Lowrance HDS-7M - Manuals

3 Introduction Thank you for purchasing from Lowrance, the industry leader in marine technology. This manual is packaged with a Quick Start Guide, Installation Guide, License and Warranty booklet and NMEA 2000 Networks Installation Instructions. If any of these documents are missing, you may acquire...

5 Getting Started Turning on the Unit Press the POWeR/LIGHT key to turn on the unit. If the unit is not connected to a transducer, the unit will start up in simulator mode. To turn off the unit, press the POWeR/LIGHT key for three seconds. Keypad This unit’s keypad can be used in two ways. Pressing ...

6 Getting Started Menus This unit has a Settings menu, a Pages screen and several context menus. The Settings menu provides access to the settings menus for the three main operation modes: Chart and Radar. The Settings menu is accessed by pressing MenU twice. The Pages screen allows you to select a ...

7 Getting Started Entering Letters in Text Boxes This unit has some features and functions that may require you to enter data in a text box. To enter data in a text box: Highlight the text box and press 1. enTeR . A keyboard will appear on the screen. Use the keypad to highlight the first 2. charact...

9 Pages Pages Screen Consists of four page icons that scroll horizontally around the Pages menu. To view the pages screen, press the PAGeS key. Selecting Pages Pressing the keypad left or right will move the page icons around the menu. To select a page, move the desired page icon to the center of th...

10 Pages Data Overlay Data overlay is information you can display on top of the page screen, allowing you to customize each page with desired data. Data Overlay menu Every page option has its own Data Overlay menu. The menu allows you to edit, add or remove overlay data from the display. To access D...

11 Pages Edit Mode When a gauge is added to the display it will be shown in edit mode. Analog and bar gauges are shaded in blue when they are in Edit Mode. Digital Gauges will be shown with a blue border. Move or Placing a Gauge The Move gauge command allows you to move data overlay to any position ...

12 Pages To select data overlay: 1. Highlight Select data on the Configure menu. The Select Data menu will appear. Use the keypad to select the desired category and press 2. enTeR . A list of subcategories will appear. Select the desired subcategory and press 3. enTeR . Type Switches data overlay di...

13 Pages Limits Controls the number scale used on data overlay gauges and selects warning thresholds. Changing the limits on an analog or bar gauge removes unnecessary numbers from the gauge, making them easier to read. Warnings help you stay within selected warning thresholds. Limits are configured...

14 Pages Configuration menu Allows you to Add/Remove sources and adjust Bezel, Caption and Invert Text Settings. Other configuration menu options are covered previously in the section. To access the Configuration menu, highlight Configuration on the Edit Overlay menu and press enTeR . Configuration ...

15 Pages Chart Page Consists of a Map that moves in real time as you move. By default, the map is shown from a birds-eye view with North at the top of the screen. This page has three map orientation options (North Up, Track Up & Course Up) and two ways to view the map: 2D and Shaded Relief (only...

16 Pages Radar Page Displays the PPI (Position Plan Indicator) screen, Range Rings and the cursor. The PPI can be shifted to show more of a desired portion of the screen (Look Ahead, Center & Offset) and the color palette can be changed to show returns in white, yellow, black or green. The radar...

17 Pages Data menu Controls Info page data, page layout and data display format selection. To access the Data menu, press MenU while on the Info page. Dash 1, Dash 2 and Dash 3 Info Page dashboard templates that vary in page layout and in the number of gauges supported. The templates save you time b...

18 Pages To edit gauge display: Use the keypad to select the gauge you want to 1. edit and press enTeR . The Select Data menu will appear. Use the keypad to select a data category and press 2. enTeR . A list of subcategories will appear. Select the desired subcategory and press 3. enTeR . Press 4. M...

19 Pages To select data: Highlight 1. Select Data from the Edit Data menu and press enTeR . The Select Data menu will appear. 2. Use the keypad to select the desired category and press enTeR . A list of subcategories will appear. Select the desired subcategory and press 3. ENTER. To add source: Sele...

20 Pages To Finish Editing: Select 1. Finish Edit from the Edit Data menu and press enTeR . A confirmation message will appear. Select 2. Save and press enTeR . Change Layout Controls the gauge layout of dashboard templates and customized dashboards. That allows you to select a desired gauge layout ...

