Humminbird 500 series Operation Manual
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Humminbird 500 series Operation Manual

500 series
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500 Series™
500 Series™
Operations Manual
Operations Manual
531521-1_A

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Summary of Contents for Humminbird 500 series

  • Page 1 500 Series™ 500 Series™ Operations Manual Operations Manual 531521-1_A...

  • Page 2: Thank You

    Your Humminbird® is designed for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine environment. In the unlikely event that your Humminbird® does require repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Policy - free of charge during the first year after purchase, and available at a reasonable rate after the one-year period.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents How Sonar Works Single Beam Sonar ............3 Dualbeam Sonar (565 Fishfinders only) .
  • Page 4 Table of Contents Sonar X-Press™ Menu Sensitivity ............. . . 29 Upper Range (Advanced;...
  • Page 5 500 Series™ Doesn’t Power Up ........

  • Page 6: How Sonar Works

    How Sonar Works Sonar technology is based on sound waves. The 500 Series™ Fishfinder uses sonar to locate and define structure, bottom contour and composition, as well as depth directly below the transducer. Your 500 Series™ Fishfinder sends a sound wave signal and determines distance by measuring the time between the transmission of the sound wave and when the sound wave is reflected off of an object;...
  • Page 7 When all the echoes are viewed side by side, an easy to interpret "graph" of the bottom, fish and structure appears. The sound pulses are transmitted at various frequencies depending on the application. Very high frequencies (455 kHz) are used for greatest definition but the operating depth is limited.

  • Page 8: Single Beam Sonar

    You cannot view the 83k Hz sonar information separately from the 200 kHz sonar information as you can in a DualBeam Plus™ 575 Fishfinder unit. Single Beam Sonar Your Humminbird® 515, 525 or 535 Fishfinder uses a 200 kHz single beam sonar system with a 20° area of coverage. Depth capability is...

  • Page 9: Quadrabeam Plus™ Sonar (575 Fishfinders Only)

    QuadraBeam PLUS™ Sonar (575 Fishfinders only) Your Humminbird® 575 Fishfinder supports QuadraBeam PLUS™ sonar. QuadraBeam PLUS™ sonar provides an extremely wide 90° area of coverage. QuadraBeam PLUS™...

  • Page 10: What's On The Display

    What’s On the Display The 500 Series™ Fishfinder can display a variety of useful information about Depth - water depth; can be set to alarm when the water becomes too shallow. Speed - if a Temp/Speed accessory is attached, your Fishfinder can display the speed of the boat, and can keep a Triplog of nautical or statute miles traveled.
  • Page 11 the area under and adjacent to your boat, including the following items: device is connected to the Fishfinder. 83 kHz, Wide Beam Hollow Fish Symbol (ONLY available on Dual Beam Units) Structure - where fish may be hiding. Fish - fish are displayed as arches and/or fish icons, and the unit can be set to alarm when a fish of a certain size is detected.

  • Page 12: Views

    NOTE: When you change any menu settings that affect the sonar, the view will update immediately (i.e. you don’t have to exit the menu to apply the change to the screen). For instance, by switching between "Inverse" and "Structure ID®" from the X-Press™ Menu it is possible to quickly alternate between the two viewing methods.

  • Page 13: Sonar View

    Sonar View Sonar View presents a historical log of sonar returns. Depth is always displayed. Readouts for temperature and speed are automatically displayed if the appropriate accessory is connected. The most recent sonar returns are charted on the right side of the window; as new information is received, the older information is moved across the display to the left.

  • Page 14: Understanding Sonar History

    Real Time Sonar (RTS®) Window A Real Time Sonar (RTS®) Window appears on the right side of the display in the Sonar View only. The RTS® Window always updates at the fastest rate possible for depth conditions and shows only the returns from the bottom, structure and fish that are within the transducer beam.

