns with the mounting holes on the front of the mounting bracket aial Figure 27 a IT 3 Snap the support plate to the rear of the connector ee holder Figure 28 NNA 4 Insert the connector holder into place and use the two 6 32 x 34 9mm screws to fasten it to the mount
18. e because it controls the range of information displayed on screen Zoom however allows selection of ranges beneath the surface so any area of water between the surface and the bottom can be enlarged to provide more detailed information By using the full display to show a small area of coverage the effective display resolution is increased and the unit s ability to separate close targets is enhanced There are four Zoom ranges available 1 1 2 2m 15 5m 30 Upper Zoom Limit 10m and 60 20m These ranges are not directly user yr controlled but are instead dependent on the current depth range In shallow water when the 15 5m or 30 10m range is in use the Zoom range is 15 5m if a 180 480 60 150m depth range is in use the Zoom range is 30 10m and if the 600 185m range is in use the Zoom range is 60 20m The Zoom range is shown on the left side of the screen and full i ft oa range information is shown on the right side of the display 45 68 R Zoom can either operate automatically in which the Zoom 5 range is constantly adjusted to show the bottom or manually Lower Ze in which the user controls the location of the Zoom range Automatic Zoom is especially helpful when looking for structure or bottom detail The Automatic Zoom keeps the bottom in view even in quickly changing terrain but is most useful in flatter areas without considerable depth variation Manual Zoom prov
19. e different settings that correspond to the three different size fish symbols shown on screen The default setting is OFF With the Large Fish Only setting the 300TX alarms on only those targets that are represented by the large fish symbols The 300TX can be set to alarm on only large and medium fish or set to alarm on all fish Set for large fish only im Set for large and medium fish es eS Once the Fish Alarm is enabled the 300TX emits an audible beep when the selected size fish symbol appears on screen The sound is slightly different for each of the three fish symbol sizes so with practice it is possible to distinguish the size of the detected fish without looking at the unit Triplog Triplog provides a running log of information based on input from the Temp Speed sensor Since Triplog requires information from the Temp Speed sensor to operate if this sensor is not detected by the 300TX the Triplog menu will not appear as an option Triplog provides seven pieces of information The current DEPTH digital depth water surface temperature current boat speed Ft the distance traveled since the 300TX was powered up or 93 reset the average speed the total time elapsed since power up or reset and the input voltage from your boat s electrical GR oF j 9 pph system aa e ee ist AVG SPO The time speed and distance calculations are useful for 8 357 16 57 tracking your progress on a trip The input voltag
20. e is useful for A Lc RL a determining the condition of the charging system of the boat 00 30 13 4 When used in a portable application or whenever the 300TX is operated from a battery source the voltage number can be used to determine battery life The 300TX will operate at voltages from 10 to 20 VDC Voltages in excess of 20 or less than 10 VDC cause the unit to power off Options The Options Menu is a series of linked menu functions used initially to set your preferences Once you preferences are selected it is unlikely these functions need to be accessed during the normal operation of the product The Options menu works differently than other menu functions in that all the options must be cycled through in order to return to normal operation There are seven Option menus Units Fish ID Numeral size Bottom Black Diagnostic and Reset Units Speed The Units Speed function allows the user to select the units of measurement for the speed readout Both MPH or statute mils per hour are available The 300TX remembers this selection even when the unit is powered off Units Depth Speed Only available on metric versions the Units Depth Speed function allows the user to select the units of measurement for the depth and speed readout MTR KPH meters kilometers per hour MTR KTS meters nautical miles per hour FEET MPH feet statute miles per hour and FEET KTS feet nautical miles per hour are available The 300TX remembers this selecti
21. ed time the menu disappears MENU the menu will remain on screen indefinitely Once you release the menu button the screen will time out Once a menu times out it is still considered the active menu Press MENU to bring up the last menu used Arrow Keys The UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW make adjustments to menu functions On the left side of every menu there are UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW symbols The symbols indicate which ARROW button has a function in a particular situation Either one or both ARROW buttons can be used to adjust the menu function A hollow ARROW symbol means the corresponding ARROW button has no function Pressing that button will result in no adjustment and the error audible will be heard A solid ARROW button can be used to affect the menu adjustment The ARROW buttons often can be used when no menu is on screen In these situations pressing the ARROW button affects the function of the active last used menu This is a short cut to menu operation The menu appears on screen while the adjustment is made and times out A frequently used menu can be adjusted very quickly using this technique After an adjustment is made to a menu function the menu times out after a few seconds and the unit returns to normal operation Menu Layout All menus use the same basic layout The heading at the top describes the menu function The UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW symbols to the left of the menu indicate which buttons are available for adj
