HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder User Manual

HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder

INTRODUCTION TO FISHTRAX™ INTELLIGENT SONAR

FishTrax™ Intelligent Sonar uses SONAR sound waves to detect depth, locate fish, and define bottom contour, composition, and structure. Using specialized microprocessors, these sound waves are generated by the FishTrax™ display and sent to the FishTrax™ Sonar Sensor (Transducer). The sonar sensor, acting first as a “speaker”, emits these sound waves as a series of pulses. Then, microseconds later, the sonar sensor switches to a “microphone” and listens for the return of the pulses as they bounce off of objects in the water column (referred to as “echoes”). The “echoes” are sent back to the display where, using proprietary algorithms in the FishTrax™ software, they are analyzed for location, size, and composition. These signals are then arranged by FishTrax’s™ Human Interface Software and
displayed in an easy-to-understand manner on the VirtuView™ HD Color Display.

SAFETY INFORMATION

• Periodically wipe the face with a dry cloth. Do not use abrasives or solvents on this device.
• Only qualified personnel should perform repairs or servicing not covered in this manual.
• The LCD used in the product is made of glass. Therefore, it can break when the product is dropped or impacted.
• Keep this product away from heat sources such as radiators, heaters, stoves and other heat-generating sources. Do not store in extreme temperatures above 150° F (65° C).
• Shade the LCD during storage. Do not expose LCD to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

PARTS SUPPLIED IN PACKAGING

The following parts should be included with the display:

• Fish Finder Display
• Sonar Sensor (Transducer) with Integrated Harness and Cable Strap
• Sonar Sensor Float with Rubber Stopper
  If any items are missing or damaged, please contact our customer service department.

FISHING PLATFORM CONFIGURATION

Boat, Kayak, Canoe, Float Tube, Bank, Dock, Ice, etc. You choose the platform, then visit our website at www.hawkeyeelectronics.com and select the accessories to adapt your HawkEye® FishTrax™ Fish Finder to your fishing needs.

INITIAL SETUP

Installing the Batteries:

1. Using a flathead screwdriver, turn the screws on the battery cover counterclockwise to loosen.
2. Lift the battery door off the display housing.
3. Install 4 “AAA” batteries. Be certain to align the batteries as per the diagram within the battery
   compartment.
4. Reinstall the battery cover completely by reversing these steps.

Connecting the Sonar Sensor Cable:

1. Align the pins on the sonar sensor cable plug with the plug on the display.
2. Firmly press the two plugs together until the red o-ring on the display connector is squashed between the plugs.
3. Tighten the locking nut on the display plug until it is snug by turning it clockwise. Finger tighten only, do not use tools.

ADJUSTING THE SONAR SENSOR FLOAT

The Sonar Sensor float must be adjusted so that it is a minimum of 6 inches away from the sensor (it can be further depending upon water conditions, see Note below).

1. Pull out the rubber stopper.
2. Adjust float so that it is 6 to 10 inches from the sensor, or at your desired depth.
3. Replace the rubber stopper by pressing it firmly into the float.

USING THE SONAR SENSOR WITH THE FLOAT

Toss the sonar sensor and float assembly into the water at your desired fishing location.

• To toss, place the sonar sensor and float in your hand, and pitch underhand. Do not throw the sensor by the cable as this will cause unrepairable damage. Before tossing, be certain that the cable is free from tangles and is not wrapped around anything.
• To retrieve the sonar sensor and float, simply pull in the cable being certain to neatly wind up the excess cable.

REMOVING THE SONAR SENSOR FLOAT

If you find that you do not have a need for the sonar sensor float, it can be removed as follows:

1. Remove the rubber stopper from the cable by sliding the safety strap toward the plug and gently working it over plug.
2. Slide the cable through the center of the float toward the plug and gently work the plug through the center of the float in a rocking motion.

USING THE SONAR SENSOR FROM A BOAT, KAYAK, CANOE OR FLOAT TUBE

There are five methods that can be employed to use the fish finder from a boat.

1. Toss the sensor and float into the water as per the previous instructions.
2. “Shoot-Thru” the hull as per the instructions in the next section.
3. Attach the Sonar Sensor to the Side-Scan Adapter (optional) and use a pole or broomstick handle to scan for fish as per the fishing tip below.
4. Attach the Sonar Sensor to the Transom Mount Bracket (optional) and mount to the transom of the vessel’s hull.
5.  Attach the Sonar Sensor to the Transducer Arm Bracket (optional) and suspend the transducer from the side of the vessel.