  • Page 15: Bottom Presentation

    Bottom Presentation As the boat moves, the unit charts the changes in depth on the display to create a profile of the Bottom Contour. The type of bottom can be determined from the return charted on the display. A Hard Bottom such as compacted sediment or flat rock appears as a thinner line across the display.
  • Page 16 Inverse is a method where weak returns are shown with dark pixels and strong returns with lighter pixels. This has the benefit of ensuring that weak signals will be clearly visible on the display. Structure ID® represents weak returns as light pixels and strong returns as dark pixels.
  • Page 17 WhiteLine® highlights the strongest sonar returns in white, resulting in a distinctive outline. This has the benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display. Bottom Black displays all pixels below the bottom contour as black, regardless of signal strength. This has the benefit of providing a high contrast between the bottom and other sonar returns on the display.

  • Page 18: Sonar Zoom View

    Sonar Zoom View Sonar Zoom View increases the displayed resolution to separate sonar returns that are very close together, such as those caused by fish suspended close to the bottom or within structure. In Zoom View, the display is split to show a narrow slice of the full range view on the right and the zoomed view on the left.

  • Page 19: 200/83 Khz Split Sonar View (575 Fishfinders Only)

    200/83 kHz Split Sonar View (575 Fishfinders only) Split Sonar View displays sonar returns from the 83 kHz wide beam on the left side of the screen and displays sonar returns from the 200 kHz narrow beam on the right side of the screen and is only available on the 575 Fishfinder.

  • Page 20: Big Digits View

    Big Digits View Big Digits View provides digital data in a large, easy-to-see format. Depth is always displayed. Readouts for temperature, speed and Triplog information are displayed automatically if the appropriate accessory is connected to the system. The Triplog shows distance traveled, average speed, and time elapsed since the Triplog was last reset.

  • Page 21: Side Beam View (575 Fishfinders Only)

    Side Beam View (575 Fishfinders only) Side Beam View shows sonar information from both the left and right 455 kHz beams and the 200 kHz down-looking beam in one view and is only available on the 575 Fishfinder. You can customize the way the sonar data is displayed in the Side Beam View to suit your personal preferences.
  • Page 22 Classic layout: The top portion of the display presents a historical log of sonar returns from the 200 kHz down-looking sonar beam. The bottom portion of the display presents a historical log of sonar returns from the 455 kHz right- and left-looking sonar beams.
  • Page 23 Slanted layout: This layout presents the two 455 kHz side sonar beams and the 200 kHz down-looking sonar beam as three panels of historical data. This layout is presented as three slanted panels. New information appears on the right, and scrolls to the left. Depth Temperature Left Side...

  • Page 24: Key Functions

    Key Functions Your Fishfinder user interface consists of a set of easy-to-use keys that work with various on-screen views and menus to give you flexibility and control over your fishing experience. POWER/LIGHT Key The POWER/LIGHT key is used to turn the Fishfinder on and off, and also to adjust the backlight and contrast of the display.

  • Page 25: Menu Key

    MENU Key The MENU key is used to access the menu system. Start-Up Options Menu - Press the MENU key during the power up sequence to view the Start-Up Options menu. X-Press™ Menu - Press the MENU key once for the X-Press™ Menu. The X-Press™...

  • Page 26: Powering Up The Unit

    Powering Up the Unit Turn on your Fishfinder by pressing the POWER/LIGHT key. The Title screen is displayed until the Fishfinder begins operation. Your Fishfinder will begin Normal or Simulator operation, depending on the presence or absence of a transducer. 575 Title Screen...

  • Page 27: The Menu System

    The Menu System The menu system is divided into easy-to-use menu modules. The main components of the menu system are: Start-Up Options Menu - Press the MENU key during the power up sequence to view the Start-Up Options menu. X-Press™ Menu NOTE: The X-Press™...
  • Page 28 User Mode (Normal or Advanced) - An Advanced Mode is provided for users who desire the highest level of control over the Fishfinder and Normal Mode for users who desire greater simplicity and fewer menu choices. Additional Advanced menu choices will be displayed throughout the menu system when you navigate to specific menus while in Advanced Mode.

