Lowrance LMS-480 User manual

Pub. 988-0151-181
www.lowrance.com
LMS-480M, LMS-480DF
Fish-finding Sonar & Mapping GPS
Operation Instructions

Copyright © 2003 Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Lowrance®is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
Navionicsis a registered trademark of Navionics, Inc.
Points of Interest Data in this unit are by infoUSA,
copyright 2001-2003, All Rights Reserved. infoUSA is a
trademark of infoUSA, Inc.
eXitSource Database, copyright 2001-2003 Zenrin Co.
Ltd. Exit Authorityand eXitSourceare trademarks of
Zenrin Co. Ltd.
Lowrance 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. On the cover:
LMS-480M shown. Other models covered in the manual are similar.
For free owner's manuals and other information,
visit our web site:
www.lowrance.com
Lowrance Electronics Inc.
12000 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486
Printed in USA.

i
Table of Contents
Sec. 1: Read Me First! ............................................................... 1
Capabilities and Specifications: LMS-480 and LMS-480DF........ 3
How LMS-480 Sonar Works ......................................................... 5
How LMS-480 GPS Works ........................................................... 6
Introduction to GPS and WAAS................................................... 8
How to Use this Manual: Typographical Conventions.............. 10
Sec. 2: Installation & Accessories ........................................ 13
Preparations................................................................................ 13
Transducer Installation.............................................................. 13
Selecting a Transducer Location............................................ 14
How Low Should You Go?....................................................... 15
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 16
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 17
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation....................................... 23
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 23
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation and Installation ..................... 24
Speed/Temperature Sensors....................................................... 28
GPS Antenna/Receiver Module .................................................. 30
Power Connections...................................................................... 31
Powering a NMEA-2000 Buss ................................................ 31
Powering your Unit................................................................. 32
NMEA 0183/DGPS Cable Connections...................................... 34
NMEA/DGPS Wiring .............................................................. 34
Mounting the Unit: Bracket, In-Dash or Portable .................... 36
MMC or SD Card Memory Card Installation ............................ 39
Other Accessories........................................................................ 41
Face Cover................................................................................... 42
Sec. 3: Basic Sonar Operation............................................... 43
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 43
Power/Lights (Turn Unit On and Off) ....................................... 44
Main Menu .................................................................................. 44
Pages ........................................................................................... 46
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 46
Navigation Page ...................................................................... 47
Map Page................................................................................. 47
Sonar Page .............................................................................. 48
Basic Sonar Quick Reference ............................................... 51
Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 52
Sec. 4: Sonar Options & Other Features ............................ 57
ASP(Advanced Signal Processing) ......................................... 57
Alarms ......................................................................................... 58
Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 58

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Zone Alarm .............................................................................. 59
Fish Alarm............................................................................... 60
Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 61
Chart Speed................................................................................. 62
Depth Cursor............................................................................... 62
Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 63
Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 64
Depth Range - Upper and Lower Limits ................................... 65
FasTrack.................................................................................. 66
Fish I.D.(Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 67
FishTrack................................................................................. 68
FishReveal............................................................................... 69
Frequency (Change Transducer Frequency) ............................. 71
Grayline..................................................................................... 72
HyperScroll.............................................................................. 74
Log Sonar Chart Data ................................................................ 74
Noise Rejection............................................................................ 75
Overlay Data ............................................................................... 75
Change Displayed Data Font Size ......................................... 76
Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 77
Reset Options .............................................................................. 79
Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 79
Set Keel Offset ............................................................................ 79
Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 81
Turn Auto Sensitivity Back on:.............................................. 82
Sonar Color Mode........................................................................ 82
Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 83
Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 83
Split Zoom Sonar Chart.......................................................... 84
Split Frequency Sonar Chart (LMS-480DF only).................. 84
Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 85
Flashgraf.............................................................................. 87
Map with Sonar Split Screen ................................................. 88
Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 88
Stop Chart ................................................................................... 90
Surface Clarity ............................................................................ 91
Upper and Lower Limits ............................................................ 92
Zoom & Zoom Bar ....................................................................... 92
Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 93
Sec. 5: Sonar Troubleshooting.............................................. 95
Sec. 6: Basic GPS Operations................................................ 99
Keyboard ..................................................................................... 99
Power/Lights (Turn Unit On and Off) ..................................... 100