USING THE FISHTRAX™ 1C THROUGH A BOAT HULL

The FishTrax™ 1C’s advanced sonar capabilities allow it to “Shoot-Thru” the bottom of a boat, kayak or canoe. The hull must be made out of solid fiberglass, or a maximum of 1/8” aluminum, and be in direct contact with the water, with no air pockets. The FishTrax™ 1C will not work through wood,
plastic, or any composite material.

To “Shoot-Thru” the Hull of a Boat, Do One of the Following:

• Place the sonar sensor in .5 inches of water against the hull bottom.
• Coat the face of the sonar sensor with petroleum jelly and press it against the hull bottom with a twisting motion.
• Place the sonar sensor in a plastic bag full of water and place it against the bottom of the hull.

USING THE FISH FINDER FOR ICE FISHING

To achieve the best performance for ice fishing, you should cut a hole through the ice and place the sonar sensor directly in the water like the illustration to the right. If you would like to check the area for depth or fish before cutting the hole, please follow steps 1 – 4 below precisely.

1. Clear away snow to expose the ice surface.
2. Place a small amount of liquid water on the ice and set the sonar sensor on the water allowing the
   Sonar Sensor to freeze to the ice.
3. If there are any air pockets between the sonar sensor and ice, or the water below the ice, the fish finder will not work properly and will require you to try another spot, or cut a hole in the ice to use. You can also use the instructions in the “USING THE FISH FINDER THROUGH A BOAT HULL” section. Be certain not to allow the water to freeze around the sensor if you use the “plastic bag” method.
4. To remove the sonar sensor from the frozen ice, gently tap the sonar sensor at the base with your hand. If it will not come loose, spray a small amount of water on the ice surface around the base and repeat this step until the sonar sensor is easily removed.

USING THE VARIABLEZONE™ WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR

The VariableZone™ Water Temperature Sensor integrated into the sonar sensor will allow you to take temperature readings throughout the water column by enabling you to adjust the depth of the sensor.

To utilize the VariableZone™ Feature:

1. Increase the distance between the float and the sonar sensor.
2. After each adjustment, wait 1 minute before observing the temperature reading on the display.

GETTING TO KNOW THE FISHTRAX™ 1C

UNDERSTANDING THE VIRTUVIEW™ LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

1. Water Depth
2. Water Temperature
3. Battery Strength Indicator
4. Surface Clutter
5. Fish Arches
6. Depth Scale
7. Lower Limit
8. Frequency
9. Bottom Contour / Composition

UNDERSTANDING THE BUTTONS

TURNING THE FISH FINDER ON/OFF

1. To turn the fish finder ON, press and release the power button.
2. To turn the fish finder OFF, Press and Hold the power button until “Shutdown” appears on the screen. Release the button.

FISHTRAX™ 1C OPERATING MODES

The FishTrax™ 1C incorporates three operating modes. To change the Operating Mode press and release thebuttons.

• A. Fish Finder: In addition to measuring the overall depth of the water, this mode depicts the presence of fish in the water column and shows the bottom contour and composition.
• B. Data Mode: This mode overlays large numbers over the fish finder display showing Depth, Temperature, and Battery Voltage.
• C. Ice-Mode Digital Flasher: This mode gives you a real-time view of the FishTrax™ sonar echoes. Compared to the Fish Finder mode, the flasher shows what’s happening below you right at that moment, whereas the Fish Finder mode shows you the sonar returns from the past (a historical image of what has happened).

On the flasher screen, you’ll see the surface, the bottom, and “blips” that indicate echoes. When a fish enters or moves through the cone of the sonar beam a “blip” will appear. Generally the darker the “blip”, the longer the fish stayed in the beam. This mode is very helpful at allowing you to set your bait at the exact depth of the fish in the water column, therefore significantly increasing your catch rate.

FISHTRAX™ SONAR FREQUENCIES

User selectable dual beam FishTrax™ Intelligent Sonar allows you to fine-tune the FishTrax™ 1C to adapt to your fishing style. There are two operating frequencies (200 kHz and 83 kHz), each specifically designed to make finding fish effortless. A frequency of 200 kHz means that 200,000 sonar pulses are produced (and listened for) by the transducer every second, while 83 kHz represents 83,000 sonar pulses per second.

The FishTrax™ 1C has Three Frequency Modes:

• 200 kHz
• 83 kHz
• Dual-View (200 kHz and 83 kHz)

200 kHz: Excels showing minute details. Provides the best resolution and definition of structure and targets, but will not penetrate as deep as 83 kHz. Use this frequency mode for fishing in shallow water where detail is important.

83 kHz: Has a much greater depth penetration capability, but shows less definition. Use it in deeper water or in situations where the 200 kHz lacks bottom structure detail.

