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Eagle 500C User Manual

Eagle 500C
204 pages
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Pub. 988-0156-041
www.eaglesonar.com
FishElite 500C and
SeaCharter 500CDF
Fish-finding Sonars & Mapping GPS
Installation and Operation
Instructions

Table of Contents

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Eagle 500C Specifications

General IconGeneral
Display Resolution480 x 480 pixels
Waterproof RatingIPX7
Transducer IncludedYes
Display Size5 inches
DisplayColor TFT
Sonar Frequency200 kHz
Frequency200 kHz

Summary

Section 1: Read Me First!

Capabilities and Specifications

Detailed technical specifications for the FishElite 500C and SeaCharter 500CDF units.

How Eagle Sonar Works

Explanation of the principles behind sonar technology and how it detects underwater objects.

How GPS Works

Explanation of how the Global Positioning System (GPS) determines location and provides navigation.

Introduction to GPS and WAAS

Overview of GPS and WAAS satellite navigation systems and their operation.

How to use this manual: typographical conventions

Guide on interpreting manual formatting for commands, keys, and instructions.

Section 2: Installation & Accessories

Preparations

Steps to take before installing the sonar system.

Transducer Installation

Instructions for mounting the Skimmer transducer on a transom, trolling motor, or hull.

Recommended Tools and Supplies

Lists required tools and supplies for transducer installation.

Single-frequency transom installations

Details tools and supplies for single-frequency transom transducer setups.

Dual-frequency transom installations

Details tools and supplies for dual-frequency transom transducer setups.

Single-frequency trolling motor installations

Lists tools and supplies for single-frequency trolling motor transducer setups.

Shoot-through hull installations

Lists tools and supplies for shoot-through hull transducer installations.

Selecting a Transducer Location

Guidance on choosing the optimal location for transducer mounting on a boat hull.

How Low Should You Go?

Advice on setting the transducer's centerline level with the boat hull for best performance.

Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting

Compares the advantages and disadvantages of two transducer mounting methods.

Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting

Step-by-step guide for assembling and mounting transom transducers.

Trolling Motor Bracket Installation

Instructions for installing a trolling motor bracket for the transducer.

Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches

Explains how transducer angle affects fish arch display on the sonar.

Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation

Details how to prepare fiberglass hulls for shoot-thru transducer installation.

Speed/Temperature Sensors

Information on connecting and using optional speed and temperature sensors.

Power Connections

Instructions for connecting the unit to a 12-volt battery system.

Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable

Options for installing the sonar unit using a gimbal bracket, in-dash, or portable setup.

GPS Antenna/Receiver Module Installation

Guide for installing the external GPS antenna and receiver module.

NMEA Cable Connections

Explains NMEA standard communications format for marine electronics.

NMEA Wiring

Details the wiring for NMEA 0183 communication port.

MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation

Instructions for installing MultiMedia Cards (MMC) or Secure Digital (SD) cards.

Other Accessories

Mentions available accessories like switch boxes and MapCreate software.

Section 3: Basic Sonar Operation

Keyboard

Identifies and explains the functions of the unit's keyboard buttons.

Power/lights on and off

Instructions for turning the unit on and off, and controlling backlight settings.

Main Menu

Overview of accessing and navigating the unit's main menu structure.

Satellite Status Page

Explains the Satellite Status Page for monitoring GPS satellite lock-on.

Navigation Page

Describes the Navigation Page for directional guidance and compass information.

Map Page

Details the Map Page for viewing charts, routes, and your position.

Sonar Page

Details the Sonar Page display and its functions for viewing sonar data.

Basic Sonar Quick Reference

A concise, step-by-step guide for basic sonar operation and fish finding.

Sonar Operations

Discusses basic sonar operation, including sensitivity adjustments.

Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart

Compares using Fish I.D. symbols versus interpreting raw sonar arches.

Section 4: Sonar Options & Other Features

ASP™ (Advanced Signal Processing)

Noise rejection system to improve sonar display quality.

Alarms

Configuration for sonar alarms like depth, zone, and fish alarms.

