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I

NTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing the Garmin

®

 Fishfinder 250/250C. This 

product is designed for easy operation and to provide years of 

reliable service.
Operations for the Fishfinder 250 and Fishfinder 250C are the 

same unless othewise noted. To ensure that you get the most from 

the Fishfinder 250/250C, take time to read this 

Owner’s Manual

 

and learn how to operate your new unit. This manual breaks down 

into three main sections. Getting Started covers the installation 

and testing for the Fishfinder 250/250C. Basic Operation provides 

detailed references to the features and operations of the Fishfinder 

250/250C and a basic overview of how sonar works and provides 

information on interpreting sonar graphs. The Appendix contains 

unit specifications and warranty information.

Product Support

If you encounter a problem or just have a question, our Product 

Support Department can be reached Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM 

Central Time.

Phone: 800/800.1020 or 913/397.8200
Online: http://www.garmin.com/contactUs/techSupport.jsp

Check the Garmin Web site (www.garmin.com) for links to Product 

Support and Product FAQs.

Enjoy your new Fishfinder 250/250C, and once again thank you for 

choosing Garmin!

Product Registration

Help us to better support you by completing our online 

registration today!

 Connect to our Web site (www.garmin.com) and 

look for the Product Registration link on the Home page. Your unit’s 

serial number is located on the back of the unit.
Use this area to record the serial number in case your Fishfinder 

250/250C is lost, stolen, or in need of service. Be sure to keep your 

original sales receipt in a safe place or attach a photocopy to these 

instructions. 
Serial Number: ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___

 

NOTE: 

If you have previously registered a Garmin product 

purchase, we invite you to re-register using our online system. 

Many services provided by our product registration system are 

now automated and re-registering your purchase ensures you the 

best possible support from Garmin.

I

NTRODUCTION

Fishfinder 250/250C Owner’s Manual

 

iii

Summary of Contents for Fishfinder 250

Page 1: ...Fish nder 250 250C high resolution sonar owner s manual Fish nder 250C shown...

Page 2: ...torage medium to be viewed and to print one copy of this manual or of any revision hereto provided that such electronic or printed copy of this manual must contain the complete text of this copyright...

Page 3: ...ral Time Phone 800 800 1020 or 913 397 8200 Online http www garmin com contactUs techSupport jsp Check the Garmin Web site www garmin com for links to Product Support and Product FAQs Enjoy your new F...

Page 4: ...2 Basic Operation 13 Using the Keypad 13 Using the Sonar Page 14 Using the Adjustment Menu 16 Adjustment Options 17 Pausing the Sonar Page 20 Using the Main Menu 21 Graph Tab 21 Tools Tab 23 Con gurin...

Page 5: ...s Standard Package plus Single Frequency 200kHz 14 Plastic Transom Mount Transducer with Depth and Temp Fish nder 250C Standard Package 010 00341 00 w o transducer Fish nder 250C Unit Swivel Mount Bra...

Page 6: ...These transducers provide good all around performance In addition a variety of optional transducers are available from your local dealer or direct from Garmin 200 50kHz 12 45 plastic transom mount dep...

Page 7: ...sed to extreme temperature conditions When installing the mounting bracket allow room for the routing and connection of the power and transducer cables Installing the Swivel Mount The Fish nder 250 25...

Page 8: ...the bracket to the mounting surface 2 Drill the mounting holes If securing the base with machine bolts drill three 5 32 5mm holes at the locations you marked If securing the base with self tapping scr...

Page 9: ...bracket arms apart Turn counter clockwise to widen the bracket arms clockwise to tighten 2 Adjust the unit angle and tighten the long mounting knob until snug 3 To tilt the unit loosen the long mounti...

Page 10: ...bit drill a hole for a location to begin cutting the mounting surface 5 Using the jig saw cut the mounting surface along the inside of the dashed line indicated on the template NOTE Be very careful wh...

Page 11: ...attery make sure the 2 Amp in line fuse supplied with the unit is installed If needed use a 2 Amp ACG 3AG replacement fuse If you decide to route power through the boat s fuse block remove the in line...

Page 12: ...ect the Brown Data IN wire from the Fish nder to the Data OUT wire on the GPS NMEA harness 4 Set the Fish nder 250 250C NMEA Input Output to On page 27 For Garmin GPS units set the communications inte...

Page 13: ...installation only the Red and Black wires are used The other wires do not have to be connected for normal operation of the unit You can download a copy of Garmin s proprietary communication protocol...

Page 14: ...o getting the best performance from your new unit If the transducer lead is too short extension cables are available from your Garmin dealer Coil and secure any excess cable DO NOT cut the transducer...

Page 15: ...ion for the transducer consider the following conditions The location has to be solid berglass devoid of any air bubbles laminates llers or dead air space The location needs to be in an area of clean...

Page 16: ...ENU to return to the Sonar display Since water is necessary to carry the sounder s sonar signal the transducer must be in the water to work properly It is not possible to get a depth distance reading...

Page 17: ...djustments ENTER Key press to select a highlighted menu option When entering data allows you to initiate entry and then accept the selected value s When paused in Pointer mode press to create a waypoi...

Page 18: ...matically disappears when idle for 20 seconds 2 Press the Up or Down ARROW keys to change the backlight setting Press and release POWER BACKLIGHT to toggle the backlight setting between maximum user s...

