Eagle FISHEASY 245DS - ADDITIONAL User manual

Pub. 988-0143-832
www.eaglesonar.com
FishEasy 245DS,
FishEasy 245DS Portable
& SeaFinder 245DS
Fish-Finding & Depth-Sounding Sonars
Installation and Operation Instructions
®
®
®

Copyright © 2007 LEI-Eagle
All rights reserved.
Eagle®is a registered trademark of LEI
FishEasy®245DS is a registered trademark of LEI
Eagle 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 change without
notice. All screens in this manual are simulated.
No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished,
transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written
consent of Eagle Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial
distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.
For free owner's manuals and the most current information on
this product, its operation and accessories,
visit our web site:
www.eaglesonar.com
Eagle Electronics
P.O. Box 669
Catoosa, OK USA 74015
Printed in USA.

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Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................1
Specifications: FishEasy 245DS & SeaFinder 245DS .......................1
How Sonar Works.................................................................................3
Preparations .........................................................................................4
Installation ...........................................................................................5
Recommended Tools and supplies...................................................6
Selecting a Transducer Location .....................................................6
How low should you go? ...................................................................8
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ........................................9
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ............................10
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation..............................................15
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches.....................................16
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation ........................................................18
Testing Determines Best Location ................................................19
Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ........................................................21
Power Connections (permanent mount only) ...............................22
Mounting the Sonar Unit: In-Dash, Bracket or Portable ............24
Bracket Installation .......................................................................24
Portable Sonar Installation ...............................................................28
Installing the Batteries..................................................................29
Mounting the Unit .............................................................................30
Portable Transducer Assembly .....................................................31
Portable Transducer Storage.........................................................33
Operation..........................................................................................35
Keyboard Basics .................................................................................35
Memory ...............................................................................................36
Menus..................................................................................................36
Display ................................................................................................37
Full Chart ...........................................................................................38
Depth Range .......................................................................................38
Zoom ....................................................................................................39
Sensitivity...........................................................................................41

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Grayline®.............................................................................................43
Chart Speed ........................................................................................45
Frequency ...........................................................................................46
Fish I.D.™...........................................................................................47
FishTrack™ ........................................................................................49
Alarms.................................................................................................49
Fish Alarm ..........................................................................................49
Depth Alarms .....................................................................................50
Shallow Alarm ....................................................................................50
Deep Alarm.........................................................................................51
Battery Alarm.....................................................................................52
Noise Rejection and ASP™................................................................53
Depth Display.....................................................................................54
Temperature Display .........................................................................55
Voltage ................................................................................................56
Backlight.............................................................................................56
Contrast ..............................................................................................57
Simulator ............................................................................................57
Set Language ......................................................................................58
Software Information.........................................................................58
Reset Options......................................................................................58
Troubleshooting..............................................................................61

1
Introduction
Thank you for buying an Eagle®sonar! Your unit is a high-quality so-
nar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Eagle so-
nars have an automatic mode that finds and displays the bottom, fish,
underwater structure and more – right out of the box. All you have to
do is press the on (PWR) key.
To get started with your Eagle sonar, first read the installation section.
It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit, the transducer
and any optional accessories, such as a speed sensor.
Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum
performance of your Eagle sonar. Improper installation can cause prob-
lems down the road, especially if the transducer is badly mounted.
After you've read the installation instructions, install the unit and ac-
cessories. Then, read the rest of the manual. The more you know about
your sonar, the better it will work for you.
Capabilities and Specifications: FishEasy 245DS,
FishEasy 245DS Portable & SeaFinder 245DS
General
Case size: .........................5.8" H x 4.3" W x 2.5" D (14.7 cm H x 10.8 cm
W x 6.6 cm D) sealed, waterproof; suitable for
saltwater use.
Display: ............................High-contrast Film SuperTwist LCD. Diago-
nal viewing area: 4" (10.16 cm).
Resolution: ......................240 pixels (vert.) x 160 pixels (horiz.) resolu-
tion; 38,400 total pixels
Backlighting: ..................incandescent backlit screen
Input power: ...................10 to 17 volts DC.
Current drain: ................170 ma lights off; 240 ma lights on.