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Main Menu ................................................................................ 100
Pages ......................................................................................... 102
Sonar Page ............................................................................ 102
Satellite Status Page ............................................................ 102
Navigation Page .................................................................... 104
Map Page............................................................................... 106
Background Map vs. MapCreateMap Content ............ 108
Basic GPS Quick Reference ................................................ 112
Find your Current Position ...................................................... 113
Moving around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys............ 113
Selecting any Map Item with the Cursor ................................ 114
Searching................................................................................... 114
Set a Waypoint.......................................................................... 116
Create Waypoint at Current Position .................................. 117
Create Waypoint on Map...................................................... 118
Create Waypoint by Entering a Position ............................. 118
Navigate to a Waypoint ............................................................ 118
Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint...................................... 119
Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint ........................................ 119
Navigate to Cursor Position on Map........................................ 120
Navigate to a Point of Interest................................................. 121
Creating and Saving a Trail..................................................... 122
Displaying a Saved Trail .......................................................... 124
Navigating Trails...................................................................... 124
Visual Trailing ...................................................................... 125
Navigate a Trail (Forward)................................................... 125
Navigate a Back Trail (Backtrack, or Reverse) ................... 127
Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ........................... 128
Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 130
Sec. 7: Advanced GPS Operations .....................................131
Find Distance from Current Position to Another Location .... 131
Find Distance from Point to Point ........................................... 131
Icons........................................................................................... 132
Create Icon on Map............................................................... 132
Create Icon at Current Position ........................................... 132
Delete an Icon ....................................................................... 132
Navigate to an Icon............................................................... 133
Routes........................................................................................ 133
Create and Save a Route ...................................................... 134
Delete a Route ....................................................................... 137
Edit a Route Name................................................................ 137
Edit Route Waypoints........................................................... 137
Navigate a Route................................................................... 138

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Navigate a Route in Reverse ................................................ 139
Trails ......................................................................................... 140
Delete a Trail ........................................................................ 140
Edit a Trail Name ................................................................. 140
Edit a Trail Color .................................................................. 140
Edit a Trail Pattern .............................................................. 141
Utilities...................................................................................... 141
Alarm Clock........................................................................... 141
Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator.......................................... 141
Trip Calculator...................................................................... 141
Trip Down Timer................................................................... 141
Trip Up Timer ....................................................................... 141
Waypoints.................................................................................. 142
Delete a Waypoint................................................................. 142
Edit a Waypoint (Name, Symbol and Position) ................... 142
Selecting a Waypoint ............................................................ 143
Set a Waypoint by Average Position .................................... 143
Set a Waypoint by Projecting a Position.............................. 143
Sec. 8: System & GPS Setup Options.................................145
Alarms ....................................................................................... 145
Auto Satellite Search................................................................ 146
Check MMC Files and Storage Space...................................... 147
Communications Port Configuration ....................................... 147
Configure DGPS........................................................................ 148
Configure NMEA ...................................................................... 149
Coordinate System Selection.................................................... 149
Setup Loran TD..................................................................... 151
Map Fix ..................................................................................... 151
Customize Page Displays ......................................................... 152
DGPS Status ............................................................................. 153
GPS Simulator .......................................................................... 153
Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ................................. 154
Hide GPS Features ................................................................... 155
Initialize GPS............................................................................ 155
Map Auto Zoom......................................................................... 155
Map Data................................................................................... 156
Show Map Data..................................................................... 156
Pop-Up Map Information...................................................... 156
Map Boundaries .................................................................... 156
Fill Water with White........................................................... 157
Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ...................... 157
Map Datum Selection ............................................................... 157
Map Detail Category Selection................................................. 158

