Simrad EQ42 User manual

02244.30
M A N U A L
M A N U A LM A N U A L
M A N U A L
SIMRAD EQ42/50/52
Echosounder
183-0300-202 English

EQ42/50/52 Echosounder Table of contents
1. Introduction and system
familiarization
1.1 Introduction and system
familiarization, 5
1.2 Safety summary, 6
2. Fundamentals & initial start-up
2.1 PAGE and WINdow system, 7
2.2 Key functions, 10
2.3 Menu bar, 11
2.4 Menu layout, 12
2.5 Initial start-up, 13
2.6 Turn power off, 14
3. Position menu
3.1 Position display, 15
4. Navigation menu
4.1 Highway display, 17
4.2 Navigation setup, 17
5. Operation of the EQ40/50/52
Echosounder menu
5.1 Echosounder display, 19
5.2 Bottom expansion, 21
5.3 VRM expansion, 22
5.4 A-scope, 23
5.5 Variable range marker, 24
5.6 Depth & temperature diagram, 24
5.7 Echosounder setup, 26
5.8 Presentation setup, 28
6. Miscellaneous menu
6.1 DSC alarm, 29
7. SPECIAL menu
7.1 Speed alarm, units &
language, 31
7.2 Interface setup NMEA, 33
7.3 Alarm output, 36
7.4 Decca lanes, 37
7.5 Loran C, 38
7.6 Display color, 39
7.7 Factory settings, 40
8. Principles of operation
8.1 Parts of an echosounder, 41
8.1.1 Display screen, 41
8.1.2 Processor, 41
8.1.3 Receiver/transmitter, 41
8.1.4 Transducer, 41
8.2 How the EQ42/50/52 works, 42
8.2.1 Transducer beamwidth, 43
8.2.2 Effects of the vessel’s
speed, 44
9. Installation and service
9. Installation notes, 45
9.1 Installation of EQ42, 47
9.2 Installation of EQ50, 49
9.3 Installation of EQ52, 51
9.4 Place of installation of
display unit, 53
9.5 Installation of DS42/50, 53
9.5.1 Operation of DS42/50, 54
9.6 Electrical connections, 55
9.6.1 Power supply connections, 56
9.6.2 Fuse, 56
9.6.3 Transducer connection, 56
9.6.4 NMEA0183 interface, 58
9.6.5 Optional connections, 58
9.6.6 Universal connection cable for
unspecified transducers, 58

EQ42/50/52 Echosounder Table of contents
9.7 Basic transducer and cable
information, 59
9.7.1 Transducers, 60
9.7.2 Determining the position
for the transducers, 63
9.8 Preventive maintenance, 65
9.9 Repair and service, 65
9.10 Troubleshooting, 66
9.11 Specifications, 67
Appendix A
Glossary of terms, 69
Index, 73
CE Declaration
International warranty, 77
List of Simrad distributors

EQ42/50/52 Introduction and safety summary Chapter 1
5
1.1 Introduction and system familiarization
Congratulations on your purchase of SIMRAD EQ42/50/52 MKII
Echosounder and Fishfinder. Great care has been taken to create this
innovative video sounder … both in design and performance.
The EQ42/50/52 MKII is a unique new slim-line product in the Simrad
Marine Line, and is available with a 10” ATFT (EQ42), 14” TFT
(EQ50), or 15” TFT (EQ52) large LCD display in color.
The echosounder system with selectable frequencies will provide an
impression of Bottom expansion, VRM expansion, A-scope and White
line.
DS42/50/52 Dual Station for the EQ42/50/52 is available in 10” ATFT
color, 14” or 15” TFT color.
How to use this manual? The manual is written for the products:
EQ42, EQ50 and EQ52, which all share the same type of software.
From hereon, these models are referred to as: EQXX.
It is a good idea if you make yourself familiar with the key functions,
menu structure and rotation of pages (screens) described in chapter 2
before you start out, and then proceed with section 2.5 Initial start-up.
For quick location of a certain term, please check the “Glossary of
terms” and the “Index” at the back of the manual.
How to interpret special marked key symbols, etc. in the manual:
+/- Either the + (plus) or – (minus) key may be applied.
0-9 Alpha-numeric keys for insertion of figures.
A-Z Alpha-numeric keys for insertion of letters.
)Emphasizes important points.
3,7 Indicates that you should press the keys [3] and [7] to obtain what is
written in italic next to the keys.