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Back-up memory:...........Built-in memory stores sonar settings when
unit is turned off.
Sonar
Frequency: ......................83/200 kHz.
Transducers:...................A dual search Skimmer®transducer with
built-in temperature sensor is packed with
your unit. It has a wide fish detection area of
up to 60º/120º with high sensitivity settings.
Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61
kts).
Transmitter:....................1,500 watts peak-to-peak power (typical);
188 watts RMS power (typical).
Sonar sounding
depth capability:............1,000 feet (305 meters). Actual capability de-
pends on transducer configuration and instal-
lation, bottom composition and water condi-
tions. All sonar units typically read deeper in
fresh water than in salt water.
Depth display: ................Continuous digital readout.
Audible alarms:..............Deep/shallow/fish.
Automatic ranging: .......Yes, with instant screen updates.
Auto bottom track: ........Yes.
Zoom bottom track:.......Yes.
Split-screen zoom: .........No.
Surface water temp: .....Yes, built into transducer. Optional external
temperature sensor or combo speed/temp
sensor available.
NOTICE!
The storage temperature for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167
degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended

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storage in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage
the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not
covered by the warranty. For more information, contact the fac-
tory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers are inside the
manual's back cover.
How Sonar Works
Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it
works, skip ahead to the next segment on the typographical conventions
used in this manual. But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this
segment will tell you the underwater basics.
Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technol-
ogy developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. A
sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display. In
simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish:
The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer con-
verts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency
can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object
(fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which
converts the sound back into an electrical signal.
The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the
display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar
chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the
transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the
object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second.
Dual Search Transducer
Your unit is packed with a Dual Search Skimmer Transducer that can
transmit at 83 kHz and 200 kHz.

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A new innovation, the 83 kHz frequency offers superior sonar perform-
ance at all depths from very shallow up to 1,000 ft and provides up to
120º of fishfinding coverage.
Preparations
The following shows the recommended sequence for installing the
transducer:
CAUTION:
You should read over this entire installation section before drill-
ing any holes in your vehicle or vessel!
1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can
plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power.
This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the de-
sired configuration.
2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable
route.

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3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection,
along with the power cable route.
4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar
unit.
5. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate
power source and connect it there.
6. Connect the transducer/power cable to the unit and mount the sonar
unit on the bracket.
Installation
These instructions will help you install your Skimmer®transducer on a
transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Please read all instructions
before proceeding with any installation. Your Skimmer transducer typi-
cally comes packaged with a one-piece stainless steel bracket for mount-
ing it to the transom of your boat. The trolling motor mount uses a one-
piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap.
These are all "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help prevent damage if
the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the trans-
ducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be pushed back into place
without tools.
Depending on your sonar unit's connectors, your transducer cable may
also have the sonar unit's power cable attached to it. If that is the case,
be sure to install the transducer first, before connecting the power cable
to a power source. See the instructions later in this manual for connect-
ing the power cable to a battery or other power supply.
Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation.
Determine which of the mounting positions is right for your boat. Use
extreme care if mounting the transducer inside the hull, because once
it is epoxied into position, the transducer usually cannot be removed.
Remember, the transducer installation is the most critical part
of a sonar installation.

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Recommended Tools and supplies
If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you
will need a 5/8" drill bit. Each transom mount requires use of a high
quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline caulking compound.
NOTE:
The following installation types also call for these recommended
tools and required supplies (supplies are not included):
Single-frequency transom installations
Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flat-
head screwdriver (for mounting screws and their pilot holes). Supplies:
none.
Single-frequency trolling motor 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
boat dealer or manufacturer. Supplies: 100 grit sandpaper, specially for-
mulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI (see ordering information
on the inside back cover). A sandwich hull also requires polyester resin.
Selecting a Transducer Location
1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds.
2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow
of water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of
water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the
sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is
moving.
NOTE:
Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the
hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats
typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat