Summary of the content on the page No. 1
Fishfi nder 250/250C
high-resolution sonar
owner’s manual
(Fishfi nder 250C shown)
250C Cover.indd 1 1/27/2004, 2:37:44 PM
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
© Copyright 2004 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries Garmin International, Inc. st 1200 East 151 Street, Olathe, KS 66062, U.S.A. Tel. 913/397.8200 or 800/800.1020 Fax 913/397.8282 Garmin (Europe) Ltd. Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9DL, U.K. Tel. 44/1794.519944 Fax 44/1794.519222 Garmin Corporation nd No. 68, Jangshu 2 Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 Fax 886/2.2642.9099 All Rights Reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no p
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
Preface Introduction Thank you for choosing the Garmin Fishfi nder 250/250C. This product is designed for easy operation and to provide years of reliable service. Operations for the Fishfi nder 250 and Fishfi nder 250C are the same unless othewise noted. To ensure Preface and that you get the most from the Fishfi nder 250/250C, please take the time to read this Owner’s Manual and Registration learn the operation of your new unit. This manual is broken down into three sections. Section One covers t
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
LIMITED WARRANTY Introduction This Garmin product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. Within this period, Garmin will at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not Warranty and cover failures due to abuse
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
Software License Agreement Introduction BY USING THE FISHFINDER 250/250C, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDI- TIONS OF THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. Software License Agreement Garmin grants you a limited license to use the software embedded in this device (the “Software”) in binary executable form in the normal operation of the product. Title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Software remain in Garmin.
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
Introduction Before installing and getting started with your unit, please check to see that your package includes the following items. The package part number can be found on the outside of the box. If any parts are missing, please contact your Garmin dealer immediately. Packing List Fishfi nder 250 Standard Package (010-00343-00 w/o transducer): • Fishfi nder 250 Unit • Swivel Mount Bracket and Knobs • Power/Data Cable • Owner’s Manual • Self-Adhesive Quick Reference Guide • Protective
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
Transducers Introduction The transducer acts as the eyes and ears of your sonar, transmitting sound waves toward the bottom in a cone shape. Proper transducer selection and installation are important to the operation of your unit. It is best to select a transducer that suits the depth of the water that you are on. Selecting a Transducer A wide cone angle transducer works best in shallower water, providing a large coverage or viewing area, but at a decreased bottom resolution. In deep water t
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
Simulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Depth Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Introduction NMEA Input/Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Noise Reject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Scroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Software Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Size Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
Installing the Fishfi nder 250/250C Installation The Fishfi nder 250/250C must be properly installed according to the following instructions to get the best possible performance. To complete the installation, you’ll need the appropriate fasteners and tools. Verify that all cables can reach the unit mounting location and also take time to read through these instruc- Unit Installation tions prior to installation. Be sure to always wear safety goggles and a dust mask when drilling, cutting or sa
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
To swivel mount the Fishfi nder 250/250C display: Installation Tools (not included) — Drill, Screwdriver (Phillips or Standard), three #8 (4mm) pan head machine bolts with matching nuts and washers and a 5/32” (5mm) drill bit, OR three #8 pan head self-tapping screws and an appropriately-sized drill bit for drilling starter holes. Unit Installation 1. Using the swivel base as a template, mark the location of the three holes that are used to secure the bracket to the mounting surface. 2. If s
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
Installing the Unit on the Mounting Bracket Installation 1. Align the slot on the back of the unit with the long mounting knob and slide in place. It may be neces- sary to adjust the long mounting knob to spread the bracket arms apart. (Turn counter-clockwise to widen the bracket arms, clockwise to tighten.) Unit Installation 2. Adjust the unit angle and tighten the long mounting knob until snug. 3. To tilt the unit, loosen the long mounting knob on the right side of the bracket assembly.
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
Flush Mounting the Fishfi nder 250/250C Unit Installation The Fishfi nder 250/250C can be fl ush mounted on a fl at panel. When fl ush mounting the Fishfi nder 250/250C, be sure to choose an appropriately sized location for the unit. Check that all cables reach the unit mounting location before beginning installation. Use the Flush Mount Template provided in the box to Unit Installation determine a location. Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask when drilling, cutting or sanding. To fl ush moun
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
Black Wire Red Wire Connecting the Power/Data Cable Installation The power/data cable connects the Fishfi nder 250/250C to a 10-35 volt DC system and provides interface capabilities for connecting external devices. The color code in the diagram (pg. 6) indicates the appropriate harness connections. If it is necessary to extend the power/data wires, use a wire of comparable Wiring and Interfacing size and keep your extension as short as possible. To 10-35 Volt Boat Supply The unit can be wired
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
ToTransducer Installation (TX COM 2) DC Positive (red)+10-35VDC (RX COM 2) Wiring and Interfacing (TX COM 1) (RX COM 1) Power 10-35volts (black)-Ground(Power/Data) ToUnit (blue) Port1DataOUT (brown)Port1DataIN RXD+ GPS/NMEA Device (white)Port2DataIN(N/C) TXD+ You can download a copy of Garmin's proprietary (green)Port2DataOUT andRXD- communication protocol document from the Support section of our web site at www.garmin.com. (yellow)AlarmLow NMEADevice Note: During a typical installation, only
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
Installing the Transducer Installation Proper transducer installation is key to getting the best performance from your new unit. If the trans- ducer lead is too short, extension cables are available from your Garmin dealer. Coil and secure any excess cable. DO NOT cut the transducer lead or any part of the transducer cable, as this will void your warranty. Mounting the T ransducer The cable cannot be spliced and connected to any existing (Garmin or non-Garmin) transducer cables. Following are
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation Installation To avoid drilling a hole to mount a thru-hull transducer, a transducer may be secured with epoxy inside a boat (“shoot-thru-hull” installation). This type of installation can provide better noise reduction and allow you to use a higher gain setting. For a transducer to be mounted inside the hull (shoot-thru, not thru-hull), Mounting the Transducer the boat must be fi berglass, with no core. Contact your boat manufacturer if you are unsure. Profession
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
Testing the Installation Installation While it is possible to perform some checks with the boat trailered, the boat should be in the water to properly test the sonar portion of the installation. Press the POWER/BACKLIGHT key (see pg. 10) and the Fishfi nder 250/250C should power on. If the Testing the Installation unit fails to power on, verify that the wiring adapter is seated properly in the back of the unit, the Red and Black wires are connected to the correct polarity, and that the 2-Am
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
Using the Keypad Unit Operation The keypad contains the following keys: Keypad Usage ARROW Keys— used to select (highlight) menu options and enter data. Also control movement of the cursor when paused in Pointer mode. Allow direct control of Sonar Page Adjustments. ENTER Key— selects 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 waypoint at the Pointer position (if interfaced w
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
Sonar Page Unit Operation The Sonar Page is where your Fishfi nder 250/250C becomes a powerful fi shfi nder/fl asher. If the unit does not detect a transducer, a “Sonar Turned Off” message is displayed on the Sonar Page. If in Simulator mode, a “Running Simulator” message is displayed. Understanding the Display The currently selected Adjustment option (see pg. 12) is displayed in the top left of the screen. Directly below the Adjustment option, the screen displays numeric data such as Depth, Wat
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
Using the Adjustment Menu Unit Operation The Adjustment Menu allows direct access to the settings and features most commonly used on the Sonar Page. There are 10 main adjustment options available: Range, Zoom, View, Gain, Target Level, Whiteline, Frequency, Depth Line, Noise Reject, and Scroll. All adjustments may be made by using the Adjustment Menu Options ARROW keys and ENTER key. The currently selected option will appear in the upper left of the display with an up and down arrow on each
