NorthStar EXPLORER 443D User manual

www.northstarnav.com
Explorer 443d/443df
Fishfinder
Installation and Operation Manual

FCC Statement
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a normal installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an output on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced technician for help.
A shielded cable must be used when connecting a peripheral to the serial ports.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Please read carefully before installation and use.
DANGER
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal
injury hazards, Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid-
possible injury or death.
!
WARNING
WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury
CAUTION
!
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury.
CAUTION
CAUTION used without the safety alert symbol indicates a potentially haz-
ardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in property damage.
DISCLAIMER: It is the owner’s sole
responsibility to install and use the instrument
and transducers in a manner that will not cause
accidents, personal injury or property damage.
The user of this product is solely responsible for
observing safe boating practices.
BRUNSWICK NEW TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES DISCLAIM ALL
LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT IN A
WAY THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR
THAT MAY VIOLATE THE LAW.
Governing Language: This statement,
any instruction manuals, user guides and
other information relating to the product
(Documentation) may be translated to, or
has been translated from, another language
(Translation). In the event of any conflict
between any Translation of the Documentation,
the English language version of the
Documentation will be the official version of the
Documentation.
This manual represents the Explorer 443d/443df
as at the time of printing. Brunswick New
Technologies Inc. and its subsidiaries and
affiliates reserve the right to make changes to
specifications without notice.
Copyright © 2006 Brunswick New Technologies
Inc. Northstar™ is a registered trademark of
Brunswick New Technologies Inc

Contents
1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................6
1-1 Benefits of the Explorer 443d/443df . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1-2 How the Explorer 443d/443df works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
2 Basic Operation......................................................................................................................................7
3 Setting up the Explorer 443d/443df .......................................................................................................9
3-1 Setup > System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3-2 Setup > Sonar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3-3 Setup > Fuel (available on 443df only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3-4 Setup > Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3-5 Setup > Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3-6 Setup > Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3-7 Setup > Comms (443df only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3-8 Setup > Calibrate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4 Using the Explorer 443d/443df ............................................................................................................. 17
4-1 Interpreting the display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4-2 Single and Dual frequency fishfinding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4-3 Fish detection and display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4-4 Gain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
4-5 Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
5 The Displays.........................................................................................................................................24
5-1 Sonar display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5-2 Sonar Zoom display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
5-3 Sonar Bottom display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
5-4 Sonar 83/200 display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
5-5 Sonar A-Scope display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
5-6 A-Scope perspective view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5-7 Fuel display (443df only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5-8 Data display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
5-9 About display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual4

6 Installation and Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 29
Wiring Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
6-1 What comes with this product? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6-2 Options and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6-3 Mounting and removing the display unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6-4 Systems of several instruments (443df 0nly) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
6-5 Cleaning and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Appendix A - Specifications .................................................................................................................... 34
Appendix B - Dimensions ........................................................................................................................ 35
Appendix C - Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................. 35
Important
It is your sole responsibility to install and use Northstar’s instrument & transducers in a manner that
will not cause accidents, personal injury or property damage. Always observe safe boating practices.
The choice, location, angle and installation of the instrument & transducers are critical to
performance of the system as intended. Follow instructions in this manual carefully. If in doubt,
consult your Northstar dealer.
Ensure that any holes cut are in a safe position and will not weaken the boat’s structure. If in
doubt, consult a qualified boat builder.
Do not install plastic through hull transducers in solid wooden hulls. Leaking through the hull
may result.
Do not install bonze transducers in metal hulls. This will cause electrolytic corrosion that may
result in damage to the hull or transducer.
Sonar Performance: The accuracy of the sonar depth display can be affected by many factors,
including the type and location of the transducer and water conditions. Ensure that the transducer
is located and used correctly.
Fuel Computer: Do not rely on the fuel computer as the sole source of information regarding
available fuel onboard. Fuel economy can change drastically depending on boat loading and sea
conditions. Fuel Computer information should be supplemented by visual or other checks of the
fuel load. This is necessary due to possible operator errors such as forgetting to reset the fuel used
when filling the tank, running the engine with the Fuel Computer not switched on, or on other
operator actions that may render the device inaccurate. Always carry adequate fuel onboard for the
intended trip, plus a reserve to allow for unforeseen circumstances.
Failure to adhere to these warnings may lead to death, serious injury or property damage.
Northstar disclaims all liability for installation or use of this product that causes or
contributes to death, injury or property damage or that violates any law.
As Northstar is continuously improving this product we retain the right to make changes to the
product at any time which may not be reflected in this version of manual. Please contact your
nearest Northstar office if you require any further assistance.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 5

