Garmin Fishfinder 240 Blue User manual

Owner’s Manual

Thank You for choosing the GARMIN Fishfinder 240.
This product is designed to operate in all conditions and provide
years of reliable service.
Please take the time to read this Owners Manual, and learn
the operation of your new unit. This will help ensure that you get
the most from your new unit.
If you encounter a problem or just have a question, contact our
Product Support Department at 913 397-8200, MondayFriday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m Central Time.
Enjoy your new Fishfinder 240 and once again thank you for
choosing G.

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Table of Contents
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES ............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION
How the fishfinder works ............................................................................................................3
What can the unit display............................................................................................................4
INSTALLATION
Transducer Selection ........................................................................................................................5
Transducer Installation ..................................................................................................................6
Installing the wiring adapter....................................................................................................7-8
Surface Mounting the unit ..........................................................................................................9
Flush Mounting the unit ..............................................................................................................10
Testing the installation ..................................................................................................................11
UNIT OPERATION
Describing the display ....................................................................................................................12
The Adjustment Bar ..........................................................................................................................13
Range ..............................................................................................................................................................14
Zoom................................................................................................................................................................14-15
Gain..................................................................................................................................................................15
SETUP MENU
Chart ..............................................................................................................................................................17-19
Tools ................................................................................................................................................................20-21
Numbers ......................................................................................................................................................22-23
Alarms ..........................................................................................................................................................24-25
System............................................................................................................................................................26-27
Calibration ................................................................................................................................................28-29
Units ................................................................................................................................................................30-31
Memory ........................................................................................................................................................32
ON THE WATER ................................................................................................................................................33-37
SIMULATOR ............................................................................................................................................................38
APPENDIX
Appendix ASpecifications ......................................................................................................39
Appendix BMessages and Alarm Icons........................................................................40
Appendix CInstalling the Quick Reference Guide ............................................41
Appendix D-Index ..............................................................................................................................42-44

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The 2Standard Package contains the following items:
Fishfinder 240
Protective Front Cover
Surface/Flush Mount Kit
Wiring Adapter Cable
Owners Manual
Quick Reference Guide
*Transom Mount Transducer (w/depth/temp)
* Optional
Optional Transducers:
010-10200-00 Trolling Motor Mount (w/depth/temp)
010-10105-00 Plastic, Transom Mount (w/depth)
010-10106-00 Plastic, Transom Mount (w/depth/speed/temp)
010-10107-00 Bronze Thru-Hull (w/depth)
010-10118-00 Plastic Transom Mount (w/depth/temp)
010-10119-00 Plastic Thru-Hull (w/depth)
010-10177-00 Bronze Thru-Hull (w/depth/speed/temp)
Accessories:
010-10170-00 10 Transducer Extension Cable
010-10170-01 20 Transducer Extension Cable
Packaging and Accessories
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE BOX ?

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The Fishfinder 240 uses sound waves (sonar) to detect infor-
mation about the underwater environment. High frequency
sound waves are transmitted toward the bottom through a
transducer that is mounted below the waterline. When the
sound waves make contact with the bottom, a fish, or some type
of underwater object, the sound is reflected back toward the
transducer. The transducer receives these reflections (echos)
and sends the signals to the unit to be processed and displayed.
Introduction
HOW THE FISHFINDER WORKS

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The Fishfinder 240 is able to display a variety of useful
information about the underwater environment. Below are a
few things the unit will help you see.
Fish
The unit displays fish as arches (no processed echos) or fish
symbols and can alert you when a fish is detected.
Water DDepth
The unit displays water depth and can provide a warning for
shallow or deep water conditions.
Thermocline aand SStructure
With Gs See-ThruTM technology the Fishfinder 240 can
display more than just the thermocline and structure, the unit
displays fish in and below the thermocline, trees, brush and
deadfall like you have never seen before!
Bottom TType aand SShape
Gs unique DCGTM (Depth Control Gain) system pro-
vides a clear graphic representation of the bottom type and its
shape.
Battery VVoltage
The unit can display the battery voltage that is available to the unit.
Speed //WWater TTemperature
If equipped with a capable transducer, the unit can display the
boats speed and the water temperature at the transducer.
Introduction
WHAT CAN THE UNIT DISPLAY ?