Dual-View: Use this mode to utilize the best features of each sonar frequency. The 200 kHz view will show greater detail of the bottom structure and fish echoes, while the 83 kHz will reach deeper to show detail beyond the reach of the 200 kHz.

To Change the Frequency:

1. Press and release the V | ESC button.
2. The current frequency mode will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
   • Dual-View will split the screen in half and show 83 kHz on the left and 200 kHz on the right

ZOOM BOTTOM TRACKING

In normal fish finder mode you can zoom in on the bottom of the screen to get a high-definition look at the bottom contour and composition. This will enlarge the view of the bottom two times (2x).

200 kHz or 83 kHz Sonar Zoom View

While using the 200 kHz or 83 kHz frequencies, the Zoom will split the display to show the full range view on the right and the zoomed view on the left. The full range view on the right also contains the Zoom Preview Box that shows what part of the full range view is shown in the Zoom view on the left. While in “AUTO” Zoom mode the Zoom Preview Box will track the bottom.

Dual-View Sonar Zoom View

In the 200 kHz / 83 kHz Frequency Mode, the display is split to show the 200KHz zoomed view on the right and the 83KHz zoomed view on the left. The full range view and Zoom Preview Box are not displayed.

ACCESSING AND ADJUSTING THE FEATURES

There are many features incorporated into the FishTrax™ 1C that allow you to fine-tune the fish finder for your specific needs.

SONAR

• A. Screen Detail (Sensitivity)
• B. Depth Range
• C. Upper and Lower Limits (Zooming)
• D. FishTarget™ (Fish Symbols Depth)
• E. Depth Cursor

SETUP

• F. Backlight
• G. Volume
• H. Units
• I. Scroll Speed (Chart Speed)
• J. Fish Alarm
• K. Depth Alar
• L. Battery Alarm
• M. Transparency

ADVANCED

• N. Keel Offset
• O. Sonar Chart Mode (Color Scheme)
• P. Surface Clarity
• Q. Noise Rejection
• R. Menu Language

Thebutton is used to access the menu system. When you pressthe button once, the menu system immediately appears on the display.

The Menu System Has 3 Tabs:

• Sonar
• Setup
• Advance

To cycle through the Menu System tabs press and releasethe button. In each menu tab use thebuttons to select a specific menu item, and use thebuttons to change a menu setting, press the V | ESC button to close the menu system.

A. ADJUSTING THE DETAIL DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN

Adjusting the amount of detail shown on the VirtuView™ display is as simple as adjusting the fish finder’s sensitivity. There are 100 user-selectable sensitivity settings to choose from. Select a higher sensitivity setting to show smaller sonar returns on-screen, or a lower setting to remove clutter from the
screen. Adjusting Sensitivity also affects how sonar returns are identified as fish icon symbols (FishTarget™) – more fish will be detected at a higher setting, and fewer at a lower setting.

To Adjust the Sensitivity:

1. Press and release the buttontime (SonarI will appear at the top of the screen)
2. Press and release thebutton until the “Sensitivity” box is highlighted.
3. Press and release thebutton to increase the sensitivity,to decrease the sensitivity.
4. Press and release the V | ESC button to exit the menu and return to the fish finder mode.

B. ADJUSTING THE DEPTH RANGE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN

You can set the display on the FishTrax™ 1C to automatically adjust the display range to the water depth, or manually set it to lock the display in a specific depth range. Select AUTO to have the display automatically adjust the depth range for the detected water depth. Advanced users may want to manually select a depth range from 0-9 Ft. to 0-240 Ft. (0-3 M to 0-73 M) to only see sonar echoes in
those ranges. Keep in mind this locks the depth range of the display to this preset range and ONLY sonar returns from that range will be displayed.

To Adjust the Depth Range:

1. Press and release the buttontime (Sonar will appear at the top of the screen)
2. Press and release thebutton until the “Depth Range” box is highlighted.
3. Press and release thebutton to increase the Range,to decrease the Range.

CARE OF YOUR FISH FINDER

1. Clean the sonar sensor and cable with fresh water and dry them off before storing them. Do not submerge and/or spray the fish finder screen/housing with water or use chemicals to clean it. If necessary, wipe with a damp cloth.
2. Remove the batteries from the fish finder to prevent battery leakage and corrosion.
3. Store the fish finder in the storage bag in a cool, dry place. Never leave it in temperatures over 120° F (49° C) as the extreme temperatures can damage the electronic components.