EQ42/50/52 Introduction and safety summary Chapter 1
6
1.2 Safety summary
Precaution The operating unit should not be exposed to direct sunlight,
as “boiling”the display may cause too high temperatures internally and
subsequently damage parts of the unit beyond repair.
Quality service personnel The EQXX is sealed and does not contain
any user serviceable parts. Opening of the unit will void its warranty.
Touching electrical parts inside may cause bodily harm or death. If the
unit is not working properly, check sections 9.8 Preventive maintenance,
9.9 Repair and service, and 9.10 Troubleshooting. If your EQXX requires
servicing or repair, call your authorized SIMRAD dealer.
Power source, fuse and power cable Check that the DC power
supplied to the unit is within the range of 10 to 32 volts. Note that the
appropriate fuse must be employed (see the fuse rating in section 9.11
Specifications). Ensure that the power cord is firmly attached.
Grounding The EQXX is a sophisticated piece of electronic equip-
ment. To reduce electrical interference and risk of electrical shock,
properly ground the unit to the ship’s ground using the ground screw on
the back of the unit.
Glossary of terms If you have never used an echosounder before or if
you are unsure of how a term is used in this manual, then turn to
Appendix A –Glossary of terms.
Default settings All user implemented data in the EQXX can be erased
by making a reset of the unit and thus return to factory default settings.
Principles of operation The scientific principles of operation of the
EQXX are explained in chapter 8. Principles of operation.

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
7
2.1 Fundamentals of the PAGE and WINdow system
The EQXX Echosounder has a multi-function screen data presentation
system. You can choose to have a full screen, or a screen divided into
e.g. an echo display and two data/echo displays, etc.
The display which is currently activated is indicated by a highlighted
frame around the active window. There are five screen combinations to
choose from:
12
WINdow 0
43
56
1. Full (1/1) screen. 2. Four ¼ displays. 3. Two ½ displays.
12
4
65
3
4. & 5. Combination displays of one ½ and two ¼ displays.
)WINdows 5 and 6 are dedicated for echo displays and related setup.

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
8
As many as 4 screen combinations or full
screens can be saved in four pages.
Press the [PAGE] key to toggle between the
four pages, or hold the [PAGE] key depressed
to start a rotation of the four pages.
Press [PAGE] again to return to manual
operation.
To mix and match the various echo and data displays you wish to have
in the PAGE and WINdows pesentation, you will first need to know
what is pre-set from the factory:
PAGE Scroll through the four pre-set pages to see if you wish to exchange
any of the displays with a different one.
Example of how to edit a pre-set page:
window
2
window
5window
3
We pretend that in this page, window 2 contains the
navigation display (highway), window 3 an echo
display in 50kHz, and window 5 an echo display in
200kHz.
You now wish to insert the “Echosounder setup”display in window 3
instead of the echo display in 50kHz. This is the procedure:
WIN Press the [WIN] key until the frame around window 3 is highlighted
MENU Call up the menu bar, and…
3,8 then call up the ECHO menu and select “Echosounder setup”
- you will now have the “Echosounder setup”display in window 3
instead of the echo display in 50kHz.
Example of how to edit a full screen to four ¼ displays:
We pretend that you are looking at a full screen which you wish to
divide into four ¼displays. This is the procedure:
MENU First call up the menu bar, and…
1then call up the POS menu - see example next page.

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
9
POSITION
WIN
_1_
POS
_1_Position
What you do now will determine
which WINdow the display you are
about to select will appear in.
Press the [WIN] key repeatedly to
scroll through the window system.
WIN Press the [WIN] key once to select window 1
-which is the left top quarter of the screen.
1Select the Position display
- you will now have the position display presented in window 1.
The rest of the windows in this page i.e. window 2, 3 and 4 will contain
the displays which were pre-set from the factory. They can all be
exchanged with new displays at your choice.
)However, the same display can not appear twice on the same page,
so in case you are trying to select the same display in a second
window, this is what will happen:
As per above example, you have selected the Position display in
window 1, but it may just happen that the Position display was pre-set
to window 2 –therefore window 2 will now show the legend: “Select
display via MENU.”
You may select the same display to appear on different pages, but not
on the same page.

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
10
2.2 Key functions
A description of the key functions is available at the start-up display in
the Quick guide. Some of the key functions are general and can be
applied at any time, other key functions are related to a certain menu(s)
and can only be applied when in the appropriate menu.
WIN Toggles between windows. The active window will have a highlighted
frame. Only activated windows are operable.
PAGE Toggles between four pre-selected pages (screens). Hold two seconds
for automatic rotation of pages. Press again for normal operation.
MENU Turns the menu bar on/off. Exits any data display without taking any
action.
ENT Opens for/confirms insertion and editing of data. Gives access to setup
displays related to main displays.
Moves cursor in data displays. Activates and moves variable range
marker (VRM) up/down. Moves left and right in the menu bar.
CLR Deletes data in enter or edit mode.
EVENT Placing a vertical line at the current ping for indication of e.g. fish.
Sending out WPL via NMEA –see “Event marker”, Appendix A.
PWRPress and hold the [PWR] keytoturnonthepower.Activatesmenufor
setting light, contrast or display colors i.e. Daylight display, Night dis-
play or custom made display. Hold two seconds to turn the power off.
RNG+
RNG-
RANGE+ (plus) and RANGE- (minus) will adjust the scale/range of
depth. +/–will toggle between available values.
GAIN+
GAIN-
GAIN+ (plus) and GAIN- (minus) will adjust presentation of received
echo. Press + till noise appears in “water”,thenpress–till noise just
disappears again.