Page 19: ...onar returns are displayed as red strongest orange strong yellow medium green weaker and blue weakest The Fish Symbols option page 22 allows you to nd sh by viewing the actual sonar data a sh symbol o...

Page 20: ...rent settings The adjustment window automatically disappears when idle for 20 seconds or you may press ADJ MENU to exit 2 Press the Up or Down ARROW keys to highlight the desired option and press ENTE...

Page 21: ...an options are activated in the Adjustment Menu The Zoom function includes the following seven settings No Zoom displays the sonar picture with no zoom 2x Split shows two reduced size sonar pictures a...

Page 22: ...lay is affected by the change If the display is Bottom Split or Bottom Lock the Span option adjusts the area from the bottom for which the unit displays data Gain controls the sensitivity of the unit...

Page 23: ...tting Higher noise rejection settings make the unit less likely to show sh or structures Scroll adjusts the rate that the graph scrolls from right to left If you are sitting still or the graph is movi...

Page 24: ...where it starts again To pause and unpause the Sonar display 1 From the Sonar page press ADJ MENU 2 Using the ARROW keys highlight the Pause option and press ENTER The Sonar display is paused The Poin...

Page 25: ...the Up or Down ARROW keys to highlight different tab selections Press the Right ARROW key to access the selection elds Each time the Main Menu is accessed the unit returns to the last edited selection...

Page 26: ...Range adjustment control The left value is the top of the scale and the right value is the bottom of the scale Background Color Fish nder 250C only allows you to change the background color of the So...

Page 27: ...re graph on the Sonar page Advanced Data Fields toggles On or Off the advanced data elds on the Sonar page Con gure Advanced Data Fields activates the advanced data eld setup screen Con guring Advance...

Page 28: ...existing eld on the left or add a new data eld from the list on the right Highlighted items on the right appear with a black background and the associated eld on the left is outlined with a moving dot...

Page 29: ...for displaying the log Select Auto to have the unit determine the best range or select a span of 2 4 6 8 or 10 degrees Reset Scale resets the scale range for the temperature graph and displays if Log...

Page 30: ...he transducer reports a temperature above below inside or outside the speci ed values System alarms Battery sets an alarm to sound when the battery nears a critical state of discharge Timer allows you...

Page 31: ...Speed transducer If prompted choose No to the retail demonstration mode for normal consumer simulator use If the unit does not detect a transducer it will automatically enter Simulator mode While in...

Page 32: ...position reading is displayed The default format is latitude and longitude in degrees minutes and thousandths of a minute hddd mm mmm The following additional formats are available latitude longitude...

Page 33: ...the depth of a keel in order to measure depth from the bottom of your keel instead of from the transducer s location Enter a positive number to offset for a keel Enter a negative number to compensate...

Page 34: ...the speed sensor wheel is moving or safely increase boat speed If there is a problem with the speed sensor unit or if a speed senor is not installed a Water Speed Sensor Is Not Working message is dis...

Page 35: ...layed on the graph The underwater data is displayed on the graph in the order it is returned rst returned rst on the graph Generally speaking if the only thing between the transducer and the bottom is...

Page 36: ...water depth As shown the 10 cone angle 200kHz frequency approximately covers the area of a 6 foot diameter circle at a 30 foot depth When using the Fish nder 250 250C with Frequency set to Dual the u...

Page 37: ...played on the graph On both graphs it appears that the sh and tree are side by side as shown in Example 1 However when we look at Example 2 we see that the sh can be several feet from the tree It is i...

Page 38: ...tour along with any signi cant objects lying on the bottom The unit uses whiteline to make this bottom layer easier to distinguish With the Fish nder 250 250C whiteline helps accentuate where strong s...

Page 39: ...ru technology allows the Fish nder 250 250C to see through thermoclines and locate sh where they live and sh love thermoclines A rough de nition of a thermocline is a break in the water where the temp...

Page 40: ...y 50 200 kHz Depth 1500 foot max depth Depth capacity is dependent on water salinity bottom type and other water conditions Cleaning and Storage The Fish nder 250 250C is constructed of high quality m...

Page 41: ...has changed by the amount entered in the Drift Alarm setup Fish Alarm A sh is detected The unit displays an icon and beeps if enabled This alarm does not display a message banner Running Simulator Th...

Page 42: ...If you have any questions or would like additional information please refer to our Web site at http www garmin com prop65 Limited Warranty This Garmin product is warranted to be free from defects in m...

Page 43: ...riginal or copy of the sales receipt from the original retailer is required Garmin will not replace missing components from any package purchased through an online auction International Purchases A se...

Page 44: ...ng Time 30 Deep Water Alarm 26 Defaults 19 27 Depth 14 17 20 22 28 Depth Line 19 Depth Number 22 29 Depth Units 28 Display Mode 27 Distance Units 28 Drift Alarm 26 E ENTER Key 13 F Factory Settings 27...

Page 45: ...Split Screen 17 19 Storage 36 System Tab 27 T Target Level 18 Temperature 22 Temperature Graph 23 Temperature Tab 25 Temperature Units 28 Testing the Installation 12 Time 30 Timer 26 Time Duration 25...

Page 46: ...Ltd Unit 5 The Quadrangle Abbey Park Industrial Estate Romsey SO51 9DL U K Garmin Corporation No 68 Jangshu 2nd Road Shijr Taipei County Taiwan www garmin com Part Number 190 00328 00 Rev B For the l...

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