Humminbird Fishin' Buddy MAX User manual

532419-1_A
PiranhaMAX™ & Fishin’ Buddy® MAX
PiranhaMAX™ & Fishin’ Buddy® MAX

i
Thank You!
Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, the #1 name in marine electronics.
Humminbird has built its reputation by designing and manufacturing
top-quality, thoroughly reliable marine equipment. 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. For complete details, see the separate warranty card
included with your unit. We encourage you to read this operations manual
carefully in order to get the full benefit from all the features and applications
of your Humminbird product.
Contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468 or visit our
Web site at humminbird.com.
WARNING! This device should not be used as a navigational aid to prevent collision,
grounding, boat damage, or personal injury. When the boat is moving, water depth may
change too quickly to allow time for you to react. Always operate the boat at very slow
speeds if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.
WARNING! Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by
authorized service personnel. Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair
the original equipment or accessories by unauthorized individuals will void the warranty.
WARNING! Do not travel at high speed with the unit cover installed. Remove the unit
cover before traveling at speeds above 20 mph.
WARNING! This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
NOTE: Some features discussed in this manual require a separate purchase, and some
features are only available on international models. Every effort has been made to clearly
identify those features. Please read the manual carefully in order to understand the full
capabilities of your model.
NOTE: The illustrations in this manual may not look the same as your product, but your
unit will function in a similar way.
NOTE: The procedures and features described in this manual are subject to change
without notice. This manual was written in English and may have been translated to
another language. Humminbird is not responsible for incorrect translations or
discrepancies between documents.

ROHS STATEMENT: Product designed and intended as a fixed installation or part of a
system in a vessel may be considered beyond the scope of Directive 2002/95/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use
of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Down Imaging®, Fish ID+™, Fishin’ Buddy® MAX, Humminbird®, PiranhaMAX™, Structure ID™,
WhiteLine™, and X-Press™ Menu are trademarked by or registered trademarks of Johnson
Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
Baekmuk Batang, Baekmuk Dotum, Baekmuk ulim, and Baekmuk Headline are registered
trademarks owned by Kim Jeong-Hwan.
© 2015 Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved.
ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: Products sold in the U.S. are not
intended for use in the international market. Humminbird international units provide
international features and are designed to meet country and regional regulations.
Languages, maps, time zones, units of measurement, and warranty are examples of
features that are customized for Humminbird international units purchased through
our authorized international distributors.
To obtain a list of authorized international distributors, please visit our Web site at
humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at [phone].
ii

Table of Contents
iii
Sonar Technology 1
DualBeamSonar..................................................2
DownImagingSonar...............................................3
Powering O and OFF 4
The Control Head 5
POWER/MENUKey................................................6
UPandDOWNArrowKeys..........................................6
CHECK/ENTERKey.................................................7
Using the Menu System 8
Setting up the Control Head (Setup Menu) 10
Contrast (DownImagingViewonly)............................................11
Palette (DownImagingViewonly)..............................................11
Fish ID+ (Sonar View only) ...........................................11
Bottom View (Sonar View only)........................................12
Reset ..........................................................13
Language (International Models only)....................................13
Units - Temp (International Models only, Units submenu) ......................13
Units - Depth (International Models only, Units submenu) .....................13
Setting Alarms 14
Changing the On-Screen View 16
StatusView.....................................................17
Down Imaging View (Down Imaging Models only)..........................18
SonarView......................................................19
Opening the X-Press Menu 20
View...........................................................21
DepthRange....................................................21

Table of Contents
iv
Sensitivity.......................................................21
Zoom ..........................................................22
ChartSpeed.....................................................22
Filter (Sonar View only) ..............................................23
Light...........................................................23
Beam Select (Sonar View only) .......................................23
Maintenance 24
Troubleshooting 26
Dual Beam Fishfinder Specifications 29
Down Imaging Fishfinder Specifications 30
Contacting Humminbird 34

v

Sonar Technolo y
The fishfinder automatically determines depth and makes adjustments to keep
the bottom and fish visible on the display.
The fishfinder uses sonar technology to send sound waves from the transducer
into the water. The returned “echoes” are plotted on the display and represent
something that was detected by a sonar return at a particular time. As both the
boat and the targets (fish) may be moving, the returns are only showing a
particular segment of time when objects were detected, not exactly where
those objects are in relation to other objects shown on the display.
The returned sonar echoes are displayed on the screen. As a new echo is
received, the historical data scrolls left across the view. Boat speed, wave
action, bottom hardness, water conditions, and transducer installation can all
affect depth capability.
1Sonar Technolog