  • Page 29: Start-Up Options Menu

    Start-Up Options Menu Press the MENU key when the Title screen is displayed to access the Start-Up Options menu. Use the UP or DOWN 4-WAY Cursor keys to position the cursor, then the RIGHT Cursor key to select one of the following choices. If you wait too long, the system will default to whichever menu mode happens to be highlighted: •...

  • Page 30: Simulator

    Simulator Use the Simulator to learn how to use your Fishfinder before taking your boat on the water. The Simulator is a very powerful tool that simulates on the water operation, providing a randomly-updated display. We recommend going through this manual while using the Simulator, since all of the menus function and affect the display the way they actually do when in Normal operation.

  • Page 31: System Status

    System Status Use System Status to view system connections and to conduct a unit self-test. The following screens are displayed in turn when you press the VIEW button when using System Status: • Self Test • Accessory Test. Exit System Status by powering your Fishfinder off. Self Test Self Test displays results from the internal diagnostic self test, including unit serial number, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) serial number, software revision,...

  • Page 32: Accessory Test

    Accessory Test Accessory Test lists the accessories connected to the system. NOTE: The speed accessory will be detected only if the paddlewheel has moved since your Fishfinder was powered up. Accessory Test Screen...

  • Page 33: Sonar X-Press™ Menu

    Sonar X-Press™ Menu The Sonar X-Press™ Menu provides access to the settings most frequently-used. Press the MENU key once while in any of the Sonar Views to access the Sonar X-Press™ Menu. NOTE: Menu choices will vary depending on system settings such as whether the unit is set for Advanced User mode.

  • Page 34: Sensitivity

    the display and will adjust the sensitivity of all sonar frequencies. Increasing the sensitivity shows more sonar returns from small baitfish and suspended debris in the water; however, the display may become too cluttered. When operating in very clear water or greater depths, increased sensitivity shows weaker returns that may be of interest.

  • Page 35: Upper Range (Advanced; Sonar, Split Sonar, Big Digits Views Only)

    Upper Range sets the shallowest depth range that will be displayed on the Sonar, Split Sonar, and Big Digits Views. The Upper Range menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode) and can only be accessed from the Sonar, Split Sonar, and Big Digits Views. Upper Range is often used with Lower Range.

  • Page 36: Lower Range

    will be displayed. Automatic is the default setting. When in automatic mode, the lower range will be adjusted by the unit to follow the bottom. Selecting a specific setting locks the depth range into Manual mode. Use both Upper and Lower Range together to view a specific depth range manually when looking for fish or bottom structure.

  • Page 37: Chart Speed

    sonar information moves across the display, and consequently the amount of detail shown. A faster speed shows more information in the Sonar Views and is preferred by most anglers; however, the sonar information moves across the display quickly. A slower speed keeps the information on the display longer, but the bottom and fish details become compressed and may be difficult to interpret.

  • Page 38: Bottom View

    represent bottom and structure on the display. Inverse represents weak returns as dark pixels and strong returns as lighter pixels. This has the benefit of ensuring that weak signals will be clearly visible on the display. Structure ID® represents weak returns as light pixels and strong returns as dark pixels.

  • Page 39: Quad Layout (575 Fishfinders Only, Side Beam View Only)

    Quad Layout selects the method used to represent the sonar information from the two side-looking beams plus the down-looking beam to be presented on the Side Beam View, and is only available on the 575 Fishfinder X-Press™ menu when the Side Beam View is active. Use Quad Layout to change the way the Side Beam View is displayed.

  • Page 40: Sonar Menu Tab

    Sonar Menu Tab Press the MENU key twice to access the Main Menu System and then press the RIGHT Cursor key to select the Sonar tab. NOTE: Menu choices will vary depending on system settings such as whether the unit is set for Advanced User mode.

