Lowrance X87 Page 1 Operation Instructions Manual Download

Page: 1 / 92

Pub. 988-0105-961

www.lowrance.com

X87, X88DF, X97, X98DF

Fish-finding & Depth Sounding Sonars

Operation Instructions

Summary of Contents for X87

Page 1: ...Pub 988 0105 961 www lowrance com X87 X88DF X97 X98DF Fish finding Depth Sounding Sonars Operation Instructions...

Page 2: ...rance Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our policies regulations and special offers at any time We reserve the right to do so without notice All features and specifications subject to...

Page 3: ...Installation 17 Speed Temperature Sensors 20 Optional Speed Sensor Installation 22 Power Connections 23 Mounting the Unit Bracket In Dash or Portable 25 Bracket Installation 26 In Dash Installation 2...

Page 4: ...3 Reset Water Distance 63 Screen Contrast and Brightness 63 Sensitivity Auto Sensitivity 64 Set Keel Offset 66 Set Language 67 Software Version Information 67 Sonar Color Mode 68 Sonar Chart Display O...

Page 5: ...ou what content is coming up next If it s a concept you re already familiar with we ll show you how and where to skip ahead for the next important topic We ve also made it easy to look up any tips you...

Page 6: ...lay 5 0 12 7 cm diagonal high contrast Film SuperTwist programmable to viewing pref erence Resolution 320 pixel x 320 pixel resolution 102 400 total pixels 10 level grayscale definition Backlighting F...

Page 7: ...s from 4 degrees to 167 degrees Fahrenheit 20 degrees to 75 degrees Celsius Extended stor age in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liq uid crystal display in your unit This t...

Page 8: ...aragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for those commands and other instructions Arrow Keys The arrow keys control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen The arrow keys als...

Page 9: ...Sonar Page Press the Menu key then repeatedly press or press and hold the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select highlight the Sonar Features menu command Then press the Enter key Step 2 w...

Page 10: ...6 Notes...

Page 11: ...and route it to the sonar unit 6 Mount the sonar unit Transducer Installation These instructions will help you install your Skimmer transducer on a transom on a trolling motor or inside a hull These...

Page 12: ...installations Tools two adjustable wrenches flat head screwdriver Supplies plastic cable ties Shoot through hull installations Tools these will vary depending on your hull s composition Consult your b...

Page 13: ...ld you go For most situations you should install your Skimmer transducer so that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull This will usually give you the best combination of smooth wate...

Page 14: ...ond the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches This can be a problem on some hulls that sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds Follow the procedure listed...

Page 15: ...ters molded into each ratchet Place the ratchets into the bracket with the letter a aligned with the alignment mark molded into the bracket Place the ratchets onto the transducer with the letter a ali...

Page 16: ...cer s face isn t parallel with the ground remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket Place the ratchets into the holes in the bracket with the letter B aligned with the dot stamped in the bra...

Page 17: ...with the bracket alignment mark Place them on the transducer aligned with the 12 o clock posi tion on the transducer stem Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the transom Agai...

Page 18: ...the mounting screw pilot holes You will drill one hole in the center of each slot Drill the holes For the one piece bracket use the 29 bit for the 10 screws For the two piece bracket use the 20 bit fo...

Page 19: ...he sonar unit Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the transducer If possible route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat Electrical noise from the engine s wiring bilge pum...

Page 20: ...rnal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB S Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer 2 Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB S through the slot in the transducer bracket and wrap it aro...

Page 21: ...printed then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised NOTE Periodically wash the transducer s face with soap and water to re move any oil film Oil and dirt on the face...

Page 22: ...ur hull can result in damage that could sink your boat Contact your boat dealer or manufacturer to confirm your hull specifications To choose the proper location for thru hull mounting anchor the boat...

Page 23: ...ce of the transducer with 100 grit sandpaper The surface of the hull must be flat so the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull prior to bonding Epoxy transducer to hull 2 Follow the instr...

