Fishfinder 160 owner’s manual FF 160 updated covers.
© 1999 GARMIN Corporation GARMIN International, Inc. 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A. Tel. 913/397.8200 or 800/800.1020 Fax 913/397.8282 GARMIN (Europe) Ltd. Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, SO51 9AQ, U.K. Tel. 44/1794.519944 Fax 44/1794.519222 GARMIN (Asia) Corporation No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 Fax 886/2.2642.9099 All rights reserved.
Thank You for choosing the GARMIN Fishfinder 160. This product is designed for easy operation and to provide years of reliable service. Introduction Please take the time to read this Owner’s Manual, and learn the operation of your new unit. This will help ensure that you get the most from the Fishfinder 160. If you encounter a problem, or just have a question, contact our Product Support Department at 913-397-8200, Monday — Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
GARMIN Corporation warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and manufacture for one year from the date of purchase. GARMIN will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. The customer is, however, responsible for any transportation costs. This warranty does not cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized alteration or repairs.
The Fishfinder 160 Standard Package contains the following items: • Fishfinder 160 • Protective Front Cover • Surface/Flush Mount Kit • Wiring Adapter Cable • Owner’s Manual • Quick Reference Guide • *Transom Mount Transducer (w/depth/temp) * Optional Introduction Packaging and Accessories Optional Transducers: 010-10107-00 010-10177-00 010-10119-00 010-10224-00 010-10249-00 010-10200-00 010-10225-00 010-10252-00 Accessories: Bronze Thru-Hull (w/depth/temp) Bronze Thru-Hull (w/depth/temp/speed) Plastic T
Introduction.......................................................................... i-vi Customer Service ............................................................................................... i Limited Warranty .............................................................................................. ii Packaging and Accessories................................................................................ iii Unit Display ...................................................................
Alarms Fish Alarm ..................................................................................................... 22 Shallow Water ................................................................................................. 22 Deep Water ..................................................................................................... 23 Battery Voltage ................................................................................................ 23 System Contrast ..........................
The Fishfinder 160 is able to display a variety of useful information about the underwater environment. Below are a few things the unit will help you see. Introduction Water Depth What can the Fishfinder 160 Display? The unit displays water depth and can provide a warning for shallow or deep-water conditions. Battery Voltage The unit can display the battery voltage that is available to the unit. Water Temperature* If equipped with a capable transducer, the unit can display the water temperature.
Transducers The transducer acts as the eyes and ears of your new sonar. Proper transducer selection and installation are critical to the operation of your unit. The transducer transmits sound waves toward the bottom in a cone shape. The larger the cone angle the larger the coverage area at a given depth. While it is good to see as large of an area as possible, it is best to select a transducer that suits the water that you are on. A wide cone angle transducer works best in shallow water.
Proper transducer installation is key to getting the best performance from your new unit. If the transducer lead is too short, extension cables are available from you GARMIN dealer. DO NOT cut the transducer lead, this will void your warranty. Installation Following are some tips and basic installation instructions for three popular transducers. Detailed installation instructions are provided in the transducer kits.
In-hull Installation The 010-10224-00 transducer is designed to be mounted inside a fiberglass hull. The standard plastic transom mount transducer can also be mounted in this fashion using this method. If using a temperature sensing transducer, the temperature displayed will reflect the hull temperature. Selecting a Location Installation Mounting the Transducer The location has to be solid fiberglass, devoid of any air bubbles, laminates, fillers or dead air space.
Trolling Motor Installation Included in the 010-10251-00 transducer kit you should have: Installation • Worm Gear Clamp • Cable Ties Mounting the Transducer • Transducer Mounting the Transducer: Cable Ties 1. Loosen the Worm Gear Clamp until end of the band is clear of the worm gear. 2. Slide the clamp band through the slots on the transducer. 3. Place the free end of the clamp band into the worm gear and tighten until the band is through the worm gear. Worm Gear Clamp Band 4.
Wiring Harness Installation The Fishfinder 160 comes with a wiring harness that connects the unit to power and the transducer with one easy-to-remove connection. Make sure the wiring harness will reach the unit before beginning installation. Installation If it is necessary to extend the power/data wires, use a wire of comparable size and keep your extension as short as possible.
Wiring Harness Installation (continued) If your boat does not have a fuse block, the unit can be wired directly to the battery. Make sure the 2-Amp in-line fuse supplied with the unit is installed. Installation Installing the Wiring Harness The Fishfinder 160 can be connected to another piece of NMEA compatible electronic equipment. If equipped with a capable transducer, the Fishfinder 160 sends depth, temperature and speed information that could be displayed on another device.