Congratulations on choosing a Northstar fishfinder.
For maximum benefit, please read this manual
carefully before installation and use.
This manual describes how to install and set
up the Explorer 443d/443df and the associated
dual-frequency transom transducer. (If a through
hull transducer is used, refer to the Installation
Instructions supplied with that transducer.)
This manual also explains how to operate the
Explorer 443d/443df effectively and provides
troubleshooting information and performance tips.
The Explorer 443d/443df is a high quality, dual-
frequency sonar fishfinder that is supplied with
a dual-frequency transducer. It uses a 16 level
greyscale FSTN display for easy daylight viewing
that can be dimmed for night fishing. The bracket
mounting option also allows the fishfinder to be
tilted and swivelled for optimum viewing.
The dual frequency capability enables the
Explorer 443d/443df to operate and display:
• At a high frequency of 200 kHz.
• At a low frequency of 83 kHz.
• Both frequencies side-by-side on a split
display.
• Both frequencies combined together into a
single display.
This capability, combined with a variable power
output of up to 250 watts, ensures that the
Explorer 443d/443df operates effectively in
shallow and deep water.
The Explorer 443d/443df can detect the bottom
to a depth of 750 feet (230 metres) depending on
the clarity of the water, the ultrasonic frequency
chosen and the type of transducer used.
The Northstar fishfinder can be used to find fish,
to locate features on the bottom such as reefs or
wrecks and to help recognize favourite fishing
spots from the bottom profile.
The Northstar fishfinder can also assist with
navigation by providing depth information to
help identify the depth contours marked on
1-1 Benefits of the Explorer 443d/443df
Important
It is vital to the performance of the fishfinder
that the transducer is installed in the best
location. Please follow the installation
instructions very carefully.
charts. The Explorer 443d/443df is particularly
suited to work with the Explorer 538.
The two instruments can be connected together
using either NavBus or NMEA, so they can share
data. (only applies to Explorer 443df)
With the optional fuel kit, the Explorer 443df also
becomes a sophisticated and easy-to-use
fuel computer.
All of the Northstar 400 Series fishfinders use
new proprietary SBN-II Technology for sonar
processing to improve Signal enhancement,
Bottom recognition and Noise rejection.
SBN-II Technology uses digital adaptive filter
algorithms to enhance all returned signals. At the
same time, SBN-II Technology uses active noise
control to reject interference, which can often be
mistaken by fishfinders for true returns.
Using SBN-II Technology, the Northstar fishfinder
analyses the reflections from each pulse, filters
false returns and displays what is in the water
under the boat. See section 4-1 Interpreting the
display, for more information.
1 Introduction
CAUTION
!
IMPORTANT NOTE ON USE. While any fishfinder
can be used as an aid to navigation, accuracy
can be influenced by many factors including
the location of the transducer. It is the user’s
responsibility to ensure that the Explorer
443d/443df is installed and used correctly.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual6