21 Pages To remove dashboards: Select the number of the dashboard you want to 1. delete from the numerical dashboard list. Highlight 2. Remove Dashboard and press enTeR . A confirmation message will appear. Select 3. Delete and press enTeR . Settings Opens the Settings menu. Settings information is ...

22 Pages To copy data files/sonar logs: 1. Highlight Files from the Utilities menu and press enTeR . Select the desired File category and press the keypad to the right. A 2. list of subcategories will appear. Select a subcategory and press the keypad to the right. Highlight 3. the desired data file/...

23 Pages Displaying Combo Pages You can display multiple pages at the same time by scrolling the desired page’s icon to the center of the screen and then choosing a secondary page from the list of combo page display options. To display a combo page: Use the keypad to select the first page for the co...

24 Pages Adjust Panel Sizes Controls the size of panels when combo pages or multi-panels displays are in use. Adjusting the size of the panels, allows you to emphasize the panel you want to see more clearly. Panels can only be adjusted left/right, so the panels on the side with the split view can no...

25 Chart Displaying the Chart page Access the Chart page from the Pages menu. Chart page (2D Chart mode) Point of Interest (POI) Cursor coordinates Waypoint Map scale Cursor Current position icon Chart orientation indicator To access the Chart page, press the Pages key to bring up the Pages menu. Us...

26 Chart The previous image shows some of the different items you will see when viewing the Chart page: • Point of Interest (POI): A position on the Chart page represented by a symbol or character. Cursor: • Used to view specific areas on the Chart page, select POIs, create waypoints and measure dis...

27 Chart Find: • Opens the Find menu. From the Find menu you can search for items by select categories. Info: • Shows a list of items close to the cursor. Measure: • Used to measure the distance between current position and another point on the Chart page or between two different points. Overlay: • ...

28 Chart Waypoints A waypoint is the latitude and longitude of a specific position on the earth's surface. You can quickly create a waypoint at your current position or you can create a way- point at the cursor's position on the Chart page. You also can create a waypoint at any location by manually ...

29 Chart To Navigate to a Waypoint from the Waypoints screen: From the Pages screen select 1. Waypoints, routes, trails , press enTeR . When the Waypoints screen appears select the waypoint you want to navigate to from the waypoints list and press MenU . The Waypoints screen menu will appear. From t...

30 Chart Waypoints screen menu To open the Waypoints screen menu, press the MenU key from the Waypoints screen. The following features are listed in the order they appear in the Waypoints screen menu, top to bottom: Edit: • Opens the Edit Waypoint menu. New: • Opens the New Waypoint menu. Show: • Sh...

31 Chart Waypoints screen, Sort Waypoints feature You can choose how waypoints are sorted in the Waypoints list by selecting Sort from the Waypoints screen list menu. Waypoints can be sorted by Name , Nearest or Icon . By default the unit stores waypoints by name. Waypoint Information screen When a ...

32 Chart • Description: Input additional way- point information. Display: • Choose how a waypoint will be displayed on Chart page. Depth: • Select waypoint depth. • Alarm Radius: Input distance that sounds alarm when near a specific waypoint. Delete: • This will delete a waypoint. Save: • Saves your...

33 Chart edit Waypoint icon and color You can change the default waypoint icon and color from the Edit Waypoint menu. Routes Routes make it easier to plan trips to desired destinations and backtrack to a previous location. A route is a series of waypoints linked together to mark a course of travel. ...

34 Chart Repeat Step 2 until you have set all the desired waypoints along 1. the route. Press the 2. MenU key to open the Edit route menu. Select Save and press enTeR . The route will be saved to the Routes screen. From the Routes screen highlight the route and select 3. Start . The Start Route mess...

35 Chart Routes screen To view stored routes go to the Routes screen in the Utilities page. From the Routes screen you can view and edit stored routes. Routes screen menu From the Routes screen menu you can create a new route, edit a route or start a route. To open the Routes screen menu, from the R...

36 Chart To Edit Route: From the Routes screen select 1. the route to be edited and press enTeR . The Edit Route screen will appear. From the Edit Route screen you 2. can edit the route name, display and waypoints in the route. Use the Arrow keypad to select 3. which route feature you want to edit a...