Display Installation (Surface Mount) The Fishfinder 160 can be mounted to a flat surface using the supplied Surface Mounting Bracket. Installation Installing the Display Surface Mounting the Display: 1. Position the Surface Mount in the desired location. Leave approximately 2'’ behind the unit for cable clearance. 2. Mark the location of the four mounting holes with a pencil. 3. Drill pilot holes for the mounting fasteners (not included in kit). 4. Secure the Surface Mount, using the mounting fasteners.
Display Installation (Flush Mount) The Fishfinder 160 can be mounted flush against a dash or electronics rack that is no more than 1/4” thick. Installation Flush Mounting the Display: 1. Remove the Surface Mount Bracket and Knobs. Installing the Display 2 Cut a 4.3”W x 4.35”H relief hole where the unit will be mounted. 3. Place the display in the relief hole and tape in place. 4. Reinstall the knobs in the unit. Install the surface mount with the cam lobes pointed toward the unit. 5.
Testing the Installation While it is possible to perform some checks with the boat trailered, to properly test the installation the boat should be in the water. Press the Power button and the Fishfinder 160 should power on. If the unit fails to power on, verify that the wiring adapter is seated properly in the back of the unit, the Red and Black wires are connected to the correct polarity, and that the 2-Amp fuse is installed and not blown.
Unit Operation Arrow Keys Keypad Function The Arrow Keys are used to select items on the Adjustment Bar and Setup menu and to change field data. Enter Key The Enter key is used to activate/deactivate Adjustment Bar and Setup Menu data fields for review or change Setup Key The Setup key is used to activate/deactivate Setup Menu. Power Key The Power Key is used to turn the unit on/off and to activate the display backlight. Press and hold to turn the unit off.
At the top left of the display you will find the Adjustment Bar and a variety of user-selectable information including Depth, Battery Voltage, Water Temperature, and Speed Over Water. To provide data on Water Temperature and Speed Over Water, the Fishfinder 160 requires additional sensors capable of producing the particular data. The Depth Scale and the Flasher Function are displayed from top to bottom along the right side of the display. Messages and Alarm Icons are displayed along the bottom.
Using the Adjustment Bar The Adjustment Bar allows direct access to the settings most commonly changed while using the unit. These include the depth Range, Zoom setting, and the Gain (sensitivity) of the unit. Unit Operation Place the highlight (white bar) over the desired selection using the RIGHT or LEFT Arrow key and the current setting will be displayed in the highlight. To immediately change the setting, press the UP or DOWN Arrow key.
Zoom The Zoom Adjustment is used to quickly select a display zoom scale. Unit Operation To change the zoom scale: 1. Highlight ‘Zoom’ on the Adjustment Bar. 2. Using the UP or DOWN Arrow, select the desired display zoom level. The Adjustment Bar When a scale other than ‘No Zoom’ is selected, the Adjustment Bar will display a new selection labeled View. View The View Adjustment is available only when a Zoom Scale other than ‘No Zoom’ is selected.
Gain The Gain Adjustment allows the user to control the sensitivity of the unit’s receiver. This provides some flexibility in what is seen on the display. To see more detail, increase the receiver sensitivity by selecting a higher gain (+). If there is too much detail or if the screen is cluttered, lowering the sensitivity (-) may increase the clarity of the display. Unit Operation The Adjustment Bar To change the Gain: 1. Highlight ‘Gain’ on the Adjustment Bar. 2.
Setup Menu The Setup Menu contains the unit settings that should not require frequent change. The Setup Menu is divided into eight tabs: Chart, Tools, Numbers, Alarms, System, Calibrations, Units, and Memory . Each tab will be described in more detail in this section. To enter and exit the Setup Menu, press the SETUP button on the face of the unit. The first time that the SETUP button is pressed, the Setup Menu will be displayed with the ‘Chart’ tab highlighted in black.
Whiteline ‘Whiteline’ controls how the unit displays information about the bottom type (hard or soft). With the Whiteline ‘OFF’, the bottom return will display as black and contain no information on bottom hardness. With Whiteline ‘ON’, the bottom return will become gray scaled and can be used to determine bottom hardness. See page 31 for more detail on this feature. Unit Operation Setup Menu/Chart To Change the Whiteline Setting: 1. Highlight the ‘Chart’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2.
Scale The depth ‘Scale’ is displayed vertically along the right side of the chart. The depth ‘Scale’ can be configured to display four different ways: as an ‘Overlay’, in the ‘Corners’, with ‘Basic’ or ‘No Scale’. Unit Operation Setup Menu/Chart To Change the Scale Setting: 1. Highlight the ‘Chart’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2. Highlight the ‘Scale’ selection field and press ENTER. 3. Choose ‘Overlay’, ‘Corners’, ‘Basic’ or ‘No Scale’, press ENTER to accept the selection.
