Portable echo sounder Praktik 6 M/S / Praktik 6 S. Manual in English

Portable Echo Sounder Praktik 6M / 6S. Manual in English

Key Features

• Rugged, sealed housing (compliant with IP67 ingress protection standards, IK10);
• Extra-durable, elastic, frost-resistant cable (reinforced with Kevlar fiber);
• Composite, frost-resistant sonar transducer (significantly extended service life);
• Hermetically sealed detachable connection (the battery compartment with transducer can be detached from the main unit);
• Convenient device control (4 buttons);
• Screen rotation by 180 degrees;
• High transducer sensitivity (detects a small jig at a depth of 20 m);
• Frost-resistant display (operates at temperatures below -20 °C);
• One AA battery provides up to 100 hours of operation;
• Ability to adjust sonar power and filter the display of small and medium-sized objects.

Package Contents

• Receiver unit with cable and battery compartment;
• Transducer;
• AA battery;
• Packaging;
• User manual;
• Warranty card

INTRODUCTION

Praktik echo sounders are intended for measuring the depth of a water body and for locating promising fishing spots.

The Praktik 6M and Praktik 6S models differ structurally in the way the underwater transducer cable is connected. The Praktik 6M sonar cable connects to the echo sounder housing through a sealed connector, whereas the Praktik 6S has a non-removable, soldered-in cable connection.

The operating principle of Praktik echo sounders is based on emission of ultrasonic waves into the water by the transducer and subsequent reception of echo pulses reflected from the bottom or other objects. The probing beam is a cone whose apex is the transducer, usually located just below the water surface, and whose base is the bottom. When the ultrasonic wave encounters an obstacle, part of it is reflected back to the transducer, and the receiver screen displays information on the presence of that object.

The figures show typical images on the echo sounder screen and the corresponding information in the water column in summer and winter.

It is very important to understand that the echo sounder does not display a volumetric (three-dimensional) representation of the water column, but only a projection onto a vertical plane passing through the center of the sounding cone. This creates the illusion that all objects detected by the beam are located directly beneath the transducer.

Modern fishing is based less on searching for fish per se and more on identifying its traditional habitats. The key is to understand the water body and the presence of fish in it; in solving this task, the echo sounder is invaluable. However, to fully interpret the displayed image, a certain amount of experience is required.

Echo Sounder Design

The Praktik 6M echo sounder consists of two units:
- electronic receiver unit (1);
- transducer (2) with battery compartment (3).

Receiver Unit

The receiver housing is durable and vandal-resistant. The sealing level complies with IP67 ingress protection rating. Elastic inserts around the perimeter protect the electronics from impacts, vibration, and careless handling (including at sub-zero temperatures).

Transducer and Battery Compartment

The transducer design is frost-resistant and hermetically sealed (IP68). The transducer screws into the battery compartment. Observe polarity when installing the AA cell.

The cable connecting the battery compartment and the receiver unit is made of high-tech materials and remains flexible even in severe frost.

(!) IMPORTANT!
• It is advisable to install the battery indoors in warmth. This will help avoid condensation in the battery compartment. Exercise care when replacing the battery on the water. Protect the transducer from impacts and submersion loss.
• In winter conditions, the transducer must be lowered below the ice level to avoid false signals reflected from the vertical walls of the hole.
• To conserve battery life, do not leave the battery compartment with the transducer exposed to frost for extended periods: during operation it should be entirely in the water, where the temperature is always above freezing; when the echo sounder is not in use, keep it warm under clothing.
• For accurate depth measurement the transducer must be positioned strictly vertical in the water. Note that the distance to the bottom (depth) and to other objects is measured relative to the transducer, not the water surface.

(!) WARNING! Do not allow severe bending (kinking) of the cable near the connector and the battery compartment, as shown in the figure below. This will inevitably damage the cable conductors. Replacement of the connector or the entire assembly (connector+cable+battery compartment) will be required.

Operating the Echo Sounder

The echo sounder is controlled by 4 buttons.

Powering the Echo Sounder On/Off

Power on — short press of the right button .
Power off — long press of the right button .

Entering/Exiting the MENU

Enter MENU — in operating mode, short press of the right button .
Navigate through MENU items — short press of the up △ and down ▽ buttons.

Activate/deactivate the selected menu item — short press of the left button 𝄚.

Exit MENU — short press of the right button .