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
11
ECHO
A-SCP
Hotkey to Echo 1 i.e. jumps to window on the screen with Echo 1
display; if none: inserts Echo 1 in active window.
From active ECHO display: Toggles A-SCOPE on/off.
1-9
A-Z The alpha-numeric keys inserts and selects data in data displays.
VRM Toggles variable range marker on/off. Calls up depth indication in top
line of echo displays with active VRM line.
STND Return to STANDARD echosounder display with indication of depth
and water temperature, etc.
B-LCK BOTTOM LOCK –combination screen: standard echosounder display
and expanded area around the bottom. Toggles bottom lock on/off.
ZOOM Combination screen: standard echosounder display and expanded area
around the variable range marker. Toggles expanded area on/off.
2.3 Menu bar
MENU Toggles the menu bar on/off
To fit in the complete menu bar across the screen, some of the menus
have been abbreviated. However, the last selected menu will be
highlighted, and if it’s an abbreviation of the menu, then the complete
menu title is written above the menu bar e.g.:
ECHOSOUNDER WIN
_1_
POS
_2_
NAV
_3_
ECHO
_4_
MISC
_5_
SETUP
_1_Echo 50kHz
_2_Echo 200kHz, etc.
Having selected e.g. 3:ECHO from the menu bar, its associated menus
will drop down. Key in the number next to the function you wish to

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
12
call forward, or use the cursor key to highlight the function and press
[ENT].
If you want to switch to a different menu, use the cursor key to move to
the adjacent menu.
The menu bar will disappear from the screen at the selection of a
function, or by pressing the [MENU] key. Besides, if not used, it
automatically turns off after 30 seconds.
2.4 Menu layout
_1_
POS
_2_
NAV
_1_ Position _1_Highway
_3_
ECHO
_4_
MISC
-5-
SETUP
_1_Echo50kHz _1_ DSC alarm _1_ Speed alarm, units & language
_2_ Echo 200kHz _2_ NMEA interface
_3_ Bottom expansion 50kHz _3_ Alarm output
_4_ Bottom expansion 200kHz _4_ Decca lanes
_5_ VRM expansion 50kHz _5_LoranC
_6_ VRM expansion 200kHz _6_ Display color
_7_ Depth & temperature diagram _7_ Factory settings
_8_ Echosounder setup
Most functions in the menus are general, and can be called forward at
any time, but a few are related to a certain menu(s) and can only be
called forward or activated in the appropriate menu. Inactive functions
in the menu will have a different color from the rest of the functions.
When selecting a sub-menu in the SETUP menu, the display will

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
13
always appear in a pop-up window. Which means that it will not take
the place of another display, and it will not mess up the pre-set displays
on the screen.
And once you have confirmed the changes, or just want to exit the
display, the display will disappear from the screen, as you have no
further use for it.
2.5 Initial start-up
PWRTo turn on the power, press and hold the [PWR] key till a picture
appears on the screen
PAGE Press [PAGE] to scroll through a quick guide which informs of the use
of the keys and where you can enter owner’ssetup
ENT Press [ENT] when ready to assume normal operation
PWRPress [PWR] again to adjust the lighting in the screen and select day or
night display, etc., move around in display by means of the cursor key
and change settings with +/- keys, and…
ENT Confirm with [ENT]
Customizing the EQXX to suit individual needs can be done as you go
along i.e. choose a different color for the display background, text,
menu, etc. But to start out it will be wise to select the display language
you prefer to use:
Select language:
MENU Call up the menu bar, and…
5,1 press [5] and [1] to call up the proper display
Go to the bottom line in the display
+/- Select language
ENT Confirm entry

EQ42/50/52 Fundamentals & initial start-up Chapter 2
14
2.6 Turn power off
PWRCall up INFO window, and…
PWRPress and hold until screen turns black
The EQXX is now turned off. All data and setups are saved and stored
in the internal memory and, of course, will be available next time the
unit is turned back on.