Fish Alarm

Audible alarm for detected fish symbols using the Fish I.D. feature.

Calibrate Speed

Adjusts the speed sensor for accurate speed and distance readings.

Chart Speed

Controls the scrolling rate of sonar echoes on the display.

ColorLine™

Distinguishes between strong and weak echoes for bottom composition analysis.

Customize Page Displays

Allows customization of data boxes on various page displays.

Depth Cursor

A tool to pinpoint the depth of targets on the sonar display.

Depth Range - Automatic

Sets the sonar depth range automatically based on water depth.

Depth Range - Manual

Allows manual selection of sonar depth ranges from 5 to 4,000 feet.

FasTrack™

Converts sonar echoes to horizontal lines for stationary fishing.

Fish I.D.™ (Fish Symbols & Depths)

Identifies and displays fish targets with symbols and depth.

FishTrack™

Shows the depth of fish symbols when Fish I.D. is active.

Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency)

Allows selection of transducer frequencies (50/200 kHz) for optimal performance.

HyperScroll™

Controls screen refresh and chart scroll speed for high-speed operation.

Log Sonar Chart Data

Enables saving sonar data to an MMC for later playback.

Noise Rejection

Part of ASP, reduces unwanted signals from electrical or mechanical sources.

Overlay Data

Allows floating GPS or navigation data to be displayed on screen.

Ping Speed & HyperScroll™

Controls ping rate and enables HyperScroll for faster screen updates.

Reset Options

Resets all features, options, and settings to original factory defaults.

Reset Water Distance

Resets the water distance calculation to zero.

Set Keel Offset

Calibrates depth readings to account for transducer mounting position relative to the keel.

Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity

Adjusts the unit's ability to pick up sonar echoes.

Full Sonar Chart

The default sonar display mode showing the water column.

Split Zoom Sonar Chart

Displays the sonar chart with a zoomed view on one side.

Digital Data

Shows sonar chart with large digital data boxes for various information.

Customizing the Digital Data Screen

Allows customization of the digital data boxes displayed on screen.

Map With Sonar Split Screen

Displays map and sonar screens side-by-side.

Sonar Simulator

Allows practicing unit functions without actual sonar data.

Stop Chart

Turns off the sonar and stops the chart from scrolling.

Surface Clarity

Controls surface clutter by adjusting receiver sensitivity near the surface.

Zoom & Zoom Bar

Features for enlarging display details and a bar indicating zoom range.

Zoom Pan

Allows moving the zoomed area up and down the water column.

Section 5: Sonar Troubleshooting

Unit won't turn on

Troubleshooting steps for when the unit fails to power on.

Unit freezes, locks up, or operates erratically

Solutions for issues like unit freezing, locking up, or erratic operation.

Weak bottom echo, digital readings erratic, or no fish signals

Troubleshooting steps for poor bottom echo, erratic depth readings, or missing fish signals.

No fish arches when the Fish I.D. feature is off

Steps to take if fish arches are not visible when Fish I.D. is disabled.

NOISE

Guidance on identifying and minimizing electrical noise affecting sonar performance.

Section 6: Basic GPS Operations

Keyboard

Identifies and explains the functions of the unit's GPS keyboard buttons.

Power/lights on and off

Instructions for turning the GPS unit on and off, and controlling backlight.

Main Menu

Overview of accessing and navigating the unit's GPS main menu.

Sonar Page

Details the Sonar Page display, accessed via GPS Pages menu.

Satellite Status Page

Explains the Satellite Status Page for monitoring GPS satellite lock-on.

Navigation Page

Describes the Navigation Page for directional guidance and compass information.

Map Page

Details the Map Page for viewing charts, routes, and your position.

Basic GPS Quick Reference

A concise guide for basic GPS operations and navigation.

Find Your Current Position

Steps to determine the unit's current location using GPS satellites.

Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys

Explains how to navigate and zoom the map display using arrow keys.

Selecting Any Map Item With the Cursor

How to select map items like POIs or features using the cursor.

Set a Waypoint

Procedures for creating and saving waypoints at current position, on map, or by entering coordinates.