Page 24: ...or Temp 3 The first Water temperature sensor is built into the transducer This is the sensor that measures surface water temperature If you want two or more temperature readings from other locations y...

Page 25: ...nstallation Three temperature sensor installation with speed Three temperature sensor installation TS 3X temperature sensor SP X speed sensor MY 4X Cable TS 2X temperature sensor Temperature sensor bu...

Page 26: ...the water flow to the speed sensor Make sure the sensor will remain in the water when the boat is on plane Also make sure the location doesn t inter fere with the boat s trailer Typically the sensor...

Page 27: ...o go ahead and attach the power cable directly to the battery CAUTION When using the unit in a saltwater environment we strongly rec ommend that you shut off the power supply to the power cable when t...

Page 28: ...es a 3 amp fuse Power connections for the sonar unit CAUTION Do not use this product without a 3 amp fuse wired into the power cable Failure to use a 3 amp fuse will void your warranty This unit has r...

Page 29: ...sh or mounted on a portable power supply If you use the supplied bracket you may be interested in the optional R A M bracket mounting system This converts the unit s gimbal bracket to a swivel mount w...

Page 30: ...t page shows the dimensions of a gimbal mounted sonar unit Holes in the bracket s base allow wood screw or through bolt mounting You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of thin fiber...

Page 31: ...ma rine caulking compound Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening No matter what type of installation you prefer be sure to leave enough slack in the cables to allow tiltin...

Page 32: ...many Lowrance products this sonar unit is capable of portable operation by using the optional PPP 11 portable power pack The power pack and an optional portable transducer expand the uses for your so...

Page 33: ...is intended for use when your unit and the vehicle it s mounted in are idle WARNING When the unit is mounted in an unprotected area such as an open boat cockpit the protective face cover must be remo...

Page 34: ...30 Notes...

Page 35: ...Sonar Menu the five Page options and how they all work together BUT if you just can t wait to get on the water turn to the one page Quick Reference on page 38 Keyboard Sonar unit front view with keybo...

Page 36: ...levels Repeatedly pressing PWR will cycle through the back light settings turn off the backlight then turn it back on again Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the PWR key for about 3 seconds Me...

Page 37: ...ar Alarms command turns alarms on or off and changes alarm thresholds The fish alarm used with Fish I D is the most popular use It tells you when the sonar sees a fish You can also set deep or shallow...

Page 38: ...n of the op erating software is loaded in your unit Sonar Menu The Sonar Menu contains commands for the major sonar features and options You access the Sonar Menu by pressing the MENU key one time You...

Page 39: ...ure the depth of a sonar target Overlay Data command chooses what types of information such as water temperature to show overlaid on the sonar chart screen Sonar Features command launches the Sonar Fe...

Page 40: ...w of the water column beneath the boat The chart moves across the screen displaying sonar signal echoes that represent fish structure and the bottom Sonar Page showing full sonar chart mode Surface cl...

Page 41: ...es and other data are dis played in many ways We ll discuss all of those features and options in Section 4 but to show you how easy the sonar unit is to operate the fol lowing page contains a simplifi...

Page 42: ...filter out some information but could omit important images We recommend adjusting sensitivity until the background is lightly peppered that is scattered dots ap pear but individual objects like fish...

Page 43: ...see more detail try increasing the sensitivity a little at a time There are situa tions when too much clutter appears on the screen Decreasing the sensitivity can reduce the clutter and show the stro...

Page 44: ...turned on the unit will continue to track the bottom and make minor adjustments to the sen sitivity level with a bias toward the setting you selected Adjusting sensitivity in Manual Sensitivity Mode...

Page 45: ...bol feature Here s why Fish I D is an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it However locating fish by symbol only has some limitations Your sonar unit s micro...

Page 46: ...ing aid be sure to download the free emulator software for your unit Aside from being just plain fun this program can help you learn both basic and advanced operations without burning boat fuel Lowran...