22. er The Power button powers the 300 TX up for normal operation When the unit is on POWER turns the unit off POWER can also be used to go directly into Simulator mode To enter Simulator with the unit powered off press and hold POWER for several seconds until a continuous chirp is heard G Light LIGHT controls the unit s display backlight With the unit powered G on press LIGHT once to turn the backlight on high Press LIGHT a second time to turn the backlight on Low and a third time turns the backlight off The backlight is very effective for low light and nighttime operation When the backlight is on the 300TX will consume more power than the backlight off This is important when using the 300TX in a portable configuration powered by a separate battery or when powering the unit from a trolling motor battery When powering the unit from a battery such as in portable applications you can prolong the batter life by using the backlight at a minimum The three lower buttons MENU UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW work together to control the 300TX menu controlled user functions Menu MENU displays a menu on screen for adjustment In normal operation pressing MENU repeatedly cycles through all available menu headings When a menu heading displays the full menu appears after a short pause A menu remains in screen for several seconds and can be adjusted by using the ARROW keys If no adjustment is made in the allott
23. he boat The transducer converts electrical energy from the transmitter into mechanical pulses or sound waves The transducer also receives the reflected sound waves and converts them back into electrical signals for display on the control head It should be installed in contact with the surface of the water in an area that has smooth waterflow usually on the transom of the boat There are several mounting options for the transducer Review the following section to determine the method that works for you and your boat INSTALLATION PREPARATION INSTALLATION OVERVIEW Determining How to Mount the Transducer Your Humminbird fishfinder includes a standard transducer This transducer can be mounted on the transom of the boat or bonded to the inside of a fiberglass hull boat The transom installation which is the most widely used places the transducer on the outside of the boat hull This technique produces the least signal loss and provides a way to adjust the transducer after installation The mounting hardware included is designed to protect both EPA ony ee the boat and the transducer should the boat strike debris in the water or when trailering As an alternative to transom mounting it is possible on many fiberglass hulled boats to glue the transducer on the inside of the boat hull Since fiberglass has similar sonar characteristics as water the sonar signal can pass through the boat hull with minimal loss The hull of the boat m
24. hull until the optimum performance is achieved Step Three Permanently Mount the Transducer 1 2 Once the mounting location is determined mark the position of the transducer Remove the water from inside the hull and thoroughly dry the mounting surface If the surface is excessively rough it may be necessary to sand the area to provide a smooth mounting surface Ensure the mounting area is clear and dry Mix an ample quantity of two part slow cure epoxy slowly and thoroughly Avoid trapping air bubbles Coat the face of the transducer and the inside of the hull Figure 16 Press the transducer into place with a slight twisting motion to purge any trapped air from underneath keeping the pointed end of the transducer body pointed forward Figure 17 Note Proper operation requires the pointed end of the transducer body to face towards the bow 6 Weight the transducer so it does not move while the epoxy is curing When the epoxy cures no water is necessary inside the hull Neither water spilled gasoline or oil will affect the performance of the transducer INSTALLATION CONTROL HEAD INSTALLATION CONTROL HEAD INSTALLATION Step One Determine Where to Mount Begin the installation by determining where to mount the control head Consider the following to determine best location e The cables for power transducer and temp speed accessories if applicable should be installed first and must reach the mou