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Map Orientation ....................................................................... 158
NavionicsCharts..................................................................... 160
Display a Navionics Chart:................................................... 160
Port Information ................................................................... 161
Tidal Current Information ................................................... 162
Tide Information ................................................................... 163
Pop-Up Help .............................................................................. 165
Position Pinning........................................................................ 165
Reset Options ............................................................................ 166
Require DGPS ........................................................................... 166
Screen Contrast and Brightness .............................................. 167
Set Language ............................................................................ 168
Set Local Time .......................................................................... 168
Show WAAS Alarm................................................................... 169
Software Version Information.................................................. 169
Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.............................................. 170
Track Smoothing....................................................................... 170
Trail Options ............................................................................. 171
Delete All Trails .................................................................... 171
Flash Trails on Screen Option.............................................. 171
Update Trail Option.............................................................. 172
Update Trail Criteria (Auto, Time, Distance).................. 172
Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance)................................. 172
Delete Trail ........................................................................... 173
New Trail............................................................................... 173
Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 173
Units of Measure....................................................................... 173
Sec. 9: Searching....................................................................175
Find Addresses.......................................................................... 175
Find any Item Selected by Map Cursor ................................... 178
Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 179
Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ........................... 181
Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 183
Find Waypoints......................................................................... 187
Sec. 10: Supplemental Material.......................................... 191
Index.........................................................................................197

vi
WARNING!
A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD
TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION.
CAUTION
When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show
the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the
waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not
only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a way-
point, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint
is always available.
WARNING!
When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely re-
sponsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators
must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or fly-
ing conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage
to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a
GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and
vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion.

1
Section 1: Read Me First!
How this manual can get you out on the road, fast!
Welcome to the exciting world of digital sonar and GPS! We know
you're anxious to begin navigating and finding fish, but we have a favor
to ask. Before you grab the unit and begin installing it, please give us a
moment or two to explain how our manual can help you get the best
performance from your compact, wide-screen, combination fish finder
and mapping GPS receiver.
First, we want to thank you for buying a Lowrance sonar/GPS unit.
Whether you're a first time user or a professional fisherman, you'll dis-
cover that your unit is easy to use, yet capable of handling demanding
navigation and sonar tasks. When you team your unit with our custom
mapping software MapCreate6, you have an incredible combination.
You won't find another combination GPS and sonar unit with this much
power and this many features for this price!
Our goal for this book is to get you on the water fast, with a minimum
of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time boating or fishing and
less time reading the manual!
So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing
from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of
each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a
concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to
skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look
up any tips you may need from time to time. Here's how:
The manual is organized into 10 sections. This first section is an intro-
duction to the LMS-480 or LMS-480DF, sonar and GPS. It tells you the
basics you need to know before you can make the unit look around and
tell you where you are, or look below the surface to find some fish.
Section 2 will help you install your unit, the transducer and the GPS
antenna module. We'll show you how to get the MultiMedia Card
(MMC) correctly installed inside the unit. We'll also tell you about some
of the available accessories.
Section 3 covers Basic Sonar Operation. It will show you how easy it is
to run your LMS-480 series sonar, right out of the box. This section fea-
tures a one-page Sonar Quick Reference. (If you've already jumped
ahead and figured out how to install the unit yourself, and you
just can't wait any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page
51 and head for the water with your LMS-480!)

2
After you've gained some experience with your sonar, you'll want to
check out Section 4, which discusses more advanced Sonar Options and
Other Features.
When you come to a sonar menu command on the LMS-480 screen, you can
look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents, just flip-
ping through Section 3 or scanning through the sonar options in Section 4.
If you're having difficulty with your sonar, you can find an answer to
the most common problems in Section 5, Sonar Troubleshooting.
The manual switches from sonar to navigation in Section 6, which in-
troduces you to Basic GPS Operations. This section features a one-
page GPS Quick Reference on page 112.
Section 6 contains short, easy-to-scan GPS lessons that follow one an-
other in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to find your
way on the water quickly.
After you've learned the basics (or if you already have some GPS expe-
rience), you may want to try out some of LMS-480's many advanced
navigation features. That brings us to Section 7, Advanced GPS Opera-
tions. This section contains the rest of LMS-480's GPS command func-
tions, organized in alphabetical order.
When you come to a GPS menu command on the LMS-480 screen, you
can look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents,
just flipping through Section 6 or scanning through the command por-
tion of Section 7.
LMS-480 is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and
customize it's operation with dozens of options. Since sonar is the unit's
key feature, we put the main sonar options in Section 4. Some options,
such as screen brightness settings, affect both sonar and GPS opera-
tions. We describe how to use those common options along with GPS
options in Section 8, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. Section 8 is
organized in alphabetical order.
In Section 9, we go into more detail on one of LMS-480's most remarkable
GPS capabilities — Searching. We'll introduce a search example in the Ba-
sic GPS Operation section, but there are so many map items you can
search for, we had to give this function it's own section in the manual! For
example, did you know LMS-480 can look up business phone numbers,
functioning as a virtual Yellow Pages? We’ll show you how in Section 9.
Finally, in Section 10, we offer Supplemental Material, including a list
of the GPS datums used, warranties and customer service information.