EQ42/50/52 Position menu Chapter 3
15
3.Position menu
_1_
POS
_1_Position - see section 3.1.
3.1 Position display
)To present a position will require that the echosounder is connected
to a navigator.
MENU Call up the menu bar, and…
1, 1 load Position display
Water temp.
14°C
Log 1
0.2nm
Log 2
0.4nm
LAT 56°52.500N
LON 9°50.700E
Speed Course Depth
0.4kn 17° 5.0 m
Status
No valid POS
Local time
8:02:43
Local date
12-02-2001
Trip log 1
and 2.
Position in
three deci-
mals in
minutes.
Water speed/
speed over
ground.
Course,
magnetic
or true.
Editing of position display
Reset log or change the start figure, adjust local time and date, change
position presentation i.e. latitude/longitude, decca lanes or Loran C,
change speed presentation i.e. SOG – speed over ground or STW –

EQ42/50/52 Position menu Chapter 3
16
water speed, and –course and bearing can be set to either magnetic or
true.
ENT Open for change
Move cursor to the value you want to change
CLR Press [CLR] to reset log
+/- Toggle between available values, change time and date
ENT Confirm entry

EQ42/50/52 Navigation menu Chapter 4
17
4.Navigation menu
_2_
NAV
_1_Highway
4.1 Highway display
MENU Call up the menu bar, and…
2, 1 load highway display
To present any information in the EQXX highway display will require
that a navigator is connected via the NMEA input port.
)The connected navigator must be in a navigation mode, which could
be Cursor, Waypoint, Route or Track navigation. See next page.
4.2 Navigation setup
ENT The navigation setup display is accessed by pressing [ENT] from the
navigation display:
Navigation setup:
XTE distance: 00.50nm
Alarm distance can be changed in this display, but alarm can only be
initiated from the connected navigator. Maximum setting in nautical
miles is 9.99 nm.
ENT Return to the highway display

EQ42/50/52 Navigation menu Chapter 4
18
Highway display
o
p p
n
NAVIGATION IS ON
S8.2
V7.4
C359°
°°
°
B314°
°°
°
X0.011
D17.3
0.04nm
0.02nm
0.02nm
0.04nm
0.02nm
0.02nm
Nautical
miles indi-
cation on
horizontal
lines indi-
cates how
many
nautical
miles there
are from
ship’s posi-
tiontothe
horizontal
line.
C: Course over ground
X: Cross track error
S: Speed over ground
B: Bearing to approaching WP
D: Distance to waypoint
V: Speed towards WP (velocity)
Bottom line indicates name of waypoint or route.
nShip’s position and heading in relation to intended track.
n
oIdeal course line between two waypoints starting from ship’s
position when NAV is activated on connected navigator.
pXTE alarm lines – an alarm will sound if the ship touches the
lines.

Operation of the EQ42/50/52 Chapter 5
19
5.ECHOSOUNDER MENU
_3_
ECHO
_1_Echo 50kHz - see section 5.1.
_2_Echo 200kHz - see section 5.1.
_3_Bottom expansion 50kHz - see section 5.2.
_4_Bottom expansion 200kHz - see section 5.2.
_5_VRM expansion 50kHz - see section 5.3.
_6_VRM expansion 200kHz - see section 5.3.
_7_Depth & temperature diagram - see section 5.4.
_8_Echosounder setup - see section 5.5.
5.1 Echosounder display
Low and high frequency echosounder display can be set up separately
and be shown simultaneously in the same screen, but in separate
WINdows. The low frequency display will show deep water bottom
contours, and the high frequency display will show the mid-water
section with trawl targets or bait fish in a higher resolution.
As an example:
MENU Press [MENU], to call up the menu bar, and…
3,2 press [3] and [2] to call up the Echo display for 200kHz
- see display example on next page.
The top line in the display informs of: Actual temperature Tin Celcius
or Fahrenheit (in half degrees), current speed Sin knots or kilometers/
hour or miles/hour – current settings can be changed in Setup for units
(MENU, 5,1). Actual depth DK i.e. Depth below Keel/Surface/Trans-
ducer – settings can be changed in echosounder setup (MENU, 3,8).
FREQUENCY indicates the selected frequency.
PULSE (not in ¼ size displays) indicates the transmission pulse length.
POWER (not in ¼ size displays) indicates the transmission power.
(A = AUTO)

Operation of the EQ42/50/52 Chapter 5
20
This is the basic presentation mode (standard display) for observing
fish schools and seabed. Some surface noise may appear just below the
transmission line.
)Refer to Appendix A for further description of the various functions.
ENT Direct access to Setup display related to active echo display –38kHz,
50kHz or 200 kHz –(see section 5.8)
Use the cursor to go to the function you wish to change the value for
+/- Toggle between available values, and…
ENT Confirm with [ENT]
ECHO
A-SCP
Hotkey to Echo 1 (from [MENU],[3],[1]) i.e. jumps to window on the
screen with Echo 1 display; if none: inserts Echo 1 in active window.
Transmission
line
VRM
Depth scale
is adjustable
with the +/-
keys or the
Quick-range
keys 1-9.
Press key 0
to return to
Auto range.
FREQUENCY: 50kHz
PULSE: A- SHORT
POWER: A- 1000W T *.*°C S 0.0kn DK 5.0 m