Page 47: ...unwanted marks on the display The ASP feature has four settings Off Low Medium and High If you have high noise levels try using the High ASP setting However if you are having trouble with noise we su...

Page 48: ...ing or deeper than the deep alarm s set ting For example if you set the shallow alarm to 10 feet the alarm will sound a tone if the bottom signal is less than 10 feet It will continue to sound until t...

Page 49: ...ABLED ENT EXIT To switch to a different depth setting open the Sonar Alarms menu and repeat the instructions in step 3 above Zone Alarm The zone alarm is triggered when any echo passes inside the zone...

Page 50: ...ze shown on the display Sonar Alarms menu with Fish Alarm selected The check box to the left is blank indicating the alarm is turned off To turn the fish alarm on 1 Press ALARM 2 Press to FISH ALARM E...

Page 51: ...g very slowly You may sometimes achieve bet ter images as you slow down the chart speed to match how fast you are moving across the bottom If you are at anchor ice fishing or fishing from a dock exper...

Page 52: ...can be moved to any location on the screen letting you pin point the depth of a target 1 From the Sonar Page press MENU to DEPTH CURSOR ENT 2 The depth cursor appears Press to lower the cursor line pr...

Page 53: ...th range a horizontal black bar highlights the selected range 4 When the new range is selected press EXIT to clear the menu To turn Auto Depth Range on again 1 From the Sonar Page press MENU to AUTO D...

Page 54: ...st number then press to move the cursor to the next number and re peat until the depth is correct then press EXIT 3 To set the lower limit press to LOWER LIMIT ENT Press or to change the first number...

Page 55: ...onditions as fish The microcomputer analyses all echoes and eliminates surface clutter thermoclines and other signals that are undesirable In most instances remaining targets are fish The Fish I D fea...

Page 56: ...n Remember Fish I D is one of the many tools we provide so you can analyze your sonar returns for maximum fish finding information This and other features can help you successfully see beneath the boa...

Page 57: ...repeat the instructions in step 1 FishTrack The FishTrack feature shows the depth of a fish symbol when it ap pears on the display This lets you accurately gauge the depth of tar gets This feature is...

Page 58: ...urface clutter thermoclines weed beds and other cover The normal mode of operation with FishReveal turned off shows the weakest echoes as black and the strongest echoes in light gray Since all weak ec...

Page 59: ...the maximum limit a tone sounds Sonar chart in regular grayscale mode left and in FishReveal mode right Notice how shallow fish formerly hidden in the surface clutter become visible in FishReveal mod...

Page 60: ...ce The 200 kHz transducer will give you better detail and definition but less depth penetration The 50 kHz transducer will give you greater depth penetration but a little less detail and less definiti...

Page 61: ...ttom returns a strong signal which causes a wide gray line If you have two signals of equal size one with gray and the other with out then the target with gray is the stronger signal This helps distin...

Page 62: ...84 percent In Figure 1B no fish are near the left structure but the right structure shows fish holding next to the structure Notice in figures 2B and 3B how Gray line displays a hard rocky bottom the...

Page 63: ...o select Data Type ENT Overlay Data command on the Sonar Menu at left Overlay Data Shown selection menu right In this example we scrolled down the data list to highlight Water Speed When selected the...

Page 64: ...ss or to Data Size EXIT The selected data type will be displayed in the new size To change the font size for another Data Type press ENT and repeat these steps be ginning with step two above 3 To retu...

Page 65: ...nd chart scroll speed can keep pace with the boat as it moves quickly over the bottom terrain When using HyperScroll you may also need to manually decrease the sensitivity for optimum performance Depe...

Page 66: ...screen The allows you to better see the virtually instantaneous sonar returns just as you would on a flasher sonar unit For more informa tion on FasTrack see it s entry in this section Pop up Help He...

Page 67: ...ater Distance The sonar chart s Digital Data display option includes a window that shows distance traveled called Water Distance W Distance This information is calculated from an optional water speed...