3
Now, if you're into the fine details, glance over the next segment on
specifications to see just how much sonar and GPS power your unit con-
tains. It's important to us (and our power users), but, if you don't care
how many watts of power the unit has, or how many waypoints LMS-480
can store, skip ahead to important information on how LMS-480 sonar
works, on page 5. (Background on GPS begins on page 6.)
Capabilities and Specifications: LMS-480 and LMS-480DF
General
Display:............................ 5.0" (12.7 cm) diagonal high contrast Film
SuperTwist LCD; programmable to viewing
preference.
Resolution:...................... 480 pixel x 480 pixel resolution; 230,400 total
pixels; 10-level gray scale definition.
Backlighting:.................. Incandescent backlit screen with multiple
lighting levels; backlit keypad.
Input power:................... 10 to 15 volts DC.
Current drain: ............... Sonar only: 500 ma lights off; 600 ma lights
on. With GPS and lights on: 700 ma.
Case size:......................... 5.4" H x 6.9" W x 3.4" D (13.8 x 17.6 x 8.6
cm); sealed and waterproof; suitable for
saltwater use.
MMC slots: ...................... One with waterproof door (SD card compati-
ble).
Recording:........................ GPS uses MMC & SD cards for recording trip
details and displaying charts or custom maps.
Sonar uses them to record and save sonar
chart logs.
Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar records and
GPS data for decades. User settings are
stored when unit is turned off.
Languages:...................... 10; menu languages selectable by user.
Sonar
Frequency:...................... LMS-480DF: 50/200 kHz.
LMS-480: 200 kHz.
Transducers: .................... A dual-frequency Skimmertransducer with
built-in temperature sensor is packed with the

4
LMS-480DF. It has 35°/12°cone angles. A sin-
gle-frequency Skimmer transducer with built-
in temperature sensor is packed with the
LMS-480. It has a 20°cone angle. Transducers
operate at speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts).
Transmitter: ................... 3,000 watts peak-to-peak/375 watts RMS.
Sonar sounding
depth capability: ........... LMS-480DF: 2,500 feet/762 meters.
LMS-480: 1,000 feet/305 meters.
(Actual capability depends on transducer
configuration and installation, bottom com-
position and water conditions. All sonar
units typically read deeper in fresh water
than in salt water.)
Depth display:................ Continuous display.
Graph recording:........... More than 256 MB on one MMC (or SD) card
Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish/zone.
Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates.
Auto bottom track:........ Yes
Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes.
Split-screen zoom:......... Yes.
Surface water temp: ..... Yes, built into transducer.
Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor (sensor in-
cluded with LMS-480DF.)
GPS
Receiver/antenna:............External; LGC-2000 12 parallel channel
NMEA-2000-ready GPS/WAAS re-
ceiver/antenna; DGPS beacon receiver optional.
Background map:.......... Built-in custom, detailed Lowrance map.
Contains: enhanced detail of continental U.S.
and Hawaii. Includes more than 60,000 nav
aids and 10,000 wrecks/obstructions in
coastal and Great Lakes waters. Metro ar-
eas, selected major streets/highways and in-
terstate exit services details included.