Dual Beam Sonar
The Dual Beam sonar fishfinders use a 200/455 kHz dual beam sonar system
with a 28° area of coverage. Dual Beam sonar is optimized to show the
greatest bottom definition using a narrow (16°) beam yet can still indicate fish
found in the wide (28°) beam when the Fish ID+ feature is turned on.
As the boat moves, the unit charts the changes in depth on the display to
create a profile of the Bottom Contour. The Sonar View displays the sonar
return intensity with a range of colors, where red indicates a strong return,
yellow indicates a medium return, and blue indicates a weak return.
Strong returns often result from rocky or hard bottoms (compacted sediment,
rocks, fallen trees), while weaker returns often result from soft bottoms (sand,
mud), vegetation, and small fish.
weak returns
(possibly vegetation
or small fish)
Sonar View
strong returns
(possibly rocks,
tree limbs, or
other structure)
strong return
(possibly compacted
sediment or rocks)
Sonar History: historical returns
scroll left across the view.
2
Sonar Technolog

Down Imaging Sonar (Down Imaging models only)
In addition to Dual Beam sonar, the Down Imaging fishfinder uses Down Imaging
sonar technology. The Down Imaging transducer scans the water with a razor-thin
74° beam (455 kHz) that is wide (side to side) and very thin (front to back).
Use the light and dark parts of the display to interpret the objects under your
boat as follows:
•Dark shades represent soft returns (mud, sand) or descending terrain.
•Light shades represent denser terrain (timber, rocks) or rising terrain.
A very hard bottom may appear as white on the display.
•White Streaks or Clouds may represent fish or vegetation on the display.
•Shadows are not caused by light but by the lack of a sonar return. Objects
standing on the bottom cause a sonar shadow to appear on the display.
The longer the shadow, the taller the object. Fish may also cast shadows.
white streaks
or clouds
bottom return
Down Imaging View
dark shades
(weak returns)
light shades
(strong returns)
Sonar History: historical returns
scroll left across the view.
3Sonar Technolog

Powerin ON and OFF
Use the following instructions to turn on your control head.
Power on and Start Operation
1. Press and hold the POWER/MENU key until the
control head powers on.
2. Press the UP or DOWN Arrow key to select Normal.
3. Press the CHECK/ENTER key.
NOTE: See The Control Head and Using the Menu System for
more information.
otes about Starting Operation
• A transducer must be connected to the control
head to enable Normal mode.
• International units powered on for the first time
will first display Setup menu options such as
Language, Units - Distance, Units - Speed, etc.
for initial system setup (see Setting up the
Control Head).
• If Simulator Mode is selected from the Start-up
Menu and a transducer is plugged in, some
menu setting changes will be saved in memory
even after the unit is powered down. Menu
setting changes will not be saved when a
transducer is not connected.
Power Off
1. Press and hold the POWER/MENU key until the unit powers off.
4
Powering On and Off

The Control Head
Your unit interface is easy to use. A combination of keys and special features
allows you to control what you see on the display.
display
UP and DOW
Arrow keys
POWER/ME U
key
CHECK/E TER
key
5The Control Head

POWER/MENU Key
The POWER/ME U key is used to power the control head on and
off. It is also used to open and close the menu system.
•Menus: Press the POWER/MENU key in any view to open the X-Press
Menu for that view. Each X-Press Menu provides frequently-used menu
settings that correspond with the current view.
•Menu Settings: Press the POWER/MENU key to confirm a menu setting.
The changes will be activated and saved immediately.
•Close/Exit: Press the POWER/MENU key to close a menu or return to
the previous submenu in the menu system.
NOTE: See Using the Menu System for more information.
NOTE: Each time the POWER/ME U key is pressed, the backlight momentarily
illuminates for easy viewing at night. Adjust the LIGHT menu setting to keep the
backlight on (see X-Press Menu: Light).
UP and DOWN Arrow Keys
The UP and DOW Arrow Keys have multiple functions,
which depend on the view, menu, or situation.
•Menu Selection: Press the UP or DOWN Arrow keys to
select a menu option.
•Menu Settings: Press the UP or DOWN Arrow keys to
adjust a menu setting in an active menu.
•Sensitivity: Press the UP or DOWN Arrow keys to
adjust the Sensitivity in Sonar View and Down Imaging
View.
6
The Control Head

7
CHECK/ENTER Key
The CHECK/E TER Key has multiple functions, which depend on
the view, menu, or situation.
•Menu Activation: Press the CHECK/ENTER key after selecting a menu
option to activate the menu or open a submenu.
NOTE: See Using the Menu System for more information.
•Menu Settings: Press the CHECK/ENTER key to confirm a menu
setting. The changes will be activated and saved immediately.
The Control Head

8
Usin the Menu System
Review the instructions below to understand how to use the menu system.
1. Open the Menu System
Press the POWER/MENU key.
2. Sele t a Menu Option
Press the UP or DOWN Arrow key to select a menu option.
NOTE: Available menu options are determined by the on-screen
view. See Changing the On-Screen iew for more information.
The menu name will be highlighted, indicating the menu
is active, but the menu option is inactive.
When the menu name
is white, the menu
is currently selected.
Inactive Menu Option
When the menu option
is gray, the menu
option is inactive.
Using the Menu S stem