  • Page 41: Beam Select (575 Fishfinders Only)

    Beam Select sets which sonar returns from the transducer will be displayed on the screen. When set to 200/83 kHz, the returns from both beams are blended by starting with the 83 kHz wide beam return, dimming it, and then overlaying it with the 200 kHz narrow beam return.

  • Page 42: Fish Id

    interpret sonar returns, and will display a Fish Symbol when very selective requirements are met. When a fish is detected, a fish icon and its depth are displayed above the return that has been classified as being a fish. Three different fish size icons represent the intensity of the sonar return, and provide an indicator of relative fish size.

  • Page 43: Fish Id Sensitivity

    Fish ID+™ detection algorithms. Selecting a higher setting allows weaker returns to be displayed as fish. This is useful for identifying smaller fish species or baitfish. Selecting a lower setting displays fewer fish from weak sonar returns. This is helpful when seeking larger species of fish. Fish ID Sensitivity is used in conjunction with Fish ID+™.

  • Page 44: Zoom Width

    window on the Sonar Zoom View. To change the Zoom Width Setting: 1. Highlight Zoom Width on the Sonar main menu. 2. Use the LEFT or RIGHT 4-WAY Cursor Control keys to change the Zoom Width setting. (Narrow, Medium, Wide, Default = Wide). 83 kHz Sensitivity changes the sensitivity of the 83 kHz beam and is only available on 575 models.

  • Page 45: 455 Khz Balance (Advanced; 575 Fishfinders Only)

    455 kHz Balance adjusts the sensitivity of the 455 kHz beam and is only available on 575 models. Increasing the sensitivity will display additional weak returns and decreasing the sensitivity will display fewer weak returns. The 455 kHz Balance menu choice is only available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode).

  • Page 46: Depth Lines (Advanced)

    Depth Lines divide the display into four equal sections that are separated by three horizontal depth lines. The depth of each line is displayed along the depth scale. You can either turn Depth Lines On or Off. The Depth Lines menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode).

  • Page 47: Surface Clutter (Advanced)

    Surface Clutter adjusts the filter that removes surface clutter noise caused by algae and aeration. The lower the setting, the less surface clutter will be displayed. The Surface Clutter menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode). To change the Surface Clutter setting: 1.

  • Page 48: Noise Filter (Advanced)

    Noise Filter adjusts the sonar Noise Filter to limit interference on the display from sources such as your boat engine, turbulence, or other sonar devices. The Noise Filter menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode).

  • Page 49: Water Type (Advanced)

    Water Type configures your unit for operation in fresh or salt water. The Water Type menu choice is available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode). NOTE: In salt water, what would be considered a large fish might be 2 to 10 times bigger than a large fish in fresh water (depending on the type of fish you are seeking).

  • Page 50: Alarms Menu Tab

    Alarms Menu Tab From any view, press the MENU key twice to access the Main Menu System. The Alarms tab will be the default selection. NOTE: When an alarm is triggered, you can silence it by pressing any key. The alarm will be silenced, and will not be triggered again until a new instance of the alarm condition is detected.

  • Page 51: Depth Alarm

    To change the Depth Alarm setting: 1. Highlight Depth Alarm on the Alarms main menu. 2. Use the LEFT or RIGHT 4-WAY Cursor Control keys to change the Depth Alarm setting. (OFF, 1 to 100 feet, or 0.5 to 30 meters [International Models only], Default = OFF) fish that correspond to the alarm setting.

  • Page 52: Low Battery Alarm

    battery voltage is equal to or less than the menu setting. The battery alarm will only sound for the battery that is connected to the Fishfinder. The Low Battery Alarm should be set to warn you when the battery voltage drops below the safety margin that you have determined.