1-2 How the Explorer 443d/443df works
The Explorer 443d/443df has two parts:
- the transducer attached to the hull
- the display unit.
The transducer generates an ultrasonic pulse
(sound that is above the hearing range of
the human ear), which travels down towards
the bottom at a speed of about 4800 ft/sec
(1463 m/sec), spreading out into a cone shape.
When the pulse meets an object, such as a fish or
the bottom, it is partly reflected back up towards
the boat as an echo. The depth of the object or
bottom is calculated by the Explorer 443d/443df
by measuring the time taken between sending a
pulse and receiving the echo. When an echo has
been returned, the next pulse is sent.
The Explorer 443d/443df converts each echo
into an electronic signal, displayed as a vertical
line of pixels. The most recent echo appears on
the extreme right of the display, with the older
echoes being scrolled towards the left, eventually
disappearing off the display.
The scroll speed depends upon the water depth
and scroll speed setting. See section 3-2 Setup >
Sonar and section 4-1 Interpreting the display, for
more information.
The appearance of echoes displayed are affected
by:
• the fishfinder settings (frequency selected,
range and gain settings)
• echoes (different fish types, different bottom
types, wrecks and seaweed)
• noise (water clarity and bubbles).
See section 4-1 Interpreting the display, for more
information.
If a menu is not displayed then go to the sonar
ESC display. If a menu is displayed then cancel any
changes and return to the previous menu.
DISP Shows the Display menu.
, Cursor keys move the selection highlight and
, change settings.
MENU Press to show the Options menu on a display; press
again to show the Setup menu.
ENT Confirms any changes or from a sonar display shows
the Gain controls.
+ Increases the Range.
— Decreases the Range.
AUTO Select fishing/cruising or manual operating mode
Powers On and Off; shows the Backlight control.
2 Basic Operation
Key Names
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 7

Power On / Auto Power
Press to turn the fishfinder on.
If the fishfinder is wired for auto power, it turns
on automatically whenever the boat’s ignition
is turned on. This ensures that the engine hours
counter and optional fuel functions are activated.
A title display appears briefly. This is followed
automatically by the Installation menu the first
time the fishfinder is switched on. Use this menu to
specify the language (see section 3-1 Setup > System)
and units (see section 3-6 Setup > Units).
At all other times, the title display is followed by
the display that was used most recently.
If the transducer is not connected, the
message: Enter simulate mode? will
appear. Press or to switch between Yes,
No or Never. (If the transducer was not
intentionally disconnected, turn off the fishfinder
and refer to the section on Troubleshooting in
Appendix B.)
Press ENT to confirm the selection and the
startup sequence will continue.
Key Operation
The fishfinder is operated through menus.
To select a menu item:
1. Press DISP or MENU
2. Press or to move the highlight to
the item.
3. Press ENT to select the item.
To change a number, word or setting:
1. Use the cursor keys, , , , to highlight
the number, word or setting and to make the
change(s).
2. Press ENT to confirm; ESC to cancel.
Power Off
To turn the fishfinder off, hold . A countdown
box appears. Continue to hold for 3 seconds
until the fishfinder turns off.
Note: If the unit is wired for Auto Power (section
6-5 Wiring options) the fishfinder can be turned
off only when the boat’s ignition is turned off.
Backlight Adjustment
To change the backlight level:
1. Press briefly to show the display
controls.
2. The display and keys are backlit, with a choice
of 16 brightness levels.
Press
to dim or to brighten.
3. To change contrast:
i Press
ii Press <, > to adjust
4. Press ENT to save settings.
5. Press ESC to exit.
Press twice to return to the maximum
backlight setting and default contrast.
Menu Note:
Some menu items in the
Explorer 443d/443df menu’s
utilize checkboxes.
If the box is selected or
‘checked’ (contains a check
or tick), then that function is
enabled or ON.
If the box is de-selected
or ‘un-checked’ (does not
contain a check or tick), then
that function is disabled
or OFF.
To select or de-select
a checkbox, highlight the
menu item and press ENT.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual8