Tools The Tools tab contains the ‘Depth Line’, ‘Noise Reject’, ‘Flasher’, and ‘Simulator’ tools. The ‘Depth Line’ tool is used to quickly identify a set depth or measure the depth of underwater objects. The ‘Noise Reject’ and ‘Flasher’ tools are used to enhance the chart and help in identifying and providing information about an underwater return. The ‘Simulator’ tool is used to enhance the simulator mode by allowing you customize the simulated transducer selection.
Remember when setting the Noise Reject tool, the higher the noise rejection setting, the more likely the unit is to not show fish or structure. To Change the Noise Reject Setting: 1. Highlight the ‘Tools’ tab on the Setup Menu. Unit Operation Setup Menu/Tools 2. Highlight the ‘Noise Reject’ selection field and press ENTER. 3. Choose ‘Off’, ‘Auto’, ‘Low’, ‘Med’, or ‘High’, and press ENTER.
Numbers The ‘NUM’ (Numbers) tab allows you to choose whether you would like to see normal or large numbers on the chart. You can also configure the unit to display ‘Battery Voltage’, (water) ‘Temperature’, and ‘Speed’ Over Water if the unit is equipped with a capable transducer. To access the Numbers tab place the highlight over it using the arrow keys.
Temperature The Fishfinder 160 can display the water temperature when equipped with a temperature sensing transducer. The unit has the ability to automatically sense when a temperature capable transducer is connected and display the water temperature. The temperature field can be shown or hidden regardless of the transducer installed. Unit Operation Setup Menu/Numbers To Set the Temperature Display Field: 1. Highlight the ‘NUM’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2.
Alarms The ‘Alarm’ tab allows you to activate and configure the four alarms available in the Fishfinder 160. To access the ‘Alarm’ tab place the highlight over it using the arrow keys. See page 35 for alarm icons and messages. Unit Operation Fish Alarm Setup Menu/Alarms The ‘Fish Alarm’ can be configured to sound by fish size. There are four different alarm selections: ‘Off’, ‘Small, Medium and Large’, ‘Medium and Large’, or ‘Large’. To Select an Alarm: 1. Highlight the ‘Alarm’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2.
Deep Water The ‘Deep Water’ Alarm can be set to sound a warning at a depth determined by the user. Before the unit will sound a warning the alarm must be activated. Activating/Deactivating the Deep Water Alarm: Unit Operation Setup Menu/Alarms 1. Highlight the ‘Alarm’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2. Highlight the ‘Deep Water’ checkbox. 3. Pressing ENTER will insert or remove a check mark in the checkbox. Setting the Deep Water Alarm Depth: 1. Highlight the ‘Deep Water’ Depth Field and press ENTER. 2.
System The ‘Sys’(System) tab contains the ‘Contrast’, ‘Beeper’, and ‘NMEA’ Output setups. To access the ‘System’ Setup Menu, use the arrow keys to highlight the System tab. Unit Operation Contrast Setup Menu/Alarms The display ‘Contrast’ may need to be adjusted to compensate for light levels or viewing angles. To Adjust the Contrast: 1. Highlight the ‘System’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2. Highlight the ‘Contrast’ Adjustment field and press ENTER. 3.
Calibration Keel Offset The ‘Keel Offset’ field allows the user to offset the depth reading for a keel or for the draw on a larger vessel . To Set a Keel Offset: 1. Highlight the ‘Calibration’ tab on the Setup Menu. Unit Operation Setup Menu/Calibrations 2. Highlight the ‘Keel Offset’ field and press ENTER. 3. Using the arrow keys enter a new offset, press ENTER to accept.
Units The ‘Units’ tab contains settings for ‘Depth’, ‘Temperature’ and ‘Speed’. To access the ‘Units’ tab, use the arrow keys to highlight it. Unit Operation Depth The ‘Depth’ field can be configured to display in Feet (ft), Meters (mt) or Fathoms (fa). Setup Menu/Units To Select a Depth Unit: 1. Highlight the ‘Units’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2. Highlight the ‘Depth’ field and press ENTER. 3. Select ‘Feet’, ‘Meters’, or ‘Fathoms’, press ENTER to accept the new setting.
Memory The ‘Memory’ tab contains the settings for unit memory, allows you to reset the unit to the factory setup and allows you to review software version information. To access the ‘Memory’ tab, use the arrow keys to highlight it. Remember Unit Operation Setup Menu/Memory The Fishfinder 160 can be set to remember All of the unit settings including the Adjustment Bar or the items in Setup Only. To Select a Memory Setting: 1. Highlight the ‘Memory’ tab on the Setup Menu. 2.