TROUBLESHOOTING AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

24-Hour Technical Support is available online at hawkeyeelectronics.com. Search our online Knowledgebase for the latest troubleshooting and FAQs, or post your own questions for our support staff. For one-on-one support please email customerservice@norcrossmarine.com. Understanding How the Fish Finder Finds Depth, Fish, debris, Bottom Contour/composition, etc.

Greatly simplified, this fish finder is a combination of a speaker, microphone, and stopwatch. It transmits a sound pulse from the sonar sensor and then measures the time it takes for the “echoes” to return to the sonar sensor (the fish finder “knows” that the speed of sound through water is about 4800 feet per second). Fish, rocks, logs, weeds, debris, the bottom, etc all “echo” the pulse at a different intensity. A built-in computer then organizes all of this information and shows it on a display screen in a manner that is easy for the user to understand.Depth Readout. The depth readout on the upper left corner will appear after the power is turned ON and the sonar sensor is placed in water between 2 feet and 240 feet (.5 to 75 meters). If the depth exceeds these parameters, the depth meter will indicate “—”. This reading may also occur in water that is extremely dirty, or where there are heavy silt or mud bottoms. A sonar is a sound signal that travels through water. Sonar will not travel by air. Keep this in mind when using the fish finder, as the smallest air bubble between the sonar sensor and the water will cause the Fish Finder to not operate correctly.

Sonar Cross Talk

If you experience incorrect depth readings on your Digital Depth Sounder display, but nothing on another fish finder screen on the same boat (or vice versa) then you are experiencing sonar cross-talk interference. The only real solution is to move the transducers further away from each other. This can help keep the transducer cones from intersecting, but because cones get wider as the depth increases, the problem cannot usually be completely solved by position only. Changing one of the sounders to another model that runs on a different frequency will solve the problem.

Nothing Happens When I Turn the Power On

Make sure that you have installed a good set of batteries and aligned them as per the diagram within the battery compartment. You may also need to test the batteries in another device to ensure they are charged. If in doubt, replace the batteries with a set from a newly opened package.

The Depth Reading Is “—”

First verify that the sonar sensor is plugged into the display housing properly by turning the display on and listening for a ticking sound from the sonar sensor. Make sure that you are operating the Fish Finder in depths between 2 and 240 ft. (.5 to 75 m). Be aware that the depth is measured from the sonar sensor, not the float. Also make sure that the water is not overly choppy, causing the sonar sensor to move around significantly. The sonar sensor must remain relatively stable to achieve optimal readings. When necessary, lower the sonar sensor to hang further from the surface of the water, providing more stability in rougher water.

I See Fish Under the Sonar Sensor, but Nothing Appears on the Display

As with the depth reading, the fish finder will not detect any objects that are closer than 2 ft. from the sonar sensor. If you’re fishing in water that is less than 3 feet deep, it is recommended to discontinue use of the fish finder.

The Depth Reading is Incorrect

Make sure that you are pointing the sonar sensor perpendicular to the water when trying to obtain depth readings. Extremely heavy vegetation may confuse the sonar of the fish finder causing it to misinterpret the depth. If you are certain that the readings are incorrect under these conditions, discontinue use.

I’m Not Getting a Reading While Trying to Shoot Through My Boat Hull or Ice

Shooting through the hull of a boat/canoe or ice can be difficult, as hidden air pockets will prevent you from obtaining a reading. Make certain that the hull or ice is solid from the surface to the water with no air bubbles and/or gaps. Shooting through composite hulls (plastic) or cloudy ice is not possible as tiny air bubbles are usually present in these situations.

I’m Getting False Fish Indications

The most common cause of false fish indications is extremely tall weed growth. If weeds grow taller than 50% of the total water depth in a particular area, the sonar will mistake it for fish. Trash & debris may also give false readings. Adjusting the sensitivity setting to the lowest level may reduce these false readings, but if they do not go away, it is suggested that you discontinue the use of the fish finder under these conditions.

I’m Using the Fish Finder in a Swimming Pool and it’s Not Working

Because of interference caused by “sonar bouncing”, the fish finder will NOT function properly in a swimming pool, bathtub, bucket, barrel, garbage can, or any body of water that has hard sides. It must be used in an open body of water to function properly.

WARRANTY

This device is covered by a 2 Year Limited Warranty. To be eligible for warranty coverage, you must register your product within 15 days of purchase. Visit our website for warranty details and to register.
To Activate Your Warranty:

• Read and print out a copy of the warranty details for your records.
• Complete the registration form on our website.
• Make a copy of your original purchase receipt and staple it to this manual. You will need to present it in the rare occurrence that you need to send your product in for service.
• Complete the information below and store this manual in a safe place.
• You can print additional copies of this manual from our website

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HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder-FAQs