Turning the Backlight On/Off

Backlight on/off — in operating mode, long press of the left button 𝄚.

Sensitivity Adjustment

Increase sensitivity level — in operating mode, long press of the up button △.
Decrease sensitivity level — in operating mode, long press of the down button ▽.

Zoom In/Out of the Screen Scale

Increase the depth scale — in operating mode, short press of the up button △.
Decrease the depth scale — in operating mode, short press of the down button ▽.

Turning the ZOOM Window On/Off

ZOOM window on/off — in operating mode, short press of the left button 𝄚.
Increase bottom layer from 1 to 5 meters — in ZOOM mode, short press of the up button △.
Decrease bottom layer from 1 to 5 meters — in ZOOM mode, short press of the down button ▽.

Echo Sounder Reset (reset)

1. Turn the echo sounder off.
2. Press and hold the left button, then, without releasing the left button, press the right button once. The message “OK” will appear on the display. Factory defaults have been restored.

Echo Sounder Screen

Water surface line is displayed as a moving dotted line.

Numeric depth value updates four times per second with an accuracy of ±5 cm for depths up to 10 meters and ±10 cm for depths from 10 to 25 meters.

Bottom density conventionally indicates the power of the reflected echo signal from the bottom and can vary from 0 to 22 units. The higher the number, the higher the bottom density (the harder the bottom), and vice versa. With identical bottom reflectivity, the density values will decrease as depth increases, since the signal weakens.

Screen scale (depth scale) shows how many meters of depth are displayed on the echo sounder screen. The letter “A” next to the number indicates automatic scale selection; the letter “M” indicates manual selection (see the “Scale” section).

Sensitivity indicator — a vertical “thermometer” bar visually displays a rough sensitivity value, and the digit above the battery symbol shows the exact sensitivity level. Sensitivity can be adjusted from 0 to 28 units. The default value is 10 units. The “thermometer” bar is displayed on the screen only in operating mode when sensitivity adjustment is active.

RTS window is an area of the screen (in FISH ID mode) where all registered echo signals from the bottom and other objects are displayed without any processing. The main area of the screen shows processed information (bottom line, near-bottom structures, and fish symbols).

Battery indicator shows the current battery capacity. The battery state can be assessed more precisely in the “Info” mode, where the battery voltage is indicated in volts. The limiting battery voltage at which the echo sounder can operate properly is 0.85 V.

OPERATING THE ECHO SOUNDER

General procedure:

1. Unscrew (counterclockwise) the transducer from the battery compartment. Insert the battery into the compartment, observing polarity (the “plus” sign on the battery must face the bottom of the battery compartment). Reinstall the transducer by turning clockwise. Hand-tightening firmly is sufficient to ensure sealing.

2. Briefly press the right button . The “Praktik 6 M/S” splash screen will appear and the backlight will turn on for a couple of seconds. After a few seconds the device will switch to operating mode.

(!) WARNING! After installing the battery, it is recommended to perform a device reset so that factory settings are established:

Scale: automatic scale selection mode
Sensitivity level: 10 units
Screen scale in manual mode: 7 meters
Screen view: Fish ID mode and RTS window
Sound and fish identification: enabled
ZOOM: 2 meters
Blind zone: 0.5 meters
“Winter/Summer” mode: summer

3. Using the cable, lower the transducer into the water. In winter, lower the transducer below the ice edge to prevent excessive battery cooling and to avoid false signals reflected from the vertical walls of the hole. After the transducer contacts the water, microbubbles may appear on its sensitive surface, which can scatter the received signals and thus reduce sensitivity and distort the true image. Remove bubbles by dipping the transducer in the water several times in succession, or wipe the transducer surface.

4. If the transducer is stationary, the bottom will be drawn on the screen as a straight line.

5. If the transducer is mounted on a moving boat, the screen will display the bottom relief and near-bottom structures under the boat. If fish or other objects pass through the cone of the beam, marks will appear on the screen at the corresponding depth.

6. If there are many signals in the RTS window, reduce sensitivity.

7. If the echo sounder remains in operating mode for more than 4 hours without any button presses during that time, it will automatically power off.

(!) WARNING! Do not leave the battery in the battery compartment for a long time, since the echo sounder consumes battery power even when switched off. Although the consumption is minimal, gas release occurs and excess pressure inside the battery compartment may cause damage.

ECHO SOUNDER SETTINGS MENU

The MENU is used to control operating modes and fine settings of the echo sounder.