25. ides detailed information of any area from the surface to the bottom In manual Zoom the Zoom range does not move as the terrain changes When the range is shown in the menu the upper number represents the top of the current Zoom range The lower number represents the bottom of the Zoom range Use the UP and DOWN ARROW buttons to move this range The upper number can never be less than 0 the surface of the water and the lower number can never be greater than the active depth range The difference between the two numbers the Zoom range is preset and determined by the active depth range Once manual Zoom is selected the display appears the same as in Auto Zoom but the zoom range does not change automatically To disable Zoom press the MENU button until the Zoom menu is on screen Use the UP ARROW to highlight Off and let the menu time out When the unit is powered off the Zoom menu returns to Zoom Off Depth Alarm The 300TX contains an audible alarm to warn you of shallow water depths The alarm is adjustable to depths of 2 6m to 99 30m When the alarm is enabled an audible alarm sounds if the water beneath the boat is equal to or less than the selected alarm depth The alarm sounds continuously for about five seconds and then intermittently to remind you that you are still in shallow water Fish Alarm The Fish Alarm alerts you to the presence of fish or other targets not connected to the bottom The Fish Alarm has thre
26. information appears on the right side of the graphic area of the display and moves to the left as new information is displayed The 300TX automatically selects the appropriate depth range to show the depth of water beneath the transducer This range is selected so the bottom representation is typically shown about 2 3 down the display Bottom The graphic depiction of the bottom provides an effective tool for understanding the composition of the bottom If the bottom is hard and smooth the bottom depiction is narrow and dense If the bottom is soft mud or sand the depiction will be thick and less dense This indicates that much of the signal is absorbed by the soft bottom If the bottom is rocky or rugged in composition the depiction is of varying density and textured in appearance ey Bo JESE Sottor Hard 8 Wave action also affects the bottom depiction The information drawn is a distance measurement so if the boat is moving up and down over flat bottom the bottom depiction often appears in regular variations that match wave timing Structure Structure is defined as any object physically attached to the bottom The sonar configuration of the 300TX is optimized to give the most accurate depiction of bottom structure possible Grass trees stumps wrecks or other debris are accurately displayed however the depiction of these objects varies with boat speed and direction The best way to learn to interpret structure is to oper
27. ing bracket Figure 28 mice Botti 5 Install the control head by sliding it onto the mounting i bracket until it is fully seated To remove the unit simply depress the latch on the rear of the unit and lift Figure 29 ij Your Humminbird is now ready for operation INSTALLATION TEST THE INSTALLATION TEST THE INSTALLATION Testing should be performed with the boat in the water however you can initially confirm basic operation with the boat trailered Press POWER once to turn the unit on There will be an audible chirp when any button is pressed to confirm the button press If the unit does not power up ensure the unit is fully seated on the mount and that power is available The first screen provides four options Start up Options Simulator and Diagnostic A message at the bottom of the screen indicates the transducer connection If no transducer is detected or one is not connected the message will indicate this and the unit will go into simulator after the initial screen times out Note the transducer must be submerged in water for reliable transducer detection If a transducer is detected the unit will enter Start Up or normal operation unless you choose another option If you do not press any button before the timer reaches 0 the normal operation screen is displayed If the boat is in water sonar data appears If the bottom is visible on screen with a digital depth readout the unit is wor
28. itivity bias 1 through 5 the unit effectively filters small sonar returns In murky or muddy water it is often helpful to reduce the High Sensitivity Low Sensitivity sensitivity This prevents the display from being cluttered with pete g i a Oy sonar returns from debris or suspended particles IN very clear hg E 18 or very deep water it may be helpful to increase the sensitivity O since event he smallest sonar return may be of interest to the user aye The adjust Sensitivity press MENU repeatedly until the Sensitivity heading is displayed When the Sensitivity menu l fe ar appears use the UP ARROW to increase the Sensitivity or the 35 fe F DOWN ARROW to reduce the sensitivity To sequence through 6 5 the available settings press and hold either ARROW button Sensitivity at 0 Release the button at the setting you want to change After an adjustment is made the menu disappears and the new sensitivity setting is in affect If additional time is needed to study a menu press and hold the MENU button and the menu will remain on screen indefinitely If you need to make an additional adjustment press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW button Depth Range The Depth Range function controls the vertical distance displayed on the graphic area of the display There are nine depth ranges available The top of the range is always 0 or the surface of the water Ranges of 0 15 0 30 0 60 0 120 0 180 0 240 0 3