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The transducer acts as the eyes and ears of your new sonar.
Proper transducer selection and installation are critical to the
operation of your unit.
The transducer transmits high-frequency sound waves toward
the bottom in a cone shape. The angle or width of the cone is
determined by the transducer. A wide cone angle transducer
works best in shallow water. The wide cone angle provides a
large viewing area but decreases the bottom resolution. This can
result in a large dead zone where fish cannot be seen. A narrow
cone angle transducer is better suited to deep water installations.
The narrow cone angle provides a smaller viewing area with
improved bottom resolution and a smaller dead zone.
Included in the optional Standard Package is a 20° cone angle,
temperature sensing, transom mount transducer. This transducer
provides good all-around performance. Optional transducers are
available.
Installation
TRANSDUCER SELECTION
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Proper transducer placement and installation are key to get-
ting the best performance from your new unit. Detailed instal-
lation instructions are provided with the transducer that you
have selected. Below are some tips and basic instructions for
proper transom mount transducer installation.
DO NOT mount the transducer behind strakes, struts,
fittings, water intake or discharge ports, or anything
that creates air bubbles or causes the water to become
turbulent. It is important that the transducer be in
clean (non turbulent) water for optimal performance.
Installation
TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION
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The Fishfinder 240 comes with a wiring harness that con-
nects the unit to power and the transducer with one easy-to-
remove connection. Make sure the wiring harness will reach
the unit before beginning installation. If it is necessary to
extend the power/data wires, use a wire of comparable size and
keep your extension as short as possible. If the transducer lead
is too short, DO NOT cut the transducer lead to lengthen the
cable. This will void the warranty. Transducer extension cables
are available in 10 or 20 lengths.
Installation
INSTALLING THE WIRING ADAPTER
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Installation
INSTALLING THE WIRING ADAPTER
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If your boat has an electrical system, it may be possible to
wire the unit directly to an unused holder on your current fuse
block. If you are using the boats fuse block, remove the inline
fuse holder supplied
with the unit. Make
sure you install a 2-
Amp fuse in the fuse
block to protect the
unit.
If your boat does
not have a fuse block,
the unit can be wired
directly to the battery.
Make sure the 2-Amp
in-line fuse supplied
with the unit is
installed.
The fishfinder can
be connected to another piece of NMEA compatible electronic
equipment. If equipped with a capable transducer, the fishfind-
er sends depth, temperature and velocity information that could
be displayed on another device.
During a typical installation, only the
Red and
Black wires are used. The Blue wire supplies
NMEA data, and doesnt have to be connected
for normal operation of the unit.
Red Wire
Black Wire
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Installation
SURFACE MOUNTING
The Fishfinder 240 can be mounted to a flat surface using
the supplied Surface Mounting Bracket.
1. Position the Surface Mount in the desired location. Leave approximately
2'' behind the unit for cable clearance.
2. Mark and drill the four mounting holes for the fasteners you are
using (not included).
3. Secure the mount to the surface using the appropriate fasteners.
4. Slip the unit into the surface mount bracket.
5. Tighten the knobs to secure the unit to the bracket.
The mounting bracket can be rotated allowing the
unit to be mounted on horizontal or vertical sur-
faceseven overhead.

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Installation
FLUSH MOUNTING
The Fishfinder 240 can be mounted flush with the dash or
electronics rack. If you choose to flush mount the unit, the
Mounting Bracket will have to be removed from the Display
Head.
1. Using the mounting bracket as a template, mark the location of
the four mounting holes and the center relief hole.
2. After carefully marking these locations drill the mounting holes
using either a 6mm or 15/64 drill.
3. Using a 1-7/8 hole saw, cut the center relief.
4. Using M5 screws, secure the unit to the mounting surface.
If you are flush mounting the unit on a sheet metal surface,
use the mounting bracket on the back to help reinforce the
metal.
Be careful not to install screws that are too long!
The mounting holes in the unit are approximately
1/4 deep, installing too long of screw will damage
the unit and void the warranty.
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While it is possible to perform some checks with the boat trail-
ered, the boat should be in the water to properly test the installation .
Press the Pbutton and the Fishfinder 240 should power on.
If the unit fails to power on, verify that the wiring adapter is seat-
ed properly in the back of the unit, the Red and Black wires are
connected to the correct polarity, and that the 2-Amp fuse is
installed and not blown. If the unit is connected to a power sup-
ply that exceeds 16 VDC, a Battery Voltage High warning (see
page 38) will be displayed and the unit will turn off.
As the unit powers on, it should immediately start showing
the bottom. Verify that the unit is not in the simulator mode. If the
unit is in the simulator mode, make sure that the transducer is con-
nected to the wiring harness.
To test the transducer installation, gradually increase the boat
speed while checking the unit operation. If the unit displays
intermittently or fails to display, verify that the transducer is
aligned parallel with the bottom and if necessary, adjust the
transducer height until the unit operates correctly. It may be
necessary to make several adjustments to ensure proper opera-
tion throughout the speed range.
When adjusting the depth of the transducer, make
the adjustments in small increments. Placing the
transducer too deep can adversely affect the boats
performance and place the transducer at greater risk
of striking underwater objects.
Installation
TESTING THE INSTALLATION

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At the top left of the display you will find the Adjustment Bar
and a variety of user-selectable information including Depth,
Battery Voltage, Water Temperature, and Speed Through Water.
Water Temperature and Speed Through Water require a trans-
ducer capable of providing that information.
The Depth Scale and the Flasher Function are displayed on
the right side of the display. Message and Alarm Icons display
along the bottom.
If the unit is unable to track the bottom, the digits in the
depth window will flash on and off to alert the user that the unit
is not tracking the bottom.
The Fishfinder 240 has three levels of screen backlighting,
Off, Low and High. The backlight is activated by momentarily
pressing the Pkey. To change the backlight level press the P
key repeatedly.
Unit Operation
DESCRIBING THE DISPLAY
Adjustment Bar
Battery Voltage
Flasher
Depth Scale
Water Temp
Alarm/Message Icons
Depth
Speed Through Water