After entering the MENU, the first item — MODES — appears on the screen.

Use the “down” or “up” buttons to move to the next MENU item. To enter the required MENU item, press the left button, then use “down” or “up” to select a parameter/value. Press the left button again to save the selection. Exit the MENU by pressing the right button or automatically after 15 seconds, after which the operating screen will appear.

MENU structure:

- MODES (Fish ID, Pro, Flasher, Depth Meter, Shallow Water, Demo, Info);
- SCALE (manual and automatic);
- FNF (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
- ZOOM WINDOW (normal, wide, narrow);
- CONDITIONS (summer, winter);
- BLIND ZONE (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0);
- SOUND (on, off);
- DISPLAY (normal, rotated 180 degrees).

Settings made in the MENU are saved when switching to another mode, as well as when the echo sounder is turned off and after battery replacement.

(!) When replacing the battery while the echo sounder is NOT TURNED OFF, user settings are not saved! In such manipulations all settings revert to the factory defaults (reset).

INFORMATION DISPLAY MODES

This MENU item allows you to choose the most suitable display mode.

• FISH ID — mode for detecting fish (displays fish outlines on the screen).
• Pro — professional mode (unprocessed information).
• Flasher — for monitoring the tackle and the approach of fish to it.
• Depth Meter — precise depth measurement and bottom spot size.
• Shallow Water — mode for shallow areas.
• Demo — mode for operation in air.
• Info — device information.

FISH ID Mode

A processed-information mode in which the echo sounder identifies objects as fish and, when detected, displays the corresponding icons.

In this mode the display is divided into two unequal parts. The main (left) window shows processed data (bottom, near-bottom structures, fish symbols), while the right (RTS window) shows all information received by the echo sounder without any processing (so-called “raw data”). In the RTS window, echo signals from all objects within the beam are visible. For example, a vertically falling weight (feeder) will be clearly visible in the RTS window but will not be identified as fish, and fish outlines will not appear on the screen.

The fish-recognition algorithm implemented in Praktik echo sounders is based on measuring the motion characteristics of an object within the beam. If an object’s motion satisfies the algorithm’s criteria, a fish outline is displayed. For this reason, not every object is classified as fish; the echo sounder may “miss” real fish or, conversely, mistake another object for fish.

Three fish sizes can be displayed in FISH ID mode. It is known that an echo sounder primarily detects fish due to the swim bladder. Therefore its size will largely affect the size of the fish outline. For the same reason, in summer, gas bubbles on aquatic plants may appear on the screen as fish.

Correct fish identification strongly depends on a properly set sensitivity level.

With excessive sensitivity, especially in summer when moving by boat and the echo sounder may register even blooming water, thermoclines, or suspended particles, these inhomogeneities may appear as fish symbols. Schools of fry can also cause large fish outlines to appear. Reducing sensitivity will filter out these interfering factors. Specific sensitivity recommendations cannot be given, as conditions vary widely across water bodies.

Principle of information display

Fish outlines that appear near the RTS window (on the left part of the screen) represent fish currently within the beam cone. These outlines then move from right to left across the screen. At 4 Hz, the picture shifts leftward and becomes “history.” For example, if a fish symbol is in the middle of the screen, the fish was within the beam 10 seconds ago.

Pro Mode (professional)

In Pro mode, or “raw” display mode, the entire screen is devoted to unprocessed data. The echo sounder does not attempt to recognize fish; it simply shows all reflected signals it has registered.

This mode is most useful for experienced anglers because it allows you to see your tackle under water, detect thermoclines, vegetation, and other objects, and better understand the structure of the water column.

All objects in this mode are displayed as bars, arches, and pixels.

The image on the screen depends on the set sensitivity. For example, if you want to observe the movement of your tackle on the echo sounder screen, lower the jig (or other tackle) into the hole to mid-depth or closer to the bottom and increase sensitivity until the tackle signal appears on the screen.

In Pro mode, information located “below” the bottom is often visible. For example, at shallow depth and maximum sensitivity, not only a “second” (as shown left) but also a “third” bottom may appear. This occurs when the signal is reflected several times between the bottom and the water surface (so-called multiple reflections) when the scale is set to more than twice the bottom depth. In the figure, the scale is 5 m with a bottom depth of 2.36 m.