29. king properly Ensure the boat is in water greater than 2 but less than the depth capability of the unit and the transducer is fully submerged Remember the sonar signal cannot pass through air If the unit is working properly gradually increase the boat speed to test high speed performance If the unit functions well at low speeds but begins to skip or miss the bottom at higher speeds the transducer requires adjustment Refer to the appropriate transducer installation section for more detail Note it is often necessary to make several incremental transducer adjustments before optimum high speed performance is achieved Important For Transom Mount transducer installations install the third mounting screw after the final transducer adjustments Humminbird 3 Humminbird Lane e Eufaula Alabama 36027 Using the 300TX Actual depth capability depends on factors such as bottom hardness water conditions and transducer installation Units will typically read to deeper depths in fresh water than in salt water Simulator Operation The 300TX contains a simulator that allows you to use the unit SSTRRT UP as if you are on the water The simulator is invaluable for NPT DNS learning how to operate the 300TX OR SIMULATOR e 5 HAGNOSTIC There are two ways to start the simulator If the unit is powered off press and hold the POWER button for approximately three seconds until you hear a continuous chirp The simulator can al
30. nel Attach the black wire to ground and the red wire to 12 VDC power Figure 20 Be sure to use a one amp fuse in the connection If you must wire the control head directly to a battery be sure to install an inline fuse holder INSTALLATION CONTROL HEAD INSTALLATION and one amp fuse not included for the protection of the unit Figure 21 Humminbird is not responsible for over voltage or over current failures In order to minimize the potential for interference with other marine electronics a separate power source Such as a o o second battery may be necessary whe Step Three Drill the Mounting Holes 1 Set the mounting bracket in place on the mounting Stein Hole Lotanian surface Mark the four mounting screw locations with a pencil or punch mn ities 2 Set the mounting bracket aside and drill the four Letka mounting screw holes using a 9 64 3 6mm bit yu rA SENTAR Step Four Run the Cables Fj Sf y 1 If the cables must pass through a hole underneath the b mounting surface mark and drill a 1 25mm hole centered between the four mounting holes Figure 22 Note if the cables must pass through the mounting surface at a different location drill the 1 25mm hole at that location and pass the cables through from underneath Also you must break out the tabs on the rear of the mounting base using needle nose pliers i Figures 24 25 A foe 2 2 Insert all cables through the 1 25mm hole from bene
31. nsom meets with the bottom corner of the template Using a pencil or punch mark the two mounting holes shown on the template onto the transom Do not mark or drill any other holes at this time Using a 5 32 4mm bit drill the two holes to a depth of approximately 1 3cm On fiberglass hulls it is best to start with a smaller bit and use progressively larger drill bits to reduce the chance of chipping or flaking the outer coating Step Three Assemble the Transducer 1 Attach the Pivot to the transducer body as shown in Figure 5 using the 8 3 8 9mm long allen headed pivot screw the headed pin the two flat washers and the two toothed lock washers Note The toothed lock washers must be positioned between the transducer and the pivot ears The flat washers must be positioned to the outside at the pivot ears 2 Using the Allen wrenches provided loosely tighten the pivot screw Figure 6 Do not completely tighten the assembly at this time so the pivot angle can be adjusted later Insert the pivot transducer assembly into the mounting bracket as shown in Figure 7 Do not snap the assembly closed Template alignment s4 a Figure 4 Transducer Assembly INSTALLATION TRANSOM INSTALLATION Step Four Mount the Transducer to the Transom 1 Apply silicone sealant to the mounting holes drilled into the transom 2 Align the transducer assembly with the drilled holes in the transom Figure 8 3
32. nting location Extension cables are available e There are two ways to route the cables to the unit through a hole in the mounting surface underneath the mounting bracket or from a hole outside the mounting bracket Routing the cables down under the mount provides maximum weather protection S however this is not always feasible if the area under the CGA fishfinder is inaccessible In this case route the cables through a hole at another location and cover with the supplied hole cover e The mounting surface should be adequately supported to protect the fishfinder from excessive wave shock and vibration ig and provide visibility while in operation e The mounting area should allow sufficient room for the unit to sft p pivot and swivel freely and for easy removal and installation po oo Figures 18 19 i be a g F Step Two Connect the Power Cable to the Boat wi e A 6 2m long power cable is included to supply power to the _ fishfinder You may shorten or lengthen the cable using 18 gauge L multi stranded copper wire CAUTION Some boats have 24 or 36 volt electric systems Be eile sure your unit is connected to a 12 VDC power supply ka The Power can be connected to the boat s electrical system at two places a fuse panel usually located near the console or directly to the battery If a fuse terminal is available use crimp on type electrical connectors not included that match the terminal on the fuse pa