37 Chart To Search for Route by Name: From the Routes screen press 1. MenU . The Routes screen menu will appear . From the Routes screen menu select 2. Find . A keypad will appear. Use the keypad to enter the name of the route you are searching for and press OK . Trails A trail is a record of the pa...

38 Chart Trails screen menu From the Trails screen menu you can create a new trail, edit a trail or delete a trail. To open the Trails screen menu, press the MenU key from the Trails screen. The following features are listed in the order they appear in the Trails screen menu, top to bottom: Edit: • ...

39 Chart edit Trail menu The Edit Trail menu is used to edit trail settings and coordinates. Use this menu to change the trail name, trail color and description of a trail. To edit a Trail name: From the Trails screen 1. select the trail to be edited, press enTeR . The Edit Trail menu will appear. F...

40 Chart Measuring Distances on Chart page Use the Measure feature from the Chart menu to measure distances between your- self and another location on the Chart page or between two different points. To select/deselect Measure feature: From the Chart page press the 1. MenU key. The Chart menu will ap...

41 Chart To view a list of specific Chart POI search options select Category from the Find - Chart Items screen. A drop down list will appear. Select the specific category from the drop down list. Map Orientation To change Chart page orientation: From the Chart page press the 1. MenU key. The Chart ...

42 Chart From the Chart options submenu select or deselect 2. Look Ahead to turn this feature on or off. Chart categories Use the Chart Categories screen to control what you want to see on the Chart page. To select / deselect Chart Categories: From the Chart page press 1. MenU . The Chart menu will ...

43 Chart Chart page Icons, Tides and Currents Use the cursor on the Chart page to view detailed information about selected icons, including Tides and Currents. The image, at left, shows a Current icon selected on the Chart page. To view detailed information about an icon, press the MENU key then sel...

44 Chart Radar Options The Radar Options menu appears when Radar Overlay is tuned on. It allows you to customize the radar overlay settings from the Chart Page. To access the Radar Options menu, select Radar Options from the Chart menu and press enTeR . Radar Options menu Radar State Selects radar t...

45 Chart navionics Settings menu Use to customize the way Navionics data will be displayed on the Chart page, allow- ing you to adjust the features best suited for your fishing conditions. To change Navionics Settings: Select 1. Chart options from the Chart menu and press enTeR . Highlight 2. Settin...

46 Chart Texture Type • — Enables (on) or disables (off) the 3D shading feature. Photo overlay allows you to enable (full) or disable (off) the aireal photog- raphy overlay chart feature. Annotation • — Allows you to display "Main" names (i.e. city names) only or the "Full" set of na...

47 Radar To access the Radar Page: Press the 1. PAGeS key. Use the keypad to select the 2. Radar Icon and press enTeR . Radar menu Use the Radar menu to make adjustments to radar display settings and features that not only change the appearance of the display, but also make navigation easier.To acce...

48 Radar Radar State Controls radar transmission modes: Off, Transmit and Standby. Off turns off the radar. Transmit broadcasts a radar signal and standby leaves the radar on, but does not broadcast a signal. To select Radar State: Press 1. MenU , highlight Radar State and press enTeR . Select the d...

49 Radar Sea Clutter Allows you to select the Sea Clutter adjustment mode — Auto or Manual. If you make changes to Sea Clutter when it is in auto mode (Harbor or Offshore), Sea Clutter will switch to Manual mode. Sea Clutter Options Manual Switches Sea Clutter from Auto to Manual mode Harbor Auto se...

50 Radar Position You can move the PPI (Plan Position Indicator) to different locations on the radar display. There are three Position options: Center , Look Ahead and Offset . To change the PPI position: Select Position from the Radar menu and press enter. 1. Select the desired position and press e...

51 Radar Symbology Used to turn on/off symbols displayed on the PPI screen, including range rings, range markers and compass overlay. Rather than turn off each display feature individually, the Symbology feature allows you to remove them all at once.To toggle Symbology on/off highlight Symbology on ...

52 Radar eBL/VRM menu Places selected Electronic Bearing Line and Variable Range Marker on the display. To select an EBL/VRM: Press the 1. MenU key. Use the keypad to select the 2. EBL/VRM and press enTeR . Use the keypad to move the EBL and increase/ 3. decrease the size of the VRM. Press exIT . Ad...