Flasher Mode

Flasher mode is designed for real-time observation of objects. At shallow depths (2–3 meters) this mode is ineffective, whereas on deep waters it allows you to observe the real-time movement of the lure and, most importantly, the fish response.

In Flasher mode the screen is divided into two equal parts. On the left is the “history” window showing unprocessed signals (as in Pro mode) observed by the echo sounder. The right half is the flasher: at each screen update (4 times per second) it draws wide stripe-marks for all detected objects, including the bottom. The depth of the largest detected object is shown next to its mark. The figure shows how the position of a balance jig changed; it is currently at a depth of 3.4 meters.

Digitization of the largest object is performed not over the entire depth but only starting from 1.5 meters from the surface, or from the set “blind zone” value. This reduces the influence of near-surface signals.

Thanks to the wide mark bands, signals are more noticeable than ordinary echoes in Pro mode, and the increased sampling rate provides information almost in real time.

Fine tuning of this mode requires selecting sensitivity. We recommend lowering a balance jig (or other tackle) to mid-water or near the bottom and adjusting sensitivity so your tackle is confidently visible on the screen.

Flasher mode is recommended for winter fishing, since in summer, when working from a boat, there are more interfering factors.

Depth Meter Mode

Depth Meter is intended not only for precise depth measurement but also for displaying the diameter of the echo sounder’s beam footprint on the bottom (the echo sounder “spot”). Sounding and signal processing in this mode differ significantly from depth measurement in other modes. Depth is measured particularly accurately in challenging conditions, for example shallow water and weedy reservoirs. No fish or other water-column information is displayed in Depth Meter.

Вид экрана в режиме «Глубиномер»

Sensitivity, depth scale, and other parameters are selected automatically depending on conditions. The blind zone is always set to 0.5 m.

The diameter of the echo sounder spot on the bottom is measured in meters at the base of the cone.

Shallow Water Mode

Shallow Water mode is intended for depths of 2 meters and less. In this mode, the power of acoustic signals is significantly reduced, which helps avoid multiple reflections and to obtain more reliable and intelligible information on the display. Sensitivity adjustment also operates.

At depths greater than 2 meters, the device can measure depth, but high sensitivity cannot be achieved.

(!) WARNING! In Shallow Water mode, fish identification is not performed!
The echo sounder operates as in Pro mode. By default, the blind zone in Shallow Water mode is 0.5 m.

Demo Mode

Demo mode is intended to check the echo sounder’s operability in air without submerging it in a water body.

1. Switch on the echo sounder, enter the MENU, select Demo under Modes and activate the mode.

2. Hold the cable (!) above the battery compartment by 20–30 cm so that the transducer is strictly vertical to the floor. Then raise the transducer to 0.5–1.0 m from a hard surface (the floor). When it stops swinging, a straight “bottom” line will be drawn; the indicator will show the exact distance from the transducer to the floor in centimeters. With slow lowering or raising of the transducer, the “depth” will change.

In Demo mode, fish identification does not operate and fish symbols are not shown.

The device is considered operational if, using the above method, it confidently registers the distance between the transducer and the floor of 1.3–1.5 meters or more. If depth is not registered at these distances (zeros on the screen), the device has low sensitivity (issues with the electronics or the transducer). Contact a service center for consultation or restoration of device characteristics.

Signals reflected from carpet or other pile coverings are too weak; the device will not “see” such a surface. In addition, tests should be conducted at a sufficient distance from powerful electrical appliances (computers, TVs, etc.), as they may cause significant electromagnetic interference.

Info Mode

Вид экрана в режиме «Инфо»

This mode displays device information: model, firmware version, processor temperature, battery voltage in volts, and manufacturer contact details.

SCALE

The depth scale shows how many meters of depth fit on the echo sounder screen.

In the MENU, you can select Automatic scale setting or Manual.

Automatic and manual screen scaling modes are indicated by the letters “A” or “M” in the upper right corner of the display next to the scale value.

Automatic scale selection (“Auto”) allows the device to independently determine the scale as depth changes. When moving in a boat, the device automatically switches to the required depth scale, accompanied by a double beep and separating image sections with different scales by a vertical dotted line. The bottom line will always be at the lower part of the screen.