3 Setting up the Explorer 443d/443df
Press MENU twice, to show the Setup menu, then select a particular option using the or cursor
keys. (Section 2 Basic Operation, describes the basic use of keys.)
The Setup menu and options are summarized below. The factory default settings are shown where
applicable.
Each Setup menu option is explained in the following sections.
Simulate Mode
An internal simulator allows users to learn how to operate the fishfinder off the water.
In Simulate mode the word Simulate flashes on the bottom of the display. The fishfinder generates
data so that all the main displays appear to be operational.
Use Setup > Simulate as follows:
1. Press MENU twice to show the Setup menu.
2. Highlight Simulate.
3. Press ENT to select or de-select.
Manual, Fishing and Cruising Modes
Press AUTO to select one of the three following operating modes:
• Cruise mode. Use this when on the move. The Explorer 443d/443df prominently displays the water
depth and automatically adjusts Range and Gain so that the bottom trace is displayed. Depth is
displayed in large digits.
• Fishing mode. Use this when fishing.
The Explorer 443d/443df prominently displays fish, the bottom profile, wrecks, rocks and all the
details that help to find fish. Gain and Range are optimized automatically, increasing the sensitivity
and fishfinding ability.
• Manual mode. Use this to fine-tune the fishfinding ability of the Explorer 443d/443df. Best
results are often achieved in manual mode, but practice and experience are required to obtain the
optimum settings for different conditions. Gain, gain threshold and pulse power can all be adjusted.
Manual mode stores the most recent settings, so these do not have to be reset each time manual
mode is selected.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 9

The Setup menu and options
Sonar - see section 3-2
Simulate - see section 2
Comms - see section 3-7
Alarms - see section 3-5
Fuel - see section 3-3
Logs - see section 3-4
Units - see section 3-6
Calibrate - see section 3-8
System - see section 3-1
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual10

Press MENU once or more until the Setup menu
is displayed, then select System:
Language
Select the language for the displays. The options
are: English, Italian, French, German, Spanish,
Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, Finnish Greek and
Croatian.
Tip: In case you can’t read the current language, the
language setting is found at the top of the system
menu.
Backlight
Select this option to adjust backlighting and
contrast controls.
Key beep
Enables or disables the beep when a key
is pressed.
3-1 Setup > System
3-2 Setup > Sonar
Press MENU once or more until the Setup menu
is displayed, then select Sonar:
Auto power off
Select to have the fishfinder power off
automatically every time the boat’s ignition is
switched off. This applies only if the display unit
is wired for Auto Power. See section 6-5 Wiring
Options.
Snooze Mode
This power saving option slows the sounding rate
(time between each ultrasonic pulse) to a user
specified interval from 5 minutes to 2 hours. The
fishfinder appears to turn off, however all alarms
operate normally. To return to normal operation,
press Power button. Ideal to be used as an
anchor alarm.
Factory reset
This option returns all of the fishfinder settings
(except the language) to the default factory
settings shown in section 3 Setting up the
Explorer 443d/443df.
A warning box asks: Are you sure? Select Yes
and press ENT to confirm.
Sonar (FISH 443df)
Select to enable sonar functions. Deselect if the
unit is to be used as a SmartCraft only display.
SmartCraft (FISH 443df)
Select to enable SmartCraft functions. SmartCraft
is only available with certain Mercury engines,
and requires an optional SmartCraft Gateway.
Beam
There is a choice of Narrow (200kHz),
Wide(83kHz), Mixed and Auto. For more info
about selecting a suitable frequency for water
conditions, see section 4-2 Single and Dual
Frequency Fishfinding.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 11