Page 68: ...lay Mode menu Sensitivity Auto Sensitivity The sensitivity controls the ability of the unit to pick up echoes Sensi tivity can be adjusted because water conditions vary greatly a low sensitivity level...

Page 69: ...control bar used to adjust sensitivity up or down is the same whether the unit is in the automatic or manual mode In automatic you can adjust sensitivity up to 100 percent but the unit will limit your...

Page 70: ...unit measures water depth from the face of the transducer Since the transducer is installed below the water surface the distance dis played by the digital depth chart depth scale chart cursor or fish...

Page 71: ...EEL OFFSET ENT 2 The Keel Offset dialog box appears with a plus sign at the front of the box 3 Press to the first number then press to change the number to 1 4 Press to the second number them press to...

Page 72: ...ces You can select the chart to be displayed in reverse grayscale bottom black or FishReveal mode For more information on FishReveal see the entry on that topic elsewhere in this section To change the...

Page 73: ...gets The line at the top of the screen represents the surface The bottom depth and surface temperature if equipped with a temperature sensor or a transducer with a temp sensor built in show at the top...

Page 74: ...ows the left window zoomed to 4X The depth overlay data is set to the default large text size the water temperature is set to the small text size Split Frequency Sonar Chart X88DF and X98DF only This...

Page 75: ...a tone sounds The Split Frequency Sonar Chart page allows you to adjust sensitivity separately for each window Digital Data Chart This mode shows the chart on the right side of the screen The left sid...

Page 76: ...x flashes black 2 The W Speed window title bar flashes indicating the window con tents can be changed Press ENT or to select data type ENT EXIT Options List for customizing Digital Data windows At lef...

Page 77: ...r that lets you run it as if you were on the water All sonar features and functions are useable When in simulator mode you will see Simulator Mode in the Sonar Page title bar To use the simulator 1 Fr...

Page 78: ...ng across the screen Surface Clarity The markings extending downward from the zero line on the chart are called surface clutter These markings are caused by wave action boat wakes temperature inversio...

Page 79: ...s or to select clarity level EXIT EXIT EXIT In the illustration at left Surface Clarity is turned off The right view shows Surface Clarity set at High Units of Measure This menu sets the speed and dis...

Page 80: ...t lets you zoom the display quickly and easily by pressing the Zoom In key ZIN Pressing ZIN once doubles the size 2X of all echoes on the screen Pressing it again quadruples the size of the echoes 4X...

Page 81: ...e touch of an arrow key The Zoom Pan feature lets you rapidly move the zoomed area up and down to different depths By pointing your zoom at different portions of the chart as it scrolls you can get a...

Page 82: ...78 Notes...

Page 83: ...is securely connected before turning the unit on Unit freezes locks up or operates erratically 1 Electrical noise from the boat s motor trolling motor or an accessory may be interfering with the sonar...

Page 84: ...itation 2 Electrical noise from the boat s motor can interfere with the sonar This causes the sonar to automatically increase its Discrimination or noise rejection feature This can cause the unit to e...

Page 85: ...ransducer cable away from the wiring that is causing the interference VHF radio antenna cables radiate noise when transmitting so be certain to keep the sonar s wires away from it You may need to rout...

Page 86: ...82 Notes...

Page 87: ...83 Notes...

Page 88: ...84 Notes...

Page 89: ...PAIR OR REPLACEMENT OR REFUND AS JUST DESCRIBED IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AVAILABLE TO YOU AGAINST US FOR ANY DEFECT MALFUNCTION OR NON CONFORMITY CONCERNING THE PRODUCT OR FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULT...

Page 90: ...ge or end our ship ping policies regulations and special offers at any time We reserve the right to do so without notice in Canada If you re in Canada and you have technical return or repair questions...

Page 91: ...ras com 3 Canadian customers can write Lowrance Eagle Canada 919 Matheson Blvd E Mississauga Ontario L4W2R7 or fax 905 629 3118 Shipping Information If it becomes necessary to send a product for repai...

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Lowrance X87, Operation Instructions Manual

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