53 Radar Cursor position window When the cursor is active on screen the Cursor position window appears in the bottom left corner of the Radar page. Radar Overlay Radar Overlay places radar returns on top of the map on the Chart Page. That gives you greater awareness of your surroundings by allowing ...

55 Settings The Settings Menu provides access to installation and advanced configuration settings for your unit. To access the Settings menu, press MenU twice. Settings Menu Options System Fuel Vessels Page Alarms Simulator Chart (if applicable) Trails Sirius (if applicable) Radar (if applicable) Un...

56 Settings To change Text Size: Highlight 1. Text Size from the System menu and press enTeR . Use the keypad to select the desired text size and press 2. enTeR . Key Beeps By default, a tone (key beep) will sound when any key is pushed on the unit. You can change key beep volume or turn them on or ...

57 Settings Datum A model of the earth’s surface based on a network of surveyed ground features (points). This unit’s default datum is WGRS-84. To select a Datum: Select 1. Datum from the Chart settings menu and press enTeR . Use the keypad to select the desired datum. Press 2. enTeR . Coord System ...

58 Settings Satellites Monitors the location of satellites in view and the quality of the unit’s satellite lock- on. The Satellite page has two display options. The Satellite screen displays a circular graphic that shows where satellites are located and a bar graph that monitors the strength of sate...

59 Settings Screen Capture Saves images of your unit’s screen to your unit. That allows you to capture images of everything from underwater structure and fish to routes, map areas and radar targets. To take a screen capture: Select 1. Screen Capture from the System menu and press enTeR . Press the 2...

60 Settings Restore Defaults To switch the unit back to the settings it had when you purchased it (default settings), use the Restore Defaults command. Reset Defaults will reset the unit to default settings. To Restore Defaults: Highlight 1. Restore Defaults on the System menu and press enTeR . A co...

61 Settings To adjust Waypoint, Hardware, Flywheel and Radar settings : Open the desired setting (—). 1. Highlight the setting information and 2. press Enter to turn it on/off. The center circle will be filled when the setting is on; empty when it is turned off. To adjust cursor settings: Highlight ...

62 Settings Chart Settings Menu Contains Chart settings ranging from display options like Range Rings and Grid Lines to map settings like Chart Data and Datum. To access the Chart Settings Menu: Press 1. MenU twice. Highlight 2. Chart and press enTeR . Chart Data This unit can use mapping data from ...

63 Settings To use Heading Extension : Highlight 1. Heading Extension from the chart menu and press enTeR . Select the desired time interval and press 2. enTeR . Popup Information Turns on information windows that appear when the cursor is centered on a point of information. That allows you to ident...

64 Settings Routes Turns on/off route display properties. When several routes are on the display, turning off routes will give you a better view of the map. To turn on/off route display properties, select Routes from the Chart menu and press enTeR . Trails Turns on/off Trail display properties. When...

65 Settings Radar Settings Menu Controls Radar options and display settings like Target Expansion, Orientation and Bearings. To access the Radar settings menu: Press 1. MenU twice. Select 2. Radar and press enTeR . Target expansion Increases the size of radar targets, making them easier to see on th...

66 Settings Orientation Controls the way the map moves in relation to the movement of your vessel. That allows you to select a desired method for viewing your surroundings on the radar display. • Course Up — map stays at same orientation as the initial bearing to the selected waypoint. • Heading Up ...

67 Settings Range Rings Allows you to quickly estimate the distance from your vessel to a another radar target. To turn on/off Range Rings, highlight Range Rings on the Radar Settings menu and press enTeR . Range Markers Located below each Range Ring, Range Markers display the distance from your pos...

68 Settings To set T/M or R: Press 1. MenU twice. Select 2. Radar and press enTeR. Highlight 3. Bearings and press enTeR. Use the arrows to select a bearing and press 4. enTeR . Installation Provides access to the Radar Installation menu. To access Radar Installation menu: 1. Press the MenU key twic...

69 Settings Bearing alignment Used to align the bow of your vessel with the heading line (zero point). Bearing alignment is also referred to as zero bearing. To make adjustments to bearing alignment, switch the radar state to Transmit and set radar orientation to Heading Up. To select Heading up ori...