33. on even when the unit is powered off Fish ID There are three selections available Off ID ON and Adjust The factory setting is ID ON With Fish ID Off sonar returns are displayed as raw information There is no interpretation made by the unit Selecting ID Off also disables the fish alarm ID On enables the 300TX to interpret the raw sonar data and using a Raw Sonar IDe On variety of techniques depict appropriate target returns as one of three different size fish symbols Further identification shows whether the fish is in the wide or narrow beam The 300TX also displays the depth beneath the surface with the corresponding fish symbols p 13 Increasing the value to a number greater than zero shows more fish symbols on screen In this case smaller sonar returns will be depicted as fish symbols This is useful for identifying many smaller sonar returns such as baitfish as fish symbols Decreasing the value to a number less than zero shows fewer fish symbols on screen In this case smaller sonar returns are disregarded This is useful for eliminating many small sonar returns when seeking larger species of fish The 300TX remembers this selection even when the unit is powered off Numeral Size Two options are available Big and Small The factor setting is Big With this setting the digital depth and speed and temp numerals are drawn large enough to be read from across the boat The big numerals occupy space on the display th
34. peed input feature only works when the boat is in motion as the paddle wheel on the speed sensor must rotate to be detected Voltage Input Another connection tested is the voltage input and is especially helpful in diagnosing input voltage problems The current input voltage is displayed If voltage fluctuations or power supply in excess of 20 VDC or less than 10 VDC is suspected use the diagnostic screen to confirm input voltage Often small outboard motors do not effectively regulate voltage when operated at high engine speeds Use Diagnostic while running the boat at high speeds to show the voltage gain Also if you are using the 300TX in portable configuration or from the trolling motor battery Diagnostic screen to confirm input voltage when operated at high engine speeds Use Diagnostic while running the boat at high speeds to show the voltage gain Also if you are using the 300TX in portable configuration or from the trolling motor battery Diagnostic can be used to evaluate the health of the batter by showing the current voltage Total Time The total time category indicates the total time the unit has been in use since shipped from the factory It is normal for some hours to appear in the total time when the unit is new due to factory testing While this is often of interest to the user it is primarily a diagnostic tool for the repair technician should the unit need service Using Alternative Transducer Wide Side Operation The
35. rakes and other protrusions as these create turbulence Figure 14 e Asageneral rule the faster the boat can travel the further aft and closer to the centerline of the hull the transducer has to be located to remain in contact with the water at high speeds Step Two Test the Mounting Location Transducer Mounted Inside the Hull Preferred Mounting Area There is no opportunity for adjustment after the transducer glued in place Therefore it is best to perform a trial installation on inside the hull transducers first and run the boat at high speeds to determine the best mounting area 1 Atthe identified mounting location lay the transducer body face down with the pointed end towards the bow 2 Fill the hull with enough water to submerge the transducer body Use a sand filled bag or other heavy object to hold the transducer in position The transducer cannot transmit through air The water purges any air from between the transducer and the hull and fills any voids in the coarse fiberglass surface 3 INSTALLATION INSIDE THE HULL INSTALLATION Power up the Control Head 4 Run the boat at various speeds and water depths while observing the screen on the Control Head If the unit functions well at low speeds but begins to skip or miss the bottom at higher speeds the transducer needs to be moved If depth performance is required test the fishfinder in water at the desired depth Test different locations in the