9
3. A tivate a Menu Option and Adjust Settings
Activate a Menu Option: Press the CHECK/ENTER key to
activate the selected menu option.
The menu option will be highlighted, indicating the menu
option is active and changes can be made to the menu
setting.
Adjust a Menu Setting: After a menu is selected, press the UP or DOWN
Arrow keys to adjust the menu setting.
Confirm: Press the CHECK/ENTER key or the POWER/MENU key to confirm the
selection. Menu settings are saved and removed from the screen automatically
after several seconds.
Open a Submenu: Press the CHECK/ENTER key to open a submenu. From the
opened submenu, repeat steps 2 and 3 to make a menu selection.
4. Close a Menu
Press the POWER/MENU key until the menu system is
closed.
In Normal operating mode, most menu settings will be
saved when the unit is turned off. Some menu settings,
such as Light, Depth Range, and Zoom will return to their
default settings after the unit is powered off. In Simulator
mode, menu setting changes will not be saved if a
transducer is not connected.
When the menu name
is gray, the menu is
currently inactive.
Active Menu Option
When the menu option
is white, the menu
option is active.
Using the Menu S stem

Settin up the Control Head (Setup Menu)
Use the Setup Menu to customize the settings of your unit.
Down Imaging View Settings: If you have a Down Imaging model, set
the Contrast and Palette for the Down Imaging Display.
Sonar View Settings: Set how fish are displayed on-screen (Fish ID+)
and the Bottom View.
Control Head Settings: Set the units of measurement, language
(international units only), and more.
Alarms: See the Setting Alarms section for information.
Open the Setup Menu
1. Press the POWER/MENU key.
2. Press the UP or DOWN Arrow key to select SETUP, and press the
CHECK/ENTER key.
Open the Units Submenu
1. Press the POWER/MENU key.
2. Press the UP or DOWN Arrow key to select SETUP, and press the
CHECK/ENTER key.
3. Select UNITS, and press the CHECK/ENTER key.
Menu options are determined by your Humminbird model and the selected
view. See the following pages for menu descriptions. Also, see Using the
Menu System and Changing the On-Screen iew for more information.
10
Setting up the Control Head

Contrast (Down Imaging iew only)
Settings: 1 to 10; Default = 5, Setting Saved in Memory
Contrast accents the light and dark parts of the sonar data to provide greater
definition.
Palette (Down Imaging iew only)
Settings: Amber1, Amber2, Blue, Brown; Default = Amber 1,
Setting Saved in Memory
Palette allows you to select which color palette you would like to use for the
Down Imaging view.
Fish ID+ (Sonar iew only)
Settings: n, ff; Default = n, Setting Saved in Memory
Fish ID+ uses advanced signal processing to interpret sonar returns and will
display a Fish Symbol when very selective requirements are met. To turn on fish
symbols, select On. A select number of possible fish returns will be displayed
with their associated depth. To turn off fish symbols so that only raw sonar
returns are displayed on the view, select Off.
When Fish ID+ is turned on, returns from the 200 kHz beam and the 455 kHz
beam are shown with shaded fish symbols. Three different fish size icons
represent the intensity of the sonar return and provide an indicator of relative
fish size.
Raw Sonar,
Fish ID+ Off
200/455 kHz
Fish ID+ On
11 Setting up the Control Head

Bottom View (Sonar iew only)
Settings: Structure ID, WhiteLine; Default = Structure ID,
Setting Saved in Memory
Bottom View selects the method used to represent the bottom and structure
on the display.
Structure ID represents weak returns as light pixels and
strong returns as dark pixels. This has the benefit of
ensuring that strong returns will be clearly visible on the
display.
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.
12
Setting up the Control Head

13
Reset
Settings: Select C NFIRM and press the CHECK/ENTER key to
activate.
Use this menu choice with caution!
Reset restores ALL menu settings to their factory defaults.
Lan ua e (International Models only)
Settings Vary; Default = English, Setting Saved in Memory
Language selects the display language for menus.
Units - Temperature
(International Models only, Units submenu)
Settings: ˚C (Celsius), ˚F (Fahrenheit); Default = ˚C (Celsius),
Setting Saved in Memory
Units - Temperature selects the units of measure for all temperature-related
readouts.
Units - Depth
(International Models only, Units submenu)
Settings: Feet, Meters, Fathoms; Default = Meters, Setting
Saved in Memory
Units - Depth selects the units of measure for all depth-related readouts.
Setting up the Control Head

Settin Alarms
Alarms are based on the limits you set for a device, such as battery voltage,
depth, and more. Set the alarms that apply to your unit installation and
configuration.
Set an Alarm
1. Press the POWER/MENU key.
2. Select SETUP and press the CHECK/ENTER key.
3. Select ALARMS and press the CHECK/ENTER key.
4. Select an alarm and press the CHECK/ENTER key to activate the menu.
5. Press the UP or DOWN Arrow key to select an alarm setting.
6. Press the POWER/MENU key or the CHECK/ENTER key to confirm the
selection.
7. Close: Press the POWER/MENU key until the menu system is closed.
Turn off an Alarm
1. Open the Alarms Menu.
2. Select the Alarm.
3. Press the DOWN Arrow key until Off is selected.
14
Setting Alarms