  • Page 53: Alarm Tone

    A brief tone will be produced as you adjust the Alarm Tone so that you can select the tone that you can hear best. To change the Alarm Tone setting: 1. Highlight Alarm Tone on the Alarms main menu. 2. Use the LEFT or RIGHT 4-WAY Cursor Control keys to change the Alarm Tone setting.

  • Page 54: Setup Menu Tab

    Setup Menu Tab From any view, press the MENU key twice to access the tabbed Main Menu System, then press the RIGHT cursor key until the Setup tab is selected. NOTE: Menu choices will vary depending on system settings such as whether the unit is set for Advanced User mode and whether an accessory is attached to the unit.

  • Page 55: Units - Depth

    To change the Units - Depth setting: 1. Highlight Units - Depth on the Setup menu. 2. Use the LEFT or RIGHT 4-WAY Cursor Control keys to change the Units - Depth setting. (Meters [International Models only], Feet, Fathoms; Default is Meters for International models, and Feet for Domestic models) Units - Temp selects the units of measure for all temperature-related readouts.

  • Page 56: Units - Speed (With Temp/Speed Only)

    Units - Speed selects the units of measure for speed-related readouts, and will appear in the menu if a Temp/Speed Accessory is connected and the paddlewheel has moved at least once. To change the Units - Speed setting: 1. Highlight Units - Speed on the Setup menu. 2.

  • Page 57: Triplog Reset (With Temp/Speed Only)

    appear in the menu if a Temp/Speed Accessory is connected and the paddlewheel has moved at least once. The Triplog provides the following information: timer for elapsed time, distance traveled since last reset, and average speed. NOTE: See Setup Menu Tab: Select Readouts (Advanced) to find out how to display Triplog information on the screen.

  • Page 58: Select Views (Advanced)

    Select Views NOTE: The Select Views menu choice is only available when User Mode is set to Advanced (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode). To Select Views: 1. Make sure you are in Advanced User Mode, then highlight Select Views on the Setup menu. 2.

  • Page 59: Select Readouts (Advanced; Sonar View Only)

    Select Readouts Default Sonar View Select Readouts (Advanced; Sonar View only) Select Readouts sets individual digital readouts on the Sonar View. This Advanced feature allows you to select what data will be displayed in each of 6 fixed-position data windows arranged around the left and bottom edges of the Sonar View screen, or whether a particular window will be turned off, displaying nothing in...

  • Page 60: Depth Offset (Advanced)

    To Select Readouts: 1. Make sure you are in Advanced User Mode, then highlight Select Readouts on the Setup main menu. 2. Use the RIGHT 4-WAY Cursor Control key to initiate this procedure. 3. The Select Readouts submenu will appear, showing a list of all Readouts.

  • Page 61: Temp Offset (Advanced)

    Temp Offset will adjust the temperature readout by the amount entered. This menu choice is available only when in Advanced User Mode (see Setup Menu Tab: User Mode.) To change the Temp Offset setting: 1. Make sure you are in Advanced User Mode, then highlight Temp Offset on the Setup menu.

  • Page 62: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting Before contacting the Humminbird® Customer Resource Center, please read the following section. Taking the time to review these troubleshooting guidelines may allow you to solve a performance problem yourself, and therefore avoid sending your unit back for repair. 500 Series™ Doesn’t Power Up If your Fishfinder doesn’t power up, use the Installation Guide that also comes...

  • Page 63: Display Problems

    Display Problems There are several main conditions or sources of possible interference that may cause problems with the quality of the information displayed on the control head. Look in the following table for some symptoms of display problems and possible solutions: Problem The control head loses power at high speeds.

  • Page 64: Finding The Cause Of Noise

    Finding the Cause of Noise Electrical noise usually affects the display with many black dots at high speeds, and high sensitivity readings. One or more of the following sources can cause noise or interference: Possible Source of Noise Other electronic devices The boat’s engine Cavitation from the boat’s propeller...