Scroll speed
Use this to set the scroll speed on the display.
There is a choice of: Very Fast,Fast,
Medium,Slow and Pause. The depth of the
water also affects the speed of the display.
Faster scroll speeds combined with a slow
boat speed (typically between 2 and 6 knots)
shows the most fish detail. Medium or Slow
scroll speeds result in sonar information being
displayed over a longer period, but with less
detail. See Section 4-1 Interpreting the display, for
more information.
Fish symbols
These appear only in the main sonar displays. Fish
symbols can be shown in three ways:
• As a fish symbol (Symbol).
• As a fish symbol with the depth
(Symbol+depth). The depth is shown
beside the fish symbol.
• As a depth (Depth). The depth is shown
above where the fish was detected
• Switched off (Off) so that echoes are not
converted to fish symbols but are displayed
directly.
See section 4-3 Fish detection and display, for
more information about fish symbols.
Fish sensitivity
Use this function to adjust the minimum fish
detection level. Select Low to reject noise and
small fish. Select High to detect maximum
number of fish.
Digit size
Use this to remove or change the size of the
depth display on the sonar displays. There is a
choice of: Small,Medium and Large.
Palette
Use this to select a color palette. Each color
within the palette represents a different echo
strength, as shown on the sonar displays.
There is a choice of three color palettes: Black,
White and High Contrast.
Interference filter
This filters the echo signal to reduce high-level,
spiky interference, such as engine noise and
makes small fish harder to see.
Select to add filter.
Pulse power
This can be used to specify the power output
of the transmitted ultrasonic pulse. Low power
output conserves the boat’s battery, but only
works in shallow water.
There is a choice of Auto,Low,Medium or
High. The Auto setting is recommended.
3-3 Setup > Fuel (available on 443df only)
These features can be used only when the
optional single or twin engine fuel kit has been
installed.
Press MENU once or more until the Setup menu
is displayed, then select Fuel:
It is recommended that the fuel tank capacity is
measured by draining the fuel tank, then filling it
to capacity. After filling, note the reading from the
fuel dispenser’s gauge.
Note: Beware of air pockets, especially in underfloor
tanks.
Northstar fuel kits are only suitable for petrol/
gasoline engines. Fuel consumption can change
drastically depending upon the boat loading
and the sea conditions. Always carry adequate
fuel for the journey, plus a reserve.
Tank full
Select Tank full each time the fuel tank(s)
are completely refilled. When asked Are you
sure? select Yes. Otherwise, the reading
on the Fuel display (see section 5-6 Fuel
Display) and the Low Fuel Alarm (see section
3-5 Setup > Alarms) are meaningless.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual12
!
WARNING

Set remaining
Before doing a partial refill of the tank or
removing fuel manually from the tank (for
example, by siphoning it off):
1. Note the Remaining reading on the
Fuel display.
2. Note how much fuel is added or removed.
3. Calculate how much fuel is now in the tank.
4. Select Set remaining and update
the reading.
It is essential to do this whenever some fuel is
added or removed. Otherwise, the reading on
the Fuel display (see section 5-6 Fuel Display)
and the Low Fuel Alarm (see section 3-5 Setup >
Alarms) are meaningless.
Clear used
Select Clear used to set Used (the
amount of fuel used) to zero. Do this to start
measuring the amount of fuel used over a certain
time or distance.
When asked Are you sure? select Yes.
Tank size
Enter the capacity of the fuel tank.
Flow filter
Most engines do not draw fuel from the tank at a
steady rate. To give a stable fuel flow reading, the
fishfinder calculates the flow value(s) by taking
several measurements and averaging them. Use
the Flow filter to set the period over which the
fuel flow is averaged.
The Flow filter can be set from 0to 30 seconds.
Use the lowest value which gives a stable flow.
Usually a value of 5 to 10 seconds will give a
satisfactory result for two-stroke carburettor
engines. Fuel injected or four-stroke engines may
require a larger value.
This setting affects the Fuel flow and Fuel
economy reading on the Fuel display (see
section 5-6 Fuel display) but it does not affect the
Fuel used reading.
Speed Source
Select speed input from water speed transducer
or external GPS source (an external GPS source
must be connected to the Fishfinder via NavBus
– see section 3-7 Setup > Comms.)
Num engines
Set the number of engines to 0,1 or 2. If 0is
selected the fuel features are turned off.
Calibrate
See section 3-8 Setup > Calibrate, for information
about calibrating the fuel transducer(s).
3-4 Setup > Logs
Press MENU one or more times until the Setup
menu is displayed, then select Logs:
The values can be changed independently of
each other. These log values are saved when the
unit is turned off.
Reset trip dist
This resets the trip distance to zero.
Reset total dist
This option resets the total distance to zero.
Reset engine hours
Use this option to reset the engine hours
to zero. This can be useful after an engine service
or to count the engine hours between service
intervals.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 13