70 Settings Range offset Eliminates the time lag between real radar returns and the time it takes data to be processed by the radar software. Range Offset is also referred to as zero range and trigger delay. To Adjust Range Offset: Use the 1. ZOOM In / ZOOM OUT keys to set range to 1/8 nm. Highlight...

71 Settings Open Array Park Angle When an open array antenna is turned off, the antenna’s momentum will cause it to continue rotating before coming to a stop. Open array park angle allows you to adjust the antenna’s parking angle so it will stop in a desired position. To Adjust Open Array Park Angle...

72 Settings Fuel Used to input fuel data like engine/tank configuration, fuel tank capacity and engine calibration. Your unit uses that data to calculate the overall fuel performance of your vessel. To access the Fuel menu, select Fuel from the Settings menu and press enTeR . Refuel Controls engine ...

73 Settings To set tank to full: Highlight the 1. Set to full checkbox on the Refuel screen and press enTeR . Highlight 2. OK and press enTeR . The calibration options screen will appear. You are ready to calibrate. To calibrate engine(s): With the calibration options screen displayed, select the ch...

74 Settings Fuel Used Data information screen that displays fuel consumption data including fuel used since last fill up, fuel used on the current trip and fuel used during a season. To access fuel used information, select Fuel Used from the Fuel menu and press enTeR . Highlight the Reset button and...

75 Settings Engine/Tank Configuration Used to input the number of engines and fuel tanks on your vessel. Your unit must have that information to be able to calibrate you engine(s). To select engine-tank configuration: Highlight the vessel configuration drop-down 1. menu and press enTeR . Select a en...

76 Settings Alarms This unit has alarms covering everything from depth and water temp rate to fuel and waypoint radius. The alarms list has three tabs: Active, History and Settings. Active — used to view alarms that have been enabled • History — shows log of alarm activity, which includes data like ...

77 Settings To silence an alarm: When an Alarm is triggered, a tone will sound and a alarm window will appear on the screen. Press enTeR to silence the alarm and close the alarm window. After alarm is silenced its corresponding alarm bell will continue to flash in the bottom left corner of the scree...

78 Settings Trails Controls the way trails are logged (updated). Trails mark your movement as you travel, placing points along your path using one of three logging types: Time, Distance or Auto. You can save up to 10 trails with up to 9,999 points per trail. If a trail exceeds 9,999 points, each new...

79 Settings Time Period Controls how much time will pass before a point is placed along the trail. To set Time Period: Highlight 1. Time Period and press enTeR . The distance period keypad will appear. Input the desired distance and select 2. OK . Press enTeR . Units Controls the unit of measure use...

80 Settings Network Controls network configuration, data sources, serial port settings, waypoint sharing and allows you to monitor network performance (NMEA 2000 and ethernet) and network devices. To access the Network menu, select Network from the Settings menu and press enTeR . Auto Configure Rese...

81 Settings Data Source menu Allows you to change the name and scope of a source and add/remove sources from a NMEA 2000 or ethernet network. To access a Data Source menu, highlight a desired source and press MenU . Rename Used to rename a Data Source. That makes it easier to recognize one data sour...

82 Settings To select a scope: Highlight 1. Scope on the selected device’s data source menu and press enTeR . Use the keypad to select 2. Global or Local and press enTeR . Reset Global and Reset Local Selecting Reset Global will reset all the source selections to default settings and removes all ins...

83 Settings Device Menu Options Details Accesses the Device Information screen Refresh Refreshes the device list Sort Allows you to sort device list by Model ID or Serial No. Configuring Devices Devices have different configuration options. Name, tank size and location can be configured on some devi...

84 Settings To configure device location: Select a device from the device list and press 1. enTeR . The Device Information screen will appear. Highlight the 2. Configure button and press enTeR . The Device Configuration screen will appear. Highlight the 3. Location dropdown menu and press enTeR . Se...

85 Settings Diagnostics Displays diagnostic information on NMEA 2000 networks displays the status of information shared between units (UDB). From the UDB tab, you also can select a unit to be used as the master (primary) unit when sharing information. To access the Diagnostics screen, select Diagnos...