5
Custom mapping: .......... MapCreate6 software optional; optional
LEI FreedomMapsoffer the same high-
detail without the work of MapCreate; Navi-
onicscharts on MMC cards optional.
Mapping memory:............More than 256 MB on one MMC (or SD) card.
Position updates: .......... Every second.
Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons.
Audible alarms: ............. Arrival/off-course/anchor.
Graphic symbols for
waypoints or event
marker icons: ................. 42.
Routes:............................. 100; up to 100 waypoints per route.
Plot Trails: ...................... 10 savable; up to 9,999 points per trail.
Zoom range:.................... 39 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles.
NOTE:
The above memory capacities refer only to LMS-480's on-board
memory. The amount of GPS or sonar data you can record and save
for recall later is only limited by the number of MMC cards you have.
NOTICE!
The storage temperature range for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167
degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended stor-
age in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liq-
uid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not covered by
the warranty. For more information, contact the factory's Customer
Service Department; phone numbers are listed on the last page.
How LMS-480 Sonar Works
Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it
works, skip down to read about the relatively new technology of GPS.
But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you
the under water basics.
Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technol-
ogy developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines.
(Lowrance developed the world's first transistorized sportfishing sonar in
1957.) A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and dis-
play. In simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish:

6
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.
Your LMS-480 can record a log of the sonar signals that scroll across
the screen and save them to the MMC memory card. (These recordings
are also called sonar charts or sonar graphs.) You can replay this sonar
log in the unit using the Sonar Simulator function, or play it back on a
personal computer using our free Sonar Viewer. The viewer is available
for download from the Lowrance web site, www.lowrance.com.
You can save several different sonar log files, erase 'em and record new
ones, over and over again. The size of your sonar recordings is only
limited by the free space available on your MMC.
How LMS-480 GPS Works
You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how the LMS-480
scans the sky to tell you where you are on the earth — and, where
you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS
receivers and the GPS navigation system, skip on ahead to Section 2,
Installation & Accessories on page 13. If you're new to GPS, read on, and
you can later impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.)
First, think of your LMS-480 as a small but powerful computer. (But
don't worry — we made the LMS-480 series easy to use, so you don't
need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The unit includes a
keypad and a screen with menus so you can tell LMS-480 what to do.
The screen also lets LMS-480 show your location on a moving map, as
well as point the way to your destination.
This gimbal-mounted unit uses an external antenna/receiver module,
which makes the whole system work something like your car radio. But
instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in to a couple of
dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. (It will also listen in to the
WAAS satellites in orbit, but more about that in the upcoming segment
introducing you to GPS and WAAS.)
Your LMS-480 listens to signals from as many satellites as it can "see"
above the horizon, eliminates the weakest signals, then computes its

7
location in relation to those satellites. Once LMS-480 figures its lati-
tude and longitude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on
the screen. The whole process takes place several times a second!
The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory
of each LMS-480 is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock
it in here at the factory — you can't change or erase this map.
The background map is suitable for many navigation chores, but for
maximum accuracy and much more detail, you need our optional map-
making software, MapCreate6. Some unit features — such as
searching for businesses and addresses — won't work without a custom
MapCreate map. There is so much detail in our background map (and
even more in MapCreate) that we'll describe their contents and differ-
ences in Section 6, Basic GPS Operations, on page 108.
Another portion of LMS-480's onboard memory is devoted to recording
GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event marker
icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came.
Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or
a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS
data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. Like any
computer file, these GPS Data Files (file format *.usr) can be shared
between LMS-480s, other Lowrance GPS or sonar/GPS units, even per-
sonal computers.
LMS-480 has one more thing in common with a personal computer.
Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging
files, the LMS-480 has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SDC
(Secure Digital card) flash memory card. These solid-state memory de-
vices are about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data ranging
from 8 MB to more than 256 MB in size. (Compare that to a floppy
disk's 1.44 MB capacity!) LMS-480 uses all that MMC space for two key
GPS purposes. (The MMC is also used to record sonar logs.)
First, you can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to
the MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette
tape), you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer
equipped with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of
MMCs, if you don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software
can save, edit or create its own GPS Data Files, which can be copied to
the MMC and then loaded from the MMC into LMS-480's memory.
(NOTE: No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be
loaded from the MMC into memory before LMS-480 can use them.)