Navigate To a Waypoint

Instructions for navigating to a selected waypoint using Find Waypoint commands.

Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint

Feature to mark the location of a man overboard incident for rescue.

Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint

Guidance on navigating back to the MOB position using Navigation or Map Page.

Navigate to Cursor Position on Map

How to navigate to any location selected by the map cursor.

Creating and Saving a Trail

Process for automatically creating and saving a trail of your travel path.

Navigating Trails

Methods for following a saved trail, including visual trailing and route navigation.

Section 7: Advanced GPS Operations

Routes

Information on creating, saving, and managing routes composed of waypoints.

Create and Save a Route

Procedures for creating routes directly on the unit or via PC software.

Delete a Route

How to remove a route from the unit's memory.

Edit a Route Name

Instructions for changing the name of an existing route.

Edit Route Waypoints

Steps for adding or removing waypoints from a route.

Navigate a Route

Guide on following a saved route, including arrival alarms.

Navigate a Route in Reverse

How to follow a route in the reverse direction, from end to start.

Trails

Overview of trail options for recording and displaying travel paths.

Delete a Trail

Steps to erase a specific trail from memory.

Edit a Trail Name

How to change the name of a saved trail.

Edit a Trail Color

Option to modify the display color of a trail.

Edit a Trail Pattern

Option to change the visual pattern (e.g., dotted line) of a trail.

Utilities

Access to various useful tools like alarm clock, calculators, and timers.

Waypoints

Comprehensive guide to managing waypoints, including deletion and editing.

Delete a Waypoint

Procedures for removing waypoints from the list or map.

Edit a Waypoint

Options for editing waypoint name, symbol, and position.

Selecting a Waypoint

How to select a waypoint on the map for navigation or editing.

Section 8: System & GPS Setup Options

Alarms

Configuration for GPS alarms like arrival, off-course, and anchor alarms.

Check MMC Files and Storage Space

How to view files and available storage on the MMC card.

Communications Port Configuration

Settings for configuring the unit's communication port for data transfer.

Configure NMEA

Settings for selecting specific NMEA sentences for data transmission.

Coordinate System Selection

Options for choosing display formats for position coordinates (degrees, UTM, etc.).

Map Fix

System for finding position relative to a reference point on a paper map.

Customize Page Displays

Allows customization of data boxes on Satellite Status, Navigation, and Map pages.

GPS Simulator

A tool for practicing GPS operations and navigation scenarios.

Require WAAS

Option to force the unit to require WAAS for valid position reporting.

Screen Contrast and Brightness

Adjustments for display contrast and brightness levels.

Set Language

Selection of the user interface language from multiple options.

Set Local Time

Setting the unit's local time for accurate arrival time estimations.

Show WAAS Alarm

Option to enable or disable alarms for WAAS signal acquisition or loss.

Software Version Information

Displays the current operating system software version of the unit.

Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles

Customization of sounds for key presses and alarms, including volume and style.

Track Smoothing

Feature to prevent trail wandering, especially at low speeds.

Trail Options

Settings to manage trails, including update criteria, visibility, and deletion.

Transparency

Adjusts the transparency level of menu windows for better screen visibility.

Units of Measure

Selection of units for speed, distance, depth, temperature, and heading.

Section 9: Searching

Find Addresses

Search for specific street addresses within a city or area.

Find Streets or Intersections

Locate specific streets or intersections by name.

Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor

Select and get information on any map item by moving the cursor over it.

Find Interstate Highway Exits

Search for highway exits, services, and related information.

Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI)

Search for various points of interest like lodging, restaurants, and attractions.

Find Waypoints

Search for existing waypoints by name or nearest location.

Section 10: Supplemental Material

Datums Used by This Unit

Lists the various geodetic datums supported by the unit for map and chart referencing.

How to Obtain Service...

Information on how to get technical support, repairs, or service for the product.

Accessory Ordering Information

Details on how to order optional accessories like cables and transducers.

Shipping Information

Guidelines for preparing and shipping the product for repair or replacement.

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