Press MENU one or more times until the Setup
menu is displayed, then select Alarms:
Trigger settings can be defined to suit the boat
and individual preferences as follows:
Alarms can be set (enabled) to automatically
detect certain conditions, such as the water
being too shallow. Alarms that are enabled are
shown as black icons in the Alarm status box on
the sonar displays.
When an enabled alarm is triggered, the beeper
sounds, an alarm message is displayed and the
alarm status icon flashes.
Press ENT or ESC to acknowledge the alarm, stop
the beeper and close the alarm window. This
does not disable the alarm.
Alarms automatically re-enable
The Too shallow, Too Deep and Low
battery alarms automatically re-enable when
the value moves outside the alarm trigger setting.
The Temperature alarm automatically
re-enables when the temperature is more
Symbol Alarm
Name
Beeper
Cycle
Alarm condition is met
when the:
Too
shallow
1/5sec Depth is less than
the alarm trigger value
Too
deep
1/2sec Depth is greater than
the alarm trigger value
Fish 1 short
beep
Echo matches the
profile of a fish
Temp. 1/2sec Temperature equals
the alarm trigger value
Temp.
rate
1/2sec Rate of change of
temperature equals the
alarm trigger value
Low
battery
1/2sec Battery voltage is
less than the alarm
trigger value
Low
fuel *
1/2sec Fuel remaining equals the
alarm trigger value
*Only 4432
3-6 Setup > Units
3-5 Setup > Alarms
Press MENU one or more times until the Setup
menu is displayed, then select Units:
Baro
•InHg (Inches of mercury)
• Mb (Millibars) - sometimes called kPa
Speed
Select from:
• kn (knots)
• mph (miles per hour)
• kph (kilometres per hour)
Wind
• True
• Apparent
Depth
Select from:
• ft (feet)
• m (metres)
• fa (fathoms)
Pressure
• kPa
• psi
than 0.45°F (0.25°C) above or below the alarm
trigger setting.
The Temperature rate alarm automatically
re-enables when the rate of temperature change
falls below the trigger setting by more than 0.2°F
(0.1°C) per minute.
Flashing light and/or external beeper
If a secondary alarm indicator is required,
a flashing light and/or external beeper can
be installed. These can be positioned anywhere
suitable on the boat. See section 6-5 Wiring
options.
The default units are
shown in this example.
Distance
Select from:
• nm (nautical miles)
• mi (miles)
• km (kilometres)
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual14

Press MENU once or more until the Setup menu
is displayed, then select Calibrate:
The fuel options
can be calibrated
only when the
optional single
or twin engine
kit is installed on
petrol/gasoline
engines.
Speed*
Calibration may be required because different
hull shapes have different flow characteristics.
Obtain an accurate measurement of the boat’s
speed from a GPS receiver; or by following
another boat travelling at a known speed; or by
making a timed run over a known distance.
Use this feature when the Explorer 443d/443df
is connected to other Northstar instruments
through NavBus or any compatible NMEA
instrument.
Press MENU once or more until the Setup menu
is displayed, then select Comms:
NMEA Out
NMEA is generally used with third party
instruments. Select to transmit NMEA
sentences (see Appendix A - Specifications).
Note: for accurate calibration:
• The speed from a GPS receiver should be
greater than 5 knots.
• The speed from another paddlewheel
transducer should be between 5 and 20
knots.
• Best results are achieved in calm conditions
where there is minimal current (best at high
or low tide).
Use the cursor keys to display the speed readout
box, then increase or decrease the readout to
match the independent speed value.
Speed Filter*
Increase this setting to stabilise an erratic
speed reading. Decrease to improve reading
responsiveness. The speed filter can be set from
0 to 30 seconds.
* only available on 443df
3-7 Setup > Comms (443df only)
NMEA data
Use this to specify which NMEA sentences will be
transmitted (see Appendix A - Specifications and
section 5-7 Data display, for information about
how to display NMEA data).
NavBus
NavBus is the preferred method for connecting
the Explorer 443df to other Northstar
instruments. Select if the instruments are
connected using NavBus.
NavBus Group
Use this when a group of Northstar instruments
are connected together using NavBus, to specify
a group of instruments for backlighting, if
required. Then, if the backlight setting on one
instrument in the group is adjusted, the other
instruments change automatically. Otherwise,
select 0.
3-8 Setup > Calibrate
Fuel Temperature
Select from: Select either:
• Litres • °F (Fahrenheit)
• USGal (US gallons) • °C (Celsius)
• ImpGal (Imperial Gallons)
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 15