With manual scale selection in operating mode, the depth scale can be increased or decreased by the “up” and “down” buttons. When a manual depth value is set, the echo sounder will not change the scale even if the bottom line goes below the screen boundary. This mode is useful if the water is sufficiently turbid, contains many air bubbles, aquatic plants, etc., and also in the presence of large sluggish fish, especially swimming much closer to the surface than the bottom. Under such conditions, false switching to an incorrect, unsuitable scale is possible (this happens when debris or fish is mistaken for the bottom).

FNF (Filter for Noise and Objects)

Correct application of this parameter makes the screen image more readable for a given location. Six FNF values are available — from 1 to 6. The larger the FNF value, the less sensitive the device becomes; at high FNF levels, tiny objects will not be displayed, as their echo signals are suppressed. Conversely, the smaller the FNF value, the smaller the objects shown on the display. The default is FNF = 3.

At each FNF level, amplification can be adjusted via the sensitivity scale. By combining sensitivity adjustment (0 to 28 units) and FNF (1 to 6 units), you can always obtain the desired image. Using FNF, you can also select the required object width in the ZOOM window. At FNF=1, objects are displayed with wide lines; at FNF=5 or 6, they are narrow or may be absent from the ZOOM window entirely.

ZOOM WINDOW

The “ZOOM” mode (magnification) is intended for detailed examination of the near-bottom water layer, i.e., objects located in this layer.

To enable ZOOM, press the left button in operating mode.

When ZOOM is enabled, the screen is divided by a vertical line into two equal parts. The right part displays the near-bottom area, and the left shows the usual processed or “raw” (depending on the selected display mode) information from the surface to the bottom.

An enabled “ZOOM” is indicated by a magnifier icon with a number in the center ⓶, appearing in the upper right corner (instead of the scale value). The digits in the magnifier indicate the ZOOM window height. Increase or decrease this value with the “up” and “down” buttons (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 m).

To change the ZOOM window width, select one of the values in the MENU under “ZOOM window”: normal, wide, or narrow.

There are differences in the ZOOM function between WINTER and SUMMER modes.

In summer, when moving by boat and depth changes, the scale switches and various near-bottom structures are displayed; the ZOOM window may be half-filled or more with bottom objects, making it difficult to obtain useful information.

In winter at a stationary hole, the ZOOM mode is more in demand. The lower part of the screen corresponds to the bottom line “frozen” at the depth at which ZOOM was enabled. If you lower the transducer slightly deeper in the hole, the bottom line in the ZOOM window will rise. This allows a more detailed view of the near-bottom area.

(!) IMPORTANT! When moving to another hole (different depth) press the left button twice to enable ZOOM again for the new depth.

ZOOM is useful at great depths of 8–10 meters and more, since at such depths it is difficult to see what is near the bottom due to limited screen resolution. For example, at 20 meters depth, an object 15 cm in size is represented by a single pixel, whereas in a 1-meter ZOOM window the same object is drawn by 30 pixels.

CONDITIONS “Summer/Winter”

Operation in summer and winter differs not only in temperature ranges but also in environmental conditions. In summer, water blooms, there are many micro-suspensions and thermoclines; in winter, the hole and accumulations of microbubbles and debris under the ice influence operation. The speed of sound in water also varies with temperature. For convenience, the echo sounder allows selecting a winter or summer operating mode that accounts for these seasonal features. If winter mode is selected, the depth digits are displayed in a black rectangle (a distinguishing feature of WINTER).

BLIND ZONE

This parameter forces the device to ignore any objects located in the upper water layer. Fixed values are available: 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m.

Adjusting the blind zone allows you to cut off undesirable near-surface echoes. Depending on the set blind zone value, the echo sounder will not register echoes in that region.

For example, in summer when water blooms, near-surface microflora echoes can exceed even the bottom signal; in such a case, the echo sounder cannot correctly output depth and water-column information. In winter, air bubbles accumulating under the ice may be the problem.

When should the blind zone be changed?

- If depth readings are unstable and values less than 1 m are often displayed although the actual depth exceeds 1 m, increase the blind zone by one step (e.g., from 0.2 to 0.5 or from 0.5 to 1.0).

- If you need to monitor the tackle at great depths (15–25 m). To clearly display tackle movement, sensitivity must be increased, which will create interference from the ice. Therefore, increase the blind zone value.

- When operating in Flasher mode at depths greater than 5–7 m, set the blind zone to 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 m.

If, in shallow water, the set blind zone exceeds the actual depth, the device cannot determine the true bottom because the reflected bottom signal is ignored, and a multiple reflection from the real bottom occurs. For example, if the blind zone is 1.5 m and the water depth is 1.4 m, the screen will show a depth of 2.8 m. Reduce the blind zone by one step, i.e., set 1.0 m.

