You will spend more time with a handful of keys than with any menu. This lesson covers the control unit, the start-up sequence and the transducer's speed limits.
At a glance
- TRANSMISSION in the SONAR menu defaults to OFF
- Raise and lower: 14 s (400 mm) or 20 s (600 mm)
- 18 knots maximum with the transducer down
- 16 knots maximum while raising or lowering it
About 8 minutes. Part of Run the CSH-8L MK2 in the CSH-8L MK2 course.
The control unit
The CSH5211A has a POWER key, DOWN and UP switches for the transducer with lamps that flash while it moves and stay lit when it is fully down, a TILT lever, RANGE and GAIN knobs that also move around menus, and a trackball. Keys for the work you do on the water: F1 to F4, FISH, EVENT, TARGET LOCK, R/B (range and bearing marks, which also silences alarms), FISH ALARM, STABILIZER, OFF CENTER, ALARM ZONE, DELETE MARK and MENU. The optional CSH7040 handheld remote covers tilt, range and gain only.
Start-up
Press POWER and switch the monitor on. A self test reports ROM, RAM and VRAM as OK or NG. TRANSMISSION in the SONAR menu defaults to OFF; when it is ON, the sonar starts transmitting when the transducer is lowered and stops when it is raised. Gain is usually set between 3 and 7, and the range pops up in large characters for five seconds when you change it. Turning the power off automatically retracts the transducer.
The speed limits
- 18 knots is the maximum with the transducer lowered.
- 16 knots is the limit while raising or lowering it. The printed warning label in the manual says 15 knots, while the manual's text, messages and specifications say 16. Slow down and treat the lower figure as the safe one.
If you try to lower or raise it above 16 knots, a warning appears and the transducer does not move. Above 18 knots with the transducer out, reduce speed and press UP.
Auto retract
Under SYSTEM, AUTO RETRACT can be off or set from 5 to 16 knots, and the sonar then raises the transducer by itself with the message ACTIVATING AUTOMATIC RETRACTION. Furuno USA recommends 10 or 11 knots at commissioning. It needs GPS speed on an NMEA port, and it shows at the top right of the screen.
Raise and lower time
If raising or lowering takes noticeably longer than the figures above, Furuno's installation guide points to an over-tightened grease-cotton retainer or worn packing. Tell your technician rather than live with it.
Check yourself
Three questions
Sources
- CSH5LMK2 CSH8LMK2 Operator's Manual: Chapters 1 to 3 and 8
- CSH8LMK2 Installation Guide: Auto retract
- CSH8LMK2 Sportfishing Brochure: Specifications
This lesson summarizes Furuno's public documents in our own words. Limits and settings differ by model and software version, so your own manual and your installer have the last word. OmniCSH is an independent project, not a Furuno program.