Temperature
The factory settings should be sufficiently
accurate for normal usage. To calibrate the
temperature readout, first measure the water
temperature with a thermometer known to
be accurate.
Use the cursor keys to display the temperature
readout box, then increase or decrease the
value to match the measured temperature. The
temperature can be set from 32° to 99.9°F (0° to
37.7°C) with a resolution of 0.1° unit.
To change the units between °F (Fahrenheit) or °C
(Celsius), see section 3-6 Setup > Units.
Temp filter
Increase this setting to stabilise an erratic
temperature reading. Decrease to improve
reading responsiveness. The temperature filter
can be set from 0 to 30 seconds.
Fuel
Calibrating the fuel usage can improve the
accuracy of fuel measurements.
Twin engine installations require each fuel
transducer to be calibrated. This can be done
at the same time with two portable tanks or at
different times using one portable tank.
Calibrating the fuel transducer(s) requires
accurate measurement of the fuel consumption.
This is best done using a small portable tank. At
least 4 gallons (15 litres) of fuel should be used to
ensure an accurate calibration.
It is often very difficult to fill underfloor tanks to
the same level twice due to air pockets, so the
more fuel used, the more accurate the calibration.
To calibrate the fuel transducer(s), perform the
following steps:
1. Record the level of the fuel in the tank(s).
2. Connect the portable tank(s) to the engine
through the fuel transducer(s).
3. Run the engine at normal cruising speed
until at least 4 gallons (15 litres) of fuel has
been used per engine.
4. Check the actual amount of fuel used per
engine by refilling the portable tank(s) to
the original level and noting the reading(s)
from the fuel dispenser’s gauge.
5. Select Fuel. Use the cursor keys to change
the reading for each engine to match that
on the fuel dispenser’s gauge.
6. Press ENT when the reading is correct.
Note: If the fuel calibration options appear to
give erroneous readings after a while, first check
that the fuel sensor has been installed correctly
according to the installation instructions supplied
with it. Then see Appendix B - Troubleshooting.
Keel offset
Keel offset is a depth correction representing the
vertical distance between the depth transducer
and the location from which the depth is to be
measured.
Enter a positive keel offset value when the
transducer is located below the water surface but
the total depth is required.
Enter a negative keel offset value when the
depth below the deepest part of the boat is
required (such as the keel, the rudder or the
propeller) and the transducer is located closer to
the water surface.
Use the cursor keys to select Keel offset,
then press to display the Keel offset box.
Use the or cursor keys to adjust the value.
Note: Boat illustrated uses a through hull transducer
Water surface
Depth of transducer
Negative
value
Transducer
Positive
value
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual16
Extreme precautions must be observed
when carrying out this procedure.
Failure to do so could create hazardous
conditions that can cause serious personal
or property damage.
!
WARNING