SOUND

This MENU item allows you to disable sound entirely, enable sound for scale switching and/or sound notifications when fish are detected on the screen.

Sounding fish detections is relevant only in FISH ID mode. When the device detects fish and draws the corresponding icon, it emits an acoustic signal.

(!) In Pro, Shallow Water, Flasher, and Depth Meter modes, fish sound notifications are not produced.

DISPLAY

If necessary, the echo sounder screen can be rotated 180°. This is relevant when, for convenience, the cable connector should be at the bottom of the device rather than at the top.

.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• The illustrations in this description are simplified to facilitate understanding of the echo sounder’s operation. In reality, the number of objects registered within the beam depends on the characteristics of the water body, season, weather conditions, and other factors.

• If maximum sensitivity is set but the echo sounder shows zeros instead of depth, and the bottom appears as a thin broken line or is absent, this means that for this location the device’s power and sensitivity are insufficient. This situation is very rare and usually occurs at near-limit depths (20–25 m) and with very silty bottoms of low reflectivity.

• Frequently, on “poor” bottoms the device may mistake a large fish producing a strong signal for the bottom. A characteristic sign is an abrupt depth decrease for several samples followed by a return to the initial value. In Depth Meter mode the echo sounder automatically selects optimal power and gain. If you need only precise depth measurements and other information is of little interest, we recommend working in this mode.

• It is strongly recommended not to use cheap zinc-carbon batteries and instead to use alkaline cells: one fresh alkaline battery usually lasts several fishing trips. In severe frost, it is better to use lithium AA batteries. Accumulators of suitable size may be used, but note that the voltage of a fully charged accumulator is lower than that of a fresh battery and will therefore last less; moreover, some accumulators may be more sensitive to frost.

• If you are certain there is fish within the beam but no fish outlines appear (in Fish ID), several reasons are possible: if objects are visible in the RTS window but there are no fish outlines, those objects may not be fish, or fish motion may not meet the algorithm criteria (switch to Pro mode). If there are no objects in the RTS window, increase sensitivity until they appear. If that does not help, the fish is likely near the bottom where the echo sounder cannot see it due to the bottom nature and near-bottom structures, or the fish is in the beam’s “dead zones” (not to be confused with the blind zone!).

Beam “dead zones” can be very large if you are on slopes or ledges.

• In rubber and metal boats (without a double bottom), the device can be used directly through the boat bottom. Pour a little water into the boat (to ensure reliable acoustic contact) and press the transducer to the bottom.

• On early uniform ice without air bubbles or embedded snow, depth measurement through the ice is possible. Ensure reliable acoustic contact between the transducer and the ice (pour water on the ice or melt a small spot with a lighter under the transducer).

• When immersing the transducer deep underwater (approximately one meter or more), signals reflected from the water surface rather than the bottom may be registered.

• In winter, it is better to replace the battery at home in warmth so that cold or humid air does not enter the battery compartment and cause condensation. This will not affect operation but will accelerate battery discharge. In winter, silicone grease between the sealing ring and the battery-compartment housing is beneficial.

• During prolonged exposure to frost (-15 to -20 °C and below), the display may “lag” or provide low-contrast images. Warm the device, for example by placing it under clothing for a while.

• Bottom density, displayed in relative units beneath the depth digits, provides additional information about the bottom and near-bottom structures. If these readings change continuously, the bottom surface under the echo sounder is heterogeneous with developed structures. If readings are stable, the bottom is likely flat and homogeneous. The larger the density value at constant depth, the harder the bottom.

• Automatic scale mode is preferable while moving, as it eliminates the need for manual intervention when the bottom line exits the screen. In winter, once the fishing spot is chosen, set the manual scale slightly greater than the bottom depth to improve operating stability.

• At shallow depths (0 to 2 m) or with many long aquatic plants, depth readings may be unstable. We recommend switching to Shallow Water or Depth Meter. Stability and accuracy will improve significantly.

• Measuring depth in small containers (e.g., a bathtub or bucket) is pointless. Proper operation requires a sufficiently large water volume, since the transducer beam is not narrowly directed and will reflect not only from the bottom but also from the container walls, and repeatedly.

• In summer, do not leave the echo sounder under direct sunlight for long: its LCD may cease functioning.