8
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, cus-
tom maps, which you can produce on your computer with our MapCre-
ate software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater de-
tail than the basic background map. These Custom Map Files (file
format *.lcm) can also be shared between LMS-480s, other Lowrance
GPS or sonar/GPS units and personal computers. (For example, the
exact same MMC, custom map files and GPS data files can be used in-
terchangeably between your gimbal-mounted LMS-480 and the hand-
held iFINDERGPS receiver.)
LMS-480 automatically reads Custom Map Files directly from the
MMC or SDC. To use a custom map, all you need to do is slide an MMC
containing a map into the unit.
Introduction to GPS and WAAS
Well, now you know the basics of how LMS-480 does its work. You
might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories,
on page 13, so you can mount your unit and plug in the power. Or you
might want to see how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials
easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual"
on page 10. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite
navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new
companion WAAS work together to get you where you're going.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by
the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24-
hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all weather global navigation system for
the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also avail-
able at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled
the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA.)
GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal govern-
ment discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed
other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy
for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the
present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.)
Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth,
passing overhead twice daily. A series of ground stations (with precisely
surveyed locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact loca-
tions in the sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identi-
fies the satellite and its position above the earth. Three of these satellites
are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at
least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times.

9
A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix.
The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to
determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to
determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level —
also called altitude.) This is called a 3D fix.
Remember, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to
receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at
very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees,
buildings, an automobile roof, even your body.
Like most GPS receivers, LMS-480 doesn’t have a compass or any other
navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the sat-
ellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance
are all calculated from position information. Therefore, in order for
LMS-480 to determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the
faster, the better. This is not to say that it won’t work at walking or
trolling speeds — it will. There will simply be more "wandering" of the
data shown on the display.
GPS alone is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go
beyond basic GPS. So, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS
performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS. The
FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003.
WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically
and horizontally, but it consistently delivers accuracies within 1-2 meters
horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, according to the FAA. It does this by

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broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automati-
cally receives both GPS and WAAS signals.
However, there are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of
Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued WAAS
development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years to come.
WAAS boosts the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is
designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the
Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground
in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consis-
tently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large man-made
structures can sometimes block the WAAS signal from ground receivers.
You'll find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly
accurate. It’s easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation
available to the general public today. Remember, however, that this
receiver is only a tool. Always have another method of navigation avail-
able, such as a map or chart and a compass.
Also remember that this unit will always show navigation information
in the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless
of terrain! It only calculates position, it can’t know what’s between you
and your destination, for example. It’s up to you to safely navigate
around obstacles, no matter how you’re using this product.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or
just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what
menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The fol-
lowing paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for
those commands and other instructions:
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys control the movement of dotted cross-hair lines on your
mapping screen called the cursor. The arrow keys also control a hori-
zontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen. The arrow keys help you
move around the menus so you can execute different commands. They
are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow
key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: ↓↑←→.

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Keyboard
The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a
key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the
"Enter/Icons" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU.
Menu Commands
A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in
a bold sans serif type like this: ROUTE PLANNING. These indicate that you are
to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some
kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names
you need to select are show in italic type, such as trail name.
Instructions = Menu Sequences
Most functions you perform with LMS-480 are described as a sequence
of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a
condensed manner for quick and easy reading.
For example, instructions for navigating a trail would look like this:
1. From the Map Page, press MENU|MENU|↓to MY TRAILS|ENT.
2. Press ↓to Trail 1|ENT|→|↓to NAVIGATE|ENT.
3. You are asked to wait while it converts the trail into a route.
4. The wait message disappears and the unit begins showing
navigation information along the trail. Now, begin moving and
follow your LMS-480.
Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on
the Map Page. Press the Menu key twice. Next, repeatedly press (or
press and hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select
(highlight) the My Trails menu command. Finally, press the Enter key."
Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key repeatedly to scroll to
the trail named Trail 1, and press Enter. Next, press the right arrow
key and then the down arrow key to highlight the Navigate command,
then press Enter."

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Notes