36. so be started by selecting the Simulator option on the start up screen after you power up the unit When this screen is shown simply press the DOWN ARROW until Simulator is highlighted When the screen times out the unit will be in simulator mode When the screen times out the unit will be in simulator mode When in simulator operation the 300TX responds to control inputs as if it is in actual operation so feel free to experiment or to customize the unit for your particular operation To exit Simulator mode power the unit off When in simulator mode the word simulator occasionally scrolls across the display indicating the information on screen is not real sonar data Feature Memory If your 300TX is installed with a transducer connected any changes you make to the set up or User Options see Control Functions while in Simulator are retained in the units memory This allows you to use simulator to experiment with the various set up options and retain your selected settings for normal operation If you are using the 300TX in Simulator when no transducer is connected any selected options are lost when the unit is powered off The 300TX will return to Factory Settings or options selected when last used with a transducer if no transducer is connected IMPORTANT A transducer must be connected to the 300TX in order to retain user settings selected when in simulator mode If no transducer is detected the unit defaults to
37. taching the cable camp to the transom using a 8 x 5 8 16mm screw Note The transducer will pivot up to 90 degrees in the bracket Allow enough slack in the cable for this movement It is best to route the cable to the side of the transducer so the cable will not be damaged by the transducer during movement INSTALLATION INSIDE THE HULL INSTALLATION INSIDE THE HULL INSTALLATION Inside the hull installation requires the mount system and control head be installed and operational See Installing the Control Head for instruction on installing the unit Inside the hull mounting generally produces good results in single thickness fiberglass hulled boats Humminbird cannot guarantee depth performance when transmitting and receiving through the hull of the boat since some signal loss occurs The amount of loss depends on hull construction and thickness and the installation This installation requires slow cure two part epoxy Do not use silicone or any other soft adhesive to install the transducer as this material reduces the sensitivity of the unit Five minute epoxy has a tendency to cure before all the air bubbles can be purged Step One Determine the Mounting Location Begin the transducer installation by determining where inside the hull to install the transducer Consider the following to find the best location e Observe the outside of the boat hull to find the areas that are mostly free from turbulent water Avoid ribs st
38. ust be single layer construction not double hulled Also any air trapped in the lamination of the fiberglass would prevent the sonar signal from passing through Inside the hull installations require no holes be drilled into the boat and through experimentation high speed operation comparable to transom mounting can be achieved Two part slow cure epoxy not included is required to glue the transducer in place Inside the Hull Mounted Transducer INSTALLATION PREPARATION ALTERNATE MOUNTING METHODS ALTERNATE TRANSDUCERS AND MOUNTING METHODS Your Humminbird fishfinder comes with everything necessary for installation and operation on most boats However there are several situations which may require a different type of transducer Inboard boats wood or metal hulls and sail boats create unique transducer mounting needs Alternate transducers and mounting methods are detailed below Portable Mounting The standard transducer can be adapted for portable installations with a portable mounting kit available from Humminbird This accessory adapts your transducer to a suction cup mount for temporary installation on the boat hull or other surface Trolling Motor Mounting The standard transducer can also be adapted to mount on most trolling motors using a different accessory kit This accessory includes a bracket and hose clamp that allows mounting the transducer to the body of most trolling motors Thru Hull Mounting Thru hull tr
39. ustment In menus that have several possible settings a range of adjustment indicator shows the total range available and the current setting Within the menu are the options available The selected option or current setting is highlighted in the black box If no adjustment is made this is the selected setting Press an ARROW button while the menu is displayed to select another option Several of the menus are multi step In some situations if an adjustment is made additional options become available for further adjustment Examples of these multi step menus are Depth Range Depth Alarm and Zoom See the detailed description of each function for further explanation Menu Functions Sensitivity The sensitivity function controls the sensitivity of the sonar receiver The 300TX automatically adjusts the level of receiver sensitivity based on a number of factors including the depth of the water and the level of noise present Noise can be caused by other electronic devises engines trolling motors propeller cavitation and hydrodynamic flow among others The user has the option of adjusting the Sensitivity higher or lower based on personal preference You can select one of 11 sensitivity settings from 5 to 5 A setting of 0 factory setting has no effect on the automatic sensitivity control Increasing the sensitivity 1 through 5 enables the unit to display the information from progressively smaller sonar returns By decreasing the sens
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