• Do not allow severe bending (kinking) of the cable near the connector and the battery compartment. This will inevitably damage the cable conductors. Replacement of the connector or the entire assembly (connector+cable+battery compartment) will be required.

(!) Due to continuous improvement of the device design and algorithms, minor differences between your echo sounder parameters and those specified in this Manual are possible.

POSSIBLE MALFUNCTIONS AND REMEDIES

Malfunction: the echo sounder shows zero depth.
Additional sign: the device turns on and off normally with the right button.

• Insufficient sensitivity level — Increase sensitivity.
• Transducer not tightly screwed into the battery compartment — Tighten the transducer by hand (do not use tools).
• Signal cable break — Contact an authorized service center.

Malfunction: image on the screen flickers and/or freezes, or the device switches on and off by itself.
Additional sign: the battery icon shows low charge.

• Depleted battery — Replace the battery; if this does not help, contact a service center.

Malfunction: depth readings may differ from the real depth by a factor of two or three.
Additional sign: two bottom outlines are visible on the screen (manual scale should be large).

• Shallow depth; incorrect blind zone and sensitivity values — Set the blind zone to 0.5 m or 0.2 m and reduce the sensitivity level to 1–2 units.

Malfunction: the screen is “noisy,” many objects are visible.
Additional sign: depth readings change chaotically.

• Excessive sensitivity; “dirty” water body (many suspensions, debris, fry, etc.) — 1. Reduce sensitivity. 2. Increase the “blind zone”. 3. Increase FNF by 1–2 units.

Malfunction: zero depth readings. No bottom line on all scales.
Additional sign: occasionally fish outlines and depth values appear.

• Depth under the transducer exceeds 25 m or the bottom is heavily silted. Depth digits represent the distance to fish swimming close to the transducer. — Move the echo sounder to a more suitable location (with depths within its capabilities).

Malfunction: chaotic depth readings on the screen.
Additional sign: the bottom line disappears.

• The transducer is not fully submerged; bubbles adhere to the sensitive area — The transducer must be fully submerged, and its surface must be free of air bubbles.

Malfunction: droplets of water appear in the battery compartment.
Additional sign: the image on the screen may be unstable.

• The transducer was not tightly screwed in; the battery was installed in frost, causing condensation — Dry the battery compartment. Install the battery in a warm room. Apply silicone gel or petroleum jelly to the sealing O-ring. Tighten the transducer firmly into the battery-compartment housing.

Malfunction: in Fish ID mode the echo sounder does not identify fish.
Additional sign: there are no signals in the RTS window.

• Insufficient sensitivity; near-bottom structures prevent fish registration — Increase sensitivity until signals appear in the RTS window.

Additional sign: echo signals are observed in the RTS window.

• Other objects are visible in the RTS window rather than fish; fish are stationary or their motion does not meet identification criteria — Not a malfunction. Work in Pro mode is recommended.

WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS

Warranty period — 12 months.
Service life — 5 years.
The warranty period and service life are calculated from the date of sale to the purchaser. If the date of sale cannot be established (no completed warranty card and/or no sales receipt), these periods are calculated from the date of manufacture (Art. 19, para. 2 of the Law “On Consumer Rights Protection” of 07.02.1992 No. 2300-1 (as amended on 18.04.2018)).

Warranty obligations are fulfilled only if:

• the echo sounder is used in accordance with this Manual;
• a warranty card completed at the time of sale is provided (indicating the model, device serial number, date of sale, supplier and retailer stamps).

The warranty DOES NOT APPLY to the device:

- in case of violation of the operating rules by the user;
- in the presence of mechanical damage (tears and insulation damage of the cable, cracks in the housing, chips and cracks on the transducer, etc.), as well as damage to electrical contacts, connections, and connectors;
- in the presence of thermal damage to the device or its components;
– in the presence of signs of self-repair or servicing in unauthorized service centers (broken internal seals, missing serial number, etc.).

Servicing during the official manufacturer’s warranty period is carried out at authorized service centers, whose addresses are listed on the websites www.rusonar.ru/service/centers/ (section “Service and repair — Service centers”) and www.praktik-service.ru.
Head service center in Zelenograd:
124365, Moscow, Zelenograd, Zavodskaya St., 31, bldg. 1, OOO “Praktik-NC” Tel.: 8 (916) 863-45-06 E-mail: [email protected]