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The Adjustment Bar allows direct access to the settings most
commonly changed while using the unit. These include the depth
Range, Zoom setting, and the Gain (sensitivity) of the unit.
Place the highlight (white bar) over the desired selection
using the Ror Lkey and the current setting will be displayed
in the highlight. To immediately change the setting, press the
Uor Darrow key. If you wish to review the available settings
before making a change, press the Ekey to activate the adjust-
ment list.
Unit Operation
THE ADJUSTMENT BAR
Current Setting
Adjustment List
White Highlight

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Range
The Range Adjustment is
used to set the depth range used
for viewing. The unit can be set
to automatically track the bot-
tom or set to a user-selected
depth range. To select Auto or
a user-selected bottom range,
place the highlight over the
Range field on the adjustment
bar and press the Uor D
arrows to change the selection.
Zoom
The Zoom Adjustment is
used to select a zoom scale or to
split the display. To change the
zoom scale or split the display,
highlight Zoom on the adjust-
ment bar and press theUor D
arrows. When a scale other than
No Zoom is selected, the
Adjustment Bar will display a
new selection labeled View.
Unit Operation
THE ADJUSTMENT BAR

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View
The View Adjustment is
available when a scale other than
No Zoom is selected. The View
menu is used to change the view-
ing range of a zoomed display. If
the display is split, only the
zoomed portion of the display
will be affected by the change. To
change the viewing range, high-
light the View field on the
Adjustment Bar and pressE. Press the Uor Darrows to change
the setting. When viewing a split screen, a zoom range bar will be
displayed on the right side of the screen. This bar shows the position
of the zoomed view relative to the full range. To allow the unit to
automatically track the current bottom information, select Auto
View.
Gain
The Gain Adjustment allows
the user to control the sensitiv-
ity of the units receiver. This
provides some flexibility in
what is seen on the display. To
see more detail, increase the
receiver sensitivity by selecting
a higher gain (+). If there is too
much detail or if the screen is
cluttered, lowering the sensitiv-
ity (-) may increase the clarity of the display.
Unit Operation
THE ADJUSTMENT BAR
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The Setup Menu contains the unit settings that should not
require frequent change. The Setup Menu items include Chart,
Tools, Numbers, Alarms, System, Calibrations, Units, and
Memory Settings. Each will be described in more detail in this
section. To access the Setup Menu press the Sbutton on the
face of the unit. The first time that the Sbutton is pressed, the
setup page will be displayed with the Chart tab highlighted in
black. Pressing the Uor Darrow will move the highlight between
the tab selections. Press theRto access the selection fields. Each
subsequent time the setup menu is accessed, the unit will take you
back to the last edited selection field. Press theLarrow key to get
back to the tabs.
Unit Operation
SETUP MENU
Setup Menu

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Chart
The Chart setup menu allows the user to determine the
appearance of the scrolling chart display. To access the Chart
Menu use the arrow keys to highlight the Chart tab.
Fish SSymbols
 Fish Symbols allows the user to
determine how the chart will dis-
play underwater targets and back-
ground information. If Fish
Symbols are set to Off, the unit will
display all information that is avail-
able about the underwater environ-
ment. If a fish symbol is selected,
the chart will display a fish symbol
and the related information when
representing any suspended underwater object. To select the Fish
Symbols field from the Chart setup menu, press theRarrow key to
move the highlight to the selection fields. Use theUor Darrow to place
the highlight over the Fish Symbols field, and pressE. Using the Uor
Darrow, select the desired mode and pressE.
Fish SSymbols OOffAll available information will be displayed
Fish SSymbols OOnSuspended targets will display as fish symbols.
Background information will be displayed
Fish SSymbols OOnSame as above with the target depth attached
Fish SSymbols OOnSuspended targets display as fish symbols. No
background information will be displayed
Fish SSymbols OOnSame as above with the target depth attached
Unit Operation
SETUP MENU — CHART
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Whiteline
Whiteline controls how the
unit will display information
about the bottom type (hard or
soft). With the Whiteline Off,
the bottom return will display
as black. With Whiteline On,
the bottom return will be gray.
The width of the bottom return
helps determine the type of
bottom. See page 36 for more
detail on this feature. To change the Whiteline setting, press the
Skey. Press the Rkey to place the highlight on the selection
fields, highlight the Whiteline field and press E. Choose the
desired setting and press Eto accept the selection.
Scroll SSpeed
The chart scrolling speed
can be adjusted using the
Scroll Speed selection field. To
adjust the speed, press the S
key to activate the setup menu.
Highlight the Scroll Speed field
and press E. Choose the
desired setting and press Eto
accept the selection.
Unit Operation
SETUP MENU — CHART