Understanding Sonar If you are familiar with sonar, and can determine what is on the chart, this section may not be for you. This section is intended to help the novice user gain some understanding of how the Fishfinder 160 operates and how it can help improve their fishing productivity. On the Water Unit Operation and the Chart 1 2 3 1 2 3 This fish is currently in a Dead Zone and is not detected by the sonar.
Transducer Coverage The area covered by the transmitted sound waves is determined by the cone angle of the transducer and the water depth. Using Garmin’s standard 20° transducer, the coverage is approximately 1/3rd of the water depth. As shown in Example 1, the coverage area at a 30 foot depth is approximately a 10 foot diameter circle. The scale below illustrates how coverage increases as depth increases.
Understanding the Chart It is important to understand that the unit does not display a 3-D representation of the underwater environment. The unit can display multiple things at the same time, but can not determine where the return originated only when it was received. On the Water Understanding the Chart Example 2 provides a look at the underwater world from a top view, and relates that view to what would be displayed on the chart.
Whiteline The Fishfinder 160 can help you to determine if the bottom is hard or soft. When the sonar soundwaves are reflected back by the bottom, a hard bottom will return a stronger signal than a soft bottom. The stronger bottom return, the wider the bottom layer is displayed. The unit uses the whiteline function to make this bottom layer information easier to distinguish. When viewing the display without Whiteline active, the bottom return is black.
Thermoclines On the Water Understanding the Chart One of the unique features offered by GARMIN is See-Thru® technology. See-Thru® technology allows the Fishfinder 160 to see through thermoclines and helps locate fish where they live, and fish love the thermocline. A rough definition of a thermocline is a break in water where the water temperature changes faster than the water above it. The thermocline usually displays as a gray level as shown below. Thermocline 32 FF 160 update.
Simulator Mode The Fishfinder 160 comes with a built-in simulator mode that will allow the user to practice and learn the operation of the unit at home rather than on the water. To start the simulator mode, turn the unit on without a transducer installed. As the unit powers on, the unit will indicate that it is running the simulator mode by displaying a message across the bottom of the chart. The message will be replaced by the simulator mode icon in the lower left corner of the chart.
Physical Case: Fully Gasketed, high-impact plastic alloy On Appendix the Water A Display: 3.3” x 3.3” (8.3 x 5 cm) 160 H x 160 W pixels Size: 4.625” H x 6.0” W x 2.75” D (11.7 x 15.2 x 7cm) Weight: 24 oz. Specifications Temperature Range: +5° to 158°F (-15C to 70C) Waterproof: IEC 529, level IPX-7 (submerged to 1 meter for 30 minutes) Power Input: 10 to 18 VDC with High Voltage Protect Usage: 10 watts maximum Nominal: 12 VDC @ 0.
Alarm Messages and Icons The Fishfinder 160 displays a message when an alarm is tripped. To clear the message press the ENTER key. If the ENTER key is not pressed, the unit will automatically remove most messages after 10 seconds and display a reminder icon in the lower left corner of the chart until the alarm is no longer valid.
Fishfinder 160 Portable The Portable Case On Appendix the Water C The Portable Case is designed for rugged use and provides storage for the Battery Pack and the Portable Suction Cup Transducer and a mount for the Fishfinder 160. The case is water resistant but is not designed to float in the event it should go overboard. Fishfinder 160 Portable Use the two square eyelets located by the handle to secure the Fishfinder 160 Portable Case to the boat.
When storing the Suction Cup Transducer in the case, dry the transducer and cable to avoid corrosion. If using in Salt Water, rinse the transducer and cable in fresh water and dry before storing in the case. Batteries The Fishfinder 160 Portable comes with a D-Cell battery pack. Eight D-Cell Alkaline batteries will provide approximately 20 hours of continuous operation. You have the option of purchasing a 12 Volt Rechargeable Gel-Cell Battery for the portable case.
A Accessories ...................................................................................................... ii Adjust the Scroll Speed .................................................................................. 16 Adjustment Bar ............................................................................................. 12 Alarms .................................................................................................... 22, 35 Arrow Keys ............................................
I In-hull Installation .......................................................................................... 3 Installing the Display ....................................................................................... 7 On Appendix the Water D K Keel Offset ..................................................................................................... 25 Keypad..........................................................................................................
S Software Version ............................................................................................ 27 Specifications ................................................................................................ 34 Speed ....................................................................................................... 1, 26 Speed Sensor ................................................................................................... 25 Suction Cup Transducer ...........................
FF 160 updated covers.
© 1999 - 2000 GARMIN Corporation GARMIN International, Inc. 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A. GARMIN (Europe) Ltd. Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, SO51 9AQ, U.K. GARMIN (Asia) Corporation No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan www.garmin.com Part Number 190-00154-10 Rev. A FF 160 updated covers.
