The SONAR menu holds the settings that shape the picture. This lesson lists them, with the defaults, and the starting preset that Furuno USA publishes for the CSH-8L MK2.
At a glance
- Most settings run 0 to 10
- TVG NEAR covers about the first 300 m (900 ft)
- Furuno USA publishes a recommended starting preset
- Once set, the settings are rarely changed
About 9 minutes. Part of Run the CSH-8L MK2 in the CSH-8L MK2 course.
The items and their defaults
| Setting | Factory default | Furuno USA preset |
|---|---|---|
| TX OUTPUT | 8 | 10 |
| PULSE LENGTH | 8 | 10 |
| TX CYCLE | 10 | 10 |
| TVG NEAR | 6 | 3 |
| TVG FAR | 7 | 8 (start at 6 to 8) |
| AGC / 2ND AGC | 2 / 1 | 1 / 2 |
| NOISE LIMITER | 3 | 5 |
| COLOR CURVE / COLOR RESPONSE | (1 to 4) | 1 / 4 |
| DELETE COLOR | 0 | 4 |
| ECHO AVERAGE (0 to 3) | 1 | 3 (2 to 3) |
| INT REJECT (0 to 3) | 1 | 3 |
| HOR / VER BEAMWIDTH | (WIDE or NARROW) | NARROW / NARROW |
| ALARM LEVEL (0 to 14) | 9 | 6 |
| AUDIO VOLUME | 10 | 5 |
Defaults are from the Operator's Manual's menu tree. The preset is the starting point in Furuno USA's Base Settings Guide for the CSH-8L MK2; Furuno USA notes that once it is set it is not common to change it.
Other menu items
The SONAR menu also holds DISPLAY MODE, COLOR (1 to 4), ERASE MARKS, AUTO TRAIN and TRAIN SECTOR for the audio, AUTO TILT and TILT ANGLE, TRANSMISSION and ASSIGN SETTING for the function keys. The SOUNDER menu sets the echo-sounder window in COMBI-2 and should match the connected fish finder; changing it does not change the finder. The MARKS menu controls range rings, the bearing scale, ship's track and data readouts. The SYSTEM menu holds the dimmer, heading adjustment, auto retract, units, ports, language and the tests.
TVG, near and far
TVG (time varied gain) raises sensitivity with distance. TVG NEAR governs the first stretch, about 300 m or 900 ft, and TVG FAR governs everything beyond. The power, pulse, TVG and AGC lesson explains how to set them.
How to use a preset
Treat Furuno USA's numbers as a known-good starting point on a boat that is working properly. Change one setting at a time, against a mark you trust, and write down what helped. Your function keys can then store the versions you like.
Check yourself
Three questions
Sources
- CSH5LMK2 CSH8LMK2 Operator's Manual: Appendix 1, menu tree
- CSH8LMK2 Base Settings Guide: Recommended settings
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.