4-1 Interpreting the display
The sonar displays do not show a fixed distance
travelled by the boat; rather, they display a
history, showing what has passed below the boat
during a certain period of time.
The history of the sonar signal displayed depends
on the depth of the water and the scroll speed
setting.
In shallow water, the echoes have a short distance
to travel between the bottom and the boat. In
deep water, the history moves across the display
more slowly because the echoes take longer to
travel between the bottom and the boat. For
example, when the scroll speed is set to Fast,
at depths over 600ft it takes about 2.5 minutes
for each vertical line of pixels to move across the
display, whereas at 20ft it takes only about 4-5
seconds.
The scroll speed can be set by the user to display
either a longer history with less fish information
or a shorter history with more fish details. See
section 3-2 Setup > Sonar.
If the boat is anchored, the echoes all come from
the same area of bottom. This produces a flat
bottom trace on the display.
The screen shot shows a typical sonar display
with the Fish symbols turned Off.
Large
school of
fish
Strength of echoes
The colors indicate differences in the strength of
the echo. The strength varies with several factors,
such as the:
• Size of the fish, school of fish or other object.
• Depth of the fish or object.
• Location of the fish or object. (The area
covered by the ultrasonic pulse is a rough
cone shape and the echoes are strongest in
the middle.)
• Clarity of water. Particles or air in the water
reduce the strength of the echo.
• Composition or density of the object or
bottom.
Note: Planing hulls at speed produce air bubbles and
turbulent water that bombard the transducer. The
resulting ultrasonic noise may be picked up by the
transducer and obscure the real echoes.
4 Using the Explorer 443d/443df
This section explains how to interpret the sonar
displays, when and why to use the different
frequencies and how fish are detected
and displayed.
Single fish
Hard bottoms
such as rock
or coral show
as wide bands
Soft bottoms
such as mud,
weed and
sand show as
narrow bands
Bottom types
Mud, weed and sandy bottoms tend to weaken
and scatter the sonar pulse, resulting in a weak
echo. Hard, rocky or coral bottoms reflect the
pulse, resulting in a strong echo. See section 5-3
Sonar Bottom display.
Small school
of fish
Bottom
It also describes Gain and Range and shows
examples of some of the different sonar displays.
Also see section 1-2 How the Explorer 443d/443df
works.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 17

Shadows
Shadows are created around areas where the ultrasonic beam cannot ‘see’. These areas include hollows
on the bottom or beside rocks and ledges, where the strong echoes returned off the rocks obscure the
weak echoes of the fish and may also create a double bottom trace. See following for an example of the
sonar display in such an environment. A double bottom trace is shown on the display.
When looking for fish with the wide angled 83 kHz frequency, be aware of increased shadows. Use the
high frequency 200 kHz in areas that have rocks and ledges because this frequency reduces the shadow
effect considerably.
The differences in the cone width affect what is displayed. See section 4-2 Single and Dual Frequency fishfinding.
Frequency and cone width
The pulse generated by the Explorer 443d/443df
transducer travels down through the water,
spreading outwards to form a rough cone shape.
However, the cone width is dependent upon the
frequency of the pulse; at 83 kHz it is 20°, whereas
at 200 kHz it is 14°. The chart shows how the cone
width varies over depth for each frequency used.
Figures are approximate.
Water Cone width Cone width
Depth at 83 kHz at 200 kHz
10 4 2
20 7 5
30 11 7
40 15 10
50 18 12
60 22 15
70 25 17
80 29 20
90 33 22
100 36 25
150 55 37
200 73 50
300 109 75
400 146 100
500 182 125
600 218 149
700 255 174
800 291 199
900 328 224
1000 364 249
Depth 83 kHz 200 kHz
20° 14°
50
100
150
200
250
0
18
30
55
73
91
12
25
37
50
62
Sonar display of same area
Fish is visible on the display
Fish is hidden by the strong echoes off the
bottom and is not shown on the display
Example of shadows
Fish is visible on the display
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual18

When to use 200 kHz
The 200 kHz frequency is best for seeing deep
bottoms, showing detail and reducing noise.
When to use 83 kHz
The 83 kHz frequency is has a wider beam–good for
locating features that can be examined in detail
at 200kHz.
Auto frequency
This shows 200kHz detail on screen, but uses
83kHz beam for locating fish further from boat.
Wide angle,
less detailed
83 kHz cone
Narrow angle,
more detailed
200 kHz cone
4-2 Single and Dual frequency fishfinding
1 minute ago
30 seconds ago
Now
Comparison of the same fish scenario displayed at different frequencies:
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual 19

83 kHz display
Dual screen
200 kHz display
200/83 Khz display
Note the wider
bottom trace
Note the
smaller, defined
fish arches and
more bottom
detail.
Northstar Explorer 443d/443df Installation and Operation Manual20