86 Settings Serial Ports Configures communication ports to send or receive data with another electronic device, like an autopilot. To configure serial ports: Highlight 1. Serial Ports on the Network menu and press enTeR . The Serial Settings menu will appear. Select the desired setting (Protocol, 2....

87 Settings Vessels Controls settings used to monitor vessels in your area with an AIS receiver. The Vessels feature makes it easier to navigate safely through high traffic areas. To access the Vessels menu, select Vessels from the Settings menu and press enTeR . MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identi...

89 Settings Simulator Accesses all simulation types including default demo and simulator modes as well as advanced custom simulations. To access the Simulator menu, highlight Simulator on the Settings menu and press enTeR . Simulate Turns on/off your unit’s simulator. Simulate must be turned on to v...

90 Settings Source Files Controls source files used in radar, sonar, AIS (Chart) and Weather simulations. Source files allow you to use your own data while running a simulation. To select a source file: Highlight the desired source file option on the Advanced menu and press 1. enTeR . Use the keypad...

91 Settings Route Allows you to select a route to be used during a simulation. To select a route: 1. Select Route from the Advanced menu and press enTeR . A Route List will appear.Use the keypad to select the desired route and press 2. enTeR . Set Start Position Sets the starting point of a GPS Simu...

93 Unit Care Specifications GeneRAL Case Size: HDS-5 • : 5.8” H x 7.3” W x 4” D (14.6 x 18.4 x 10.2 cm), 2.30 lbs HDS-7 • : 6.4” H x 8.8” W x 3.5” D (16.3 x 22.4 x 8.8 cm), 3.10 lbs Display: HDS-5 • : 5.0” (12.7 cm) diagonal high contrast 16-bit color TFT, 480 x 480 pixel resolution HDS-7 • : 6.4” (...

94 Specifications Cleaning the Screen — • Warm water and soap will work fine. You can also use ammonia-type cleaners like Windex. Do not use any type of abrasive cleaners. They will remove the Anti-Reflection coating from the glass. Inspect the buttons — • Make sure that no buttons are stuck in the ...

95 Troubleshooting If your unit is not working, or if you need technical help, use the following troubleshooting section before contacting the customer service department. Check the power cable’s connection at the unit. 1. Make sure the power cable is wired properly. The red wire 2. connects to the ...

96 Troubleshooting bubbles. (See the Installation Section for how to install the transducer.) When attaching a transducer to the inside of a hull, ONLY 3. use epoxy available from LEI (see inside back cover for or - der information). Do NOT use RTV silicone rubber adhesive or any other type 4. of ep...

97 Troubleshooting transducer cables away from other electrical wiring on the boat. When trolling over weed beds in 20ft of water or less, you 3. may experience vertical bars, loss of the chart picture, or the digital depth. First, do a soft reset of the unit. Then go to the Full Sonar Chart screen....

98 Troubleshooting to 60ft or whatever depth you expect the fish to appear at. This will maximize the screen resolution to show small ob - jects larger on the screen. It unlikely you will see average- sized fish display as arches in a 100ft deep water column. The boat must be moving at a slow trolli...

99 Troubleshooting When no noise appears on the sonar unit after all of the 5. above tests, then the noise source is probably cavitation. Many people make sonar installations which function per - fectly in shallow water, or when the boat is at rest. In most cases, the cause of the malfunction is the...

100 Troubleshooting Before purchasing a pre-loaded mapping card for a unit, 1. go to our Mapping Index at http://www.lowrance.com/Prod - ucts/Mapping/default.asp Click on the type of card you are interested in and look at the list of units that are compatible with that card. When zooming in to see m...

101 Troubleshooting should be nothing around or above the antenna. However, GPS antennas can receive signals well through many types of glass and fabric. It is recommended to try various loca - tions before making a permanent installation. If you are using a NMEA 2000 network, both branches of the 3...

103 Index Index Symbols 2D and Shaded Relief 42 A Add Dashboard 20Add Source 14Adjust 52, 69, 70, 71Alarm 76Antenna Height 70Auto Gain 48 B Backlight 5Bearing alignment 69Bearings 67Bezel 14 C Caption 14Center 50Change Layout 20Chart categories 42Chart menu 26Chart orientation indicator 26Chart Page...