  • Page 65: 500 Series™ Fishfinder Accessories

    Fishfinder include: Temperature/Speed: purchase and plug in the Temperature/Speed accessory to your 500 Series™ control head to get real time speed and temperature readouts, as well as a valuable Triplog function. NOTE: If an external Temperature/Speed (TS-W) or Temperature (TG-W) accessory is connected AND a transducer with temperature built in is connected at the same time, the TS-W or TG-W accessory will override the temperature which is built in to the transducer.

  • Page 66: Specifications

    Transducer Cable Length ... 20 ft (6 m) Current Draw ... 175 mA (515) NOTE: Humminbird® verifies maximum stated depth in saltwater conditions, but actual depth performance may vary due to transducer installation, water type, thermal layers, bottom composition and slope.
  • Page 67 POLICY ON ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE: It is the intention of Humminbird® to be a good corporate citizen and comply and meet all known and applicable environmental regulations in the areas and countries where our products are sold. We will promote and implement environmentally sound processes in support of national and international regulations.

  • Page 68: Glossary

    Beam (Sonar Beam): A sonar beam is the wide, cone-shaped projection of sound waves formed as sound travels underwater. See Cone Angle. Big Digits View: Big Digits View is a Humminbird® feature that displays the sonar graph and enlarged digital readouts for easy reading from a distance. This is a great tool when monitoring the digital depth is important - such as with higher boat speeds, or when viewing the unit from a distance.
  • Page 69 Fish and other objects close to the bottom that fall within the dead zone will probably not be visible in the sonar beam. Precision sonar beams, such as the Humminbird® 20° beam, have a smaller dead zone than wider sonar beams.
  • Page 70 When this distance change is graphed on the display, an arch appears. Fish ID+™: Fish ID+™ is a Humminbird® feature that uses advanced sonar processing algorithms to determine if a detected object is likely to be a fish. When the sonar signal from an object meets strict parameters, the unit draws a Fish Symbol (or icon) and the digital depth of the target.
  • Page 71 Many Humminbird® units can operate across a very broad depth range (up to 2500 feet) which causes the unit to "look" up to that full depth under some circumstances.
  • Page 72 Hydrodynamic noise can be overcome by proper transducer installation. Many Humminbird® products have a Noise Filter menu setting that allows the user to clear the screen of noise that is difficult to eliminate. Pixels: Pixels are the "picture elements", or small square blocks, that make up the image on the LCD.
  • Page 73 See DualBeam PLUS™. Quick Disconnect Mount: The Quick Disconnect Mounting system is an exclusive Humminbird® feature that permits the unit to be easily removed from the mounting base by pressing a release button, and re-installed by simply snapping it back into place. All cable connections are made when installing, so that no separate wiring connections are required.
  • Page 74 Many Humminbird® units operate at up to 40 times per second when in single frequency operation. Due to the limitation of the speed of sound in water, the update rate begins to slow as depth increases to deeper than 50 feet.
  • Page 75 (drop-offs, humps, and holes), standing structure (stumps, timbers, brush piles) and a wide range of other potential objects (sunken boats, reefs). Humminbird® units excel at showing structure with great detail over a wider area due to unique sonar configurations developed for the angler.
  • Page 76 See Transducer and Noise. TripLog: TripLog is a Humminbird® feature that provides an on-screen counter for Elapsed Time, Average Speed and Total Distance traveled, and requires a speed input to activate the feature. TripLog appears on the Big Digits View, and can be reset to zero through the TripLog menu.
  • Page 77 Humminbird® offers One-Touch® Zoom which allows the zoom feature to be easily accessed from the regular sonar view with just one key press, eliminating the need to use menus to access the feature.
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  • Page 86: Contact Humminbird

    Contact Humminbird® Contact the Humminbird® Customer Resource Center in any of the following ways: By Telephone: (Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time): 1-800-633-1468 By e-mail: (typically we respond to your e-mail within three business days): custserv@johnsonoutdoors.com...

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